The Great Christmas Feast review: the best seasonal event in London November 19, 2024 With rip-off Christmas events around every corner in the capital, it’s refreshing to find a yuletide event that takes itself seriously. The Great Christmas Feast is a theatrical event based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, with a three-course meal served in intervals between the appearances of each of the ghosts. Inspired by Victorian cooking [...]
Minecraft theme park to open in the UK November 19, 2024 Merlin Entertainments, the giant that operates the likes of Alton Towers, has revealed plans to open a Minecraft theme park in the UK. The group is to invest more than £85m in the first two attractions, which will be launching in the US and the UK between 2026 and 2027 after partnering with Mojang Studios, [...]
High Low Pairings: Fried Chicken November 19, 2024 It was the revered Château d’Yquem that first introduced me to the beauty of the high-low pairing when they served their premier sweet wine with KFC-style fried chicken. It was the taste sensation I never knew I needed, and I set out to discover what other fine wines would enhance the humble (but rightfully beloved) [...]
Reynolds and economists warn of trade impact of US tariffs November 19, 2024 The business secretary has warned of a “significant moment for global trade” and predicted a “difficult conversation” with the US lies ahead, as economists predict a £20bn blow to Britain’s economy from Donald Trump’s tariff plans. Jonathan Reynolds warned the UK should avoid “speculating on how we should respond before there is something to respond [...]
Darts: Venues, clubs and businesses thrive from Ally Pally showcase November 18, 2024 The nights rolling in at 4pm and no longer being able to resist the temptation of turning on the heating can only mean one thing: the annual darts pilgrimage to Ally Pally is nearly upon us. Because with Luke Littler absolutely romping the Grand Slam of Darts title in Wolverhampton on Sunday, all eyes are [...]
Italy holidays: swap the Amalfi Coast for this town with less tourists and beautiful vistas November 18, 2024 Italy holidays: In this quiet, Amalfi-adjacent coastal town, a much-loved Italian Count and his creations lie beneath a towering Christ the Redeemer WHERE: Swerving the Amalfi Coast, I took advantage of a new twice-a-week flight from London Stansted to Salerno and instead pivoted south on a spacious and picturesque 90-minute Italo train to Maratea, Potenza, [...]
Huel: Record sales as profit triples at brand backed by celebrities November 18, 2024 Huel, which counts the likes of Idris Elba, Steven Bartlett and Jonathan Ross among its investors, has reported record sales as a profit almost tripled during its latest financial year. The Hertfordshire-headquartered company, which is known for its vitamin-enriched food items, has reported a revenue of £214m for the 12 months to 31 July, 2024, up from the £184.5m [...]
How Arla Foods boss went from selling cigarettes to Lurpak and Cravendale November 15, 2024 A globe-trotting career that began selling cigarettes at British American Tobacco and has led to heading up the UK arm of dairy giant Arla Foods is maybe not what Bas Padberg could have predicted when he started out in the early 1990s. The managing director of the group behind Lurpak, Cravendale, Skyr and B.O.B milk [...]
‘Not the 1970s’: Minister slaps down four-day week calls from civil servants November 14, 2024 Civil servants won’t get a four-day working week as we’re “not living in the 1970s”, the pensions minister has said. Emma Reynolds slapped down the demand from Whitehall bureaucrats on Times Radio, after it emerged staff at one department claimed the policy could save the government millions. Workers at the Department for Environment, Food and [...]
Pressure on incomes helps B&M grow as value retailer targets 1,200 stores November 14, 2024 Value retailer B&M Bargains has posted a tick-up in revenue as demand for bargain goods has remained high amid pressure on incomes and a higher tax burden. The Liverpool-based group, which included Heron Foods, said group revenue in the half year to 28 September increased by 3.7 per cent to £2.6bn. While this is lower than growth last [...]