Author
Damien Wilde
A report has suggested that a tax on sugary drinks should be introduced.
It was written by the Commons’ Health Committee, a cross-party group of MPs, who have been looking into the viability of such a move.
In their findings, the committee has said that there is ‘compelling evidence’ that a tax would help reduce consumption and combat childhood obesity.
Author
Damien Wilde
The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has recently urged the Government to ‘proceed cautiously’ with any legislative changes regarding tipping. Chief Executive Kate Nicholls last week stated that a refresh to the code of practice would be welcome, but warned against an overreaction to reports of bad tipping.
The ALMR’s words directly oppose those of the British Hospitality Association (BHA), who, last month, called for a new law to be drafted.
The BHA, which represents around 40,000 UK-based businesses, have stated that the government should seek to improve clarity around the practice of tipping and force companies to reveal what happens to tips, and where the gratuity payments end up. [ Read More ]
Author
Damien Wilde
“Hold on, man. We don’t go anywhere with ‘scary,’ ‘spooky,’ ‘haunted,’ or ‘forbidden’ in the title!”
The clocks have gone back and the gates of hell are about to be opened, unleashing an army of ghouls, zombies and witches that will take over our high streets and town centres before vanishing again just as quickly.
It is, of course, Halloween on Saturday but did you know that revellers are being encouraged to put down the pumpkin and turn to the turnip?
Inclement weather has seemingly caused a shortage of pumpkins which has led to English Heritage calling on people to turn the clocks even further back and take their knives and utensils to turnips instead.
Author
Damien Wilde
Excuse us for a minute or two – or perhaps even an hour or more – but we’re salivating over the record breaking news that has come out of Milan over the weekend.
In case you haven’t heard, French and Italian bakers combined their efforts to produce the world’s longest baguette.
It came in at 122 metres in length, or 400ft for those using imperial measurements.
A judge from the Guinness Book of World Records was on hand and (we guess) after a flick of an exceedingly long tape measure the sixty-odd bakers received the thumbs up.
Author
Damien Wilde
Cut Tourism VAT’s aims are pretty simple, though a more obvious and perhaps succinct statement would be that their stated intentions are pretty self-explanatory. And support for their movement is beginning to grow with political circles as the Liberal Democrats have become the first major party to back them.
During their recent party conference in the south-coast town of Bournemouth, the Lib Dems adopted Cut Tourism VAT’s proposed policy that VAT on domestic tourism should fall to 15%, down from the current 20% level it is at now.
Author
Damien Wilde
The scientists over at Aarhus University in Denmark are certainly on our Christmas card list this year after a study that they conducted appears to suggest that cheese could well be the key to a reduction in obesity as well as kick-starting your metabolism.
Wallace was certainly onto something….
Author
Damien Wilde
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to create something unique?
A Scottish distillery based on the small island of Islay has, and we must say that it’s something rather wonderful.
Ardberg Distillery sent a vial of unmatured malt to the International Space Station back in October 2011 under the premises of seeing how a sustained period of time in zero gravity would affect terpenes and the whisky’s taste and aroma.
Author
Damien Wilde
With 365 days in the year it’s quite easy to lose track of time and see days blend into weeks and weeks into months. It’s also easy to get dates mixed up, something which can be a little detrimental to our personal and/or professional lives.
However you can be excused for being a little confused about Waffle Day because it actually takes place twice a year.
So why does the waffle get to have two days?
Author
Damien Wilde
As a sports fan there is nothing worse than watching a penalty shootout. It’s a moment that undoubtedly sends millions of grown adults jumping behind the sofa just as kids would hide behind cushions when watching horror movies. Fear; it has that effect upon people.
But there’s also something immensely enthralling about these gladiatorial events. Take tennis, for example, where players square off in a personal battles; or even reality shows where singers, bakers and performers take each other or in a series of head-to-head battles from week-to-week: It’s a familiar format, one that brings out the best in people but can also force people into deep, dark crevasses from which they may never escape from.
Author
Damien Wilde
Stop the presses!
In news that might come as a surprise to the generous readers of this blog, we, the British people, are the second worst tippers in the entire world. According to a report, published by the Global Tipping Index, we’re only behind the French when it comes to being tight-fisted so-and-sos.
Unfortunately, we have previous: Two years ago a similar study, conducted by ICE, found that one in three Brits tip poorly when abroad. We aren’t a nation of shopkeepers; we’re a nation of Mr Pinks.
