Craft & Cleaver is an independent smokehouse, restaurant and bar offering “authentic American barbecue, cocktails, craft beer, shuffleboard and good vibes” at two locations in Hertfordshire – an original site in St Albans and other in Hitchin.
Invited by the restaurant to have a taste of Craft & Cleaver’s take on American style smoked meat, I headed up to Hitchin with fellow foodie buddy (and podcasting co-host), Neil Davy, for a satisfying and filling Saturday lunch – and what might have been the tenderest ant tastiest brisket I’ve had in the UK.
I’m heading to Geneva for a city break in about a week’s time, and I’ve already started thinking about how best to pack. The forecast suggests a broad range of temperatures—mostly sunshine, some rain, and even a chance of snow on the day I arrive. Such is spring in Switzerland.
My itinerary leans urban, but not entirely. I’m hoping to spend time walking through the terraced vineyards of Lavaux and taking in some less citified stretches along Lake Geneva. Most days will be long, and I’ll be on my feet for much of that time.
Thinking it through, I’ve realised that packing for Geneva at the end of March isn’t really a special case. The same principles apply here as they do for almost any city break.
Travelling can be exciting, but it can also leave your body feeling worn out. Long journeys, time zone changes, and irregular schedules often disrupt normal sleep patterns. Taking time to rest after returning home helps your body recover and makes it easier to get back into your routine.
Travel often disrupts sleep patterns, so it helps to return to your normal bedtime as soon as you can. Make your bedroom quiet, comfortable, and free from distractions. A supportive mattress can also help your body recover after long journeys. Many people find a hybrid mattress useful because it combines comfort with support. For example, the Hybrid Mattress from Simba is designed to provide both, which can make it easier to reset your sleep after time away. Good sleep reduces travel fatigue and helps you feel more focused the next day.
It is also helpful to ease back into daily habits. Eat regular meals, stay hydrated, and spend some time outdoors during daylight hours. These simple steps help your body clock adjust again.
Rest is often overlooked after a trip, but it makes a real difference. Giving your body proper sleep after travelling helps you recover faster and return to normal life feeling refreshed.
Dead Lover is a strange film and certainly a memorable one. I reckon it’s worth checking out for a few moments of fitful laughing outbursts and oddball storytelling, not to mention the occasional off-putting odour.
Here’s the synopsis for this little madcap and macabre film:
A lonely gravedigger, who stinks of corpses, finally meets her dream man – but their romance is cut short when he tragically drowns at sea. Grief-stricken, the gravedigger goes to morbid lengths to resurrect him through madcap scientific experiments, resulting in grave consequences and unlikely love.
Following its World Premiere at Sundance 2025, Dead Lover played for yucks (of both laughter kind and nausea kind) at SXSW, Night Visions, TIFF, Edinburgh International Film Festival and Soho Horror Festival. But it’s not dead yet with a series of screenings slated for the UK and Ireland viaLightbulb Film Distribution.
Travelling, whether for leisure, business, or family reasons, offers the chance to explore new places, reconnect with loved ones, and step outside the usual routine. But with so much to organise before you go, the key to enjoying your trip lies in one thing: preparation.
From managing travel anxiety to ensuring your affairs are in order, taking a few proactive steps can give you the peace of mind you need to relax and fully embrace your journey.
Jazz clubs pair small plates with live performances, while pubs combine comfort food with folk musicians, transforming dinner into a full experience. For those exploring new venues, curated guides reveal how London’s restaurants blend dining and performance creatively.
Whether you prefer a candlelit dinner with classical strings or a lively spot where blues bands accompany British fare, London’s dining-and-music scene offers something for every mood. Staff at these places often plan meal service so guests can enjoy both the food and the music.
Here’s the scoop! Neil and Chris head to Badiani for some excellent gelato and to chat about more excellent Italian options in London as well as quality Greek restaurants in London, a quirky Malaysian eatery, the recently closed Nara exhibition, Michael Shannon’s REM cover band and more.
Recorded live at Badiani Gelato, on Camden Passage in Islington.
Neil and Chris meet up for some pizza (gee, imagine that) – a really tasty, New York style 18” pie at Spring Street Pizza. While enjoying a few slices, they chat about what’s been making them happy as late particularly around London, Edinburgh, Inverness, Hitchin, and Glastonbury. Oh, and, Neil gets a credit a on TV show!
Recorded live at Spring Street Pizza, in Southwark, Michelin-starred chef Tom Kemble’s tribute to the iconic pizzerias of New York.
The Southern United States is one place in the world where you can feel a chill go down your spine even on the hottest summer nights. That’s because the South is known to be haunted by a multitude of spirits.
While some of these spirits are good-natured, in this part of America, you will also encounter vengeful ghosts, lost souls with unfinished business, and dark entities conjured from magic spells that those in the know refuse to utter.
With a damaged history filled with bloody war battles, conflicts over property rights, famine, widespread disease, and the cruelty of slavery, the American South has a haunting past where the truth can be even more horrifying than fiction.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most haunted southern cities and dive into the urban legends and ghost tales that may help to explain their melancholic mood.
Are crisps a legitimate topping for sandwiches? Are langoustines worth the effort, or even guavas and pomegranates for that matter? These and other pressing questions are considered in our latest episode of All Consumed. Alongside discussion of these concerns, Chris and Neil regale with tales of foodie adventures in London, Faversham and Chester. There’s discussion of art as well.
Neil and Chris “dial in” this one from their respective homes via Zencastr.
When a marriage ends, the financial implications can be as complicated as the emotional ones. Dividing assets, determining maintenance payments, and establishing new living arrangements often become pressing concerns for separating couples. The process requires careful consideration of both immediate needs and long-term financial security, particularly when children are involved.
Financial settlements after divorce in the UK follow specific legal frameworks designed to ensure fairness. Courts consider various factors including the length of marriage, each party’s financial resources, earning capacity, and contributions to family life. What might seem straightforward on paper frequently becomes complicated in practice, with pension rights, business interests, and property valuations requiring expert interpretation.
Each journey begins as a blank canvas, waiting to be colored by vivid flavors and new experiences. Food is often the first and most immersive introduction to a place, offering insight into local customs, history, and community life. Whether sharing a simple meal at a seaside shack or savoring a multi-course feast in a renowned city, travelers frequently find that it is the tasting and discovery of unique dishes that gives a trip its heart. The sensory pleasures of travel extend beyond landmarks and landscapes—it’s also about the aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through a narrow street or the lively chatter over shared plates at a crowded night market.
Few things are as meaningful as bonding over food with strangers, who soon become friends. From the clink of glasses in a bustling tapas bar in Spain to the quiet joy of a homemade curry shared with family in India, these moments offer a glimpse into local life.
Social media campaigns are often unpredictable. Every day, we scroll past dozens of adverts without a second glance, yet occasionally one catches our eye and holds our attention. The difference between these two outcomes often comes down to context, whether the content matches what viewers care about in that moment.
Successful social media campaigns don’t happen by accident. They are the result of knowing both the platform and the audience. When adverts appear alongside relevant content that matches viewer interests, engagement rates climb dramatically. This approach, known as contextual advertising, helps messages stand out in crowded social feeds.
Neil and Chris head to the Blackhorse Beer Mile in Walthamstow for a taste of the 7Bone Burger popup at Signature Brew. After some excellent burgers and brews, the fellas hit record for another round of All Consumed podcast banter.
During the recording, Chris enthuses about his inspired morning before meeting up with Neil as well as some flavoursome fun he had during trips to Paris, Durham and Middlesbrough. Neil recounts highlights from his recent tour of Irish distilleries and some stellar London dining experiences.
For tips on the best cheeseburger tacos in London, Teeside’s most celebrated Parmo, the biggest naan in Middlesbrough and a Nutella-noted whiskey to wash all that down, you can’t miss this episode!
Recorded live at Signature Brew’s Blackhorse Road Brewery.
Neil and Chris catch up over some phenomenal baked goods in Kentish Town – at the bakery Neil mentioned in the last episode of this podcast. During their chat, Chris talks about what he did next after recording that last show and mentions a photography exhibition he enjoyed viewing in Fitzrovia. Neil recounts a tasty meal he had when he was recently in that same area as well as a few other excellent dining experience had elsewhere in London.
Recorded live at Kossoffs – a third generation family-run artisanal bakery in Kentish Town, founded in the1920s by Wolf Kossoff, a Jewish refugee from Kyiv.
1972 – Oakland, California, USA: Girls holds a Free Angela poster at the Black Panther Party’s Constitutial Convention rally in Defremery Park. (Stephen Shames/Polaris)
For the first time in the UK, Stephen Shames’ photography documenting the Black Panther Party is on exhibition.
Running now through early July at Amar Gallery in Fitzrovia, Black Panthers & Revolution: the Art of Stephen Shames displays dozens of photos of demonstrations, protests and militant armed posturing of the Oakland, California civil rights organisation alongside behind-the-scenes shots of its key players, allies and supporters. Images of Bobby Seale, Huey Newton, Maya Angelou, Angela Davis,Martin Luther King Jr, and other civil rights leaders of the late 60s and early 70s mix with those of attendees and onlookers of Black Panther events.
A second episode of All Consumed in the same month (recorded hardly more than two weeks after the first)? That must mean Neil and Chris have a lot of great things to share with you. And indeed they do! From nicely priced treats and baked goods across London to a rec for a locksmith (who’s prompt, professional, and not extortionist) with a bit of music and such in between – you’ll learn how to enjoy life more when you listen to this show.
Recorded live at Durak Tantuni – a must-eat cheap eats gem for classic Turkish street food in Wood Green.
New episode! Recorded over a few slices of excellent pizza at newly opened Breadstall in Soho! With talk of more good food in London. Plus a mudlarking exhibition, a comedy show at a newly opened theatre, a rooftop soak, a Sheffield walk and more!
Friday 2 May, Soho Theatre Walthamstow opened to a packed house guffawing appreciatively to the antics of Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner Natalie Palamides in her acclaimed one-person-two-parts show, Weer.
A performance venue and more (cinema, church, bar, derelict site) since 1897, the newly launched Soho Theatre Walthamstow lights up an otherwise fairly ‘meh’ stretch of the Walthamstow’s Hoe Street. Like the original Soho Theatre (actually in Soho), the new northeast London sister site is to feature a variety of theatre, comedy and cabaret acts. Top bill performers such as Tim Minchin and Dara O’Briain are slated to hit the stage graced by Duke Ellington, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones in decades past.
Neil and Chris return from recent adventures and catch up over a fiery lunch at Dave’s Hot Chicken to compare notes. Neil offers a restaurant rich mini guide to Victoria, British Columbia. Chris provides a coffee and art focused mini guide to Oslo, Norway.
Neil compares the Netflix hit limited series Adolescence to the queue at Dave’s Hot Chicken. Chris compares the show to luxury liquorice.
For this episode of All Consumed, Chris brings Neil along to a newly discovered restaurant in Holborn to see if Neil would love it as much as Chris during his first visit. That’s not the only good food Neil’s been enjoying lately. He elaborates on what might have been his most delicious meal ever had in London. He and Chris chat about more tasty treats as well. Chris shares his experience at a record shop he’d been keen to check out for some time (and is now keen to check out again soon). There’s talk of even more stuff both have recently savoured and suggestions of probable content for their next episode.
For 2025’s first episode of All Consumed, Neil and Chris head to Leyton to enjoy the excellent burgers of Smoke & Pepper, while there they catch up about what else they’ve been eating and enjoying.
Considering a new career path can be both exciting and challenging. The possibility of change brings a mix of hope and uncertainty, making preparation essential. Shifting careers requires insight and a proactive approach to finding new opportunities.
Let’s look at how you can prepare for this transition and succeed in your next role.
Travelling provides a chance to see new places and learn about different cultures. However, for people with mobility challenges, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. Thankfully, there are mobility solutions that make travel easier and more comfortable. Exploring these options can help create enjoyable and safe experiences.
This article outlines practical mobility aids that can enhance your journeys.
Neil and Chris squeeze in one more episode before the end of 2024 – this one from their respective London homes via Zencastr. Neil shares some chocolate tips. Chris goes on (and on) about a few foodie days in Madrid. There’s talk of art, film, theatre and things to do in and around Cairo as well.
In every workplace, the safety and well-being of employees should be paramount. Ensuring a safe environment is not just about meeting legal obligations; it’s a critical component of fostering a productive, engaged, and motivated team. Organisations that prioritise health and safety often enjoy better employee retention, fewer accidents, and enhanced workplace morale.
This article delves into why health and safety should remain a top priority and offers insights into best practices for protecting your team.
In today’s competitive business landscape, adhering to industry safety standards is more than just a legal requirement; it’s a key factor in building trust and credibility with clients, employees, and stakeholders. Organisations that prioritise safety not only protect their workforce but also enhance their reputation and gain a competitive edge. Achieving compliance can seem daunting, but with the right approach, businesses can meet these standards efficiently and effectively.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to meeting industry safety standards and boosting your organisation’s reputation, including the role of frameworks like SSIP accreditation in streamlining the process.
A healthy and happy workforce is the cornerstone of a successful business. Employees who feel valued, supported, and motivated contribute more effectively to an organisation’s goals, leading to increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, and a stronger company culture. One of the most impactful ways to achieve this is by offering innovative benefit solutions that address the diverse needs of employees.
Modern workplaces are evolving, and so are employee expectations. By adopting flexible, forward-thinking approaches to benefits, businesses can foster a thriving workforce while staying competitive in a fast-changing market. This article explores how innovative benefit solutions can transform employee wellbeing and why integrating platforms like those provided by Pluxee UKcan play a key role in achieving this.
Ever had a Bakewell tart? Its almond-rich flavour makes it one of my favourite British pastries. Iced or not, a Bakewell tart is total treat.
Unfortunately, a lot of what’s put out there and labeled as a Bakewell tart these days does not resemble the original, authentic creation from its Derbyshire namesake.
Not sure whether you’ve actually had the real deal? Here’s your chance to have a taste!
Nestled in the heart of London, Pimlico is a charming neighbourhood often overshadowed by its bustling neighbours like Westminster and Chelsea. With its quiet streets, picturesque Victorian architecture, and proximity to some of the city’s iconic attractions, Pimlico offers a unique glimpse into London’s quieter side. For those seeking an authentic experience away from the main tourist hubs, this area provides an ideal balance of history, culture, and boutique comforts.
From cosy cafes to stylish boutique hotels, Pimlico has become a go-to destination for those looking to explore London’s hidden gems.
As the October half-term approaches, parents often find themselves searching for ways to keep their children entertained and, more importantly, active. With shorter days and cooler weather setting in, it can be tempting for children to spend the break indoors, glued to screens or simply lounging around. However, keeping kids physically active during the half-term is essential for their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Staying active not only helps children burn off excess energy but also boosts their mood, improves their focus, and provides opportunities for developing important life skills such as teamwork, resilience, and problem-solving. Whether your family enjoys the outdoors or prefers structured activities, there are plenty of creative and enjoyable ways to keep kids moving and engaged during the October break.
Here are some of the best ways to keep kids active during the half-term.
Pimlico, a neighbourhood in London, is very entertaining and has a lot of character, great restaurants, and culture. The purpose of this article is to show the best hotels in Pimlico, appealing to those who want to enjoy everything this neighbourhood can offer.
From smaller boutique-style hotels to the ones that house the creative class, every traveller wishing to understand the character of this great place has it all.
I’m writing this post on Sunday the 20th of October. This time last week I was attending Frieze London, the annual art fair that, according to Harper’s Bazaar, is the “biggest event in the contemporary arts calendar.”
This was the first time I’d attended Frieze in a number of years. Back when I was a professional gad about town seeking out a living through blogging and journalism-ing, Frieze Week was a significant opportunity to make much of all the art world hubbub. I’d slide in early to the preview before the fair’s official opening and attend a bunch of satellite happenings and related events, aiming to stay aware of all the arty activity and chronicle my experience in doing so.
This go round, I managed to make it to the last day of Frieze and roam through it for a few pleasant hours. I’m pleased to report I still got in with media accreditation and that I really enjoyed the chance to admire a lot of great art.
Neil and Chris visit the smashed burger sensation Bun & Sum (the new Hackney location) where they start to have a great conversation until the two loudest men in London decide to sit right next to them and make it impossible to continue recording this episode of All Consumed. So the fellas decamp and then recamp at Urban Social Coffee just down the street. At some point during their chat at Bun & Sum or Urban Social Coffee, discussion ensued about other smash burgers, island holidays, music, books, and more!
Redundancy is a reality many face at least once in their working life, especially in a city as dynamic as London. Whether it’s due to economic shifts or company restructuring, losing your job can leave you feeling uncertain and vulnerable. The shock of being told your role is no longer needed can be overwhelming, and navigating the legalities on your own might seem daunting.
That’s where an employment lawyer comes in. From ensuring you receive the redundancy pay you’re entitled to, to helping you understand your rights, they can provide crucial guidance during a stressful time.
