To the Barbican last night for opening of a new show about 1996. It was all Oasis, Blur, Spice Girls and Euro 96. But my single favourite exhibit was an artefact I had never seen before

Love the honest classification system in this second hand book shop

It's been quite a rollercoaster few months for fans of Lord Mandelson's y-fronts

I see Sparks are touring again

Cirrhosis of the Liver Dance

Waiting for Countdown

Gran Theft Auto

Got chatting to the landlord of an old pub in Cambridgeshire and he got out his album of the day in the sixties when the Shah of Iran and his missus came to visit - and played darts…
Amazing

Second-hand books tell the most surprising stories It’s relatively common, I find, when opening a newly purchased second-hand book for the first time, for something to fall from its pages. Most likely this will be a branded bookmark or printed stockli...

www.spectator.co.uk/article/seco...

Wrote a piece about how books can tell other stories than those they ostensibly contain-

Great to speak to @sturgios.bsky.social about my campaign to save The Mother Red Cap pub in Junction Ward, featuring in The Telegraph this week.

Positive it is set to reopen, but it is important to respect its heritage. I will be seeking reassurances it will remain as is.

@rogerprotz.bsky.social

Good to see @telegraphnews.bsky.social covering beer/pubs at present. Piece today by @sturgios.bsky.social citing popular pubs which have closed inc. the wonderful Craven Arms Shropshire but also successful buyouts & community campaigns with @camraofficial.bsky.social tips for success. #BskyBeer

Britain's best seaside pubs for a sunny pint Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside, as the old song goes. But better yet, with a cold beer in hand at a British pub.

www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/artic...

“I’ve been to three thousand pubs” is perhaps something to confide to a priest in confession rather than in print but hey - it’s become my hobby. Had great fun putting this list together...link below

Lovely but don’t call me Charlotte

People scoffed at Brooklyn Beckham when he published a coffee table photography book at just 18…but who’s laughing now?
As tens of thousand take pictures of the LA fires, it’s amazing that it’s Brooklyn who has taken the iconic image that will surely come to define them...
Incredible work

The worst hangover in the world No morning after has ever been as bad

This may be topical for some - on being really hungover

www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...

Thanks Stephen

Happy winter solstice to all who celebrate

London's most beautiful tube station by night

Like an ageing, tax-avoiding farmer parcelling up his land for his children- I am giving ours their inheritance incrementally while I’m still (just about) alive. Divided according to their respective interests:

At least Louise Haigh now has some free time to explore tech bargains on Black Friday

Do ya think I’m sexist

Haha

Prince William's transformation into the bearded Action Man figure I had in 1977 is almost complete

I see you baby, shaking that Dignitas

Instead they were playing Mariah Carey, there was a garish light show outside and even *inside* the house - and there were fairground rides and assorted other tat. All this for a bargain £26

What the fuck is wrong with this country? It’s embarrassing

The Mirror and the Light Show

Gripped by Wolf Hall and in Kent, thought we’d swing by Hever. I was anticipating something like Dennis Severs’ House or Sir John Soane’s - dark wood, candlelight and Thomas Tallis…

I’ll take them off your hands

This is amazing-
According to Google/Wiki, the term ‘Cool Britannia’ was coined in 1967. But I’ve just found it used by Philip Larkin (or perhaps more probably an anonymous Daily Telegraph sub) in 1961.
And he/the sub uses it in exactly the same sense - about the UK music scene