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Box Office Now Open for the Allergy & Free From Show 2026 Taking Place for the First Time at the NEC Birmingham

The Allergy & Free From Show is thrilled to announce the official opening of its box office for its landmark 2026 edition, taking place 9–10 May at the NEC Birmingham.

To celebrate the first edition at the NEC Birmingham, the first 500 visitors can benefit from free tickets using the code AFF26.

This will be the show's first-ever edition at the NEC Birmingham, following an overwhelmingly positive response from visitors calling for a more central, national event. The move marks an exciting new era for the UK's biggest celebration of free-from living.

In excess of 150 allergy-free and free-from brands will be exhibiting at the 2026 event, spanning food & drink, skincare, health, wellbeing, and women's health. 

Visitors will have the opportunity to sample products, discover innovations, and connect directly with experts, advocates, and leading voices from across the entire sector.

Returning for 2026 is the Inspiration Stage, sponsored by Koko Dairy Free, featuring an absolutely unmissable line-up of speakers including Becky Excell, best-selling author and the Queen of Gluten Free, and Becky Adlington OBE, GB Olympic swimmer and coeliac advocate. Both will share empowering insights and guidance for living well with allergies and intolerances.

The show will also welcome the return of The Kitchen, hosting an action-packed schedule of live demos and fresh recipe ideas; and the Balmonds Skin Hub, offering visitors a hands-on opportunity to explore and test the latest skincare designed for sensitive and allergy-prone skin.

Exciting New Additions for 2026

The Hormone Health Hub, sponsored by Arla Cultura, will deliver practical sessions and expert advice on hormonal health and wellbeing giving attendees key insights and valuable takeaways.

The Health & Wellness Zone is a brand-new area showcasing leading wellness brands and breakthrough startups for visitors to meet, sample, and learn from.

“We couldn't be more excited to open the box office for what will be our most accessible and ambitious show yet,” Annie Bennett, Event Director, The Allergy & Free From Show, told That's Food and Drink. 

“Our move to the NEC Birmingham reflects the overwhelming feedback we've received from our community. With fantastic new features, returning favourites, and over 150 brands, 2026 is set to be a truly national celebration of living well with allergies and intolerances. We can't wait to see the community come together.”

Free tickets are limited to the first 500 using code AFF26. For more information and to register to attend, please visit www.allergyshow.co.uk

The Top 100 Beers From Around the World For Your Christmas Festivities

A global celebration of brewing excellence.

Beer is one of the world’s oldest and most diverse drinks, with every country adding its own character through ingredients, climate, tradition and innovation. 

From crisp lagers and historic Trappist ales to modern hop-heavy IPAs and rich imperial stouts, great beer truly knows no borders.

This list celebrates 100 of the most respected, influential, and beloved beers from around the world.

It’s not ranked by “best to worst”, instead, it’s a curated global tour showcasing quality, heritage, and standout flavour.

British Isles United Kingdom (Eire, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

Guinness Draught – Ireland

Fuller’s London Pride – England

BrewDog Punk IPA – Scotland

Timothy Taylor’s Landlord – England

Theakston Old Peculier – England

St Austell Tribute – England

Harvey’s Sussex Best – England

Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout – England

Adnams Ghost Ship – England

Brains SA – Wales

🇧🇪 Belgium (Arguably The Spiritual Home of Beer)

Westvleteren 12

Chimay Blue

Orval

Duvel

Rochefort 10

Westmalle Tripel

La Trappe Quadrupel

Cantillon Gueuze

Delirium Tremens

Hoegaarden Witbier

🇩🇪 Germany (Precision, Purity, Tradition)

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier

Augustiner Helles

Paulaner Salvator

Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

Spaten Oktoberfest Märzen

Erdinger Weissbier

Bitburger Pilsner

Schneider Weisse Aventinus

Köstritzer Schwarzbier

Rothaus Tannenzäpfle

🇺🇸 United States (Craft Innovation Powerhouse)

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Pliny the Elder – Russian River

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

Founders KBS

Bell’s Two Hearted Ale

Stone IPA

Lagunitas IPA

New Belgium Fat Tire

Sam Adams Boston Lager

Tree House Julius

🇨🇿 Czech Republic (The Birthplace of Pilsner)

Pilsner Urquell

Budvar Original

Staropramen

Kozel Dark

Bernard Amber Lager

🇯🇵 Japan (Clean, Refined, Consistent)

Asahi Super Dry

Sapporo Premium

Kirin Ichiban

Hitachino Nest White Ale

🇮🇹 Italy (Quietly Exceptional Craft Scene)

Birra del Borgo ReAle

Baladin Nora

Toccalmatto Zona Cesarini

🇪🇸 Spain

Estrella Damm

Mahou Cinco Estrellas

Alhambra Reserva 1925

🇫🇷 France

Kronenbourg 1664

La Choulette Ambrée

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Heineken

Grolsch Premium Lager

La Trappe Tripel

🇦🇹 Austria

Stiegl Goldbräu

Eggenberg Urbock 23°

🇨🇦 Canada

Unibroue La Fin du Monde

Steam Whistle Pilsner

🇲🇽 Mexico

Corona Extra

Modelo Especial

Negra Modelo

🇧🇷 Brazil

Bohemia

Colorado Indica

🇦🇺 Australia

Coopers Sparkling Ale

Little Creatures Pale Ale

🇳🇿 New Zealand

Garage Project Pernicious Weed

Emerson’s Pilsner

🇨🇳 China

Tsingtao

Snow Beer

🇸🇬 Singapore

Tiger Beer

🇿🇦 South Africa

Castle Lager

Devil’s Peak King’s Blockhouse IPA

🇦🇷 Argentina

Quilmes

Antares IPA

🇨🇱 Chile

Kunstmann Torobayo

🇵🇪 Peru

Cusqueña

🇯🇲 Jamaica

Red Stripe

🇮🇸 Iceland

Einstök White Ale

🇳🇴 Norway

Lervig 3 Bean Stout

🇸🇪 Sweden

Omnipollo Noa

🇩🇰 Denmark

Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast

Carlsberg Pilsner

🇮🇳 India

Kingfisher Premium

🇹🇭 Thailand

Singha

🇵🇭 Philippines

San Miguel Pale Pilsen

🇻🇳 Vietnam

Bia Saigon

🇰🇷 South Korea

Cass Fresh

🇷🇺 Russia

Baltika No. 7

🇪🇪 Estonia

Põhjala Öö Imperial Baltic Porter

🇵🇱 Poland

Żywiec Porter

🇭🇺 Hungary

Dreher Classic

🇨🇴 Colombia

Club Colombia Dorada

🇨🇺 Cuba

Cristal

International Classic

Stella Artois – Belgium

The beauty of beer lies in its diversity. Whether you prefer a session ale in a British pub, a Trappist masterpiece, or a bold American stout, there’s a world of flavour waiting in every glass.

This list isn’t about exclusivity or hype – it’s about celebrating global brewing culture, one pint at a time.

Will you be buying any of these for your Christmas and New Year festivities? There's several that my wife and I are going to buy.

Why BrewDog Two Scoops Stout Combines Two of My Favourite Things

BrewDog stout meets Mackie’s honeycomb ice cream – what’s not to love?

Some collaborations feel inevitable the moment you hear about them. BrewDog Two Scoops Stout is very much one of those.

It brings together two things I already love in their own right: a proper, indulgent BrewDog stout and the unmistakable flavour of Mackie’s honeycomb ice cream. On paper it sounds playful. In the glass, it’s surprisingly sophisticated.

A stout lover’s starting point

I’ve always had a soft spot for stouts, particularly when BrewDog turn their attention to the style. Their darker beers tend to balance richness with drinkability, avoiding the trap of becoming cloying or overly sweet. There’s usually roasted depth, a smooth mouthfeel, and enough bitterness to keep things grounded.

Two Scoops Stout starts exactly where you’d hope: deep in colour, creamy-headed, and unapologetically dessert-leaning without tipping into novelty for novelty’s sake.

Where the Mackie’s magic comes in

Mackie’s honeycomb ice cream is a classic for a reason. It’s not just sweet; it has that caramelised, almost toasted sugar note that gives honeycomb its character. Translating that into a stout could have gone horribly wrong, but here, it works.

Instead of tasting like melted ice cream dumped into a beer, the honeycomb flavour shows up as soft caramel, vanilla warmth, and a gentle sweetness that complements the roasted malt backbone. Think more ice cream parlour nostalgia than sugary overload.

Dessert beer done properly

What really sells Two Scoops Stout for me is restraint. Yes, it’s inspired by ice cream. Yes, it’s fun. But it still behaves like a stout you actually want to finish a can of.

The sweetness is rounded, not sticky

The roasted malt keeps everything balanced

The mouthfeel is smooth rather than heavy

It sits comfortably in that space between after-dinner treat and evening stout, which makes it incredibly versatile.

Perfect pairings (beyond the obvious)

While it’s tempting to drink this alongside actual ice cream, Two Scoops Stout also works brilliantly with:

Chocolate brownies or chocolate torte

Sticky toffee pudding

Strong, salty cheeses

Or simply on its own, as a pudding-in-a-glass moment

It’s the sort of beer that feels right on a cold evening, but still has enough novelty to spark conversation when shared.

Why this collaboration works

At its best, BrewDog Two Scoops Stout doesn’t feel like a gimmick. It feels like two well-loved Scottish brands understanding exactly what the other brings to the table. BrewDog provide the brewing confidence and stout expertise; Mackie’s bring flavour memory and comfort.

For anyone who already enjoys BrewDog stouts and has a fondness for Mackie’s honeycomb ice cream, this beer feels oddly personal – as though someone has brewed a Venn diagram and poured it into a can.

Two Scoops Stout is playful, indulgent, and genuinely enjoyable. It manages to celebrate dessert flavours without forgetting it’s still a beer first and foremost. For me, that’s why it works so well: it combines two favourites without compromising either.

If you like your stouts rich, your collaborations clever, and your beer with a side of nostalgia, this one’s well worth scooping up.

I'd recommend getting some in for the Christmas and New Year festivities.  

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Your Christmas Emergency Plan How to Stay Calm When Weather, Food or Power Go Wrong

Christmas should be about warmth, generosity and togetherness, not stress, panic or last-minute disasters. 

Yet every year, festive plans are disrupted by things that are entirely predictable: bad weather, spoiled food, power cuts, illness or closed shops.

At That’s Christmas 365 and That's Food and Drink we believe that a truly joyful Christmas isn’t about perfection, it’s about preparedness. 

A simple emergency plan won’t dampen the magic. It protects it.

1. When Christmas Weather Turns Against You

From snow and ice to flooding and high winds, the UK’s winter weather can quickly disrupt travel plans and deliveries.

Festive emergency essentials:

Shop a little earlier where possible

Keep salt or grit by paths and doorways

Have torches, batteries and candles ready

Charge phones and power banks in advance

If you have a generator make sure you have fuel for it and that it still runs

If guests can’t arrive, a smaller or postponed celebration still counts as Christmas.

2. Food Emergencies: The Silent Christmas Threat

Discovering spoiled food on Christmas morning is a heart-sinking moment... and a common one.

Reduce the risk by:

Checking fridge and freezer temperatures a few days beforehand

Defrosting freezers well in advance

Labelling leftovers clearly

Keeping shelf-stable backups like tinned vegetables, gravy granules and long-life cream

A calm fallback meal beats festive panic every time.

3. Power Cuts and Broken Appliances

Christmas places huge demand on ovens, kettles and hobs, just as winter storms increase the chance of outages.

Plan for the worst:

Have at least one non-electric cooking option (used safely)

Prepare food that can be served cold if necessary

Keep a thermos handy for hot drinks

Know how long your freezer stays cold if unopened

Christmas dinner doesn’t need to be hot to be meaningful.

4. Illness, Injuries and Sudden Changes

Festive flu, stomach bugs and minor accidents have an uncanny sense of timing.

A simple festive safety net includes:

Basic first aid supplies

Easy-to-digest foods

Flexible plans and smaller gatherings

Video calls for family members who can’t attend

Christmas doesn’t disappear, it simply adapts.

5. When the Shops Are Shut (And You’ve Forgotten Something)

Once Christmas arrives, there’s no popping out for essentials.

Before Christmas Eve, double-check:

Bin bags

Foil and cling film

Washing-up liquid

Toilet roll

Batteries

Pet food

It’s always the unglamorous items that cause the most stress.

Unless, of course, there's a genuine 24/7 supermarket attached to a petrol station in your area. Google search beforehand. One Christmas several years ago we realised that we had no wine to go with Christmas dinner. I took a five minute walk to the nearest petrol station supermarket and returned, triumphant, with a couple of bottles of wine.

A Christmas That Lasts All Year Starts With Calm

At That’s Christmas 365, we celebrate Christmas in all its forms, perfect or otherwise. An emergency plan doesn’t mean expecting disaster; it means knowing that if something goes wrong, you can still enjoy the season.

Because Christmas isn’t about flawless timing or picture-perfect meals.

It’s about warmth, kindness and making the best of what you have.

And sometimes, the most memorable Christmas stories begin with, “Well, everything went wrong…” — and end with laughter.

Steaks Fit for a Vegan!

As part of our Veganuary feature That's Food and Drink is bringing you news about vegan foods that you can try at home or in your pub or restaurant.

We are launching the feature with products from the Redefine Meat range from steaks to bratwurst sausages.

Redefine Flank Steak, 200g, RRP £7.96 

2025 Great Taste Awards (One Star) 

The world’s first plant-based steak, originally designed to be enjoyed in restaurants. Now available for home chefs as well as professional caterers. 

This delicious, unmistakably meaty whole cut of New-Meat™ is suitable for grilling, pan-frying or roasting. 

Ideal for plant-based steak nights, hearty Sunday roasts, or as the centrepiece of a vegan Christmas dinner. 

Chef’s Tip: Cook over medium heat, then baste with garlic and rosemary to create the vegan steak of your dreams. 

Redefine Lamb Kofta Mix, 250g, RRP £3.97 

2025 Great Taste Awards (Two Stars) 

Seasoned to perfection, Redefine Meat’s Lamb Kofta Mix is a tasty, versatile option to shape as you choose. Transform into rich and flavourful kebabs, curries, or even shepherd’s pie. 

Chef’s tip: Use Redefine Lamb Kofta Mix as the filling for the ultimate vegetarian sausage roll! Mix in freshly chopped herbs and onions to take it to the next level. 

Redefine Pulled Beef, 200g, RRP £4.47 

2024 Great Taste Awards (One Star) 

Captures the mouthwatering flavour and slow-cooked texture of pulled beef. Suitable for a wide range of dishes from tacos and ragus to stir-fries and sandwiches.  

Chef’s tip: Deliciously versatile and ready in minutes – use in any dish that calls for the deep flavour and texture of slow-cooked beef, from Beef & Ale Pie to Beef Rendang or your favourite Asian stir-fry. 

Redefine Premium Burgers, 240g, RRP £3.97 

2025 Tasty Award Winner, 2024 Great Taste Awards (Two Stars) 

These succulent patties are the perfect foundation for barbecues and burger nights. Pile high with all your favourite additions – from lettuce and tomato to bacon and burger sauce. 

Chef’s tip: Coarsely ground and designed to cut pink in the middle. For best results, cook straight from frozen, allow a golden crust to form, and finish with your signature burger toppings. 

Redefine Pulled Pork, 200g, RRP £4.47 

Experience the unmistakable flavour and texture of a pub-grub classic. Combine with your favourite sauce for mouth-watering sandwiches, quesadillas, and much more.  

Chef’s tip: High in protein and low in fat, Redefine Pulled Pork is just as at home in a nourishing protein bowl as it is in an indulgent pulled-pork bun – or as your new favourite addition to taco night. 

Redefine Beef Mince, 250g, RRP £3.97 

The perfect foundation for family favourites like spaghetti Bolognese, meatballs, and lasagne, Redefine Beef Mince is a versatile and delicious freezer staple. 

Chef’s tip: Shape into balls and smash into a hot pan for the ultimate plant-based smash burgers. 

Redefine Shawarma, 200g, RRP £3.97 

This rich, authentic New-Meat™ Shawarma captures the essence of Mediterranean with a juicy slow-cooked texture – ideal for prepping lunchtime wraps and bowls.  

Chef’s tip: Pile onto a platter with couscous for a Middle Eastern feast or wrap in flatbread and foil for an on-the-go lunch. Simply fry in a pan or roast in the oven for a quick and easy meal solution. 

Redefine Bratwurst 2x 100g £4.00.

A plump, delicious and juicy sausage, following the tradition of classic pork flavored delicacies. Perfect for grilling or frying in a pan, this hearty, juicy, plant-based sausage is sure to satisfy even carnivores.

Chef's tip: Redefine Bratwurst allows meat lovers, vegetarians and vegans to enjoy a great meat-eating experience without compromising on taste. 

Redefine Meat Ltd. products are plant-based, made with non-GMO ingredients and do not contain any animal-based ingredients or by-products.

Available from Ocado https://www.ocado.com

You can learn more here https://www.redefinemeat.com

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