How to discover new wines without breaking the bank July 15, 2021 When it comes to choosing a wine, people tend to stick to what they know. A recognisable wine like a Malbec or a Sauvignon Blanc can feel like a safe bet, or you may be wary of mispronouncing a wine you have never seen before to that snooty looking waiter. Restaurants know the more popular [...]
City suburbs, commuter towns and coastal locations record biggest jumps in rent July 15, 2021 City suburbs, commuter towns and coastal location have recorded the biggest rises in rent for tenants last year. Property portal Rightmove said that towns such as Rochdale, Folkestone and Farnham have seen asking rents jump by more than 25 per cent. Their survey showed that as Covid restrictions started to ease, there was a greater [...]
The Croods: A New Age review – familiar animated fun July 15, 2021 Eight years is a long time to wait for a family film. Yes, genre icons such as Toy Story can endure generations, but it’s likely that most of the children who were taken along to The Croods in 2013 will now be in their teens and less inclined to follow the adventures of an animated [...]
Visit one Scottish distillery where you can sleep, and one where you can eat July 15, 2021 Just when you thought Scotland had run out of islands to make whisky on, the Isle of the Roe Deer has released its inaugural whisky. Isle of Raasay Distillery also became the first distillery to offer accommodation, located within sniffing distance of the mash tuns of this state of art distillery, housed inside an old [...]
Sale rates soar for online retailer ASOS July 15, 2021 Online fashion giant ASOS saw sales continue to skyrocket despite physical competitors re-opening, per the firm’s latest market update. UK sales increased 60 per cent for the retailer in the four months to the end of June, with active customers growing by a further 1.2m. Chief executive officer Nick Beighton said, “ASOS has delivered another [...]
Could coffee-infused wine be the ideal post-Covid date fuel? July 14, 2021 If you were asked in a pub quiz what the UK’s favourite supermarket wine is, you might guess Hardy’s, Blossom Hill, Yellowtail, Barefoot or Casillero del Diablo. You probably wouldn’t think of an Australian red that commemorates people who committed serious crimes such as impersonating an Egyptian, stealing a shroud from a grave, counterfeiting copper [...]
Why more people are seeking residency abroad post-Covid July 14, 2021 It’s hard to take much in the way of positivity from the past 15 months or so, yet the circumstances thrust upon us have changed behaviours – or at least restrictions have accelerated such change. Amongst these is a compelling increase in the number of individuals seeking residency or citizenship in non-native countries. Yes, this [...]
Loki Episode 6 review – thrilling conclusion to Marvel series July 14, 2021 *** WARNING: this contains spoilers for all episodes of Loki on Disney+ *** It’s the finale of Loki, the most mysterious and captivating of Disney+’s MCU shows. Last week saw a lot of running around, meeting new characters, and revelations about the TVA. For the final episode there are fewer set pieces, but an awful [...]
Liquid Diamond: The only wine celebrating National Emoji Day July 14, 2021 This Saturday 17 July is National Emoji Day – a holiday that celebrates and validates our obsession with the graphic icons invented by Japanese designer Shigetaka Kurita in 1999. This may seem entirely unrelated to the world of oenology, but at least one viticulturist is blending smiley faces, love hearts and thumbs ups with their [...]
The only way is gin: The Essex firms making world-beating booze July 13, 2021 Essex is establishing a name for itself. Not for Kevin and Sharons but wines and gin. Its legion of winegrowers and distillers have now been joined by Nikki Mendes from Leigh-on-Sea who has founded The Only Way Is Gin. “I set out to create a gin that shouts out proudly about where it’s from: Chelmsford!” [...]