Author: Lucy Contrino

St Albans is a pint-sized city that packs a punch when it comes to pub culture, with a host of hostelries offering everything from cracking live music and exciting real ales to funky bars and award-winning cuisine. But with dozens of different watering holes to choose from around the city centre alone, how do you know where to head for that particular experience – whether it’s a summer evening in a beer garden or winter’s afternoon around a log fire? This is an insider’s guide to St Albans pub culture, crafted through first-hand experience of the city’s brilliant boozers which…

Summer is on its way, with a couple of early heatwaves already under our belts. And while we may welcome the warmer weather, it’s not always a friend to our lawns. But according to experts from MyBuilder.com, the reliable way to hire tradespeople, there are many ways to protect our grass from the heat of summer. From regular movement of objects such as garden furniture and paddling pools, to the correct times to water, there are simple tips that British gardeners can carry out to prevent heat-related issues. The most significant peril for lawns over summer is the damage done by…

The government has today announced that any child who parents receive Universal Credit will be able to claim free shool meals from September 2026. This will mean that an additional 500,000 more pupils will be eligible adding to the 2.1million children who currently receive free school meals. Soil Association Head of Food Policy Rob Percival said: “This is good news for the hundreds of thousands of families across England who struggle every day to access and afford sufficient food. Free School Meals provide a nutritional safety net and can help tackle inequalities, and this move will ensure more children receive…

By Jack Helm, Account Manager – Beverage, Bakery & Functional Foods at ACI Group In modern baking, efficiency often hides in plain sight. Behind every successful loaf or pastry is a series of calculated decisions, small tweaks in formulation, ingredient choice, or process design that quietly improve quality, reduce waste, and drive down costs. To many, a recipe may appear fixed and finite. But to those focused on continuous improvement, it is a blueprint open to refinement. Efficiency in baking isn’t always about large-scale changes. Often, it comes from small, precise adjustments: a more balanced hydration ratio, a refined fat-emulsifier…

With modern cars steadily increasing in size[1], but the recommended dimensions for UK parking bays stuck in the 1970s[2], today’s drivers are finding themselves in an increasingly tight spot. New research[3] from temporary car insurance experts, Tempcover, examines some of the biggest cars on UK roads and compares their dimensions to the typical UK parking bay, revealing just how little room is left once you’ve pulled in. From tricky manoeuvres to door-dinging dilemmas, the findings highlight a growing mismatch between the cars we drive and the spaces we park them in. Which Cars Are Longer Than a Typical UK Parking Space? The typical…

Whether you’re into classic cars or legendary race machines, motoring museums across the UK offer something for every car lover. And with the summer holidays just around the corner, which ones deliver the best experience without breaking the bank for families? To find out, temporary car insurance experts Tempcover have analysed some of Britain’s top motoring museums looking at popularity, visitor reviews, and ticket prices, to reveal the must-visit spots. The Top Five Motoring Museums For Car Enthusiasts Topping the list of the best motoring museums to visit this summer is the Jim Clark Museum in Duns, Scotland. This interactive experience[1] combines glowing…

Several budget airlines now only provide travellers with the luggage option of an under-seat cabin bag or personal item that fits under the seat in front of them. Otherwise, travellers face extra costs for an overhead bag or checked luggage. Following this, a new search trend analysis by the menswear retailer boohooMAN revealed that Google searches for “underseat bags” have soared to a new high worldwide, up by 163% compared to the last five years. The size of these bags does not provide holidaymakers with ample space for many outfit options. For example, Ryanair cabin baggage dimensions are 40 x…

STRATEGIC MOVE STRENGTHENS WREN’S PRESENCE IN THE HEART OF LONDON’S PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT SECTOR The UK’s number one kitchen retailer, Wren Kitchens & Bedrooms, is set to open the doors to its brand new Chiswick High Street showroom on Friday 13th June. Located at Unit 1, Chiswick Green, 414 Chiswick High Road, this marks a significant milestone as the retailer’s first location to feature both a high street presence and a dedicated Contracts office. Located in a prime West London setting with excellent transport links, the new showroom has been designed to provide direct support to London based developers and property professionals…

The UK’s £56.5bn aftermarket sector is set to take the spotlight at Automechanika Birminghamthis week (3-5 June), one of the largest aftermarket trade shows. More than 550 leading brands, suppliers and stakeholders will come together to promote the strength, scale, and innovation of this vital contributor to the economy and growth. Spanning vehicle maintenance and repair, wholesale and retail of parts and accessories, its importance and contribution is significant. There are more than 56,500 aftermarket businesses operating across the UK sector today, delivering £16.1 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) and supporting 346,000 jobs. 1 Having done much to ensure vital vehicles were…

Trinity Kitchen comes alive for summer with an irresistible new lineup of culinary delights this Summer – from parmos to bao buns and crispy falafel bites. Guests visiting Trinity Kitchen can treat their tastebuds to an eclectic mix of mouthwatering street food from the likes of Shouk, Wagyu Lookin’ At?, Niko’s Comfort Kitchen, Fat Cat Bao and House of Parmo, which have taken over the iconic converted VW Camper Van, Citroen H van, horse trailer, shipping container, and J7 van. Making its debut at Trinity Kitchen, Fat Cat Bao is dishing a bold fusion of Asian street food with their…