In David Olusoga’s Lunch with the FT, he argues that the search for “perfect figures creates this tension between what historians do and what politicians are offended that historians do” (Life & Arts, October 19).
Yes, and it’s the same in the sciences and medicine. Professor Anne Glover, then chief scientific adviser to the European Commission, reminded audiences that while scientists love uncertainty, politicians hate it.
Jackie Cassell Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Lewes, East Sussex, UK
THE best pint of beer in Britain has been revealed after two years of judging.
Every year the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) takes nominations from across the country for its Champion Beer of Britain award.
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This competition is one of the most coveted and well-respected competitions in the world and can put the winner firmly in the national and international spotlight.
All beers must be nominated by individual CAMRA members and a tasting panel.
They then compete in regional competitions using a strict blind tasting policy.
There are seven judging categories:
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Mild
Session bitter
Premium bitter
IPAs
Session pale, blond and golden ales
Premium pale, blond and golden ales
Winter round winners
The shortlist has been whittled down and one winner was crowned at a ceremony in Newark on Wednesday.
Crouch Vale’s Amarillo was named the overall winner after a hard-fought final round of judging.
It has an ABV of 5% and is made with American hops.
The beer was described by Christine Cryne, the judging panel organiser, as having “a tangy aroma with a faint note of biscuit”.
She added: “The flavour is full of tropical and citrus notes on a sweet biscuit base. Dry sweetish bitter finish. A full flavoured beer.”
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Christine described it as a “commendable winner, worthy of the respected title despite exceptionally strong competition”.
Brewery directors Colin and Fiona Bocking said they were “delighted” to have bagged the award after previously winning it in 2005 and 2006.
The beer can be bought through the brewery’s website or at a selection of pubs and farm shops across the UK.
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Eight 500ml bottles are available for £20.26 on the Crouch Vale website.
Silver prize winner was the IPA from Anspach and Hobday, which has a 6% ABV.
Judges said it is a “wonderful fruity new world IPA”.
It has aromas of citrus and tropical fruit which are “perfectly balanced by the bitterness, leading to a dry, spicy finish.”
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It can be bought online through the brewery’s website.
In bronze was the Trawlerboys Best Bitter from Green Jack Brewery, which has an ABV of 4.6%.
It was described by judges as being an “attractive orangey brown beer with a honey biscuit nose”.
Judges said it is “complex and very drinkable”.
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It is available on the Green Jack website.
Laura Emson, CAMRA’s Awards Director, said: “Crouch Vale should be incredibly proud of this accolade, and I hope that beer lovers across the UK will seek out and try Amarillo out for themselves.”
Beer of the year shortlist 2024
Here is the full list of all category winners:
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MILD
Gold – Penzance Brewing Co, Mild
Silver – Brains, Dark
Bronze – Five Kingdoms Brewery, McGregor’s Mild
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SESSION BITTER
Gold – Logan Beck Brewing, Proper Bitter
Silver – Mighty Oak Brewing Co, Captain Bob
Bronze – Windsor & Eton Brewery, Guardsman
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PREMIUM BITTER
Gold – Green Jack Brewery, Trawlerboys Best Bitter
Following its grand opening, Eat My Pizza has begun making waves across Leytonstone and East London with its innovative pizza creations.
With its fusion of traditional Italian cuisine and modern East London flair, a carefully curated menu featuring signature pizzas, small plates, and a range of local and Italian beverages the restaurant has managed to impress many and become the top rated restaurant in Leytonstone in the short period between it’s soft launch and grand opening.
ABOUT THE RESTAURANT
Eat My Pizza isn’t just a pizzeria – it’s a neighbourhood spot designed for the local community.
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Housed in the historic Barclays Bank building, we’ve transformed this 1900s space into a welcoming eatery where locals can relax and enjoy a laid-back, yet top-quality, dining experience.
Our menu blends authentic Italian dishes with modern, locally inspired twists, offering something for everyone. From beloved classics to our signature pizzas and small plates like veal meatballs and baked artichokes, each dish promises bold flavours and fresh ingredients.
OUR MISSION
Eat My Pizza is the creation of a passionate team with a track record of popular East London restaurants, including FIGO restaurant.
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Our mission is to create a welcoming space that combines the rich heritage of Italian cuisine with the innovative and unique flair of Leytonstone.
A place where locals can get together and enjoy a glass of good wine over some of our smaller dishes after work, allowing the space to fit within the customer’s needs – whether this is a three-course meal or a relaxed evening with friends or loved ones.
OUR SPACE
Housed in a beautifully restored 1900s Barclay’s Bank building, Eat My Pizza features:
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– Chic ceramic tiled floors
– Stylish red banquettes
– Cozy booths with glimpses of our open kitchen
– An airy dining room with long opening hours from 9 AM to 11 PM
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– Ultra-modern bar Juxtaposed against vintage style furnishings and colour palette
WHIZZING along the water holding on for dear life wasn’t exactly what I had in mind for a peaceful cruise to the Norwegian fjords.
We boarded the RIB (rigid inflatable boat) just a hundred metres or so from the MSC Virtuosa, our cruise liner home for the week — kitted out in waterproof overalls and goggles as we soaked up the views of the fishing villages and wildlife surrounding the seaside town of Maloy.
This is just one of the dozens of excursions MSC Cruises offers on a week-long Norwegian Fjords voyage.
I’m one of 6,000 guests on board the sold-out ship — 330 metres long and 19 decks — with Kelly, my wife, and our daughters Savannah, 13, and Scarlett, ten.
We are first-time “cruisers” and I have to admit I was slightly overwhelmed when I first boarded as there’s just so much to do on and off the enormous ship.
The day trips, expertly organised by the cruise team, offer a hassle-free way to see the highlights of the surrounding areas on one of four port stops.
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And they really do make a Norwegian Fjord cruise the experience of a lifetime.
At our first stop, in Haugesund, the breathtaking Langfoss waterfall awaited us, voted one of the top ten most beautiful waterfalls in the world.
I had expected a tranquil trickle of water surrounded by tourists posing for Instagram photos.
But instead we were greeted by a ferocious torrent of water falling from 600 metres above our heads.
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For our day-long visit to Flam we jumped on a coach to the Stegastein viewpoint where tourists can walk out on a special gangway suspended some 650 metres above the fjord below.
Our final stop took us to Kristiansand which is on the southern tip of the country.
Inside the fairytale-themed adventure park in European with over 60 rides – & it’s just 2 hours from the UK
We hadn’t booked an excursion for this stop so were free to explore solo.
Picking up a map, we headed to the local nature park.
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A wrong turn paid off, leading us to most beautiful lake where swimmers were taking advantage of the good weather.
Wide of the mark
Do remember your swimming kit when you leave the boat as there are plenty of beaches and lakes to enjoy a quick dip.
The delight of a cruise holiday is that you are taken to the heart of some beautiful spots — without the hassle of airports, trains and hire cars.
All those preconceptions of cruises being for the retired are wide of the mark.
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Our fellow holidaymakers were families and couples of all ages and with so much flexibility this is a perfect solution for a multi-generational holiday.
Our room on our “home from home” the MSC Virtuosa had a double bed, bunk beds for the kids and a balcony offering fresh air and incredible sea views.
Not that we spent much time there as there were five swimming pools, Jacuzzis and a staggering 21 bars to enjoy — five of them serving tipples outside.
If you do want to take full advantage of those bars it’s best to purchase a drinks package before you board as it can work out a lot cheaper.
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For dinner we were assigned to the Il Campo restaurant and to avoid overcrowding, passengers are offered one of three sitting times.
Or you can head to one of the speciality restaurants, including the Butcher’s Cut steakhouse.
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Mexican, Vietnamese, tepanyaki and sushi are also on offer.
If you just fancy grabbing food at your convenience, the Marketplace Buffet serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and late-night snacks until 1am.
Evenings are spectacular with passengers encouraged to dress up for theme nights including White Night and Sunshine Night.
Attire is superp-smart for the Gala Night with some passengers even donning tuxedos and cocktail dresses.
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Booking is essential for evening entertainment in Le Grand Theatre where we saw stunning singing and dancing with Abba and Michael Jackson tributes standing out.
And special mentions go to stand-up comedian Tucker, who had us in stitches, as well as hypnotist Chris Caress, whose power of persuasion saw several guests lose all their inhibitions.
We may have been first-time cruisers this time round — but we will back for more.
GO: Norway Fjord Cruise
SAILING THERE: MSC Virtuosa will sail to the Norwegian fjords next year from May 10 with seven-day itineraries from £749pp, departing from Southampton and calling at Haugesund, Maloy, Flam and Kristiansand.
Edwin Heathcote’s excellent article on new towns (The Weekend Essay, Life & Arts, September 28) omits the earliest new town project in England.
Established to support a massive infrastructure investment, which was paid for by a careful mix of state and private funds, it was a truly greenfield site project. Skilled craftsmen were hired from across the UK and overseas, training local people and leaving a legacy of key skills for future phases of development. The grid-format street system includes a large market square to provide a focus for retail and entertainment activities, a wide range of residential and living and workplaces which are all a few minutes’ walk from the commercial areas, and social housing projects for the sick and elderly.
The generous layout of the road system deliberately left large spaces inside the grid for leisure and kitchen gardens, storage, and future infill developments, and has been adapted to support many changes in transportation habits over the years.
Founded in 1220, New Sarum is now known as the city of Salisbury and the infrastructure centrepiece, its cathedral, is among England’s finest buildings.
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