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Finding the Perfect Pub: What Really Matters

The perfect pub means different things to different people. For some, it’s a roaring fire and a well-kept pint. 

For others, it’s dog-friendly benches, decent food, or simply a place where everyone knows your name. 

What unites all great pubs, though, is that indefinable sense of welcome – the feeling that you’ve arrived somewhere you want to stay.

Atmosphere Comes First

You notice a good pub the moment you walk in. It doesn’t have to be polished or trendy, but it should feel comfortable. 

Lighting matters more than most landlords realise: warm, soft lighting beats harsh spotlights every time. Background music, if there is any, should add to the mood rather than drown out conversation.

A pub with character often shows its age proudly. Uneven floors, old photographs on the walls, and well-worn wooden tables can be part of the charm. Authenticity nearly always wins over forced themes.

A Proper Pint (or Two)

No pub can be perfect without taking drinks seriously. Whether you favour cask ale, craft beer, stout, cider, wine, or spirits, quality matters more than quantity. A smaller range that’s well kept will always beat a huge list that’s poorly managed.

Look for signs that the landlord cares: clean glassware, correctly poured pints, and staff who know what they’re serving. In the UK especially, a well-conditioned real ale is often the mark of a pub that gets the basics right.

Food That Knows Its Place

Not every great pub needs to be a gastropub, but food should suit the setting. In some places that means a perfect pie and chips, a proper Sunday roast, or a decent ploughman’s. In others, it might simply mean good bar snacks that pair well with a drink.

The key is honesty. A pub that does simple food well is far more appealing than one overreaching with dishes it can’t deliver consistently.

The People Make the Pub

Staff can make or break the experience. Friendly, approachable bar staff who treat regulars and newcomers alike set the tone for the entire pub. A quick chat, a recommendation, or simply remembering what you drink can turn a good visit into a great one.

Equally important are the other customers. The perfect pub feels inclusive – somewhere you’re happy to pop into alone or bring friends and family.

Location and Purpose

Your “perfect pub” may change depending on the occasion. A country pub with a beer garden is ideal for a sunny afternoon, while a snug local is perfect on a cold winter’s evening. Proximity matters too: a pub you can walk to often becomes far more special than one you have to plan around.

Some pubs excel as community hubs, hosting quizzes, charity events, or live music. Others shine as quiet refuges where conversation is the main attraction. Knowing what you want from a visit helps you find the right place.

Trust Your Instincts

Ultimately, finding the perfect pub is about how it makes you feel. If you relax the moment you sit down, enjoy your drink, and don’t want to rush off, you’re probably onto a winner.

The best pubs aren’t always the most talked-about or the most photographed. They’re the ones that feel right – familiar yet welcoming, dependable yet full of character. When you find one, treasure it. Pubs like that are worth seeking out, pint after pint.

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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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