The Children’s Food Campaign says the FDF’s top UK brands don’t oppose the sugary drinks tax, so the FDF shouldn’t either December 2, 2016 The Children's Food Campaign (CFC) has asked the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) to stop opposing the tax on sugary drinks, claiming its top UK member brands are less aggressively opposed to the duty than the trade association. Out of 55 FDF members contacted by CFC, 14 gave full responses, including Birdseye, Slimfast, Wrigleys, Mars, Weetabix and Haribo. Seven [...]
Snowden review: Joseph Gordon-Levitt shapeshifts into everybody’s favourite whistleblower December 1, 2016 There’s much to enjoy about Snowden. Chief among them is Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s transformative turn as the NSA contractor turned superstar whistleblower, in which he valiantly – and at first distractingly – drops his voice a full octave and assumes the unique pout of man who’s been exiled to Moscow forever. The performance elevates an otherwise [...]
This House review: Sharply scripted and performed with blistering wit December 1, 2016 At a time when our political parties could only be more adversarial if they started dropping cartoon anvils on one another, This House offers a fascinating and historical insight into a comparatively chummy parliament still ticking along with some sense of post-war unity. Charting the travails of the Labour government of 1974-79 (preceding Thatcher’s reign), [...]
Sully review: Despite Tom Hanks’ best efforts this avoided-disaster movie fails to take off December 1, 2016 If you or I were to take control of a plane and crash it into a river we’d rightly be considered villains, but when Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger plonked his in the Hudson in 2009 he was hailed as an all-American hero. How, I ask you, is that fair? Most likely because it was his plane [...]
BrewDog brings roulette pop-ups and “Casino Rye Ale” beer to its UK bars and opens a new site in Hackney December 1, 2016 Scottish craft beer maker BrewDog has launched a Casino-themed beer and roulette pop-ups to stir up excitement for its new brewery in America. The beer, called "Casino Rye Ale", will hit 28 of the bar owner's UK locations along with roulette tables where customers can try their luck at winning a half pint of the limited release beer. BrewDog today [...]
British wine production is set to skyrocket by the year 2100 because of the changing climate December 1, 2016 The cost of importing wine is set to hit Britain hard due to the weak pound, but what if the UK could make its own? Well, by the year 2100, Britain could be a leading wine producing region, a new study suggests. The changing climate will transform areas of the UK including Essex, the east of England [...]
Enclothed online stylist review: get someone with better taste than you to post new clothes to your house December 1, 2016 I’m the kind of shopper who ensures menswear will always remain relatively more expensive than womenswear. I don’t enjoy the experience, and therefore do it as little as possible. Once or twice a year, I realise I have nothing seasonally appropriate that wouldn’t cause embarrassment in our office full of hip young gunslingers, and force [...]
Greene King pubs report challenges are ahead despite revenue bubbling up to record levels November 30, 2016 Record revenue was reported in Greene King's interim results, but shares fell in morning trading and analysts warn of a hangover. The figures Adjusted profits before tax rose 14.6 per cent to £139m, and adjusted earnings per share were up 4.3 per cent to 36p for the pub company. Like-for-like sales increased 1.3 per cent, which was ahead of the [...]
Leave the beach behind and trek Europe’s prettiest mountain range, the Dolomites November 30, 2016 Sun seekers might disagree, but in my opinion there are few better places to spend the summer than the Alps, where you can find dozens of activities to suit everyone from uber athletes to Uber passengers. My family needed a little convincing too, before they’d agree to spend their holidays in the mountains rather than [...]
Working Lunch review: Smokestak in Shoreditch is bringing ‘cue to the masses’ November 29, 2016 Smokestak 35 Sclater Street, E1 WHAT? If you’ve been to a Street Feast in the last three years, there’s a good chance you’ve witnessed a scruff of beards lining up in front of Smokestak’s wood smoker, waiting to get those substantial follicles into some USDA grade brisket. Now, you can enjoy this sight all year round [...]