Food and Drink

Inspired by the building’s brutalist architecture, East London Liquor Company has launched Barbican London Dry Gin, a new collaboration featuring a Barbican-designed label and new bottle. Exclusively available from the Barbican Shop (at the Barbican Centre) and the Barbican’s Martini Bar, East London Liquor Company’s repackaged flagship, award-winning London Dry Gin is available now (RRP £35, 70cl). On this new collaboration, Tom Hills, Head Distiller at East London Liquor Company, said: “I can remember my first visit to the Barbican...

The Bank Holiday is here and following a prolonged absence the sun is out, gardenware is being dusted off and there’s a noticeable feel-good factor in the air as millions of Brits across the country prepare for a long weekend off work. This evening cellars will undoubtedly be filled with wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy and Beaujolais in preparation for the main event, and what a selection there will be. Tipped by TLE as being the best wine-drinking holiday of the...

Established in 2013, Northern Monk operates between two sites in Leeds. Focussing on creating the best beer experiences in the world, the independent brewery moved into Holbeck’s Old Flax Store site (a Grade II-listed mill) at the end of 2014: home to the brewery, The Refectory tap room and Chapter Hall event space. To meet demand, Northern Monk expanded into a Sydenham Road site in 2017, housing a much larger brewery, warehouse and storage facility. Here, a 12-fill head, 6,000...

The newest Barrafina occupies a site at Coal Drops Yard, near King's Cross station.

Wine from the Swiss canton of Valais will soon be more readily available to buy in the UK after producers announced plans to ship more of their produce to Britain. Despite being home to a nation of “passionately obsessive winemakers” who cultivate some 37,000 acres of land for viticultural purposes the Swiss have historically only exported between 1 per cent and 2 per cent of its total production abroad. Domestic demand and high production costs have limited overseas appeal with...

Following the mid 19th Century labour shortage in South America, approximately 91,000 Chinese immigrants were brought to Peru to work on the sugar plantations and mines. Typically hailing from China’s Guandong region, the settlers arrived with few material possessions, though most brought memories of recipes and ingredients such as ginger, soy sauce and spring onions. Maintaining traditional Chinese cooking methods, these ingredients would be teamed with adopted local ingredients such as Amazonian pineapples or Andean potatoes, ultimately used to create...

Following an extensive, six-year refurbishment, L’Oscar opened last year, taking over the former Baptist Church Headquarters. Built in 1903, the Grade II-listed venue closed its doors to parishioners during the 1960s after its congregation dwindled. The building has since been returned to its former glory, however, re-opened as a boutique hotel last year, designed by French architect and interior designer Jacques Garcia, also behind the likes of Hôtel Costes in Paris and La Mamounia in Marrakesh. Set over seven floors,...

The low-carb high-fat breakfast could help people control their weight by reducing the desire to gorge on junk food

Founded in 2011, Pistonhead is produced by Brutal Brewing – created by Swedish brewery Spendrups. Established over 100 years ago, the family-run brewery has since become one of Northern Europe’s largest breweries, with over 1000 employees, producing upwards of 400 million litres of drinks for brands such as Norrland’s Gold, Mariestads and Heineken. Spendrups’ Brutal Brewing, on the other hand, operates as a brewery work shop with an intention to produce exciting beers specifically designed for enthusiasts. Now exported to...