The necklace was called ‘surveillance capitalism’ (Picture: @normie_egirl)
Are you feeling lonely enough to buy a ‘constant companion’ that will listen to all your conversations and then text you snarky messages about them?
A necklace called ‘Friend’ promises to do just that, with its microphone always on unless you disable it manually.
It’s the subject of a massive ad campaign on the New York City underground, but it’s fair to say not everyone is feeling friendly.
‘Get a real friend,’ reads graffiti scrawled on one of the billboards, judging the device to be an example of ‘surveillance capitalism’.
Others took a pen to the ads to accuse it of ‘profiting off loneliness’, calling it ‘AI trash’.
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To speak to it directly, just tap it and speak, and the chatbot powed by Google’s Gemini 2.5 will respond.
For now, you can only buy it in the US and Canada, for $129. You can bet this, or something similar, will make its way here soon though.
Avi Schiffman, CEO of the startup which makes it, told Adweek he had spent over a million dollars on the ad campaign with a thousand platform posters.
‘I don’t have much money left,’ he said, boasting that it was the ‘world’s first major AI campaign’, which may well be true in terms of print billboards on the underground.
The necklace won’t speak to you out loud, but will send text messages to your phone in real time about what’s going on.
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A video advertising it shows it encouraging someone ‘at least we got outside!’ when they doubt themselves on a hike, joking that the food was tasty after sauce spilled onto it in real life, and telling a gamer that their play was so bad it was ’embarassing’ when they were losing to a friend.
The final shot is of a woman connecting with someone in real life, reaching for the neckace but ultimately dropping her hand.
It’s hard to be moved much by her choosing human connection in this instance, however, as the necklace is presumably still listening to everything they say.
A woman wears her ‘friend’ in an advert for the AI necklace (Picture: Friend)
Friend says it doesn’t store audio or transcripts of conversations, data is end-to-end encrypted, and memories can be deleted in one click.
But the data is pushed to the cloud for processing, and there are clear privacy concerns.
Even if you personally are fine with being eavesdropped on all day – and it is legal where you are – others you encounter may not be as delighted.
The small print of ‘Friend’ warns: ‘By using the Services, you understand that the Device is passively recording your surroundings, including video and audio content that may contain personal information that is inappropriate, illegal, or unethical to collect.
‘You are solely responsible for ensuring that you comply with all applicable laws when you use our products or Services.’
Hurricane Humberto could spark a ‘classic’ storm in Britain this weekend. (Picture: Metro Graphics)
Hurricane Humberto could trigger a ‘classic’ storm in the UK this weekend after it leaves the Caribbean and US.
Category 4 Humberto was gaining strength in the Caribbean on Monday morning and could trigger Storm Amy in the UK from Thursday or Friday.
The UK currently lies ‘right in the eye’ of the storm, which could bring 100mph winds and heavy rainfall, a weather expert has warned.
Will Hurricane Humberto hit the UK?
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The Hurricane Humerto forecast suggests Storm Amy could hit Northern Ireland on Thursday or Friday.
It could then tear through the rest of the UK from Friday through to Sunday, a meteorologist has said.
The Met Office has also issued a yellow weather warning for Scotland from Wednesday evening to Friday morning.
Jim Dale, British Weather Services meteorologist, told Metro: ‘This has got its sights tightly set on us.’ He said: ‘There are few safe harbours anywhere in the UK’.
He continued: ‘We could be looking at up to 100mph gusts on exposed coasts and hills and 60mph elsewhere depending on where the centre of it goes.’
‘100mph [brings] trees down and damages buildings and at 60mph we’re still in a state of structural damage. It’s all in the melting pot,’ he added.
The storm currently looks set to travel south, then southeasterly, then westerly, then north-westerly, Jim said.
He stressed that nothing is certain right now but warned Brits that it was better to be ‘forewarned and forearmed’.
The UK could see heavy rainfall, with up to 200 to 250 mm of rain likely to build up over a few mountains by early Friday.
Has the Met Office issued a weather warning?
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Scotland from Wednesday evening to Friday morning.
There is currently no weather warning in place for Saturday and Sunday but this could change.
The Met Office has said the UK could see ‘some very strong winds’ and ‘heavy rainfall’ although the storm’s course remained ‘uncertain’.
Tropical Storm Humberto in the North Atlantic Ocean pictured in a satellite image (Picture: NOAA/AP)
It said: ‘This week’s weather is shaped by a classic northwest-southeast split. While high pressure keeps the southeast settled with light winds and chilly nights, the northwest is seeing a series of frontal systems bringing heavy rain and strong winds.
‘The situation becomes more complex later in the week as tropical cyclones Humberto and Imelda currently over the southwest Atlantic influence our weather, increasing the risk of a deep low developing near the UK.
‘If this materialises, we could see some very strong winds as well as further heavy rainfall Friday into Saturday, but at this time the development and track of this system remains uncertain. We’re monitoring this closely.’
A large cordon is still in place as officers investigate (Picture: UKNIP)
Locals have shared their concerns about safety near a London park after a man was fatally stabbed yesterday.
Police swarmed Camden Gardens yesterday afternoon after a 44-year-old man was stabbed and later died from his injuries.
The incident took place at about 3.30pm with families and dog walkers in the park. No arrests have been made as homicide officers hunt for the attacker.
Locals said the stabbing took place near a makeshift shelter set up by homeless people who have moved into the gardens. A police cordon remains around the green where medical equipment used to help the stabbed man is strewn across the ground.
Witnesses told Metro how families ran from the ‘horrific’ scene.
Mark Hanley, a school handyman with a young daughter, told Metro: ‘There were police everywhere, loads of them. There have been problems with the park.
‘It used to be nice for walking the dog, but there are now tents and shelters where homeless people are staying. It’s become a bit of a no-go zone, which is such a shame.
‘The council really need to do something about it. I don’t want my daughter going near it, it’s such a shame. It’s a horrific thing to happen.’
Locals have expressed worries about the gardens (Picture: John Dunne)
Detectives are looking at nearby CCTV for clues (Picture: UKNIP)
Metro has contacted Camden Council for a statement.
Police tape is still surrounding the park as detectives trawl nearby CCTV and forensics officers scour the area for clues.
Eva Kovacs, 31, a mother of three, said: ‘I heard shouting, looked out of my window and saw families running away from the park. There were police going in, and one said, ‘Someone had been stabbed.’
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‘When we heard it was a murder, we were very shocked because it was the middle of the day and there were a lot of people around.’
Eva said the park is a ‘magnet’ for crime, with people going in and out of the tents ‘all the time’.
She added: ‘We know the homeless people need somewhere to go, but this situation is very serious.’
A third local total Metro: ‘Enough is enough, we have complained about the noise and problems in the park, which we cannot go in because of anti-social behaviour. Now that there has been a murder, the council need to act.’
Councillor Richard Olszewski, Leader of Camden Council, said: ‘We are deeply saddened by what has happened this weekend, and our thoughts right now are with the loved ones of the person who has died.
‘We are working closely with the police to support them on their investigation and to provide reassurance to our communities. For now, the park remains closed as a crime scene, and we have joint patrols in place with the police to provide visibility and reassurance in the area for the rest of the week. We are also providing outreach support to people sleeping rough here.
‘I encourage anyone who has any information about what happened at the weekend to contact the police, or report via Crimestoppers anonymously. I know our communities will pull together, and I want to reassure them we are there for them at this difficult time.’
A police statement said: ‘Met officers attended the scene alongside the London Ambulance Service (LAS) who treated a 44-year-old man for stab wounds before taking him to hospital.
‘Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he sadly died.’
Borough Commander Jason Sewart, who leads policing in Camden, has said: ‘My team are working at pace to establish the full circumstances that led to this man’s tragic death in Camden Gardens.
‘Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family and friends at this very difficult time. They continue to be supported by specialist officers.
‘A crime scene remains in place and residents can expect to see increased patrols in the local area as we carry out enquiries.
‘We urge anyone in or around Camden Gardens to look at any CCTV camera footage and share anything that may be of use with police.
‘This was an isolated incident and we do not believe there to be any threat to the wider public.’
Soak up the start of autumn with London’s best walks (Picture: Getty Images)
The seasons are turning, and London is coming into its own. As the air turns crisp and jumpers come out, the parks of the capital transform into magnificent tapestries of reds, oranges, and golds.
It’s the perfect time to pull on your walking boots and explore our green spaces as they shift into autumn.
From royal parks to woodland trails, London has dozens of routes where you can enjoy the changing leaves up close and personal.
Each one highlights a different side of the city – whether it’s history, a family-friendly stroll, or a quiet corner, there’s a route for everyone.
The Hampstead circular walk
Tucked away in north London, with cobbled lanes, cosy pubs and Georgian houses, Hampstead feels more like a quaint village than a part of bustling London.
Its charm draws you in long before you step onto the Heath – a vast landscape of woodlands, meadows, and ponds that provides welcome respite from the febrile energy of the Underground.
The skyline makes the Parliament Hill climb worth every step (Picture: Getty Images)
The best way to take it in is the Hampstead Circular walk, which starts in Hampstead village, just up from the Tube station, along Heath Street.
From here, it runs up Holly Hill and Hampstead Grove, passing the Holly Bush, an 18th-century pub that makes a tempting early stop, before reaching the entrance to Hampstead Heath.
Once on the Heath, the path takes you through a mix of oak-lined trails and open meadows. Make sure to take a breather at the ponds, watch the colours of autumn ripple on the surface, and look out for brave swimmers.
A highlight of the route is the climb to Parliament Hill, one of London’s best natural viewpoints, where you can catch a panoramic view of the city skyline.
You could also head north to Kenwood House, a stately home with landscaped gardens, and stop at the Brewhouse café for a matcha.
The route then loops back towards Hampstead village, passing Keats House – a must for literature lovers – and Burgh House, before finishing on Flask Walk.
End with a well-earned pint (or even a full Sunday roast) at the Flask pub, the perfect reward after completing the trail.
Duration: Around 4km, taking most walkers 1–1.5 hours.
Difficulty: Moderate – a couple of steep hills, but nothing too demanding.
Getting there: Start at Hampstead Underground Station (Northern line).
Best stop-off: The Flask Hampstead, a gastropub at the walk’s end that claims to serve the best Sunday roast in North London – a worthy reward.
Little Venice to Camden Lock
Little Venice and Camden Lock have a distinct charm during autumn.
Flanked by the Regents Canal, the walk between them offers fresh air, picturesque houseboats and small businesses, before ending at Camden’s bustling food market.
Start your journey at Paddington station: Regent’s Canal and signs to ‘Little Venice’ should be in view immediately. If you’d like a coffee in hand, Darcy and May Green is a nearby brunch spot serving takeaway drinks.
The canal comes to life in autumn (Picture: Getty Images)
You’ll find Little Venice at the junction where Grand Union and Regent’s Canal meet. From here, follow the path east all the way to Camden Lock.
Along the water, you’ll pass restaurants and bars worth the detour, as well as the Puppet Theatre Barge – always a hit if you’ve brought little ones along.
Keep going and you’ll come across Café Laville, an Italian spot on a bridge with views over the canal.
As you near Monkey Valley and London Zoo, you’re almost at your destination. A sharp bend in the canal signals Camden is just ahead, where terrace bars and street food stalls make the perfect place to refuel after your walk.
Duration: About 3.3km (2 miles), roughly 1 hour on foot.
Difficulty: Easy – an accessible, gentle stroll for all walkers.
Getting there: Start at Paddington Station and finish at Camden.
Best stop-off: The Puppet Theatre Barge for some mid-walk entertainment, or The Bridge House near Westbourne Terrace for a cosy pint by the canal.
The Tamsin Trail, Richmond Park
The Tamsin Trail is a walking and cycling route around the perimeter of Richmond Park, London’s largest royal park.
At 11km, it’s no quick stroll, but with ancient woodland, wide meadows and herds of deer, it’s worth the effort.
Most start at Richmond Gate, (a short walk from Richmond station) and head clockwise.
This takes you from Richmond Gate to Pembroke Lodge, where you’ll find views of the Thames Valley, and the Pembroke Lodge cafe.
Watching the wildlife is a highlight of this stroll (Picture: Getty Images)
From Pembroke Lodge, wander through the woodlands and meadows towards Kingston Gate, this stretch is a prime location for spotting red and fallow deer – residents of the park.
Richmond Park is also a great spot to catch birdlife – keep an eye out for woodpeckers and green parakeets.
Finish up this walk heading up to Richmond Gate, an uphill climb that will reward you with views of St Paul’s Cathedral.
Duration: 11km (7 miles), roughly 3-4 hours on foot.
Difficulty: Medium – generally accessible and well-marked paths, some hills along the trail.
Getting there: Head to Richmond Station for the closest access to Richmond Gate.
Best stop-off: The Puppet Theatre Barge for some mid-walk entertainment, or The Bridge House near Westbourne Terrace for a cosy pint by the canal.
The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial walk
Another longer walk through London’s Royal Parks, the 7-mile Tamsin Trail crosses four of the eight parks. It’s circular, so you can start anywhere, though Green Park is recommended.
From there, stroll towards St James’s Park and its lake, then circle back past Buckingham Palace and the Queen Victoria Memorial. Continue through Wellington Arch to Apsley Gate, an entrance to Hyde Park.
At sunrise or sunset, the Serpentine’s arches light the way (Picture: Getty Images)
A broad walk down to the Four Winds Fountain makes a good resting spot before heading past the Old Police House and up Buck Hill, where you can take in the views of Kensington Palace.
Pass Queen Anne’s Alcove and the fountains of the Italian Gardens, then on to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground – a perfect stop if you have little ones in tow.
Fancy a treat? The Orangery offers royal-inspired afternoon tea before you continue past Kensington Palace, taking in the Albert Memorial opposite the Royal Albert Hall.
Finish your loop along the Serpentine, stopping at the gallery if you’re an art lover, passing the Dell Restaurant, and closing your journey within the tranquility of the Rose Gardens, beautiful even in Autumn, and a peaceful end to a long journey.
Duration: 11km (7 miles), 3 hours.
Difficulty: Easy – Medium – mostly flat and paved, with the main challenge being the distance.
Getting there: Multiple stations around the route; Green Park or Hyde Park Corner Station are convenient starting points.
Best stop-off: For a treat, visit the Orangery; or for a quick coffee or sandwich, the Italian Gardens Café is ideal.
The Hampton Court Barge Walk
Heading southwest, the Barge walk takes you along the River Thames, from Kingston-upon-Thames to Hampton Court Palace.
This walking and cycling-friendly trail is named after the moored boats that line the riverside, passing Kingston’s lively waterfront, the Thames Sailing Club, and finishing with views of the Palace framed by autumn leaves.
Start near Bushy Park and head towards Kingston; just before the bridge, you’ll find the entrance to the Barge Walk. From there, follow the riverside path all the way down to Hampton Court. Keep an eye out for Ravens Ait and Thames Ditton islands, privately owned stretches of land with beautiful River Houses.
Near the end, you’ll reach Hampton Court Park. If you’re still full of energy, extend the walk for another angle on the Palace and its gardens, another way to peek into the Palace’s history.
Duration: About 4.5km (3 miles), roughly 1 to 1.5 hours on foot.
Difficulty: Easy – an accessible, gentle flat path suitable for all walkers.
Getting there: By train, head to either Hampton Wick station or Kingston station. You can also find parking near Bushy Park.
Best stop-off: The Pistachio Cafe is located in Bushy Park, near the Kingsfield Playground, or the 1910 Coffee House can be found just before the Kingston Bridge.
Mayor Sadiq Khan (left) has hit back at Donald Trump’s (left) claims of a violent London
Mayor Sadiq Khan has dismissed Donald Trump’s claims that London is crime-ridden as ‘misinformation’.
The US President zeroed in on the Labour mayor during his 55-minute UN speech – saying he’d allowed crime to go ‘through the roof’.
But Khan has hit back, highlighting statistics from the mayor’s office for policing and crime showing a 12% fall in violent offences over the last two years.
Figures also show that since replacing Boris Johnson in 2016, Khan has overseen a 17% fall in the homicide rate.
Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said: ‘We’ve seen a number of politicians here and across the globe talking down London and spreading misinformation about crime and safety in the capital.
‘The evidence is clear, our approach to tackling crime and its complex causes works. It’s driving down violence right across the capital.’
U.S. President Donald Trump slammed Khan’s leadership at the 80th United Nations General Assembly, in New York (Picture: Reuters /Al Drago)
Trump isn’t the only politician to have accused Khan of overseeing a crime wave in the capital.
Tory MP Robert Jenrick told Times Radio that young Londoners don’t feel that ‘London is a safe city they want to live in’.
Meanwhile, Susan Hall, Crime Spokeswoman for the City Hall Conservatives, has accused Khan of failing to fulfil Labour’s manifesto pledge to ‘take back the streets’.
The mayor’s office figures on violent crime compared the twelve months ending in August with the previous twelve months.
All 32 boroughs saw violent crime fall, with Havering’s 16.3% drop the biggest, followed by Enfield’s 16.1% reduction.
Greenwich saw the smallest decrease of 4.3%, followed by Kensington and Chelsea’s 4.6% fall.
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The homicide rate fall was calculated by comparing the twelve months to June this year with the twelve months to May 2016.
Overall homicides in London are at a ten-year low, according to the mayor’s office and better than Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Madrid and all major US cities.
Moment Robert Jenrick asks fare dodger if he is carrying a knife as he confronts brazen passengers who jump Tube barriers (Picture: X / Robert Jenrick)
Office for National Statistics data, also showed Londoners are less likely to be a victim of violent crime (26.4 offences per 1,000 population) than across the rest of England and Wales (31.9 offences per 1,000 population).
However, Susan Hall has previously pointed to figures that suggest certain types of crime are rising in the capital.
The Tory politician often highlights knife crime – with research from the Policy Exchange think tank showing that such offences have risen by nearly 60% in three years.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Rachel Williams said: ‘Violence with injury is down in every single borough – a clear sign that our approach is making a difference.
‘Homicide is now at its lowest level in a decade, violent crime resulting in injury has fallen and firearms discharges are less than half what they were seven years ago.’
Mehmet Onal, 58, rescued an injured baby squirrel four years ago and nursed it back to health (Mehmet Onal / SWNS)
Four years ago in a Sussex churchyard, kebab shop owner Mehmet Onal, 58, found a baby squirrel with a broken leg.
Now, the two are inseparable and share Oreos, shopping trips, and what Mr Onal calls ‘unconditional love… loyalty and respect’.
Onal found the baby squirrel in Hailsham, near Hastings, in 2021. When an animal rescue could not help, he decided to nurse him back to health himself.
He said: ‘I take him to the vet and she said that by law they had to put them down.’
Onal said he and the squirrel, Alvin, share ‘unconditional love’ (Mehmet Onal/SWNS)
For eight weeks Mehmet cared for the squirrel, later named Alvin, giving him hydrotherapy until he recovered.
When Alvin was well again, Mehmet returned to the churchyard to release him, but the animal kept coming back.
‘He came running at me like a bullet,’ he said.
‘It was emotional. The way he came to him. He didn’t want to go.’
Since then, Alvin has lived with Mehmet and the pair have become best friends.
‘But some people call him a vermin because he is a grey squirrel. He is my boy. I start crying.
Police outside Spaghetti House restaurant during the siege, Knightsbridge, London, UK, 29th September 1975. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
On September 28 1975, staff at the Spaghetti House restaurant in Knightsbridge were confronted by a terrifying sight.
Three robbers had stormed into the restaurant, holding a sawn-off shotgun and two handguns demanding that week’s takings of £11,000 (£117,921 in today’s money.)
They barricaded staff in the basement and had a getaway driver at the ready.
But the plan was left in tatters after the alarm was raised by one of the managers who managed to escape their clutches.
More than 400 officers, including firearms teams, later surrounded the building. After holding the hostages for six days they were later released unharmed.
Staff at the Italian restaurant were held hostage while armed robbers tried to steal their week’s earnings(Picture: ANL/Shutterstock)
A significant number of police officers were called to the site (Picture: ANL/Shutterstock)
The armed trio were affiliated with Black action groups, later claiming the raid was a political act. But this explanation was dismissed by detectives who treated it as a robbery gone wrong. A court later heard claims that the robbery was launched to raise funds to pay off a gambling debt.
While the restaurant was once known as one of London’s go-to Italian restaurants, it closed in 2015 after the landlord decided to redevelop the block into luxury shops.
However, some locals remember how one of the most affluent neighbourhoods on the planet was transformed into a no-go zone as police with guns, shields and chattering radios surrounded the restaurant on that fateful day.
Faisal, an Egyptian pensioner who lived near the Spaghetti House and still resides in the area just 100 metres from Harrods, told Metro he was told by police to leave his flat in the aftermath of the raid.
He told Metro: ‘It was chaos. There were lots of police sirens and then they all parked up outside the spaghetti house. I used to eat there it was a great place and very popular.
Staff were left terrified during the incident, which went on for six days (Picture: ANL/Shutterstock)
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The front window of restaurant Spaghetti House during the siege in Knightsbridge (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
A barricade was built behind the restaurant during the six day siege (Picture: Bill Cross/ANL/Shutterstock)
‘A police officer told me to leave my flat as there was an “armed incident”. It was only the next day when I got my paper that I realised what had happened in Knightsbridge of all places.
‘Because I was not directly opposite the restaurant and in the firing line I suppose, they let me return to my flat. All of the locals watched what was going on from behind the police lines though. It was like watching a crime film, it was very surreal.’
He joked: ‘Harrods remained open but I had to go the long way round, which was inconvenient.’
A concierge at a local flat block nearby told Metro: ‘I wasn’t around when the siege happened but my dad was working round the corner at the time.
‘He told us kids what had happened. We were very shocked and he said he and his workmates had been evacuated.
‘It was a big deal at the time. When the Spaghetti House closed I suppose the memories went with it.’
The Spaghetti House seiege resulted in technology that still influences the police force’s approach to hostage situations today (Credits: ANL/Shutterstock)
The gunmen held the hostages for six days (Picture: ANL/Shutterstock)
A mobile canteen is seen serving tea to the police (Picture: Monty Fresco/ANL/Shutterstock)
While nearby residents remember the siege as a terrifying attack, for the Met Police it marked the first time they used groundbreaking fibre optic technology to monitor the scene.
Two tiny cameras were placed in the building to film the gunmen, with one being pushed through a vent, while an audio device captured their conversations as it unfolded.
As well as Met hostage negotiators, a psychologist was brought in to analyse them and their threat level.
Through the covert operation, police established the gang leader as Franklin Davies, and began to work up a profile of him.
Davies told officers during negotiations that he was a member of Black Liberation – an organisation modelled on the Black Panthers in the US.
He demanded the release of two black prisoners, even though they had already been freed.
He also requested a visit to the scene from the Home Secretary and an aircraft to facilitate the group’s escape to the West Indies.
The only concession the police allowed was a demand for a radio so the robbers could listen to the way the siege was being reported.
Although police initially categorised the robbery as a terrorist act, the Met Commissioner at the time Sir Robert Mark later dismissed any political motivations.
One of the released hostages was Enrico Maininim who is photographed with his wife after the incident (Picture: Luther Jackson/ANL/Shutterstock)
Another of the released hostages was Renata Nasta who returned to his wife who is also pictured (Picture: ANL/Shutterstock)
He later wrote: ‘From the outset it was rightly assumed that this was a simple armed robbery that had gone wrong and any attempts by Davies to represent it as a political act were received with the derision they clearly deserved.’
On October 3, the group gave up and released all the remaining hostages after previously letting two go.
A shot rang out in the building and it emerged that Davies had turned a gun on himself but he was not fatally wounded. He later stood trial alongside his two accomplices.
Davies was sentenced to 22 years while the others – Wesley Dick and Anthony Munroe – were jailed for 18 and 17 years respectively.
Former hostages return to the Spaghetti House restaurant in Knightsbridge, London, 8th October 1975 (Photo by John Downing/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Here’s what the front of the former Spaghetti House restaurant looks like today (Picture: John Dunne/Metro)
Today, the restaurant is an empty space within one of London’s prestigious postcodes, quietly sitting unused and surrounded by shops and whizzing traffic.
While motorists and shoppers passing by might be unaware of the location’s significance, its local residents and workers nearby keep the venue’s history alive.
‘I remember thinking that it was something that we only though happened in America with the armed cops on the rooftops,’ the concierge added.
‘No one really remembers it here, but it’s part of London’s history.’
What does your city like to do in bed? (Picture: Getty Images/Image Source)
Whether your sexual kink involves role play or something a little more unsavoury, like ‘cum walks’, the secret is about to be out.
The biggest sexual kinks for each UK city have been revealed after researchers trawled through Britain’s search history to expose just what get’s us going.
When it comes to Londoners, they’re pretty vanilla, but Leeds and Birmingham both seem to have a slightly unexpected fetish.
The study, conducted by porn site BabeStation, found the top search across the nation was ‘UK models’ when it came to pleasuring themselves, but when it looked at individual cities, there were some naughtier searches taking the crown.
Starting with the capital, Londoners get off on lesbian porn, with the most common search being for ‘girl on girl’ adult content.
It’s not all that surprising given that lesbian porn is also very popular with women, and it was the fourth most searched for category on Pornhub in 2024.
Londoners love getting down and dirty too, although not always responsibly, given the London borough of the City of Westminster has the highest rates of syphilis, gonorrhoea and genital warts per 100,000 people in the country.
In the south, Bristol was also fairly vanilla with ‘couples’ porn being the most searched for. But as we head to the midlands and further north, things start to head up a little.
Birmingham residents have been dipping their toes into some good old fashioned foot fetish content.
Sex therapist Aliyah Moore previously told Metro that food fetishes aren’t uncommon and that happy experiences with our feet early on in life can help shape this kink.
‘Chance sightings of bare feet, positive reinforcement during foot-related activities, or early sexual experiences involving feet could all have been factors,’ Aliyah said.
‘How the particular body part is portrayed in the media or how society views them might influence a person’s tastes and cause a foot fetish.’
A University of Bologna study found 47% percent of body part fetishists got off on feet content. Among those people preferring objects related to body parts, footwear (shoes, boots, etc.) was the second most popular, too. So if this is what floats your boat, you certainly aren’t alone.
Sheffield locals have a predisposition to MILFs, with searches for mother figures being extremely popular. It’s surprising that more cities don’t also share this as the most alluring kink, given its the second most searched for term on PornHub.
Foot fetishes are very popular in Birmingham (Picture: Getty Images)
But just an hour up the road in Leeds, locals are looking for women who have aged like fine wine, with the most searched for term being ‘grannies’.
Interestingly, Golden Age content (featuring senior men and women) was the biggest sex trend of the year back in 2023, with mature porn becoming the second most popular category on PornHub.
It was also the fifth most popular category for women, while searches for the term granny jumped 132% that year.
‘The real surprise this year is that grannies have overtaken lesbians,’ a BabeStation spokesperson says. ‘It shows just how adventurous viewers are getting.’
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Liverpudlians have the opposite preference preferring ‘college’ porn with young men and women performing for the camera. It’s a preference that has come under scrutiny, ever since Bonnie Blue began selling content by taking university students’ virginities in Freshers week.
In Manchester, locals are adopting a more-the-merrier approach, with ‘threesome’ being the number one searched for term.
This was the 13th most popular term on Pornhub last year, with the allure of a third party seemingly never getting old.
So, do you share the same kink as the rest of your neighbours?
The shooting of Cherry Groce led to two days of clashes between the local community and police (Picture: Brendan Beirne/REX/Shutterstock)
When officers arrived at the home Dorothy ‘Cherry’ Groce on September 28 1985, her family weren’t expecting how much it would change London – and the UK – forever.
They were looking for her 21-year-old son Michael, believing he was connected to an armed robbery and was hiding out at the family home in Normandy Road, Brixton.
While she was in bed, and three of her six children were at home, officers, including one armed inspector, burst into the property, leaving the family terrified.
‘It was a loud noise that made me run down the stairs – by the time I got down there were three police dogs, police rushing everywhere and one of them had a gun,’ Cherry’s daughter said at the time.
During the aggressive confrontation, the armed officer shot Cherry, leaving her serious injuries. The 37-year-old was taken to hospital but later declared paralysed from the waist downwards.
Mother-of-six, Cherry Groce, 38, at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, after she was shot (Picture: PA Archive/PA Images)
As word of the shooting spread across south London, skirmishes broke out and escalated, leading to two days of protests and riots. Tensions were already high between members of the Black community and the police after a previous uprising in 1981.
During the 1985 riot, 43 civilians and ten police officers were left injured. Cars were burnt out, shops were set on fire, looting was reported. Photo journalist David Hodgson, who was taking a photograph of the scene when he was attacked, later died in hospital of an aneurysm.
While Brixton later returned to normality, the mental scars remained in the area for decades, and Cherry’s health never recovered. She later died in hospital in 2011 of kidney failure after suffering an infection.
Demonstration march through London in support of Cherry Groce (Picture: Bill Cross/ANL/Shutterstock
Her youngest son, Lee, was just 11 when the police raided their home and shot his mother in front of him.
He said she had told officers ‘I can’t breathe, I can’t feel me legs’ after the gun was discharged.
After the death of George Floyd, who murdered by a white police officer in 2020 , the memories of what happened to Cherry came flooding back.
To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro’s London news hub.
‘She would have been appalled at what happened to George Floyd,’ he told Metro. ‘It would have probably triggered trauma for her, especially as he said the same words as her – “I can’t breathe”.
‘I know she would want things to have been better and want us to have learnt from the past. She would probably be disappointed with how slow we’ve made progress but also want to acknowledge some of the progress that has been made regardless.’
After her death, Lee set up the Cherry Groce Foundation in 2014 to help those in the community whose voices have been unheard.
People felt they were being discriminated against by the white police officers; the Black community felt they couldn’t trust them (Credits: Steve Bent/ANL/Shutterstock)
He fought for a full apology from the police for the shooting, after they initially gave her compensation but did not admit liability. The policeman who shot her, Inspector Douglas Lovelock, was charged with inflicting unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm and later was acquitted.
Lee told Metro: ‘The uprisings in 1981 had a huge impact on the community, which I felt gave momentum to the second uprisings four years later.
‘In terms of what has changed since then, we had the Scarman report which highlighted the failures of police officers. Not everything was implemented by Lord Scarman’s recommendations, however, some things were, for instance, the Sus Law was scrapped.
The shooting of Cherry added to this tension, and soon the protests spread across Brixton (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)
‘Twenty years later, when the Macpherson report looked into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, many of the same recommendations were made all over again.’
The Sus Law, which was officially known as section 4 of the Vagrancy Act, allowed officers to stop anyone they thought was going to commit a crime. Met police officers disproportionately used them against the Black community, and they were finally scrapped in 1981.
In 2014, former Met Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe apologised for the wrongful shooting.
The acceptance of blame was prompted by an inquest which found that there were eight separate failings by the police during the raid and Cherry was unlawfully shot.
Aerial view of fire engines outside a burnt-out furniture warehouse on Coldharbour Lane. The shops on the left have their windows boarded up (Picture by SSPL/Getty Images)
‘Could we see what happened in 1985 happen again? Yes, we could,’ Lee said. ‘The community will only take so much and we still haven’t fully healed from the wounds of the past so therefore it makes it very, very sensitive.
‘Any type of injustice, particularly against Black people, there is always a risk that we could have another uprising, and that it why it is so important we learn, we apply and hopefully transform.’
He urged young people channel their trauma into something positive.
‘Trauma is a real thing and has a real serious impact,’ he said. ‘Some hurt people hurt people, so therefore, I would like to say to the young Londoners, seek support and secondly in your attempt to heal from trauma find purpose.
Following her death, a memorial to Cherry was erected in Windrush Square, in the centre of Brixton, and a Blue Plaque was placed on the family’s former home.
Ridge Gunessee, 33, now lives at the house and told Metro he was ‘overwhelmed’ by its significance.
Lee Lawrence, poses for a photograph in front of the Cherry Groce Memorial Pavilion in Windrush Square, Brixton (Picture: ALISHIA ABODUNDE)
‘People come to pray outside sometimes and obviously being the 40th anniversary it’s really important to remember what happened,’ he said. ‘Things are a lot better around here now, but we should not forget.’
For Lee, his mother’s strength and positivity lives on in his mind, and remains a constant source of inspiration for him.
‘She never dealt with her ordeal with negativity; she tried to stay positive. My mum tried to be the best mother that she could within the position that she was in,’ he said.
Ridge Gunessee is pictured outside of the property in Normandy Road, where Cherry’s plaque stands strong (Picture: John Dunne/Metro)
‘I’ve taken on a lot of her values in terms of how I’ve dealt with this and I want what happened to my mum to stand for something.
‘I don’t want it to be in vain, and in order for that to happen I have to ensure that I do my bit to ensure that lessons are learned, implemented and that we see the benefits.’
The Colour of Injustice, by Lee Lawrence, is published by Abacus on October 2nd. His first book The Louder I will sing: A story of Racism, Riots and Injustice won the 2020 Costa Biography award.
Handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of Junior Ryan Coleman, whose body was found in a derelict building in south-east London (Picture: Met Police/PA)
A man has been charged with murder after a missing person was found dead in a derelict building.
Junior Ryan Coleman, 43, was reported missing on August 20 and his body was found in Brockley Road, Lewisham, southeast London, a month later, on September 19.
A post-mortem examination revealed he died from a blunt force trauma to his head and a murder probe was launched the following day.
Daniel Watkis, 39, of Hackney, was arrested on Thursday and charged on Friday before being remanded in custody at Bromley Magistrates’ Court.
He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on October 24.
Mr Coleman’s family are being supported by specialist officers.
Detective Chief Inspector Sam Townsend, leading the investigation, said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Junior during this difficult time.
‘My team are working at pace to establish the exact circumstances of Junior’s disappearance and his murder.
‘We’re appealing to anyone who knew Junior to come forward, especially if you had seen him in the summer months.
‘If you have any information, no matter how small it may seem, please get in touch. It could be crucial to our investigation.’