Life

Thanks to some dubious 90s incarnations, cider was once considered the preserve of teenagers and thirsty festival-goers, whose cans of choice were served warm and sugary. But this centuries-old drink has had a welcome craft makeover in recent years, and is fast becoming a cool alternative to beer and wine. Two cider masters – one from a longstanding cider farm, the other pressing apples for one of the UK’s hottest hotel openings – told us why it’s time to try cider this summer.

Whether you’re into weekend camping trips or longer solo hiking missions, it can help to have the best tech out there. We’ve rounded up the latest devices we rate, from a multi-use torch to a slick, outdoor-friendly camera.

Home-brewed coffee has come a long way since a jar of 80s Nescafe. From the latest Nespresso capsules to newer contenders making fully compostable pods and a recent launch straight from Japan, these are ten of the best coffee-machine products to know.

Fingal Ferguson was born and raised on a cheese farm in West Cork, Ireland, where a good knife was an essential tool for almost every job. Having been a butcher and charcutier in the farm’s smokehouse for almost two decades, today Fingal is most famous for his in-demand culinary knives – and he’s got 40k followers on Instagram to prove it. Here he shares what he’s learnt from a lifetime working with knives, including his tips for choosing, sharpening, storing and looking after them...

Hard seltzers have been a mainstay in the US for the last few years, with over 80m cans sold there in 2020 alone. And like most good things, these tasty, low-calorie drinks have now made their way over to the UK. One of the best brands to hit the market is Topo Chico Hard Seltzer – a collection of South American-inspired cans designed to take your summer drinking plans with friends to the next level. Here’s why they’re worth a try.

Almost half the UK population is affected by oral diseases as a result of poor hygiene habits. We went to Dr Hannan Imran, senior dentist at Sensu, to get to the bottom of what you should be doing, the mistakes you’re probably making and the habits to avoid…

Balancing a happy relationship and a meaningful job can get complicated when there are two careers in that relationship. But business school professor Jennifer Petriglieri has done the research and identified the secrets to making it as a dual-career couple. She told Tobias Gourlay why said partnerships are well suited to the world today and how they can maximise their own chances of success.

With outdoor gatherings one of the best ways to socialise this summer, it’s no surprise to see some of the capital’s top kitchens upping their delivery game. Whether you’re after a gourmet box filled with Spanish fare, a couple of bottles of wine or a larger option to feed a crowd of hungry friends, these are the ones to try…

From James Bond to Tony Soprano, the thrill of poker to the male mind is well known. While online sites have boomed in popularity over the last few years, serious players will tell you that sitting at a table with your opponents is the best way to learn. Poker pro Giovanni Borrelli gave us a 101 lesson in the basics of the game, the table etiquette to know, and his advice for beginners…

Jake Tyler hit an all-time low when he was managing a bar in east London a few years ago. He got out of it by walking – and sometimes running – 3,000 miles around Britain. Now a broadcaster, author and giver of TED Talks, Jake spoke to Tobias Gourlay about his epic journey and why it’s good to talk about mental health.

Fishing season is in full swing. Whether you’re an old hand or just getting to grips with the sport, if it interests you, it’s worth keeping up to date with what’s new in the angling world. We asked Dan Cartwright from Lee Green Angling Club for the best things to happen in fishing recently – and his favourite spots to cast a line, in and around London…