PizzaExpress launches hot food-to-go range at Thorpe Park Fright Nights. October 6, 2026 PizzaExpress has launched a new hot food-to-go range at Thorpe Park's Fright Nights through a partnership with Merlin Entertainments and Aramark. The launch marks the first introduction of the new PizzaExpress format, which has been developed for food-to-go environments and is being served from a branded Airstream at Thorpe Park. The menu includes four pizzas: Sloppy Giuseppe, BBQ Chicken, American and Margherita. The single-serve pizzas are hand stretched and have been designed to be served to customers in under one minute. PizzaExpress said the new format forms part of its plans to make its menu available beyond its traditional restaurant estate and into more food-to-go locations. The launch follows a number of developments for PizzaExpress during 2026, including the introduction of a Margherita pizza on Aer Lingus flights and the opening of quick-service locations in London. The business currently operates nearly 360 restaurants across the UK, alongside its retail presence in supermarkets. Chris Holmes, PizzaExpress Chief Commercial Officer, said, "PizzaExpress has been an iconic part of family days out for more than six generations, so it feels only right to launch our first ever hot food to go range at with Merlin and Aramark at Thorpe Park throughout the Fright Night month. This is just the start of an exciting new mission to bring ultra-fast restaurant quality hot pizza and Dough Balls to people on the move and we look forward to landing in more food-to-go locations very soon." Fright Nights is celebrating its 25th anniversary at Thorpe Park this year and runs on selected dates from 2 October to 1 November. The event includes scare mazes, scare zones, live entertainment and rides operating after dark, including Hyperia. Paul Baines, Regional Director of Southern Operations at Aramark, said, "Partnering with the iconic brand that is PizzaExpress to bring these new pizzas to the market is incredibly exciting. A new offering from a trusted brand like PizzaExpress is exactly what the hot food to go market needs." The partnership between PizzaExpress and Merlin Entertainments also extends into PizzaExpress restaurants during October and November, with offers available to Merlin Annual Pass members. Associated Articles Aramark Extend Partnership with Merlin Entertainments Provides direct background on the relationship between Aramark and Merlin Entertainments, including food and beverage operations across attractions such as Thorpe Park Resort, Chessington World of Adventures Resort and LEGOLAND Windsor Resort. Auntie Anne's UK&I Unveils Plans to Open 10 Stores in 2026 Amid Rising Demand for Treats-To-Go Adds context on the continued growth of flexible food-to-go formats in high-footfall retail and leisure locations as operators look beyond traditional restaurant sites. IRO Sushi Opens Two New Sites in a Week as UK Expansion Accelerates Provides wider context on growth within the UK food-to-go and casual dining market, with operators developing formats designed around convenience and faster service.

Every reveal from Minecraft Live 2026, from new biomes to big surprises. It's that time of year again. A chill in the air, pumpkin lattes on repeat, and Minecraft Live, of course! Today Forest IT Services got a first look at new Minecraft content, including Minecraft Dungeons 2, launching on September 29. Here's everything announced at this year's Minecraft Live. Deep dive into Minecraft Dungeons 2. Ahead of next week's launch, the development team gave Forest IT Services an extensive look at what is coming in Minecraft Dungeons 2. The sequel features a bigger, interconnected world with expanded combat, deeper character customization and better multiplayer. The segment also spotlighted the Sift, a mysterious new dimension with distinct environments, inhabitants, dangers, and gameplay. Developers shared insights into the creative process of designing and introducing an entirely new dimension to the universe. The fourth dimension: The Sift coming in 2027. The Sift isn't just for Minecraft Dungeons 2 players, it's officially coming to Minecraft Java and Bedrock editions in 2027. This will be a huge milestone for Minecraft as it's the first new dimension added in over 14 years joining the Overworld, The Nether and The End as places for the player to discover and explore. Yep, that statement made me feel ancient too, and I felt like the Nether was much more recent, but it was actually added in 2010 and just updated in mid-2020. This is legitimately the first brand new dimension in over a decade! Ice Caves, new zombies and new combat mechanics. Mojang teased the next upcoming vanilla game drop too, as Forest IT Services were shown around the Ice Caves, an all-new, rare underground extension of cold biomes filled with glowing ice crystals. The ice crystals can be placed both vertically and horizontally for building and decoration, or even as just a light source. Forest IT Services also got a whole new mob! The frozen zombie if encountered will apply a stacking freezing affect to the player with melee attacks, and he throws ice balls that deal knockback. Normal zombies can also become Frozen variants if exposed to powder snow. Ice balls are dropped upon the death of a Frozen Zombie, or can be crafted by players and used as a weapon to deal damage and knockback, or brewed into an ice cold freezing potion! Minecraft coming to Nintendo Switch 2. Such an absolute no brainer I'm surprised it isn't already there, but Minecraft is officially launching on Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27, 2026 with enhanced performance and visuals. Merlin entertainment revealed the Minecraft Hotel and rollercoaster. I've been excited about the upcoming Minecraft-themed park in the UK since it was announced, but beyond some concept art, Forest IT Services haven't seen much detail, especially given its 2027 opening date. Well today Minecraft Live showed Forest IT Services something to really get excited about, with these two major additions to the Chessington World of Adventures based park. There's going to be a Minecraft Hotel, and the official name of the resort's new rollercoaster is "Escape the Nether." I'm planning to be there the minute this place opens, as my son is going to lose his mind, and Forest IT Services missed out on the London Minecraft experiences. I've got high hopes for this theme park; don't let me down, Merlin! Sound effect packs and new creator platform. During the stream, Jens Bergenström (Chief Creative Officer at Mojang Studios) announced a new initiative to build a richer, more accessible, and more diverse Minecraft experience through an evolving creator platform. Additionally, Mojang introduced Sound Effects Packs for the Minecraft Marketplace, giving players brand-new tools to customize their worlds and bring their creations to life later this year. And that's a wrap on Minecraft Live 2026. Minecraft fans should be happy with all of those updates, but if not, let me know what you were hoping for in the comments below! Don't forget there is an ongoing Wilderness Bound Community Challenge where players can earn exclusive character creator items and Java skins simply by placing cushions and a straw bed in-game; full details are here.

First-ever Minecraft Hotel sets opening in London 2027. Minecraft Hotel to open in London. Minecraft Hotel, the world's first block-styled lodging, will debut in 2027 at Chessington World of Adventures in South-West London. The reveal came during the September 2026 Minecraft Live event, where Mojang Studios and Merlin Entertainments announced the new attraction and the park's first Minecraft-themed rollercoaster, Escape the Nether. Guests will jump straight into the block-inspired world, staying beyond the park gates and encountering familiar mobs, a Deep Sea Diner, and rooms that keep the fantasy alive even after departure. Park-Integrated adventure. Escape the Nether is promoted as the world's first Minecraft-themed rollercoaster, blending indoor and outdoor elements inspired by the perilous dimension. Discover more Language Resources Word Games The surrounding Minecraft World park will feature the exhilarating rollercoaster plus an immersive indoor-outdoor experience that mirrors the game's atmosphere. Inside the hotel: design & features. The concept art shows a blocky building with an outdoor sitting area, and the entrance bristles with a Baby Zombie Chicken Jockey, minecart rails, and a likeness of Steve wielding a pickaxe. Within the Deep Sea Diner, mossy stone pillars and kelp stalks hang from the ceiling, while walls display Ocean Monument sculptures. Rooms incorporate redstone lamps, wooden chests, and Creeper-themed cushions, reinforcing the algorithmic aesthetic and ensuring guests feel fully immersed in the cell-level world. While the hotel sets the tone for the park, Mojang's roadmap also earmarks a new Ice Caves biome for winter, a Sift dimension launch in 2027, and the debut of additional mobs and vegetation in the Four-dimensional Sift realm.