Greggs was one of the many businesses to be hit by the severity of Storm Claudia in Monmouth
A popular high street chain has announced it’s permanent closure, in the heart of a small Welsh town. Greggs has confirmed that it will not be be reopening it’s Monnow Street bakery in Monmouth after it was forced to close following severe flooding caused by Storm Claudia.
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The bakery, known for its range of savoury and sweet treats, was among many businesses hit hard when Wales experienced its most severe flooding in years in November 2025. Many believed Monmouth would escape the worst of the storm – but it did not.
Five inches of rain fell in just five hours on Friday, November 14, an extraordinary deluge that overwhelmed flood defences and turned familiar streets into fast-flowing channels.
You can see pictures here, as the river reached water levels not seen before.
In the aftermath, businesses along the high street were forced to shut as they dealt with extensive damage.
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Some independent retailers were able to reopen relatively quickly, while others are still yet to welcome customers back.
National chains including Marks & Spencer, Boots and The Works were among those that managed to resume trading sooner.
However, the doors of Greggs remained closed, with Google initially listing the branch as “temporary”.
The company has now confirmed that the Monmouth store will close permanently as part of what it described as a “continuous review” of its shop estate. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here
WalesOnline understands that Greggs is working to reassign employees from the Monmouth branch to nearby locations, including Ross-on-Wye and Lydney, and that it will continue exploring opportunities to expand elsewhere.
A spokesperson for Greggs, said: “Our shop in Monmouth will be closing as part of our continuous review of our shop estate, which includes relocating shops and expanding into new locations.
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“We would like to thank local customers and the community for shopping with us, and we hope to see them at our nearby shops in Ross on Wye, Lydney and Greggs at the Euro garage on the A40 soon.”
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A developer has been told they can’t build 27 new affordable homes on the edge of Little Thetford.
Plans to build 27 new homes on the edge of a small village have been blocked after being branded “repetitive and bland”. East Cambridgeshire District Council criticised the design of the proposed development in Little Thetford and the impact it could have on the countryside.
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The new homes had been proposed for a field off The Wytches, next to the A10 junction. The developer, Cambridge Housing Society, had proposed to make all of the new homes available as affordable housing, with 23 offered at affordable rent, and four as shared ownership.
The homes were proposed to be a mix of flats, bungalows and houses, ranging in size from one-bedroom flats and bungalows, up to four-bedroom houses. The developer said the plans offered the opportunity to create “high-quality” affordable homes for the area.
They said: “The site represents a sustainable, logical extension to the settlement, providing a sensitive interface between village and countryside while contributing to local housing need.”
The plans faced backlash from people living in the village, with 48 formal objections lodged with the district council against the plans. Several raised concerns about the impact the development could have on congestion and road safety, particularly due to how close the development’s access road would be to the A10 junction.
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One objector said: “As a one-way in and one-way out village, adding more housing right next to the village entrance, a known busy area for traffic, is asking for fatal accidents to happen. I’ve lived in the village all my life and I would like to continue to do so, without this increased risk.
“Not only would there be a high chance of collisions, the road is the main pedestrian route that leads to the village bus stop, frequently used by visitors, residents and school children. The additional traffic will result in increased queuing at peak times, backing into the village. Not only increasing the level of fumes for school children, but increasing the risk of queuing motorists taking risks to exit the village.”
Another objector highlighted that Little Thetford had “limited amenities and an intermittent bus service”, which they said would make people more reliant on cars and “placing further pressure on an already unsafe junction”.
Concerns were also raised about the size of the proposed development, with one person arguing that it would be “disproportionate to a village of approximately 320 dwellings”.
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Questions were also raised about whether this amount of affordable housing is needed in the village, with one objector highlighting that a separate development of affordable homes was already underway.
Council argues development will ‘harm the countryside’
The district council refused to grant planning permission for the development, citing as one of its reasons that the affordable housing need in the village had already been assessed and met through a separate development.
The authority also highlighted the lack of services and facilities in Little Thetford, which it said would lead to people having to leave the village for the majority of their daily needs.
The district council added that the proposed development would cause “harm to the character and setting of the settlement and surrounding countryside”.
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The decision notice said: “The proposal results introduce a large quantum of development projecting beyond the existing build line of the settlement in a very prominent location that would be highly visible on approach from both directions. The proposed layout results in the apartment block introducing an urban feature into the rural edge of the development.
“The design of the dwellings is repetitive and bland, projecting poor quality design into the countryside in a visually prominent location and the apartment blocks would be out of keeping with the existing houses.”
As soon as you start to wake up with discomfort, it’s time to consider whether you need a new mattress. Even the best mattress needs to be replaced around the seven-year mark, so that’s why we’ve tested 45 – from major brands, including Simba, Emma and Dreams – to help you choose the right one.
“People often believe their mattress is adequate since they spent a lot of money on it,” says Dr. Lindsay Browning, founder of Trouble Sleeping . “But often it transpires that it’s at least 15 to 20 years old. In these cases, it’s unlikely that the mattress is providing the same level of support.”
According to Dr. Browning: “An ideal mattress should support your back and spine, allowing the spine to remain in a neutral position during the night”. Our guide to choosing a mattress runs through this in detail, but here’s what to consider:
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Side sleepers need pressure relief to cushion their shoulders and hips. A hybrid mattress, with its combination of memory foam and springs, should offer the right balance.
Back sleepers need to prevent their torso from sinking too far into the mattress. Medium-to-firm pocket sprung mattresses are best, because each spring works individually, tailoring its cushioning to different body parts.
Front sleepers (or stomach sleepers) should opt for medium-firm or firm mattresses – whether that’s memory foam, pocket sprung or hybrid – to ensure even distribution of weight.
Below, you’ll find a comprehensive guide to mattresses, plus FAQs with advice from our sleep experts.
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Telegraph readers have given us their verdict too, helping us to whittle down the 45 tested to our 10 best mattress recommendations.
The best mattress: At a glance
In a hurry? These are our top recommendations for each category:
It’s a Thursday night in November. A pub in Glasgow’s Merchant City. Four men, all about the age of 30, are squeezed around a small table, eating and talking about what the next few months might bring. Nobody recognises them.
That same pub three months later. Screens showing a Celtic game are changed so the patrons can watch the curling. Almost everyone is anxiously staring at the TVs, willing those same four men to reach a Winter Olympic final.
Chances are they will be doing the same on Saturday (18:05 GMT), when Team GB’s Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Hammy McMillan and Bobby Lammie take on Canada with a gold medal at stake.
“Our gold medal,” as Mouat referred to it after the epic semi-final win over Switzerland in northern Italy on Thursday – a contest which drew 3.4million viewers to the BBC at its peak.
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And fulfilling what they believe to be their destiny – by upgrading their silver medal from Beijing four years ago – is what these four Scots have travelled to Cortina to do.
Since that 2022 near miss, Team Mouat have come to dominate men’s curling, winning two World Championships and adding another couple of European crowns, as well as a record 12 Grand Slam titles.
At times, they have been unbeatable.
That cloak of invincibility slipped during the round-robin stages here – leaving qualification out of their hands – but that fright has now been forgotten, replaced with the return of a clear-eyed focus on the task in hand.
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But who are these four young men who have now caught the country’s attention? And what makes them more than the sum of their parts?
Seven UK police forces are investigating the files following allegations that victims were flown into Stansted Airport on Epstein’s plane
Caroline Barry and Sam Elliott-Gibbs
17:54, 20 Feb 2026
The Met Police have issued a plea for ex-bodyguards of former Prince Andrew to come forward with any information they may have relating to the Epstein files.
It follows the release of millions of court documents by the United States Department of Justice from Epstein. The files are being assessed to see if there are any further details from law enforcement partners including authorities in America, reported the Mirror.
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Seven UK police forces are now investigating the files following allegations that victims were flown into Stansted Airport on Epstein’s plane which was nicknamed the Lolita Express. It is estimated that as many as 90 flights arrived into the airport’s private terminal with 15 of these happening after Epstein was jailed over child sex offences in 2008.
The force said: “Following the further release of millions of court documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein by the United States Department of Justice, we are aware of the suggestion that London airports may have been used to facilitate human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
“We are assessing this information and are actively seeking further detail from law enforcement partners, including those in the United States. Separately, the Met is identifying and contacting former and serving officers who may have worked closely, in a protection capacity, with Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor.
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“They have been asked to consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard during that period of service may be relevant to our ongoing reviews and to share any information that could assist us.
“While we are aware of the extensive media reporting and commentary about this matter, as of today, no new criminal allegations have been made to the Met regarding sexual offences said to have occurred within our jurisdiction.
“We continue to urge anyone with new or relevant information to come forward. All allegations will be taken seriously and, as with any matter, any information received will be assessed and investigated where appropriate.
“The action outlined above is independent of investigations or assessment work being carried out by other forces. We are working with the national coordination group which has been set up to bring together affected forces to ensure consistency of approach, including access to appropriate expertise and guidance.”
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Gordon Brown, the former Prime Minister, said messages in the Epstein files linked Andrew, 65, to at least one victim flown into the airport on the “Lolita Express” before being sneaked into Buckingham Palace.
The investigation happened after at least six other forces began assessing evidence within the Epstein files. Forces include the Metropolitan Police, Essex, Thames Valley, Surrey, Norfolk and Bedfordshire.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said: “We continue to work collaboratively to assess the details being made public to allow us to understand any potential impact arising from the millions of documents that have been published. We continue to support our partners and contribute in any way we can to help secure justice for victims and survivors.”
Oaveed Rahman, 26, took almost £5,000 from his victims before leaving dozens of dogs and a cat with no food or water before they were found among carcasses of other animals
17:40, 20 Feb 2026Updated 17:40, 20 Feb 2026
Dogs and cats were left to starve to death, with bodies ‘piled up like rubbish’, at a fake rehoming centre.
Oaveed Rahman, 26, claimed to be looking after the animals at a centre called Save A Paw in Crays Hill, Billericay, Essex, but actually left them to suffer. A vet who was called to the scene with police last May 13 said that as soon as she left her vehicle, which was parked about 40 metres away from Rahman’s property, she could smell rotting flesh.
Remains of dogs were found in bins and throughout the site, with some piled up “like rubbish”, the sentencing judge said. Basildon Crown Court heard that veterinary surgeon Amy Cooper saw masses of bodies riddled with maggots with rats around the kennels.
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Some 21 dogs which were alive were kept in pens or confined to small spaces. Tom Godfrey, prosecuting, told the court that Ms Cooper said in a statement: “I can honestly say what I smelt and saw was the most horrific thing I have ever seen. It was clear just from a general initial inspection that these animals were all suffering.”
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Sentencing him to five years in prison, Judge Richard Conley said Rahman’s fraud was “an act of betrayal of epic proportions that has devastated many lives”. He said Rahman had convinced decent and well-meaning pet owners to entrust their beloved animals into his care.
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“In fact many animals taken in by you… were subjected to prolonged barbaric mistreatment, cruelty and neglect,” Judge Conley said. “Some of them died directly as a result.”
Faeces was found inside the pens and cages, and many of the dogs were severely underweight but did not have access to food, the court heard. Ms Cooper said the dogs kept in pens would have faced “mental turmoil” as there were open bags of food in the property which they could not access.
Victims whose dogs were “rehomed” by Rahman and their supporters in the packed public gallery sobbed as Mr Godfrey told of the condition the animals were found in. Later, after Rahman was sentenced, a victim in the court shouted at him through the video link: “F****** b*****d, I hope you rot in there you dirty b*****d.”
Three of the 21 dogs were so unwell they had to be put down, and one poodle later went blind, the court heard. Rahman previously pleaded guilty to cruelty against 21 dogs and a cat, and 11 counts of fraud by false representation. Police found 37 dead dogs when they first searched the rehoming centre, where dogs were left to roam among the carcasses.
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Four more dead dogs were found when a shed was demolished during a later visit. Emma Thompson said she feels “extremely traumatised” by what happened to her dog. She planned to rehome him after the dalmatian pointer cross had shown signs of aggression, and she was pregnant.
“I often think about how confused, scared and sad Lennon must’ve felt being taken from the family he loved, transported to Essex and taken to a stranger,” she said in a victim impact statement read to the court by Mr Godfrey. “He would’ve smelt the death of other dogs at the property.”
Ms Thompson paid Rahman a £300 “surrender fee” and a further £200 as a charitable donation. Lennon was one of the dogs found dead during the first raid. Tina Davis, another of Rahman’s victims, took her dog Chad, a pocket bully, to Save A Paw to be rehomed after he had a fight with her other dog.
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In her victim impact statement, read to the court, she said: “I was devastated at the prospect of giving up my dog but knew it was required for Chad to have the best possible life. I torture myself, wondering how much he suffered. He must’ve thought I didn’t love him to leave him at that wretched place… I question if I will ever forgive myself.”
Chad is still missing, the court heard. Some of Rahman’s victims contacted him on his Facebook page for Save A Paw, which had good reviews, the court heard. He was sometimes paid a “surrender fee” and also accepted “donations” to his organisation, which he told victims was a charity – but in fact an application for charitable status had been refused.
Rahman took around £4,800 from his 11 victims, telling them it would be used to rehome dogs, provide a new kennel block or train dogs to behave around children and other animals.
He promised to keep in touch with people about how their dogs were doing, the court heard, but often became difficult to contact and in some cases blocked the people who had taken their dogs to him.
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“We’ll never truly know the extent of how far maybe offending or this behaviour has gone,” said Superintendent Leigh Norris of Essex Police.
He sentenced Rahman to five years’ imprisonment, with 38 months of that for animal cruelty. The animal cruelty sentence will run consecutively to the fraud counts, for which he was sentenced to 22 months for each count, to all run concurrently.
He was also sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, to run concurrently, for owning the banned XL bully, and was banned from owning dogs and cats for life.
Rahman can apply for the ban to be lifted after 15 years. He was also sentenced to a deprivation order, meaning the dogs found at his property can be taken. Costs will be dealt with at a later date.
The Brits will be taking place in Manchester for first time and the nominees have already been confirmed
It’s almost time for one of the biggest music events of the year and in a major change to The Brit Awards for 2026, it will be taking place in Manchester for first time.
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After five years hosting the show in London, 2026 will see comedian, actor and presenter Jack Whitehall lead the charge for the BRITs in Manchester, as the show moves north for the first time in its nearly 50 year history.
The BRIT Awards 2026 will take place on Saturday, February 28, and for those who haven’t bagged a ticket for the event inside Co-op Live, it will will be broadcast exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player from 8.15pm.
The huge music ceremony will feature performances from the likes of Harry Styles, Olivia Dean, Sombr, and ROSALIA and there will be plenty of awards to be handed out on the night – 16 to be exact -actoss categories which include Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Breakthrough Artist.
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So who is it who is nominated this year? Here are the full list of awards and the nominees as singers Olivia Dean and Lola Young sominate.
The recipients of the two other awards available at the ceremony have already been decided. Noel Gallagher has bene named Songwriter of the Year award in recognition of his 30+ year career, including his work with Oasis.
Meanwhile, the BRIT Outstanding Contribution to Music Award at the 2026 ceremon has been announced as award-winning artist and producer Mark Ronson.
Right now, longevity is all the rage and as we are gradually getting older as a population, we’re hoping to extend our lifetimes even further. It makes perfect sense, right?
Plus, most longevity advice can often be summarised into: eat healthy foods, exercise often and keep a healthy sleep schedule to reduce stress. All of this is great advice and we should be trying to implement it into our lives as much as possible!
However, there is a stage where a preoccupation with longevity is just a little too far and could be impacting your mental health and even the quality of your life as you lock into the quest for a longer life.
It’s called ‘longevity fixation syndrome’
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While this isn’t an official diagnosis, experts at Paracelsus Recovery, a mental health clinic based in Zurich have found that an obsessive and unhealthy fixation on longevity is increasingly presenting as anxiety and stress, and even eating disorders with their patients.
Speaking to The Mirror, Jan Gerber, the founder and CEO of Paracelsus Recovery said: “We are seeing a growing number of people whose lives are being dominated by the fear of ageing and decline, so much so that we have identified it as a new condition, Longevity Fixation Syndrome,
“What starts as self‑care becomes obsessive self‑surveillance. The stress generated by this mindset can be so intense that it actively shortens lifespan rather than extending it.”
Gerber adds that “there is no longevity without good mental health.”
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Additionally, Jason Wood, a former sufferer of this syndrome said to The Guardian that he believes that longevity obsession is closely aligned to orthorexia: a condition characterised by excessive interest in, concern about, or obsession with healthy food.
Wood says: “I believe many of the underlying factors and desired outcomes which fuel orthorexia are the same for longevity fixation syndrome. But with the latter, there are more variables you feel like you need to control, so even more anxiety.”
If any of this feels familiar to you, speak to your GP or leading eating disorder charity BEAT for support.
St George’s RC Primary at Overdale in Eastfield, Scarborough, could build a new multi-use games area (MUGA) if plans are approved by the council.
St Cuthbert’s RC Academy Trust, which runs St George’s, has proposed converting an existing area of natural grass playing field into a new synthetic play zone.
If approved, the new MUGA would be 30 metres long and 20 metres wide, in addition to a spectator standing area along the touchline.
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The new pitch would also be surrounded by a 3 metre high perimeter fence.
The grass playing field would be upgraded to a 2G sand-dressed synthetic playing surface surrounded by perimeter fencing and enhanced by a floodlighting system.
The site is currently in a state of disrepair, and the development would create an “enticing space for football and multisport for the local community”.
“This proposed space is intended to encourage more physical activity, primarily through football but extending to other sports and casual play,” a plan submitted to North Yorkshire Council states.
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The Football Foundation’s Local Football Facilities Plan has identified “Scarborough as a community in need of increased sporting provisions”.
The new facility could be used during evenings and weekends, providing a “high-quality space to the wider community by the inclusion of floodlighting”.
There is an “insufficient number of similar facilities within the local area, and this development would provide a space for the community to engage in sport year-round,” the scheme states.
The play zone could also provide a valued training facility improving the team sports experience as well as being used for educational, club and community football training and matches during the week and weekends, “all within reasonable times of use”.
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The proposed floodlighting system would consist of a “low-level four-column system, each of which would be six metres in height, which is integral to the proposed fencing system”.
According to the applicant, current lighting on the playing field is eight metres high and the new proposal would “reduce obtrusive light spill” while the LED fittings would be a more environmentally friendly option.
North Yorkshire Council has not set a date for deciding on the plan, which is open to representations.
Another is to always know what you want to order before you approach the bar, making sure not to hold everyone else up while you umm and ah.
‘It’s a small thing, but when the queue is three people deep, extra seconds or minutes add up,’ says Todd N, North London Account Manager at Beavertown.
This may seem obvious, but staff see this unspoken rule broken time and time again, so some people clearly need a refresher on proper boozer etiquette.
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Lisa Williams, landlady of The Cricketers Pub in Farncombe, Surrey, tells Metro: ‘You can always spot the customers who haven’t thought about what they order until they get to me. They stare at me then start thinking, it drives me crazy!’
According to Phil McAree, general manager of the Hoop and Grapes in Clerkenwell, ‘novice drinkers’ and the ‘part-time’ crowd who only come in at Christmas are typically guilty of this.
The easier you make things for the bar staff, the more they’ll warm to you (Picture: Getty Images)
‘It’s a bit frustrating because our team are drilled to cope with big orders, but they need the order so they can figure out what the best way to go about it,’ he tells Metro.
‘So if you’ve got someone who’s like “I’ll have this, and then have a little think about it, and then, oh yeah, so and so wanted this”, it makes it a lot slower.
‘All bar staff are aiming to do is just deliver that round of drinks as quickly as possible, and move on to the next punter.’
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Having come from a family of publicans and with over 20 years of experience in the industry, Phil is well used to indecisive customers, to the point he no longer gets annoyed.
What do you think is the most important bar etiquette?
Always know your order before approaching the bar
Return your glass to the bar after finishing
Be polite and patient with the staff
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Order complex drinks like Guinness first
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He notes that the clientele at the Hoop and Grapes, a Grade II listed spot which he reopened this month after it closed in 2019, largely ‘tend to know what they want’ — but even if they don’t, ‘at the end of the day, they’re paying our wages’.
Still, Phil says that in the hospitality world, certain things ‘endear you to people a lot more’, and politeness is key. To become a bartender’s absolute favourite though, bring your glass back once you’re done.
‘There’s something magical about it,’ he explains. ‘We’re like, “wow, what an amazing person”, falling over ourselves. It’s our job to go and get the empty glasses, but it’s sort of like a little token of thanks.’
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The perfect pub punter
According to Phil, the best customers in a pub have a few traits in common:
They’re polite and empathetic.
They know what they want when they approach the bar.
They bring their empty glasses back.
They’re up for a chat when it’s quieter, but understanding if staff are stretched.
They know how to drink (aka, ‘someone who can put a few away and not turn into some sort of drooling monster’).
They support and enjoy the place — because ‘the more people you can garner like that, the better the pub is going to be for it’.
Order Guinness first
Alongside having your order ready when you reach the bar, the order you ask for the drinks is also important; specifically, stout (such as Guinness) should always come first.
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Dougal Sharp, founder and master brewer at Innis and Gunn, tells Metro: ‘They’re never a quick hand-over like a lager or a spirit and mixer, so ordering the stout first means the bartender can pour it, let it settle, and get on with the rest of the order at the same time.
‘You’re back at the table quicker, and it helps bar staff keep things moving when it’s busy.’
Stout, such as Guinness, needs time to settle (Picture: Getty Images)
As Becky McCabe, co-founder at drinks brand training app, Brandee, notes, it takes 119.5 seconds to pour the perfect pint of Guinness — and that two minutes makes all the difference in a busy pub.
By giving them that bit of extra notice, she says ‘the team will quietly love you,’ telling Metro: ‘It makes service smoother, eases the pressure behind the bar, and marks you down as a top customer.’
And in contrast to a recent YouGov poll which found that 45% of Brits reckon they could get it right on their first try, Lisa says: ‘The ones who order Guinness last have obviously never poured a pint of it in their life.’
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‘I could serve twice as fast if everyone knew what they wanted and ordered the tricky ones first,’ she adds. ‘Luckily I’ve managed to train my regulars well.’
Menzies has previously apologised for losing his temper at the World Championship, saying it had been a difficult time following the death of an uncle.
But the incident left him considering his future in the sport.
“It was great to win [today]. Honestly, I was so close to pulling out this weekend. I’m just not enjoying it at the moment.”
The 36-year-old added that surgeons have told him he was fortunate not to have severed any nerves or tendons but that he should gradually recover following further treatment.
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“I couldn’t feel my fingers for six weeks. I had to go through surgery. I’ve still to go through hand treatment and trauma,” he said.
“I’ve made a massive mistake in my life. You can see the scar.
“They said [the feeling] will come back, but I have to live with the reputation of being a table puncher. It’s not a proud moment of my life.
“We all make mistakes. Unfortunately I made a big mistake and have to accept it.”
