Prosaic images of England’s north west – rain, flat caps, black pudding, Vimto, hot-pot, meat-and-potato pies – are easy to bring to mind but are evidence of lazy thinking. Exploration of the north west reveals a multifaceted cultural landscape proud of its industrial powerhouse glory years, home to...
Regional Focus
from Issue 18 published on 19/06/2008
Jeff Pickthall visits Keswick, one of North East England’s best beer hot spots.
The 700-year-old market town of Keswick is in the northern Lake District between Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwent Water. It is overlooked by fells which seem to change colour according to the weather and time of day. The town’s indigenous population of 5,000 is permanently swelled by countless Lake Di...
Spotlight
from Issue 15 published on 01/12/2007
Dave Myers and Si King are the Hairy Bikers: two-wheeled, globe-trotting, beer-loving chefs from North East England. Jeff Pickthall spoke to them
The BBC has come a long way. For decades, British regional accents were frowned upon by the broadcasting powers-that-be who preferred the supercilious tones of Received Pronunciation.
Fortunately, strong and characterful accents now bless the airwaves and nowhere are they more evident than BBC tele...
Beer and Food
from Issue 12 published on 25/05/2007
There's more to this Californian city than meets the eye. Jeff Pickthall reports on a thriving beer culture
It is easy to make a list of things for which San Francisco is famous: steep hills; the Golden Gate Bridge; Dirty Harry; Haight Ashbury and the Summer of Love; the earthquake and fire; the Castro, gays and Harvey Milk; Pacific Fleet; the Gold Rush; Bullitt; Alcatraz; fog; sour dough bread; cable car...
Beer Journeys
from Issue 9 published on 22/11/2006
