Author: Harry Howes

The best comedy shows and music gigs to see in December

Posted on by Harry Howes

We’ve already let you know the biggest comedians going on tour in 2025, but if you can’t wait until then, we’ve got you covered. There’s plenty of comedy to look forward to before the end of the year, as well as a whole host of concerts taking place, so why not treat yourself to a night of entertainment before Christmas?

Comedy in December

Peter Kay

 Thursday 5th December – The O2 Arena, London

After 12 years away from the comedy scene, Peter Kay made his long-awaited return to the stage this year with his Better Late Than Never tour. As well as travelling up and down the UK, the Bolton icon has also been enjoying his gig as the first ever stand-up comedian with a monthly residency at the O2.

Kay’s final O2 show of the year takes place tonight and if you missed out, don’t worry because he’s got plenty more coming in the new year. And if you fancy laughing your socks off from the best seats in the house, you can enjoy the shows in style with Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages.

Ricky Gervais

Thursday 5th December – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
Friday 13th December – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool

Ricky Gervais has established himself as a worldwide household name in recent years, entertaining fans both on stage and the screen, with hit stand-up shows, sitcoms and films. He’s currently touring Mortality, his 10th stand-up show, and he’s got two gigs left before the end of the year, starting in Nottingham tonight before he heads to Liverpool next Friday.

Mo Gilligan

Thursday 5th December – O2 Apollo, Manchester
Friday 6th and Saturday 7th December – Eventim Apollo, London
Saturday 14th December – Up The Creek, London

Mo Gilligan made his name on social media but he’s made the transition to comedy seamlessly and has become a TV star in his own right. He hosts his own show, The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan and he’s also a judge on The Masked Singer.

The 36-year-old is currently in the middle of his In The Moment World Tour and he’s got a busy weekend ahead of him, with a gig in Manchester tonight before two nights at London’s iconic Hammersmith Apollo.

Jack and Michael Whitehall

Monday 9th December – Brentwood Centre, Brentwood
Friday 13th December – Bristol Beacon, Bristol
Saturday 21st December – The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
Sunday 22nd December – The Centaur, Cheltenham

While not technically stand-up comedy, you’re still guaranteed to be laughing at Jack and Michael Whitehall’s live show. The father and son duo are known for their travel shows, where Jack’s childish humour combined with his dad’s dry wit are a match made in heaven.

Expect an evening of conversation packed full of stories of their travels, reminiscing of family encounters and maybe one or two arguments – but don’t worry, Jack’s mother Hilary is on hand to act as referee.

Music in December

Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball

Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December – The O2 Arena, London

This weekend sees the Jingle Bell Ball return to London’s iconic O2 Arena, with two days of superstar performers ready to get the capital in the mood for Christmas. Despite being in the middle of their Music of the Spheres world tour, Coldplay will be popping in for their fourth performance, having also headlined in 2011, 2015 and 2022.

Meanwhile, Katy Perry is also set to wow fans at the event, headlining on the Sunday. The American star’s last Jingle Bell Ball performance came way back in 2013. Other acts on the line-up include Perrie, Ella Henderson, Becky Hill and Clean Bandit, while KSI, Tom Grennan, Teddy Swims and Sigala are also performing.

If you fancy watching the show from the best seats in the house, there’s still time to join us in our exclusive hospitality areas. Enquire today to reserve your place.

Sam Fender

Tuesday 10th and Thursday 12th December – The O2 Arena, London

After years of anticipation, Sam Fender fans will finally be treated to his new album People Watching in February. Two tracks from the new record have already been released and you can hear them in the flesh when the Geordie sensation heads to the O2 next week.

Our hospitality packages give you the chance to enjoy the shows from our luxury areas, with food and drinks benefits to suit your needs. Enquire today to book your place.

Paul McCartney

Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th December – The O2 Arena, London

The phrase ‘aged like a fine wine’ couldn’t be more apt for Paul McCartney, who is still touring at the age of 82. The Liverpool legend and former frontman of The Beatles is heading to London with his Got Back tour, where he’ll treat music lovers to timeless hits, both from his time in the band and from his solo career.

As ever, we’re offering hospitality packages so that you can enjoy the show in style.

ICON Legends – Tyson Fury – British Boxing Legend

Posted on by Harry Howes

The heavyweight boxing division has been back to its best in the last decade or so and British fighters have been at the forefront of that renaissance. Tyson Fury is one of the most notable personalities in the sport and at six feet and nine inches, he has literally towered above his opponents. Known for his gangly style, never-say-die attitude and infectious personality, the 36-year-old’s story is not that of your typical athlete.

As well as battling in the ring, he’s faced demons outside of it and has bounced back to re-establish himself as one of the world’s best. It’s only right that he’s the latest iconic sports star to feature in our ever-growing list of ICON legends.

Until May of this year, Fury remained unbeaten in his 16-year professional boxing career. He’s enjoyed 34 wins to date, with 24 of those coming by knockout. His most iconic win came against Wladimir Klitschko back in 2015 and it saw him claim the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO and The Ring heavyweight titles, alongside truly announcing himself on the world stage.

As well as being one of the best heavyweights of the modern era, Fury has also established himself as one of the great personalities. His no-filter attitude to interviews and habit of bursting into song in the ring after fights has become iconic and made him a fan favourite.

Rising up the ranks

Fury’s first professional fight came back in 2008 and he got off to a flying start, knocking out Béla Gyöngyösi just over two minutes into the first round. He became known for his early finishes and it wasn’t until his eighth bout that an opponent of his managed to make it past the fourth round.

With 14 wins under his belt, Fury met fellow Brit Derek Chisora at Wembley Arena in the summer of 2011. It was his biggest test to date and the fight went the distance, with Fury ultimately winning by unanimous decision – he then got the better of him again in a rematch three years later.

The second clash with Chisora was followed by another win over Christian Hammer, which made it 24 wins in a row and earned him his biggest fight so far – a challenge against Ukrainian legend Wladimir Klitschko.

Back from the brink

Fury had earned the right to face Klitscho as the mandatory WBO challenger and the fight eventually took place in Dusseldorf, Germany, in November 2015 after initially being postponed.

Klitschko was arguably the greatest boxer in the world at the time and was the heavy favourite, having not lost in more than 10 years. However, Fury defied the odds to win on split decision after 12 gruelling rounds.

It should have been the greatest moment of Fury’s life but after Klitschko demanded a rematch, the British star stalled, claiming he had no motivation. Fury has openly talked about his mental health struggles, as well as battles with drugs and alcohol during this time.

He ballooned in weight, reaching more than 24 stone, and after failing a drugs test he relinquished his heavyweight titles. He was ultimately suspended by the British Board of Boxing Control and spent years out of the ring, before eventually signing with Frank Warren.

Fury ultimately got back into shape and almost three years after beating Klitschko, he made his return to boxing, seeing off Sefer Seferi after just four rounds in Manchester.

Back to his best

Fury has long been linked with a headline bout against fellow Brit Anthony Joshua and for a period it was the one of the most highly-anticipated match ups in world boxing. But for whatever reason, it never materialised and Fury instead turned his attention to Deontay Wilder.

He first met the American heavyweight in 2018 and their first bout controversially ended in a draw after a split decision in what was the first time either fighter had ever failed to win. Yet Fury soon made up for it, knocking Wilder out twice in both of the subsequent rematches.

He’s since beaten fellow Brit Dillian Whyte, as well as Chisora for a third time. Fury’s 34th win in 35 fights came last October as he got the better of UFC star Francis Ngannou. But all good things must come to an end, including Fury’s unbeaten record.

He suffered his first defeat earlier this year against Oleksandr Usyk, another fearsome Ukrainian star. He’s regarded as arguably the best in the world at the moment and he outclassed Fury in a split decision back in May.

The pair are set for a rematch later this month, with Fury hoping to get his revenge when they meet in Riyadh on 21st December. Following that, Fury may finally seek a clash with Joshua, although his stock has dropped considerably after he suffered his fourth career defeat in September at the hands of Daniel Dubois.

ICON Legends – Coldplay – Music Phenomenon

Posted on by Harry Howes

After celebrating the illustrious careers of some of the greatest sports stars of all time, we thought it was time to break tradition. That’s why the latest edition in our ICON series puts sport to one side in order to focus on music, specifically Coldplay.

When it comes to British bands, few have topped the success of Coldplay. The four-piece have been going for almost 30 years and don’t look like slowing down following the release of Moon Music, their 10th studio album this year.

And with their incredible three-year world tour set to conclude next summer, we’ve taken a look at some of their greatest achievements.

Bursting onto the music scene

Coldplay spawned in 1997 but if you were fans of them back then, you’d be forgiven for not recognising the name. Founded by lead singer Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland, who met at university in London, they were initially called both Big Fat Noises and Starfish before settling on the iconic name Coldplay.

They were later joined by bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion before releasing debut record Parachutes in 2000. The album featured the iconic single ‘Yellow’, as well as other notable hits including ‘Shiver’ and ‘Trouble’.

As you can imagine, it was an instant hit and won the Grammy award for ‘Best Alternative Music Album’ as well as a BRIT award for ‘British Album of the Year’. Incredibly, Coldplay landed a hat-trick as their subsequent albums A Rush of Blood to the Head and X & Y both achieved the same feat.

They’ve not looked back since and Coldplay have arguably established themselves as the most successful band of the 21st century and have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.

Global superstars

Not content with their initial treble at the Grammys and BRITs, Coldplay have continued to be recognised across the music industry. They’ve been nominated for an astonishing 39 Grammy awards, winning seven times. The group have also been up for 30 BRIT awards and have claimed nine awards, making them the most successful group of all time.

By the time their fourth album, Viva La Vida, was released, Coldplay were household names – and the reaction reflected their popularity. Lead track Viva La Vida was the first song by a British artist to top both the UK charts and the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time since Rod Stewart’s Maggie May back in 1971.

Coldplay have broken 14 world record throughout their career – five have since been broken by others, but nine still remain theirs, including ‘Most Monthly Listeners On Spotify’, ‘Highest Attendance for a Music Tour’ and ‘Highest Debut by a UK Group in the US Singles Chart’.

Their global success has seen them collaborate with some of the biggest names in music, including Rihanna, Beyonce, Jay Z and Oasis star Noel Gallagher. They’ve also performed with the likes of BTS, Shakira and Bruno Mars.

Glastonbury record-breakers

Coldplay returned to Glastonbury this summer, headlining the famous Pyramid Stage alongside Dua Lipa and SZA. Chris Martin led proceedings 25 years after their first appearance at the prestigious summer festival.

It was their fifth time headlining Glastonbury, which set a record for the most headline appearances in history. They were previously joint-top alongside The Cure, who have headlined on four occasions.

In fact, Coldplay have appeared at Glastonbury seven times, performing twice before their first slot on the main stage. They were also set to perform in 2021 before the festival was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Coldplay have performed at countless festivals across the globe, including Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits and Rock in Rio. Meanwhile, they also performed the half-time show at the 2016 Super Bowl, which had the biggest audience of all time for a group’s performance.

And after playing all over the world across the last 27 years, they’re set to play their biggest gig ever in the new year. Coldplay take their tour to India and will be wowing around 132,000 fans in a cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

Watch Coldplay in style

Coldplay are currently in the midst of a three-year world tour that’s set to conclude with 10 sell-out gigs at Wembley Stadium next year. The ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour kicked off in March 2022 and is the second-highest grossing tour of all time after Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour’.

If you fancy seeing them perform all their greatest hits from the best seats in the house, why not join us in our premium hospitality facilities? Enjoy the incredible show from luxury seats with unrivalled views, where you’ll get all this alongside an iconic music performance:

●    Exclusive access to pitch view lounge
●    Complimentary beers, wines and soft drinks before and after the show
●    Complimentary welcome glass of Champagne
●    Wide ranging buffet menu
●    Snacks served post-show
●    Pre-show DJ and post-show after party

Enquire today to reserve your place.

Autumn Nations Series: England end with win as Wales suffer historic defeat

Posted on by Harry Howes

The Autumn Nations Series is all but over and rugby fans couldn’t have asked for a better weekend of action. There were surprise results, historic defeats and high-scoring games – plus, England finally managed to secure a victory.

France continue form against Argentina

France 37-23 Argentina

The hosts were pretty much out of sight at half-time thanks to tries from Thibaud Flament and Gabin Villiere, while Thomas Ramos was on form with his boot. France followed up their dramatic win over New Zealand with another victory to end their campaign with a perfect record.

Argentina attempted a fightback in the second half and converted tries from Thomas Gallo and Ignacio Ruiz made the scoreline respectable but they didn’t quite have enough in the end. They end their series with a win and two defeats.

Ireland on fire against Fiji

Ireland 52-17 Fiji

It was a triumphant win for Ireland in their penultimate game as they brushed Fiji aside. The hosts scored four tries either side of half-time, with one of those coming from Gus McCarthy on his debut.

Like Argentina, Fiji improved in the second half and looked to mount an unlikely comeback, scoring twice through Kitione Salawa and Setareki Turagacoke. But they couldn’t stop Ireland and they finished their European tour with two wins and two defeats.

Wales make history in miserable defeat

Wales 12-45 South Africa

South Africa piled more misery on Wales in a rampant victory in Cardiff that secured them the Prince William Cup. Wales lost all of their Autumn Nations Series games to become the first side to lose every single match in a calendar year since 1937.

They could do nothing to stop South Africa, who scored seven tries in a dominant performance. Rio Dyer and James Botham scored tries to save some face but it was a day to forget for the hosts, who need a serious overhaul ahead of the Six Nations next spring.

On the other hand, South Africa enjoyed a successful series in Europe, having also recorded victories over Scotland and England.

New Zealand bounce back in Italy

Italy 11-29 New Zealand

New Zealand finished their Autumn Nations Series with a routine win in Italy to put their narrow defeat to France firmly behind them. The All Blacks will be delighted with their tour, having won three of their four games.

Italy will be less pleased, with their only win coming against Georgia. Beauden Barrett was the star of the show for the visitors in Torino, scoring 14 points. Italy were lacklustre throughout, with their solitary try not coming until the 75th minute through Tommaso Menoncello.

Scotland stun Australia in Edinburgh

Scotland 27-13 Australia

An unlikely win for Scotland over Australia in their final game secured them the Hopetoun Cup and set a new record for the most Test wins in a calendar year. Duhan van der Merwe was also back in the record books – he reclaimed his spot as Scotland’s all-time leading try scorer, notching their second.

Aussie wing wizard Harry Potter worked his magic to score a try on his debut for the visitors but it wasn’t enough to rescue a result for the visitors. Scotland end their campaign with three wins out of four, while Australia will be looking to bounce back against Ireland this weekend.

England finally secure win against Japan

England 59-14 Japan

After losing their first three games to South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, England bowed out of their Autumn Nations Series campaign in style against Japan. They were out of sight after half an hour thanks to tries from Ben Earl, Sam Underhill and a double from Jamie George.

Ollie Sleightholme added a fifth before the break – his fourth in his last three games. Further tries from George Furbank, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Tom Roebuck piled the misery on Japan to wow a jubilant crowd at Twickenham.

With their young stars more than proving worth despite being on the wrong end of a few defeats, England will be full of confidence heading into their Six Nations preparation.

Autumn Nations Series fixtures

Saturday 30th November
Ireland v Australia: 3:10pm – Aviva Stadium, Dublin

In the final game of the Autumn Nations Series, former Ireland boss Joe Schmid returns to Dublin. The Kiwi led Ireland to three Six Nations titles but he’ll be looking to get the better of them with his Australia side.

The Aussies are still reeling from their surprise defeat to Scotland and they’ll be hoping to bounce back in style. But Ireland will take some beating and could make it three wins on the trot having strolled past Fiji and Argentina in successive games.

Las Vegas Grand Prix: Max Verstappen closes in on fourth F1 title

Posted on by Harry Howes

As we approach the end of the Formula One season, Max Verstappen is very much in the driving seat to secure his fourth title in a row.

The calendar takes the world’s best drivers to Las Vegas this weekend and after finally winning again in Brazil a fortnight ago, the Red Bull driver has a healthy points lead with just three races left.

It’s a measure of just how good Verstappen is that he went 10 races without winning and nobody was able to catch him. What’s scary for the rest of the grid is that he’s unlikely to endure a repeat of his bad form in 2025.

However, in Lando Norris, Formula One has found a worthy challenger. The British driver has excelled this year, with three wins and a further 12 podiums, and he’s established himself as a clear title contender in the future.

Barring a miracle, he won’t take Verstappen’s throne this time around. But after three years of the ‘Max Verstappen show’, it’s a relief that he finally has some competition and the pair are set to resume their competitive rivalry in Las Vegas on Sunday.

The race for the title

Verstappen finally got back to winning ways last time out as he finished first in Brazil two weeks ago. The reigning champion uncharacteristically went 10 races without winning but he put an end to his disappointing form with a long-awaited victory.

The win edged Verstappen further ahead of Norris in the standings. The Brit had been steadily making ground but he wasn’t able to capitalise enough, only winning two races during Verstappen’s sticky patch.

Norris did get four other podium finishes in the time but he only managed to finish sixth in Sao Paulo. He remains more than 60 points behind so it’s unlikely that he’ll claim his first F1 title this year. Verstappen appears to be back on form and he’ll want to end the season in style, having won the final seven races a year ago.

Elsewhere, Charles Leclerc is breathing down Norris’ neck having won two of the last six races, with another two podiums. The pair have been models of consistency this year – the British Grand Prix, nine races ago and way back in July, was the last time either of them finished outside the top five.

In his final year racing for Mercedes before switching to Ferrari for the 2025 season, Lewis Hamilton had hoped to mount a late charge for a record eighth title. But those dreams disappeared a while ago.

A mid-season flurry that had seen him win at Silverstone and in Belgium, while claiming third in Spain and Hungary, had given him faint hope. But it didn’t last long – the 39-year-old has achieved no podiums since and he’s slipped down to seventh in the standings.

F1 standings after 21 races

PositionDriverTeamWinsPodiumsPoints
1Max VerstappenRed Bull813393
2Lando NorrisMcLaren312331
3Charles LeclercFerrari311307
4Oscar PiastriMcLaren27262
5Carlos Sainz JrFerrari27244
6George RusselMercedes13192
7Lewis HamiltonMercedes24190

Las Vegas Grand Prix

Next up on the Formula One calendar is the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Sin City’s inaugural race took place last year and it’s set to return to the iconic streets, with parts of the unique night race taking place along the Vegas strip.

The race takes place this Sunday, 24th November, with Verstappen looking to come out on top for the second year running. There’s still time to take your seats in our exclusive hospitality area on the breathtaking Drai’s Las Vegas rooftop.

As well as unrivalled views of the race, you’ll get the chance to experience all this:

●      Access to Vista Terrace viewing with track view
●      Access to lower deck viewing circle and Drai’s nightclub
●      Hosted service, food stations, canapés and cheese station
●      Complimentary bar with Champagne, local beers, wine and spirits
●      TV in your private suite

Enquire today to reserve your place.

What’s next?

Following the Las Vegas Grand Prix, we head to the Middle East for the final two races of the 2024 season. First up is Qatar on Sunday 1st December before the final race of the year in Abu Dhabi a week later.

Verstappen won both races back in 2023 and if he repeats history, he’ll finish the year with a fourth consecutive F1 Drivers’ Championship.

If you’d like to join us to watch either of the final two races in style, we’d love to help make that happen. Our travel and concierge team are on hand to help you get to either the Qatar Grand Prix or the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where you can enjoy the action from the best seats in the house with our exclusive hospitality packages.

Autumn Nations Series: France edge thriller as England and Wales lose again

Posted on by Harry Howes

Another thrilling weekend of Autumn Nations Series action saw Ireland, Scotland and Italy bounce back from their defeats the week before. But it was the same old story for England and Wales as they conceded defeat to their Southern Hemisphere opponents.

Ireland’s fast start sees off Argentina

Ireland 22-19 Argentina: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Six Nations champions Ireland survived a second-half comeback from Argentina to secure their first win of the Autumn Nations Series. They led 22-9 at half-time and held on for victory despite failing to score after the break.

The hosts came racing out of the blocks and scored two tries in the opening five minutes through Jack Crowley and Mack Hansen. Joe McCarthy added a third to put the hosts firmly in the driving seat.

Juan Cruz Mallia got one back to keep the visitors in the game but Ireland held firm to bounce back from the previous week’s defeat at the hands of New Zealand.

Scotland thrash Portugal

Scotland 59-21 Portugal: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

The Scots lost to South Africa last week but they were back on form with a nine-try thrashing of Portugal. They were 33-7 to the good at the break and continued in that vein in the second half, despite the visitors improving.

Scotland ran riot with seven different try scorers, including two in three second-half minutes from Arron Reed. Portugal notched two converted tries in the second half but after a rampant opening 40 minutes, there was only going to be one winner at Murrayfield.

England suffer third straight defeat

England 20-29 South Africa: Allianz Stadium, London

Despite their recent defeats, England looked to have turned a corner of late. But they slumped to their third consecutive Autumn Nations Series defeat in a disappointing display against South Africa.

Steve Borthwick’s side enjoyed a dream start as Ollie Sleightholme went over in the third minute to score his third try in two matches. But the visitors soon got into their stride and notched three tries in 11 minutes through Grant Williams, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Cheslin Kolbe.

Sam Underhill got one back before the break to leave England trailing by just two points at half-time. But England endured a difficult second period and their only points came through a Marcus Smith penalty.

England were nowhere near as sharp going forward as they had been against Australia the previous week when they scored five tries. They’ll be hoping to pick things up against Japan on Sunday as they look to end their Autumn Nations Series campaign with a win.

France come from behind to stun New Zealand

France 30-29 New Zealand: Stade de France, Paris

The French mounted a stunning second-half comeback to beat New Zealand having trailed 19-10 at half-time. The visitors raced ahead with two early tries from Peter Lakai and Cam Roigard.

But France turned the game on its head quickly after the break and tries from Paul Boudehent and Louis Bielle-Biarrey put them in the ascendancy. Damian McKenzie notched a 74th minute penalty to put New Zealand within a point of the hosts and set up a grandstand finish. But France held on and secured their second win in a row.

Italy bounce back against Georgia

Italy 20-17 Georgia: Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa

Like France, Italy trailed at half-time and were forced to turn things around in a thrilling second period. The Italians lost their first game to Argentina but survived a scare in Genoa.

Georgia led 17-6 at half-time thanks to tries from Aka Tabutsadze and Vasil Lobzhanidze – Italy’s only points were a pair of Paolo Garbisi penalties. But a penalty try after the break got Italy back in their groove and Alessandro Fusco sealed the win with a try of his own.

Wales’ dismal run goes on

Wales 20-52 Australia

It was a miserable day in Cardiff as Australia condemned Wales to their 11th consecutive international defeat, leaving Warren Gatland’s future as coach in jeopardy. The hosts only trailed by six points at the break in a fairly even first-half contest.

But Australia stepped things up a gear in the second half to leave Wales in their wake. Tom Wright and Matt Faessler both bagged a hat-trick apiece as the visitors ran riot. Ben Thomas scored a consultation try for Wales late on but by then it was very much too little, too late.

Autumn Nations Series fixtures this weekend

Friday 22nd November
 France v Argentina: 8:10pm – Stade de France, Paris

Saturday 23rd November
 Ireland v Fiji: 3:10pm – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Wales v South Africa: 5:40pm – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Italy v New Zealand: 8:10pm – Allianz Stadium, Turin

Sunday 24th November
Scotland v Australia: 1:40pm – Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
England v Japan: 4:10pm – Allianz Stadium, London

Most teams play their final Autumn Nations Series games this weekend and they’ll be looking to go out in style. France kick proceedings off against Argentina and they’ll be hoping to continue their momentum after their stunning win over the All Blacks.

Ireland should have far too much for Fiji, while defeat for Wales against South Africa will condemn them to their first calendar year without a win since 1937. New Zealand head to Italy looking to make amends for their defeat in Dublin.

Sunday sees Australia looking to secure a third consecutive win on British soil against Scotland. Meanwhile, England are targeting their first Autumn Nations Series win as they face Japan.

Autumn Nations Series fixtures

Saturday 30th November
Ireland v Australia: 3:10pm – Aviva Stadium, Dublin

The best ski holiday destinations in the world

Posted on by Harry Howes

While it’s almost winter and the temperatures are dropping, that doesn’t mean that we have to wait until next year to enjoy a holiday. The best part of winter is planning a skiing trip – but where do you start?

With so many places to choose from worldwide, it can be difficult to find the perfect spot for a skiing break. That’s why we’ve done the hard work and tracked down the best ski holiday destinations in the world.

France

More than a fifth of the Alps are in France, meaning there are plenty of skiing destinations there. Tignes, Val d’Isère and Les Deux Alpes are among the most popular resorts in France, both for skiing and partying.

When to go?

The skiing season in France peaks around February. The atmosphere is much better during these times but, as you’d expect, it’s a lot busier. If you’d prefer a quieter visit, hold fire until March, when it tends to be sunnier as well.

Switzerland

Just like its neighbour France, Switzerland is ideally located on the Alps to offer some of the most picturesque skiing destinations in the world, including St Moritz, Zermatt and Grindelwald.

When to go?

Again, it’s a similar story to France. The resorts tend to open around now and they host skiers until the spring, although the busiest periods will be around February.

USA

If you fancy skiing further afield than Europe, head across the pond to some of America’s top destinations. There are plenty of stunning, snow-filled choices, including in Colorado, New Hampshire and Montana.

When to go?

Many of the American resorts follow a similar pattern to their European counterparts. Late winter tends to be the most popular time to go – heading over there earlier in January may give you more space on the slopes, but it’ll be a lot colder.

Japan

While Japan is a hugely popular holiday destination, many people may not be familiar with its thriving skiing culture. Niseko is known as the ‘powder capital of Japan’ due to its excellent snow, while places like Hakuba and Shiga Kogen are great for skiers of all abilities.

When to go?

If you’re on a budget, avoid going around Christmas and the new year! These are expensive periods at the best of times but they also happen to be peak skiing season in Japan – the season lasts until April, so you can easily leave your trip until the spring.

Austria

As you can imagine, there’s an abundance of skiing resorts to choose from in Austria. The likes of Ischgl, Kitzbühel and Saalbach-Hinterglemm each have more than 200 km of slopes and a thriving après scene.

When to go?

Just like its neighbours on the Alps, Austria experiences its peak season in February. To avoid the crowd and enjoy the most reliable snow conditions, visit in mid-March.

Canada

Considering how much snowfall Canada gets each winter, it’s no surprise that there’s a lively skiing scene up there. Banff National Park in the Rocky Mountains has over 300 runs, while Whistler hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics.

When to go?

The season peaks in January and February but for the best snow at Whistler, wait until March. It’s nicknamed ‘powder month’ by the locals due to its abundance of snow.

Sweden

For an authentic skiing experience, why not travel further north in Europe to Sweden? The tree-lined slopes and freezing temperatures offer some of the most beautiful skiing backdrops around.

When to go?

As Sweden is a lot colder than many of the places listed, you can enjoy good skiing from early November. February and March tend to be the snowiest periods, with much longer days.

Hit the slopes with Engage’s ROAM packages!

As well as unrivalled sports and music hospitality packages, Engage now offers tailored travel experiences with ROAM, where we combine our knowledge, passion and expertise to offer some of the best experiences the world has to offer.

Two of our current packages are ideal for skiing enthusiasts – here’s everything you need to know.

Undiscovered Alps with Marcus Wareing

Join us for a luxury weekend in the Swiss Alps, where as well as enjoying some of the most iconic slopes in Switzerland, you’ll also be treated to incredible food from renowned chef Marcus Wareing.

Fancy heading for a two-night stay in Andermatt in January? You can enjoy all this:

●    Two nights at The Chedi from 10th – 12th January
●    Two-day lift pass
●    Private transfer from Zurich
●    Welcome drinks
●    Dinner at ‘The Restaurant’ with Marcus Wareing followed by a Q&A
●    Lunch with Marcus Wareing at Guetsch by Markus Neff

Crans-Montana Ski Challenge

For the more adventurous skiers among you, why not try your hand at the Crans-Montana Ski Challenge?

The premier networking event of the winter sporting calendar is returning to Switzlerland, giving you the chance to experience all this:

●    Three nights at Hotel Art de Vivre from 13th – 16th March
●    Two-day ski pass
●    Entry fee and race registration
●    Welcome dinner
●    Lunch at Chetzeron Restaurant
●    Welcome drinks and quiz night
●    Après ski parties at Zerodix and Cry d’Er
●    Awards dinner

Enquire today to reserve your place.

Autumn Nations Series: France start with win as all other European sides lose

Posted on by Harry Howes

The second round of Autumn Nations Series action delivered some sensational rugby – but it was a weekend to forget for the European sides. Apart from France, each home nation was roundly beaten by their Southern Hemisphere opponents.

Ireland kicked their campaign off against New Zealand, while England took on old rivals Australia. Meanwhile, it was a historic afternoon in Cardiff as Wales suffered a shock defeat.

Ireland start with defeat

Ireland 13-23 New Zealand: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Despite the final result, Ireland were well in the game throughout and only found themselves 9-6 down at the break. They looked to be on their way to an opening victory as Josh van der Flier’s second-half try put them in the ascendancy.

But Will Jordan got one back to seal the win for the All Blacks in what was ultimately the Damian McKenzie show. The 29-year-old scored six penalties to secure New Zealand their second successive win having beaten England the previous week.

England suffer cruel late blow

England 37-42 Australia: Allianz Stadium, London

England suffered their second straight defeat and once again it was a narrow one, this time at the hands of Australia. Both sides scored five tries in an all-action contest – England’s Chandler Cunningham-South and Ollie Sleightholme bagged two each.

The hosts thought they’d won the tie late on when Maro Itoje’s try was converted by Marcus Smith. But Australia had one final chance and Max Jorgensen went over to secure the win for the visitors.

While England may be concerned at two defeats in a row, they’ll take a lot of confidence from their performances in both games. In fact, this game was the most points they’ve ever scored at home in a defeat – although with South Africa up next, they’ll need to sort their defence out to avoid a third straight loss.

Italy humbled at home

Italy 18-50 Argentina: Stadio Friuli, Udine

It was a fairly routine win for Argentina in their first Autumn Nations Series outing. The South American side were dominant throughout and had seven different try scorers as they dismantled Italy.

Fly-half Tomas Albornoz enjoyed a productive day, scoring the fourth try on his way to 20 points. A late Giacomo Nicotera try for the hosts saved face a little but they were ultimately outclassed and will hope to do better when they come up against Georgia this weekend.

France put Japan to the sword

France 52-12 Japan: Stade de France, Paris

France were the only European side to come out of the weekend with a win and they did it in style against Japan. The hosts found themselves 31-0 up at half-time thanks to five tries in a dominant display.

The visitors got two back in the second half as France took their foot off the gas somewhat. But following their first-half display, France’s win was a foregone conclusion and they’ll be looking to continue their momentum when they face New Zealand on Saturday.

Wales continue miserable form

Wales 19-24 Fiji: Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Fiji produced a shock as they secured their first ever win at the Principality Stadium, leaving Wales without victory in 400 days. The hosts were 14-10 up at the break but suffered a second-half collapse.

Fiji star Caleb Muntz – who scored all of his side’s points in the first half – stole the show after the break. The 25-year-old inspired Fiji’s comeback, adding a further nine points for his side.

Scotland outclassed by South Africa

Scotland 15-32 South Africa: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Scotland started the series with a win over Fiji but came unstuck against world champions South Africa. Makazole Mapimpi’s third-minute try for the visitors set the tone and they didn’t really look like losing from there.

South Africa added another two tries before half time and it was only Finn Russell penalties that kept the score respectable for the Scots, who should hopefully have a slightly more enjoyable afternoon against Portugal on Saturday.

Games this weekend

Friday 15th November
Ireland v Argentina: 8:10pm – Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Saturday 16th November
Scotland v Portugal: 3:10pm – Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
England v South Africa: 5:40pm – Allianz Stadium, London
France v New Zealand: 8:10pm – Stade de France, Paris

Sunday 17th November
Italy v Georgia: 1:40pm – Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
Wales v Australia: 4:10pm – Principality Stadium, Cardiff

While Ireland will hope to do better this weekend, they’ll be wary of an in-form Argentina following their triumphant opening win in Italy. Meanwhile, Scotland should play themselves back into form against Portugal. England will be hoping to secure their first win of the series against South Africa, who they last faced in last year’s World Cup semi-final.

New Zealand are targeting a third consecutive win but they face a tough test against France in Paris. Italy have an opportunity to bounce back from their humiliation against Argentina as they welcome Georgia to Genoa. And finally, Wales could see their winless run stretch even further as they take on Australia.

Autumn Nations Series fixtures

Friday 22nd November
France v Argentina: 8:10pm – Stade de France, Paris

Saturday 23rd November
Ireland v Fiji: 3:10pm – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Wales v South Africa: 5:40pm – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Italy v New Zealand: 8:10pm – Allianz Stadium, Turin

Sunday 24th November
Scotland v Australia: 1:40pm – Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
England v Japan: 4:10pm – Allianz Stadium, London

Saturday 30th November
Ireland v Australia: 3:10pm – Aviva Stadium, Dublin

The biggest comedians going on tour in 2025

Posted on by Harry Howes

They say laughter is the best medicine so why not treat yourself to a night at a comedy show in 2025? It’s set to be a huge year for stand-up, with plenty of household names set to go on tour next year.

Peter Kay

The Bolton icon returned to the stage this year, 12 years after his last tour, and he’s not slowing down heading into 2025. Kay has been wowing comedy fans up and down the country with his Better Late Than Never tour and he became the first ever stand-up to put on a monthly residency at London’s O2.

Once we enter the new year, he’ll have four of those residency shows left and you can enjoy them from the best seats in the house with Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages. But don’t worry if you’re not local to the capital – Kay will continue to perform across the UK throughout 2025.

The Phoenix Nights star is set to visit most major towns and cities with his show, including hometown Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield, Newcastle, Nottingham and Liverpool.

Peter Kay at the O2

Saturday 25th January, 2025
Saturday 22nd February, 2025
Thursday 20th March, 2025
Friday 4th April, 2025

Jimmy Carr

After bursting onto the circuit almost 30 years ago, Carr has established himself as one of the biggest stars of UK comedy. As well as his dark humour-filled sets on stage, he’s also synonymous with television, having hosted the likes of 8 Out of 10 Cats and The Big Fat Quiz of the Year.

Carr is currently in the midst of his 13th stand-up show, Laughs Funny, and after performing his latest hour throughout 2024, he’s set to continue next year. He’ll be visiting the likes of Newcastle, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham and Glasgow before finishing the tour at O2 Arena in London next December.

Katherine Ryan

Despite being from Canada, Ryan has become one of the UK’s most-loved comedians in recent years, which demonstrates just how brilliant she is at her craft. Her latest show, Battleaxe, brings a lighter side to serious subjects, while she also puts herself on the spot as she riffs on audience questions in the second half.

She’s currently touring and will visit Liverpool, Cardiff, Nottingham, Sheffield and Brighton next February. The following month sees her head to Manchester, Newcastle and Belfast, before she enjoys six nights at the London Palladium.

Jason Manford

Much like the others mentioned so far, Manford needs no introduction to British comedy fans. A stand-up by trade, he’s also ventured into acting, presenting and singing in recent years, but he’s back on stage with his latest tour A Manford All Seasons.

Like Ryan, he’ll be performing at the London Palladium in February. The show continues throughout the UK in 2025, finishing in his hometown of Manchester at the brand-new Co-op Live on Friday 24th October.

Ricky Gervais

Despite global success that includes creating and starring in multiple TV shows, appearing in Hollywood blockbusters and hosting the Golden Globes a record five times, Gervais continues to return to his stand-up roots.

The 63-year-old is currently touring Mortality, his 10th stand-up show and his fourth consecutive Netflix exclusive special. With the tour set to run into 2025, he’ll be visiting the likes of Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham before enjoying European tour dates, including Dublin and Paris.

Who else is touring in 2025?

It isn’t just Peter Kay that you can see at the O2. Star of The Masked Singer Mo Gilligan will appear at the iconic venue on Saturday 31st May, while Liverpool legend John Bishop takes his 25 Years of Stand Up show there on Friday 3rd October.

Fans of Taskmaster will be familiar with plenty of comedians on tour in 2025, including Josh Widdicombe, Julian Clary, Lucy Beaumont and Jenny Eclair, as well as Jack Dee who is currently starring on the show’s 18th series. Meanwhile, previous contestants Rhod Gilbert, Rob Beckett, Al Murray and Frank Skinner are also on tour, as is Greg Davies, the Taskmaster himself.

Bill Bailey is set for a busy start to 2025. The comedy legend will be performing his Thoughtifier show at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket almost every night in January. Meanwhile, Strictly Come Dancing sensation Chris McCausland will be swapping his dancing shoes for a microphone as he embarks on a tour in January.

Elsewhere, Irish trio Ed Byrne, Ardal O’Hanlon and Dara O Briain will be visiting a theatre near you, as will Joel Dommett, Maisie Adam and Paddy McGuinness.

Autumn Nations Series: New Zealand edge England as Scotland start with win

Posted on by Harry Howes

After a busy summer of preparation, the Autumn Nations Series is finally underway. The best rugby nations the world has to offer have swapped sunnier climes for winter tours in Europe and we’re set for an exciting few weeks of action.

England and Scotland got their campaigns underway on Saturday, with Ireland, Wales, Italy and France set to play this weekend. With plenty of exciting talking points already, as well as a lot more to come, we’ve got everything you need to know right here in one place.

England kick things off with narrow defeat

England 22-24 New Zealand: Allianz Stadium, London

After losing 2-0 to New Zealand in a summer series, England were hoping that home advantage would be on their side at Twickenham. But it wasn’t to be as they lost by two points in a tight affair.

Like their last meeting in London – a 25-25 draw two years ago – it was close, with the All Blacks coming out on top this time around. The build up to the game was steeped in controversy following Joe Marler’s comments about New Zealand’s haka. But there was nothing but respect shown on the pitch.

The visitors were on fire in the first half and tries from Mark Tele’a and Will Jordan gave them the edge, with Marcus Smith’s four penalties the only thing keeping England in the contest. A try from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and another penalty saw the hosts go 22-14 up after the break, but New Zealand fought back to keep up their impressive record against England.

Another try from Tele’a put them in front and two late misses from George Ford sealed England’s fate. They’ve beaten New Zealand just once in the last 12 years and they’ll be hoping for a bit more fortune when they face Australia this weekend. Meanwhile, New Zealand travel to Dublin for a clash against Ireland.

Scotland cruise past Fiji in opener

Scotland 57-17 Fiji: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

After winning all four matches on their American tour, Scotland continued where they left off as they comfortably dispatched Fiji in Edinburgh. Gregor Townsend’s side were rarely threatened as they ran out 57-17 winners at Murrayfield.

It was the first meeting between the two nations for six years and Scotland continued their strong record, winning for the ninth time in an 11th game between the pair. The hosts scored nine tries in a triumphant win, with four of those coming from returning wing Darcy Graham.

In fact, Graham briefly tied level with Scotland’s all-time record try scorer Duhan van der Merwe during his scoring streak. But not one to share his records, Van der Merwe edged back in front when he got in on the act, scoring a try of his own to take his overall tally to 29.

Huw Jones got the other two in an emphatic performance from the Scots. Yet while it was a strong start in the competition, they’ve got tougher tests on the horizon, with South Africa set to visit this weekend. Meanwhile, Fiji travel to Cardiff to take on Wales.

Games this weekend

Friday 8th November
Ireland v New Zealand: 8:10pm – Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Saturday 9th November
England v Australia: 3:10pm – Allianz Stadium, London
Italy v Argentina: 5:40pm – Stadio Friuli, Udine
France v Japan: 8:10pm – Stade de France, Paris

Sunday 10th November
Wales v Fiji: 1:40pm – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Scotland v South Africa: 4:10pm – Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Ireland are looking to cement their spot as the world’s best team but they face a tricky opening fixture against New Zealand in Dublin. They’ll take confidence from England’s spirited performance against them at the weekend. England will be looking to continue their strong record against Australia – they’ve won all but one of their last 11 matches against them.

Italy take on Argentina in their first game of the series. The hosts have lost their last eight games against their opponents – their last win over them came way back in 2008. France will expect to win comfortably against Japan, who were soundly beaten by New Zealand on their last outing.

Wales get their campaign underway against Fiji and will expect to better Scotland’s result from the weekend. Meanwhile, Scotland will be looking to match a strong South Africa side that beat them 18-3 at the last World Cup.

Autumn Nations Series fixtures

Friday 15th November
Ireland v Argentina: 8:10pm – Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Saturday 16th November
Scotland v Portugal: 3:10pm – Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
England v South Africa: 5:40pm – Allianz Stadium, London
France v New Zealand: 8:10pm – Stade de France, Paris

Sunday 17th November
Italy v Georgia: 1:40pm – Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
Wales v Australia: 4:10pm – Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Friday 22nd November
France v Argentina: 8:10pm – Stade de France, Paris

Saturday 23rd November
Ireland v Fiji: 3:10pm – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Wales v South Africa: 5:40pm – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Italy v New Zealand: 8:10pm – Allianz Stadium, Turin

Sunday 24th November
Scotland v Australia: 1:40pm – Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
England v Japan: 4:10pm – Allianz Stadium, London

Saturday 30th November
Ireland v Australia: 3:10pm – Aviva Stadium, Dublin

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