Phoebe Hobbs
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phoebehobbs.bsky.social
Phoebe Hobbs
@phoebehobbs.bsky.social
40 followers 37 following 41 posts
Reporter for Somerset Live and the Bath Chronicle.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Phoebe Hobbs
somersetlive.co.uk
His family are pleading for help to get him home
Greek holiday nightmare worsens as dad trapped now in coma
His family are pleading for help to get him home
www.somersetlive.co.uk
August 21, 2025 at 2:16 PM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
Things I've learnt reporting on housing:

- Don't buy a new build
- Don't buy a old build either
- Don't buy leasehold
- Don't buy a house
- Don't rent a house
- Flee to the Outer Hebrides
- Live in a small fishing hut and earn your keep on the high seas
- Forage for food in the forest
May 28, 2025 at 1:02 PM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
"If you're no longer convinced that voting could truly help, could you at least be persuaded that it couldn't hurt?"

My half-hearted attempt to fight against voter apathy ahead of today's elections.

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerse...
Go and vote today, because what else are you going to do today
Just get it over with.
www.somersetlive.co.uk
May 1, 2025 at 8:09 AM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
Six women were arrested inside the Westminster Meeting House in March on "suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance".

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerse...
Quakers protest outside Bath police station following raid
Protesters were seen holding up signs outside the Police Station.
www.somersetlive.co.uk
April 7, 2025 at 11:25 AM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
"It was a really popular pub. As it turned out, probably for the wrong reasons!".

www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/wha...
Abandoned pub site of major drugs bust lies in state of disrepair
It had become a centre for drug dealing
www.somersetlive.co.uk
March 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
With its vintage flowery wallpaper, gallery of old portraits with mysterious sitters, and tasselled hanging lampshades, the Velo Lounge offers a carefully curated sense of bohemianism. Dining here feels a bit little like occupying an Edward Hopper painting.

www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/foo...
Hidden Bohemian restaurant serves up cool as well as food
Most tourists won't know about this lounge, but it's a big favourite with residents.
www.somersetlive.co.uk
February 25, 2025 at 1:32 PM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
One man took out a £22,000 loan to support his business at Castle Place. Now, he fears the shopping centre will close down completely.

www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/sho...
'Ghost town' shopping centre with just a few shops left 'abandoned'
One man took out a £22,000 loan to support his business at Castle Place. Now, he fears the shopping centre will close down completely.
www.somersetlive.co.uk
February 24, 2025 at 11:09 AM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
His friend Gabriel Avalon described him as "a character, a chap, a nutter, a friend".

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerse...
Tributes pour in after beloved town wizard Merlin dies
Merlin (also known as Raymond Rutter) was a local celebrity in Glastonbury and people travelled from all over the country to meet him.
www.somersetlive.co.uk
February 21, 2025 at 4:25 PM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
Lisa, who works as a medical secretary at Royal United Hospitals, says not a day goes by when she's not in pain: "I'm not sleeping because I'm dreaming I'm in labour, because the pain is like labour."

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerse...
NHS worker left in pain "like labour" after waiting years for treatment
"I don't have a day where I don't have pain."
www.somersetlive.co.uk
February 20, 2025 at 12:38 PM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
"On arrival crews confirmed that the tide in the quay was out and the casualty was on hardstanding."

www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwal...
Woman falls five metres off quay in Cornwall
She had to be rescued
www.cornwalllive.com
February 15, 2025 at 3:48 PM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
The inn has a storied history going back to Tudor times, and has since attracted ghost hunters after regulars reported seeing ghostly Victorian figures.

www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/foo...
Villagers have five weeks to snap up beloved village pub
The Inn at Freshford could be bought by the community...But they have less than six weeks to place a bid.
www.somersetlive.co.uk
February 12, 2025 at 11:26 AM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
Mozzarella - named for his handsome white coat - was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2021 after his owner noticed him being unsteady on his paws. After a successful operation he has since made a full recovery - albeit with a newfound obsession with chicken.

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerse...
Cat called Mozzarella becomes obsessed with chicken after brain surgery
The vet said it was one of the biggest feline tumours he had ever seen.
www.somersetlive.co.uk
February 10, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Reposted by Phoebe Hobbs
somersetlive.co.uk
Batheaston has a surprising forgotten history involving the suffragette movement.
Old phone box bought for £1 turned into touching memorial
www.somersetlive.co.uk
February 10, 2025 at 8:59 AM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
Nicolene Shepherd, 41, says she was fined after taking her children out of school to scatter their grandfather's ashes.

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerse...
Parent fined for 'taking children to scatter grandfather's ashes'
Nicolene Shepherd says she was fined after taking her children out of school to scatter their grandfather's ashes.
www.somersetlive.co.uk
February 10, 2025 at 10:01 AM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
"Stacks is an exciting new joint that makes 'unfinished' a compliment, not an insult. Most cafes consider themselves complete when they first open their doors, but Stacks invokes a sense of unending experimentation."

My review for Somerset Live ☕

www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/foo...
Pure imagination café where 'unfinished' is the new complete
Stacks opened last year, but it isn't done evolving
www.somersetlive.co.uk
February 4, 2025 at 11:04 AM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
Just heard that Chloe - who I had the pleasure of speaking to a few weeks ago - has passed away. I only spoke to her once, but she was so bright, sincere, and cared so much about advocating for mental health awareness. RIP.

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerse...
Miss Somerset hopes to redefine the beauty pageant stereotype
It's not about who looks the prettiest - and she is dedicating her pageant platform to a friend she lost to suicide
www.somersetlive.co.uk
January 30, 2025 at 12:44 PM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
The town - which has been hit by a double yellow weather warning for wind and rain - saw local people flee to the Minster after their homes were flooded yesterday (Sunday, January 26).

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerse...
Residents take refuge after being evacuated from flooded homes
An emergency fundraiser has been launched
www.somersetlive.co.uk
January 27, 2025 at 12:32 PM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
A local councillor said he'll be getting just three hours sleep in the rush to try and help people in Chard who have been impacted by a night of heavy flooding.

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerse...
Sainsbury's superstore closes after Biblical rain in Chard
Homes have flooded throughout the town.
www.somersetlive.co.uk
January 27, 2025 at 10:56 AM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
What do you have in your diary this summer? How about playing Glasto? 🤔 My piece for @somersetlive.co.uk
January 23, 2025 at 12:11 PM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
"What might have been a hard sell - Shakespeare and jazz, jazz and Shakespeare - is rendered accessible by an impeccable cast and music that goes down smooth as a shot of bourbon."

My review of 'Play On!' at @oldvictheatre.bsky.social - playing until Saturday

www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/mus...
Play On! is a joyous musical with a magnetic cast
"Shakespeare is an acquired taste. Jazz is an acquired taste. Combining both takes bravery and vision."
www.somersetlive.co.uk
January 22, 2025 at 11:47 AM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
Aditya, 19, went to the restaurant to celebrate New Year's Eve with a friend, but was deeply disturbed after accidentally being served beef.

Wagamama has since apologised for what they said was a regrettable incident due to a human error.

www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/foo...
Hindu student mistakenly served beef dumplings at Wagamama
Wagamama have since apologised for the 'regrettable incident'
www.somersetlive.co.uk
January 15, 2025 at 11:48 AM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
A "dangerous structure" with "cracks and bulging walls" was evacuated in Bodmin this afternoon (Sunday, January 5).

www.cornwalllive.com/news/local-n...
Residents evacuated from 'dangerous' building in town centre
The building was showing cracks and bulging walls
www.cornwalllive.com
January 5, 2025 at 9:08 PM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
The road to Olympic Bronze was not simple for Taunton-born rower Becky Wilde: "I underwent [surgery on my arms] ten weeks before the Olympic trials - it was kind of a race against time to get fit and get back in the boat".

Here's how she persevered.

www.somersetlive.co.uk/sport/other-...
Olympic medalist's triumphant journey through adversity
She didn't just have to prove herself at the Olympic try-outs, she had to prove herself while recovering from surgery on both her arms.
www.somersetlive.co.uk
January 3, 2025 at 9:58 AM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
"The cost of living crisis and the news of the new budget on the horizon is making it increasingly hard for small businesses to survive. Heartbreakingly, we have not been able to keep up with the ever increasing costs."

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerse...
Much-loved café closes down for good as money runs out
'Heartbreakingly, we have not been able to keep up with the ever increasing costs'
www.somersetlive.co.uk
January 1, 2025 at 3:15 PM
phoebehobbs.bsky.social
One customer said he was 'devastated' by the news: "Sadly Yeovil's night time economy just isn't there it seems[,] like a lot of small towns. Instead people are happy to go to horrendous chains instead of fantastic independent restaurants and bars."

www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/wha...
Restaurant closes tonight after 11 years in business
Kazbar will shut its doors tonight for the last time.
www.somersetlive.co.uk
December 31, 2024 at 12:11 PM