Ribena has been a popular drink in the Uk for more than 80 years, having first been developed in the 1930s.

It was originally created as a blackcurrant syrup, high in vitamin C and was given out by the government to children and expectant mothers free of charge during World War II, as fruit with vitamin C was scarce at the time.

Today it’s enjoyed as a squash, but those who consume it regularly might have noticed it tastes a little bit different.

That’s because the drink’s recipe has recently undergone some changes, as has been confirmed by the brand itself. This included adding a natural blackcurrant flavour and removing the polydextrose.

They’ve also ‘very slightly’ reduced the amount of blackcurrant juice the product contains.

This confirmation follows complaints from customers who claimed it tasted ‘weird’ and demanded they ‘bring back the original’.

Taking to Facebook, Paul Thomas Spencer said: ‘I thought it tasted weird, I thought I’d got an odd bottle. It tastes cheap.’

As Kerry Enoch wrote: ‘Bring back the original Ribena from the 1970s, that was delicious.’

And Eddie Platt shared: ‘Nobody’s ever complained about the taste since day one, so why try and improve or fix things that are not broken?’

Mazy Von Peebles added: ‘It was perfect and now undrinkable. Thanks Ribena, kids crying now.’

Speaking about the changes, Sarah Fleetwood, head of marketing for Ribena, said: ‘We set ourselves the challenge of improving our Ribena Blackcurrant squash. The key ingredients remain – we’ve just re-balanced the recipe to deliver more of the unique Ribena taste that we know our consumers love.

‘After a year of trials, we’ve delivered a better tasting drink and in a taste test, two thirds of people preferred the improved recipe.

‘What hasn’t changed is the fact that Ribena is still made with 100% British blackcurrants and performs very favourably on “juice per serve” ratio compared to other squash drinks’.

This isn’t the first time the Ribena recipe has changed though, as it was also notably altered in April 2018, when artificial sweeteners were added to the drink, in response to the introduction of the government’s sugary drink tax.

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No cinema trip is complete without a Tango Ice Blast.

Comedian Romesh Ranganathan once declared the drink to be ‘unadulterated joy’, and dreamt of having his very own machine at home.

And now, fans can finally enjoy the drink without heading to the big screen, as it returns to UK supermarkets in a ready-to-drink version.

Budget retailer B&M, which is famous for rare food finds, will be one of the stores offering the new drinks, along with Nisa, Spar, Co-op, Iceland and Home Bargains.

And the best part? The drinks costs just £3.35 for a 2L bottle.

While fans of Tango Ice Blast regularly praise the drink, one major problem is repeatedly raised: the price.

‘I love Tango Ice Blasts but why do they have to cost like 50 grand?’ lamented one X user. Others said they’re charged a ‘whole house’ to get their hands on the drink.

The cost of the slushy treat varies, but they’re currently available on Uber Eats for £5.99, while some cinema go-ers have reported paying up to £9.

This new supermarket offering though will be more than half the price, and while it won’t be icy, it will come in the same tangy flavours die-hard fans know and love: cherry and raspberry.

The Cherry and Raspberry Blast drinks were briefly in stores last year, but they’ll be returning in a surprise drop from tomorrow, available for just six months. A statement shared today warned ‘run don’t walk because once they’re gone, they’re really gone.’

When the drinks were last on shelves, reviewers had pretty positive comments. Instagram reviewer, John from @johnssnackreviews, who shares his no holds barred thoughts on a variety of new products, gave both drinks a 7/10, adding: ‘Worth trying but just a touch too weak on flavour for me.’

The 500ml bottles will be found from April 1 at Nisa, Spar and Co-op for just £2.15, while 2L varieties can be picked up in Iceland, B&M and Home Bargains for £3.35.

Victoria Burridge, Tango brand manager, said: ‘We’ve heard our fans’ cries and are thrilled to bring back Tango Cherry Blast and Raspberry Blast after they flew off the shelves when first launched last year.

‘Guaranteed to deliver that iconic hit of fruity Tang, they’re returning as a limited time drop so fans will need to hurry!’

The Blasts aren’t the only bargain product to be arriving in supermarkets recently.

Lidl fans were sent into a frenzy when the budget retailer launched Mini Egg Brownies in its beloved bakery, which cost just 89p each. 

The new item features a brownie base, and appears to have a layer of chocolate on top which is covered in pieces of colourful crushed Mini Eggs.

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A much-loved Aldi crisp flavour is now back on shelves after a 12-month hiatus – but you’ll need to be quick if you want to get your hands on a pack.

The supermarket’s Specially Selected Garlic Bread Crinkle Cut Crisps were first released in 2023, and despite only being available for a limited time, they garnered quite the fan base.

In fact, this hybrid snack proved so popular that it was brought back again the following year, with shoppers begging for them to become a permanent edition.

And while that particular prayer remains unanswered, Aldi has now given the people what they want, dropping the flavour in middle aisles this week.

Proving the strength of the demand, a Food Finds UK Official Facebook post announcing their return racked up thousands of comments and likes.

‘I wrote an email last month asking for them to bring them back,’ Joanne Dobson commented, while Lisa Black added: ‘Best things ever! I’ve been waiting for them to come back.’

At £1.50, the crisps are described as ‘deliciously moreish’ with ‘the taste of smoky garlic, married with the hearty crunch of Aldi’s premium Specially Selected crinkle cut style.’

It seems many agree with the retailer’s assessment, including Emma Puddy who wrote: ‘These are a dangerous purchase as it’s so hard to stop eating them!’

‘I can’t,’ added NicHola Ccampbell alongside a series of laughing emojis. ‘I eat the whole bag myself.’

However, not everyone’s convinced, and just like last time around they’ve proven a controversial choice.

Val Oliver slammed garlic as ‘nasty smelly stuff’, while Clare Williams said: ‘Eww they look awful.’

Regardless of whether you’re in the ‘love’ or ‘hate’ camp though, of you want to try them, it’s best to get down to your local store sharpish.

Aldi’s garlic bread crisps are in stock now, but the supermarket warns that like all Specialbuys, ‘once they’re gone, they’re gone!’

Customers were jolted into action last week too, after Aldi announced it would be axing its beloved middle aisle on Instagram.

Many were shocked by the news – including one who said ‘I just nearly s**t myself’ – but it thankfully turned out to be an early April Fool’s Day prank, so we can all breathe a sigh of relief knowing the bargains will continue.

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I hope my parents aren’t reading this, but I used to get deeply trolleyed on absinthe during my year abroad in Spain.

My friends and I would basically take over a bar called ‘La Chupiteria’, dedicated to shots, and order a round of ‘absentas’ to kick off the evening. Our ritual involved shooting a shot of the green fairy, white-knuckling the bar, placing our heads between our knees in the brace position until we’d recovered. Then, doing it all over again.

But, enough about my wayward youth. I’ve grown up since then and now have an entirely new and mature relationship with absinthe, after many years of estrangement. Just in time for the renaissance of the drink, might I add.

Back in the day, and by that I mean mid-19^th century Belle Epoque, absinthe was the spirit of choice amongst Bohemian Paris, from Baudelaire, Oscar Wilde to Toulouse Lautrec. Hemmingway drank it with Champagne – a cocktail known as Death in the Afternoon – while Vincent cut off his ear while he was on the stuff. So you can see why it was banned in France for the last 100 years.

What is absinthe?

It’s a green-hued spirit created in Switzerland in 1700, made from grand wormwood, anise, fennel and a bunch of other, undisclosed herbs. Like so many of these lethally strong, but delicious ‘drinktures’, they started out as medicinal elixirs to cure stomach ailments. Similar story for Chartreuse.

Absinthe’s popularity grew in Paris to the point where 5pm was called ‘l’heur verte’, which means ‘the green hour’. Just as quickly, it faced the wrath of cancel culture from a ‘moral panic’ at the end of the century France, blamed for the ‘social ills’ of the country and banned there until 2011. Not only there, but Switzerland, France, Belgium, Netherlands and the United States.

Why was it banished though? Because wormwood contains a neurotoxin called thujone, but then, so does sage. In excess, thujone has been linked to fits, hallucinations and psychosis, and this is what was fixated on. The powers that be separated it from alcoholism, giving it the name ‘absinthism’, even linking it to notoriously gruesome crimes.

Nowadays, the hallucinogenic effects of grand wormwood, aka artemisia absinthium, are thought to have been overstated. It’s basically impossible on the allowed minute dosage of 35 parts per million. Sure, in the past people used to go doolally on the green stuff, but that is now thought to have more to do with its incredibly high alcohol content. We’re talking, teetering on the brink of 74% abv in some bottles. You would die of alcohol poisoning many times over before succumbing to thujone toxicity.

On a lighter note, absinthe has found its mojo again, featured as the headliner on cocktail lists, bringing an element of danger with it wherever it goes. The new absinthe menu at Hotel Café Royal takes authenticity to an almost immersive experience level, Belle Epoque glass urn, sugar lumps and all. Then there’s the Absinthe Parlour in East London and Blondies in Clapton selling ‘absinthe slushies’.

Producers are experimenting with barrel-aged version and even Crème d’Absinthe which is more like a liqueur, is less formidable and has the potential to draw new drinkers into the category.

Then, there’s green, herbal tinctures like Chartreuse and Crème de Menthe that are gathering momentum and guaranteed to give you the green light to experiment with your cocktails at home.

And here are some ways to do just that…

Absinthe on the rocks

Devil’s Botany Absinthe Regalis, £54.95, devilsbotany.com

This is the first absinthe distillery in the UK, and it’s in East London, obvs. The founders haven’t just revived absinthe (reference to the Corpse Reviver cocktail, see what I did there?), they’ve reimagined it. This is the grande dame of absinthes, made with the infamous trinity of grand wormwood, green anise and fennel seed, along with host of botanicals found growing wild across Britain. The anise notes are offset by earthy coriander seed, fresh dill, caraway seed and lemon thyme notes. Delicious, and the best bit, it ‘louches’ (becomes cloudy) on contact with water.

Sip an ‘Absentini’

Devil’s Botany London Absinthe, £38, threshers.co.uk

They’ve made this in the style of a London Dry gin, plus, they also make a London dry gin. Produced specifically for cocktails, this clean, colourless absinthe cleverly doesn’t cloud on contact with other liquids. The anise profile is super subtle here, in fact you get more of a blossomy noseful thanks to locally-grown meadowsweet and elderflower. Try it instead of gin or vodka, with dry vermouth in an Absentini.

Serve it neat

Devil’s Botany Chocolate Absinthe Liqueur, £27.25, thewhiskyexchange.com

I have to tell you that this is delicious. We all know that mint and chocolate go together as flavour profiles, but so too does aniseed and chocolate. They blend the finest cacao with their absinthe distillate, giving seriously moreish mint chocolate flavours with hints of liquorice. You could even try this in an Espresso Martini for ultra decadence.

Make a very boozy hot chocolate

Chartreuse Green Liqueur, £59.95, masterofmalt.com

This iconic/notorious drink has been flavoured with extracts of 132 plants, so its almost part of your five-a-day. Famously produced by Carthusian monks, with only two brothers at a time privy to the recipe. The chlorophyll in the plants gives it its Grinch-coloured hue, and it’s so deeply herbaceous as to taste medicinal. If you’ve ever been skiing, you’ll know that it’s a staple in hot chocolates slope-side for a reason (it’s 55% alcohol).

Enjoy a Mint Choc Chip Martini

Tempus Fugit Crème de Menthe Glaciale, £32.95, thewhiskyexchange.com

Hands up, who associates Crème de Menthe with the sticky green bottle at the back of you parents’ drinks cupboard? So, more power to Tempus Fugit spirits for de-naffing said liqueur, and doing so as authentically as they could. Having cross-referenced manuals in three languages, they found out that it’s a complex spirit that can’t be made just from mint. Pour 50ml Baileys, 15ml Crème de Menthe, 75ml half half (milk/cream) into a shaker with ice, shake and pour into a coupe glass, garnish with fresh mint with mint-chocolate grated over it. Voila, the Mint Chocolate Chip Martini.

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Aside from the return of axed crisp flavours, there’s one thing Walkers fans have spent years begging the brand for — to fix the colour of Salt & Vinegar crisp packets.

Many believe that Salt & Vinegar packets should be blue, while Cheese & Onion should be green, as this is how most other crisp brands distinguish the flavours. However, Walkers does things the other way around.

Some Brits claim this hasn’t always been the case as they think the packets used to be the ‘right’ way and Walkers changed the colours in the mid-90s — but the company has always maintained that they never made any kind of switch.

However, they’ve just reignited the debate once more, after posting a suggestive image on Instagram, showing a blue Salt & Vinegar packet and a green Cheese & Onion one.

The image simply says: ‘That’s better.’

Walkers captioned the post writing: ‘You spoke, we listened.’

No other information was given as to whether or not they are actually changing the colours of the packets, so it could very well just be a marketing stunt or early April Fools’ Day prank.

If it is a joke, it’s a pretty big one as the image from the social media post has also popped up on a billboard in London, and a few meme accounts have shared snaps of what appear to be leaked shots of new crisp packets.

While nothing has officially been confirmed either way by Walkers, people have still had very mixed responses to the idea of the change.

There are those who think changing the colours would be the ‘best news ever’, but the majority of the comments showed there would be absolute outrage if Walkers did make the switch.

An Instagram user named @lahna.rose11 wrote: ‘NOOOOO  WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?’ As @dennoe24UK proclaimed: ‘What? Since I first ate crisps in the early 70s Salt & Vinegar were in a green bag… this hurts.’

Similarly, @sanj_tedz said they felt ‘betrayed’, posting: ‘You gave in to peer pressure. Cheese & Onion (BLUE) and Salt & Vinegar (GREEN) World Cup 98 was my first experience for Walkers. Utter woke nonsense.’

@rav_landa agreed, saying Walkers was ‘no longer unique’ as they were ‘copying every other company’.

And @anaztarzia added: ‘Nah that’s genuinely CRIMINAL’.

A few people also thought the images of the crisps posted by @madeinpoortaste looked ‘photoshopped’ or AI generated.

If the post is just a stunt, Walkers wouldn’t be the only company guilty of toying with fans as there’s been an influx of this kind of marketing gimmick of late..

Earlier this month Lipton sparked backlash after claiming it would be axing its popular Peach Ice Tea flavour, only to backtrack on the announcement a few days later – a move that left many ‘in tears’.

Aldi also recently made a joke post which read ‘RIP Middle Aisle’, scaring loyal customers who love finding random bargains in the store.

While we wait to see if Walkers is just pulling our leg, there are some other great crisps for us to enjoy aside from Salt & Vinegar and Cheese & Onion, as the brand recently brought back the beloved Worcester Sauce flavour. But honestly, even that move was a bit chaotic.

Walkers had to issue an apology after announcing they would be selling the crisps once more, but only in one specific shop in the West Midlands.

The company ended up re-launching the crisps nationwide in a major U-turn, saying: ‘On reflection, maybe we shouldn’t have just limited the sale of Walkers Worcester Sauce flavoured crisps to only one store in Worcester. 

‘Fans, we’ve heard your outrage loud and clear. So we’ve decided that your favourite Walkers Worcester Sauce flavour crisps will land on shelves at retailers all over the UK from Monday March 17 onwards.

‘We’re working hard to make them available for everyone to enjoy the beloved flavour – which is now even more Worcesterhsire-y with Lea & Perrins’ iconic sauce. We’re sorry for any distress caused.’

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Starbucks fans are in for a special treat over the coming weeks, as the drinks chain has just unveiled an exciting new collaboration.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Peanuts, Starbucks is launching a ‘nostalgic’ new range, which features a brand new drink, and some merchandise for the cup lovers.

Fans of Peanuts will know that in the classic cartoon, Snoopy has an alter-ego called Joe Cool Snoopy, who wears suave shades and a red jumper. But Starbucks is introducing a brand new version of the iconic character, known as Joe Kind Snoopy.

The cute comic character will swap the red jumper for Starbucks’ iconic green shade and he’ll feature on a limited-edition Frappuccino, as well as a cold cup (£24.95), bottle (£19.95) and tote bag (£9.95).

According to Starbucks, the new Frappe is a mix of mocha sauce, vanilla flavour syrup and chocolate chips. These ingredients are blended with oat drink and finished off with whipped cream and a one-of-a-kind Joe Kind Snoopy white chocolate topper. Cute!

The drink which costs £5.45 for a Tall, as well as the rest of the range, will be available at Starbucks until April 30. It’s worth noting though that everything is subject to availability, while stocks last – so if you’re a big Peanuts fan, you might want to get it while you can.

But that’s not all, Starbucks Rewards members are also being urged to keep their eyes peeled for another surprise coming up soon as the partnership continues to spread kindness throughout the Spring season. Very mysterious… 

Alex Rayner, Vice President and General manager at Starbucks UK has said: ‘We are so pleased to have partnered with Peanuts to create Joe Kind Snoopy wearing the iconic Starbucks uniform in celebration of Peanuts diamond jubilee.

‘This beloved character embodies the same kindness and warmth that our Green Apron Partners deliver to customers each and every day, in their mission to inspire connections over good coffee.’

Online Starbucks fans have already been sharing their excitement over the news, after the chain posted a snap of the new drink on Instagram and Facebook.

Tina Palmer said: ‘Snoopy drink looks cute.’ As Dean Jayden wrote: ‘I’m so exciteeeed!’

@rhebeka_x claimed she was ‘on [her] way’ to try the new range, as @magicwithclo simply posted ‘oh my’ in response. 

Ellen Mangundayao thought it was ‘so amazing’, and others shared their general love for Snoopy and Peanuts in the comments. 

This comes after Starbucks recently made a major change to its loyalty scheme in the UK.

The company introduced an improved version of Starbucks Rewards, which they claimed would give ‘customers more freebies, flexibility and choice than ever before’.

Previously, members of the programme could collect three stars (points) for every £1 they spent, but now you receive 10 stars for every £1 you spend.

The chain also introduced new ‘tiers’ for claiming rewards, with four different levels you can reach, in addition to the exisiting ‘Gold Tier Membership’.

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McDonald’s caused a stir last week when they announced they were launching a meal for adults with collectible toys – essentially, an ‘adult Happy Meal’.

This new menu feature is part of a collaboration with the Minecraft Movie, and sees iconic Maccies characters ‘blockified’. 

While the main meal features classics like Big Macs and McNuggets there were two new additions, including a McFlurry and a dipping sauce.

And it’s the cool dessert that’s really got fans talking all because of its appearance. 

The new McFlurry is Apple Cake-flavoured and features soft dairy ice cream that’s swirled with apple and shortcake pieces and finished off with a sour apple sauce.

McDonald’s describes the sweet treat as its ‘most innovative flavour combination in a long time’ and believes it’s ‘sure to excite’ fans across the UK.

However, following its launch on March 26, customers have had mixed takes on the dessert, with some baffled by the way it looks, and others claiming it’s ‘amazing’.

On Facebook, many compared the apple and shortcake pieces to vegetables, with Kelly Michelle saying: ‘Thought that was leek and crouton soup.’

The comment got more than 100 likes, suggesting dozens also agreed, and Catherine Jacinto Dela Cruz replied: ‘Now that you said it, I can see it.’

Similarly, Kieran Scott wrote: ‘Looks like croutons, spring onions and mayonnaise.’

And he wasn’t the only one, as Natalie Owens posted: ‘Sounds yummy but looks like something with a lot of green veg.’

Kathryn Hey likened the apple to ‘spring onion’ as well, while Anna Levermore shared: ‘Looks like peas and sweetcorn.’

On X (formerly Twitter) the reaction to the McFlurry was much more positive, with @EuanPlush claiming it was ‘so f***ing good’.

A user known as @Praig895 agreed, saying: ‘Tried the new McFlurry today. Apple Cake flavour. My verdict – very nice and outside-the-box thinking from McDonald’s, whose deserts had become very predictable. 9/10. My only note would be that the biscuits didn’t add anything to it.’

@A33Mxt334 thought the combination of sweet and sour made the whole thing taste like ‘Calpol’ but they admitted they were ‘here for it’.

As @Mark_Whitelegge added: ‘Wow @McDonaldsUK that Minecraft Apple Cake McFlurry is amazing.’

If this new McDonald’s menu doesn’t sound like one for you, then there’s plenty more fast food to try.

It was recently announced that a chain dubbed the ‘McDonald’s of the sea’ is going to be launching in the UK this summer.

Captain D’s was founded in 1969 in Nashville, Tennessee and has gone on to open more than 530 restaurants across the US. It specialises in seafood, with everything from catfish to butterfly shrimp on the menu, as well as classics like battered fish and chips.

The menu at Captain D’s also features fish sandwiches as well as sides such as corn on the cob, baked potatoes, green beans and fried okra. And fans seem to particularly love the hush puppies – deep fried balls of cornmeal batter served hot and crispy.

The chain will be heading across the pond to launch its very first UK site in Kent, which will start serving customers in August. 

And Carl’s Jr has also shared a UK update. The American chain, best known for its chargrilled burgers, is going to be opening its first site on April 3.

This will be inside St David’s Dewi Sant – the city’s biggest shopping centre.

The space will be able to seat 70 guests and will create 30 new jobs for the local community, with the chain said to be bringing a ‘West Coast vibe tailored to British tastes’. 

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Aside from its bargain prices and unpredictable central aisle, Lidl is well-known for one thing: its in-store bakery.

The retailer’s bakery has a cult following and several impressive accolades under its belt, including being crowned the nation’s favourite in 2024.

Shoppers go wild over the All Butter Croissant, with 122 of them selling every single minute. However, a new item just launched and if reactions are anything to go by, it might be a serious rival for the classic pastry.

Ahead of Easter, Lidl has launched Mini Egg Brownies in the bakery, which cost just 89p each. 

The new item features a brownie base, and appears to have a layer of chocolate on top which is covered in pieces of colourful crushed Mini Eggs.

Lidl customers have been raving about the sweet treat, with some hailing it the ‘best brownie ever’ in response to a post by New Foods UK on Facebook.

Tyanna Riddiford said: ‘These are absolutely amazing!!!’ As Helen Tyndall wrote: ‘Had one yesterday, best brownie EVER.’

Emma Owen was stunned, saying: ‘I didn’t think they could get much better.’

And Tiffany Hawkings proclaimed: ‘They are delicious as I just had one.’

‘Okay, I’m a Lidl girlie now,’ joked Micha McGhee, while a few others claimed they ‘needed’ to go to Lidl instantly.

There was one complaint that was made about the brownies, however, and it was all to do with their size. One shopper said they’d had to buy four, similarly Michelle Clark admitted: ‘They were nice but sooooo small!’ 

This comes hot of the heels of another popular bakery launch at Lidl, as the retailer recently introduced a Brioche Chocolate Croissant to its range.

Also priced at 89p, the pastry features a golden crust dusted with sugar and a gooey centre filled with chocolate.

Those who want to try it will have to be quick though, as it’s only around for a limited time. The same is likely true of the Mini Egg Brownies, as a seasonal product, although this hasn’t been confirmed as of yet.

Lidl isn’t the only shop with new Easter goodies on the shelves right now. M&S caused a stir this week as they dropped new Dippy Egg Hot Cross Buns £3.50 for a pack of six).

The intensely chocolatey buns have been hailed a ‘game-changer’ by the supermarket, and feature a soft cocoa bun and a gooey yellow and white chocolate filling.

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Tesco has just added a rather controversial British food to its lunchtime meal deal line-up – as a new side option.

In addition to your choice of sandwich, pasta pot or salad for a main, you can now swap your packet of crisps for a side of what some believe to be the ‘food of the gods’.

Yes, that’s right, we’re talking about Pot Noodles. 

The instant noodle snack food has been added to the supermarket’s offering, but there’s a bit of a catch – it’s only available in selected stores across the UK and it’s only one specific flavour you can get.

Customers can add the Chicken & Mushroom Pot Noodle (90g) as a snack in their meal deal, which costs £4 or £3.60 for Clubcard holders.

This side option will be offered in 50 Tesco stores nationwide. (Full list at the bottom of the story)

Speaking about the launch, Madeleine Boulton, senior brand manager at Pot Noodle said: ‘We know our fans are always looking to get the most bang for their buck, so our move into the Tesco Meal Deal as a side is our way of giving customers the ultimate “snackisfaction” and for some, the perfect hack that will ensure their meal deal sees them through the day. 

‘Head down to a participating Tesco store now to get your “noo” bit on the side – we are officially the new G.O.A.T snack for lunch-timers, noodler lovers!’

Despite Pot Noodles being hailed as the ‘food of the gods’, ‘tasty’ and ‘the best’ by fans on Reddit, Tesco shoppers have been divided over the latest change to the meal deal offering.

On Facebook, a few customers slammed the snack as ‘toxic’, ‘disgusting’ and one person pointed out Tesco could have offered something ‘healthier than a packet of crisps’. 

However, others were a bit more pleased about the news, with Kev Barker saying: ‘Goodness we have come a long way’, while others said ‘nice’ and ‘I love Tesco’.

The retailer has also been hitting the headlines lately after shoppers spotted a change to shelving in the chocolate aisle of one store.

In a bid to tackle the rise of shoplifting, the supermarket had put plastic covers on shelves in the confectionery aisle, which need to be slid to the side to access items. The idea is that criminals will be unable to subtly steal items when having to go through this extra step to get products off the shelves.

A clip of the shelves was shared on TikTok by @kirkpap1, and quickly went viral.

Commenters on the video complained that those who wanted to steal will do so regardless of the new measures. User @matt_an91 wrote: ‘Tesco just making it more frustrating for genuine shoppers to purchase items. A shoplifter will just snap that cover straight off, they don’t care.’

And @b25jmd2 queried: ‘What’s the point in this exactly? Because that isn’t stopping people from stealing.’

Shoppers with mobility restrictions or impairments said they would struggle to do their shopping with these devices in place, with @geniesdream saying: ‘I’m disabled, and that would make shopping impossible, glad I don’t go to Tesco.’

Tesco have introduced sliding security devices on a limited number of shelves as an additional security measure to help reduce theft. It’s not a universal policy though, so will only be popping in stores where the measure is deemed necessary.

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From hot honey to pistachio, there are a few flavours people just haven’t been able to get enough of lately.

The latter is having a big moment, thanks in part to the viral Dubai chocolate bar that’s been flooding social media feeds for months because of FIX Dessert Chocolatier and influencer Maria Vehera.

Filled with pistachio cream and Kadayif pastry, the Dubai chocolate bar was hailed a ‘sensation’ and ‘fire’ on TikTok after Maria filmed a video of herself trying FIX’s product.

And it seems the nutty craze isn’t about to die down any time soon, as Lindt recently launched its own take on the sweet treat.

The new bar has proved so popular, that Waitrose has even had to impose new rules for shoppers buying it, to ensure they don’t run out.

Where can you buy Lindt’s dubai chocolate bar?

The master chocolatier launched the chocolate bar in the UK on December 18, 2024.The ‘luxurious’ chocolate treat is made with milk chocolate and pistachio (45%), topped with crunchy Kadayif pastry.

The 145g bar costs £10 and is available at Lindt locations in Bicester Village, Livingston Designer Outlet, Leeds Trinity, McArthurGlen (Cheshire Oaks) and Bluewater, Dartford.

It also recently launched in Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and online at Ocado. However, Waitrose has set a new rule for buying the bar.

Customers are limited to just two bars per person, in order to help regulate stock levels.

A sign on the chocolate shelf in the supermarket reads: ‘Lindt Dubai Style Chocolate. No more than two bars per person please… because we want everyone to have the chance to enjoy this delicious chocolate. Thanks for your understanding.’

It’s no surprise it’s causing such a stir though, given the reviews it’s getting.

Over on social media, chocolate fans have been going wild for the new bar ahead of its launch, hailing it ‘a dream’ and claiming it ‘looks delicious’ and was sure to become their ‘new favourite’. Others simply said ‘can’t wait’, and ‘YUM’.

This comes after Lindt recently launched a brand new megastore in London’s West End, which could give M&M World a run for its money.

The new shop, which opened on March 21, features the UK’s  the UK’s largest Lindor Truffle Pick & Mix, a Lindt chocolate bar where customers can enjoy barista-style drinks including hot chocolates and coffees, as well as exclusive gifts and souvenirs.

Located in the former 6000 sq ft Gap store under Piccadilly Circus lights, the store will also be home to the UK’s very first Lindt Master Chocolatiers, with three three classically trained chocolatiers making fresh chocolate in the store for all to see.

Speaking about the launch, Joel Burrows, CEO of Lindt & Sprüngli UK and Ireland, said: ‘We’re thrilled to be bringing the exquisite taste of Lindt Chocolate to the heart of London.

‘With 2025 marking Lindt & Sprüngli’s 180th anniversary, what better way to celebrate this journey and enduring passion for captivating chocolate lovers worldwide, with the opening of this one-of-a-kind store – something truly unique to the UK.’

A version of this story was first published on December 17, 2024.

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If there’s one thing Marks & Spencer does well, it’s a hot cross bun, and this year the retailer’s range is particularly special as Easter 2025 marks 50 years of their Luxury Hot Cross Buns. 

To celebrate the selection is better than ever, and it even contains an industry first – chocolate-filled hot cross buns.

M&S recently unveiled its new lemon curd-filled hot cross buns, and now they’ve announced the first-ever Dippy Egg Hot Cross Buns (£3.50 for a pack of six), which will be available from March 26.

The intensely chocolatey buns have been hailed a ‘game-changer’ by the supermarket, and feature a soft cocoa bun and a gooey yellow and white chocolate filling.

As the name suggests, they’re reminiscent of a classic dippy egg, or dare we say it… a Cadbury Creme Egg. 

Metro was lucky enough to get an exclusive first try of the new hot cross buns and we can confirm, they taste ‘phenomenal’.

Courtney Pochin, Metro’s specialist food writer, said: ‘If you’re a chocolate lover, you need this phenomenal treat in your life this Easter.

‘The cocoa buns are pillowy soft and rich, and the white chocolate filling is silky smooth but tastes a little custardy, making the whole thing oh so decadent. It’s like an indulgent pudding, but in a small snack-sized format.

‘For the best experience, grab a bun in both hands and tear it open before taking a bite, so you can really appreciate the gooey filling, that’s been double injected into the bun to look like an egg with a perfect runny yellow yolk.

‘It’s hard work to resist the urge not to polish off all six in one sitting, but there’ll be zero judgement if you do – they really are that good!’

And Courtney wasn’t the only one who felt this way. Lifestyle reporter, Eleanor Noyce, added: ‘These are simply divine. I’m actually almost annoyed that I’ve discovered them, as now I’ll simply be forced to eat them most days until the Easter Weekend – and will inevitably miss them when they’re gone. 

‘The bun itself is super fluffy (much moister than most supermarket hot cross buns), and the gooey inside is delightful. The stuff of dreams, truly.’

Lead product developer Sandy Tchilinguirian is also, unsurprisingly, a big fan of the Dippy Egg hot cross buns as she helped to create the unique product. 

Referred to as the queen of mince pies and hot cross buns at M&S, Sandy has worked for the retailer for five years, and jokes that it’s Christmas and Easter all year round for her. 

She has a real soft spot for the brand’s Luxury Hot Cross Buns which she calls the ‘crown jewels’ of the range and urges customers to try them as part of a bacon sandwich by adding crispy pancetta bacon and lots of butter.

Sandy claims the new Dippy Egg buns took ‘months and months’ to get right, and she’s ‘very excited’ they’re finally going to be available for shoppers to buy. 

‘We have brought our customers on a journey with our hot cross bun range, and we’ve been introducing products for people who want to partake in hot cross buns, but might not enjoy vine fruits like sultanas,’ the expert tells Metro.

‘So far we’ve done this by bringing in non-fruited items like Extremely Chocolatey hot cross buns and cheese ones.’ 

‘We’re also working on new products that really excite us, like the Dippy Egg buns. We are the first to market the double-injected chocolate sauce, and that will be a true game-changing innovation, as there are no chocolate filled hot cross buns on the market.

‘This particular product has been a real labour of love, we’ve been perfecting it over months and months to ensure we deliver that perfect Dippy Egg, look, feel and taste.’

She continues: ‘There were various sources of inspiration for the Dippy Egg hot cross buns, but we’ve definitely built on the back of the success of our Extremely Chocolatey buns, as we felt that there was an opportunity to deliver even more chocolate and even more fun for customers.’

‘Easter is synonymous with eggs, hot cross buns and chocolate and we wanted to bring all of those very visual associations together and create a new format for people to enjoy.’

‘The result is scrumptiously chocolatey, but not too sweet,’ adds Sandy. 

As well as the Dippy Eggs, the hot cross bun range at M&S this year also features brand new Heat to Eat Cinn-A-Yum Buns which are ‘soft and sweet cinnamon buns, enriched with butter and finished with a drizzle of white icing and cinnamon sugar’.

For those who want something a little more traditional, there’s also new Collection Fruited Hot Cross Buns which contain 36% fruit and are made with Wildfarmed flour. These buns are packed full of juicy M&S Earl Grey Tea soaked Vostizza currants, Chilean flame raisins, Chilean jumbo golden raisins, sweet cranberries, diced apricot and Italian candied orange peel, and finished with a vanilla glaze.

And a few favourites are back, including the Luxury Hot Cross Buns, Blueberry Hot Cross Buns, Millionaire’s Hot Cross Buns, Extremely Chocolatey Hot Cross Buns, Extremely Cheesy Hot Cross Buns and Bramley Apple Hot Cross Buns. 

For those who aren’t so keen on buns, there are also some other new seasonal treats in store, such as an Easter Colin the Caterpillar Cake, a Flossy the Highland Cow Cake (launching April 8), and a Speckled Egg twist on the retailer’s famous cookies. 

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An American fast food chain that’s best known for its chargrilled burgers is heading over the pond and opening in the UK in a matter of days. 

Carl’s Jr. announced in May 2024 that it would be launching here under the stewardship of Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), and now the very first location has been confirmed. 

The debut restaurant has set up shop in Cardiff and is officially opening its doors to the public on April 3, inside St David’s Dewi Sant – the city’s biggest shopping centre. 

The space will be able to seat 70 guests and will create 30 new jobs for the local community, with the chain said to be bringing a ‘West Coast vibe tailored to British tastes’. 

Those who visit the restaurant on launch day will be in for a real treat as the chain is giving away 100 free burgers to the first customers.

Set to rival the likes of Burger King and McDonald’s, the Carl’s Jr. menu will feature a selection of four ‘classic’ burgers, three premium Angus beef burgers, as well as several chicken burgers.

There will also be ice cream milkshakes, bottomless soft drinks, chicken tenders, brownies and ice cream sundaes on offer. 

The new Cardiff site is just the beginning for the chain in the UK and Ireland, with an expansion plan already in place. More restaurants are expected to launch later in 2025 and into 2026, with Carl’s Jr. looking to target big cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, and London. 

David Moffat, Country Manager for Carl’s Jr. UK, said: ‘Carl’s Jr. has a reputation for delivering high-quality, crave-worthy food that stands out in the burger market.

‘We are thrilled to bring Carl’s Jr. to Cardiff, marking our first location in the UK. The team at BRG has been working hard to bring the Carl’s Jr. experience to the UK, and we can’t wait to welcome our first guests soon.’

While this new restaurant will be the first taste of Carl’s Jr. for many Brits, the chain is already established outside of the US with branches across Europe in countries like France, Spain, Denmark, and Switzerland.

The chain was first established in Anaheim, California, in1941, and now has more than 4,000 locations worldwide. But what exactly do people like about it?

Online, fans have praised Carl’s Jr. for its side dishes, especially the French fries. Taking to Reddit, a user known as u/SnooCupcakes2018 claimed the fries were ‘the best’, while u/KeepItHeady posted: ‘Carl’s Jr. has top tier sides for fast food. When you compare Carl’s Jr. to other fast food chains, they pack a serious punch on the sides game.

‘Carl’s Jr. has gone through a few different types of fries over the past few decades. At a certain point, they were “natural cut” and had skins on, and were a little bit thicker. Now, Carl’s has gone with a thinner shoestring fry, which in my opinion is top tier. Up there with McDonald’s fries for sure, although Carl’s don’t really have that added beef flavoring like McD’s. They always put the correct amount of salt on these fries and I always get fresh fries at Carl’s.’

Others couldn’t get enough of the Western Bacon burger which features a beef patty, bacon, cheddar cheese, onion rings and BBQ sauce in a sesame bun. 

‘The western bacon cheeseburger is the GOAT,’ proclaimed u/CapitalPin2658, and u/Michaelskywalker agreed, saying: ‘Western bacon goes crazy.’

This article was first published on January 14, 2025.

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The sun is setting later, hot cross buns are everywhere and the clocks are about to spring forward.

That means it’s time for a new wine range to hit the supermarkets soon, as the end-of-season drinks make way for the spring/summer ones for 2025.

And there’s one retailer that’s really killing it with their fresh whites, zesty rosés and pretty complex reds, all for bargain prices.

Aldi has one of the strongest of supermarket offerings out there, so it’s no surprise they were recently crowned the ‘Supermarket of the Year’ at the People’s Choice Wine Awards, for which I was one of the judges.

As someone on the inside, my top tip would be to bypass the regular Pinot Grigios, Sauvignon Blancs and Malbecs in Aldi’s core range and make a beeline for some of their quirkier seasonal offerings.

Why? Not because they aren’t great, but because those that specify ‘core’ will stick around in the range, while ‘seasonal’ lines will be replaced come autumn.

But there are two donkeys lurking within the stellar line-up. Not literally, of course, that woud be bizarre.

So, let’s name and shame them, shall we? The only two worth avoiding were the Beachfront Californian Buttered Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The white was over the top on the butteriness, the red on fruit, to the point of having to request a replacement tasting glass to taste the next wines in the line-up.

Phew, now we’ve got that out of the way, here are 10 of the best bottles you can get from Aldi this spring/summer:

Estevez Chilean Viognier, £5.79

Viognier is such a great choice for the ‘Will it? Won’t it?’ weather we’re having. The grape’s style is the wine equivalent of a maternal cuddle, all pillowy stone fruit and tropical richness. The thing about Viognier is its low acidity, but this Chilean example has a lively, lemon sherbet finish to it. Also perfect for when the mercury starts to rise.   

Filos Estate Greek Chardonnay, £8.49

Despite it’s slightly funky nose, this one grew on me. It’s from northern Greece and there’s no oak ageing, for anyone who’s triggered by the Chardonnay-and-oak combo. There is batonage though, meaning the dead yeast ‘lees’ are stirred to bring in creaminess and texture. It’s a process that has conjured flavours of tinned peach, lime sherbet and nectarine, and I’m here for all of them.

Unearthed Gemischter Satz, Austria, £8.99

I do believe we’ve found a little spring gem here. Made from a ‘field blend’ of up to 20 grapes, meaning those found in a single vineyard so no variety dominates. That’s what a Gemischter Satz actually is, something the Austrians lost interest in making but are now reviving. It’s light, refreshingly dry and full of green apple and preserved lemon flavours with a pop of fennel seed on the finish.

Specially Selected Austrian Zweigelt Rosé, Austria, £8.99

I could tell you that Zweigelt is the most widely-planted red grape in Austria, but that would be yawn-inducing. Instead, I’ll tell you that, until Aldi’s tasting, I’d never tasted it in rosé form. How was it? Well, I’ve put three stars by it and my tasting notes say, ‘unusual, fruit-driven, a touch of sweet strawberry and tart rhubarb. Something different’.

Unearthed Thracian Valley Pinot Noir, Bulgaria, £8.99

Calling all Provence rosé lovers, which is just about everyone with a pulse, let’s be honest. Here’s something the same but different, as it’s from Bulgaria. Barely-there in colour, bone dry with flavours of rhubarb, wild strawberry and watermelon. This will be living, rent-free in my ice bucket over spring/summer, make no mistake.

Mimo Moutinho Lisboa Red, Portugal, £5.25

A Porta 6 alternative that’s almost £4 cheaper and I’m here for it. What a lovely wine it is too. Both are medium-bodied, easy-drinking, juicy with plum and cherry flavours. I suppose they’re crowd favourites for a reason.  

Kooliburra Coonawarra Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia, £7.19

A baller of a red, with hedgerow notes of blackberry, cassis, Bonne Maman strawberry jam and dark chocolate. Granted, the flavours don’t stack up to its more complex Penfolds alternative, but it’s lovely for the price.

Specially Selected Argentinian Cabernet Franc, £8.99

You can check out my column on the best Argentine grapes that aren’t Malbec. Cabernet Franc was one that particularly blew my mind when I went over there. They do it so well over in Mendoza, honouring its herbaceous, mulberry character while fleshing it out and making it smoother than a baby bat in texture.

Specially Selected Washington State Syrah, USA, £9.99

Washington State wines are not cheap, so this is an absolute steal. Based around unoaked Merlot, with a soupcon of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, this red is jam-packed with plush, purple fruit and minty, herbaceous intensity. Don’t get it confused with the Beachfront version, which in fairness, I haven’t tasted yet but I don’t imagine to be as accomplished.

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One of the best parts of going to McDonald’s as a kid was tearing into your Happy Meal to reveal a tiny plastic toy that smelled strongly of fries. 

Now, nostalgic adults have a chance to relive their youth, as McDonald’s UK is launching a brand-new meal that fans are dubbing an ‘adult Happy Meal’.

The Minecraft Movie Meal lands in restaurants nationwide on March 26, featuring one of six exclusive collectible toys crafted especially for adults.

While plenty of Maccies fans are excited, Metro readers seem to have one very specific question on their minds…

‘Will it include an adult toy?’

It seems there was a slight disappointment among readers over the inclusion of Minecraft collectibles, as they were expecting something a little more X-rated inside.

Scott Dean Lloyd wrote: ‘That’s not the toy I was expecting from an “Adult Happy Meal” – disappointing.’

Bobby-Joe Matt added: ‘The only way most adults are going to want this is if the toy it comes with is an adult toy. Otherwise, why bother?’

Some readers had other creative ideas in mind, too…

Louise Slocombe asked: ‘Are the toys being supplied from Ann Summers?’

Gemma Burt replied: ‘Best idea ever! This definitely needs pitching to Maccies.’

Caroline Morris added: ‘That’s one way of putting a smile on someone’s face.’

Of course, not everyone was after a naughty addition. Some were just hoping for slightly more nostalgic items instead…

Laura Lee wrote: ‘Imagine they brought back the old toys for the adults from the 80s till 2000. So we could all collect the ones we are missing or were never allowed back then.’

Joe Woodhead added: ‘If the toys are just cardboard like they have been for the last 10 years. I’m going to be extremely disappointed.

‘When I was 10 years old they gave me a working battery powered megaphone complete with robot voice changer. I want those days back.’

Ryan Warburton added: ‘How is it an adult happy meal with Minecraft toys? Could have given us something nostalgic from the 90s that we grew up with.’

Meanwhile, others wanted a different kind of adult fun. ‘Does it come with a pint of lager for the men and wine for the ladies?’ one reader asked. 

Suzi Williams added: ‘Be mint if the toys are miniature cleaning products/ laundry items that cost a fortune. That would make lots of adults happy! (Or actual miniatures of the alcoholic kind).’

The adult meal will cost £8.19. Customers can pick between a Big Mac, nine Chicken McNuggets, or four Veggie Dippers for the main event, plus a side of your choosing and a carbonated drink.

There are six different collectibles to get your hands on, featuring iconic McDonald’s characters like Grimace, Hamburglar, and Birdie the Early Bird.

But that’s not all — there are also a few other limited-edition items being added to the menu to celebrate the Minecraft collab, including a new Apple Cake McFlurry and Nether Flame Sauce—all ‘blockified’ like in Minecraft.

Kids don’t have to miss out on the fun either, as the classic Happy Meals are getting a Minecraft makeover for the next few weeks.

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Depending on who you ask, Marmite is either a national treasure or a crime against humanity. 

As its age-old slogan claims: you either love it or hate it. And, according to a recent ranking, the haters might be winning.

The survey, based on over 600,000 responses worldwide, named Marmite as the second-worst English food, only beaten by jellied eels.

The news was met with horror at Metro HQ, where one of my colleagues defended Marmite as fiercely as a mother would protect her newborn baby. 

Then, as expected, came the naysayers. ‘Marmite’s awful. It’s the worst thing I’ve ever tasted,’ another person chimed in. 

What did I think?

Well, I didn’t really care. I had no strong feelings – mainly because I’ve never tried it.

Yea, it might sound hard to believe, but I’ve managed to avoid loving or hating Marmite for all of my 24 years. 

Of course, when I made this admission to my colleagues, there was only one thing for it: I must try it immediately.

I swiftly headed to the work canteen to order a slice of toast with butter and Marmite. I braced myself for the worst and it was… okay?

I may be one of the only people in the world who is completely indifferent to Marmite, but honestly, I didn’t mind it. I finished both slices. It was salty, savoury, and similar to soy sauce. Weird, but not awful.

Would I eat it again? Maybe. I think my ‘toast’, which was essentially a lukewarm slice of bread, let it down. I can imagine it being quite nice with some crunchy sourdough. 

I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a convert, and I’m not rushing out to buy a 600g tub of Marmite anytime soon. But if someone offers me a slice of toast with a thin layer on it, I wouldn’t say no.

I could even go all out – maybe take a page from Nigella’s book and mix it with spaghetti and Parmesan.

What I do now know, is that the Marmite hate is massively OTT. It’s far from the worst thing I’ve ever tasted (or second-worst, according to TasteAtlas reviewers), and anyone who thinks otherwise needs to grow up. There are far more disgusting things in this world than some yeast extract on toast.

As for the top-rated worst food? I haven’t tried jellied eels yet, but they might just be next on my list. 

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The best part of going to McDonald’s as a kid was, of course, the Happy Meals, but as adults we sadly have to make do without a fun surprise with our burger and fries.

That’s all about to change though as McDonald’s in the UK is launching a brand new meal especially for adults which fans online have already dubbed an ‘adult Happy Meal’.

The Minecraft Movie Meal launches in restaurants nationwide from Wednesday, March 26 and will feature one of six exclusive collectible toys, crafted especially for adults. 

The news has sent Maccies lovers into a frenzy — with the fast food giant responding to excited comments online.

‘Is this the first ever adult UK happy meal???’ asked one follower on Instagram, while McDonald’s replied: ‘my inner child is going to be healed.’

Another fan wrote: ‘Please do more adult happy meals!! I’m so excited for these.’ With McDonald’s saying: ‘I might start a petition because hard agree.’ So perhaps we could see more adult happy meals on the menu in the future.

Other comments declared the new meal to be ‘epic’ while another told the chain ‘you guys have outdone yourselves.’

There are six different collectibles to get your hands on, which see the iconic McDonald’s characters like Grimace, Hamburglar and Birdie the Early Bird, ‘blockified’ like in Minecraft.

The adult meal will cost £8.19 and in terms of the food itself, it’s all pretty standard Maccies fare. Pick between a Big Mac, nine Chicken McNuggets, or four Veggie Dippers for the main event, plus a side of your choosing and a carbonated drink.

If this weren’t exciting enough, there are also a few other limited-edition items being added to the menu to celebrate the Minecraft collab – with a new Apple Cake McFlurry and Nether Flame Sauce.

The dessert features soft dairy ice cream that’s swirled with apple and shortcake pieces and finished off with a sour apple sauce. McDonald’s describes the sweet treat as its ‘most innovative flavour combination in a long time’ and believes it’s ‘sure to excite’ fans across the UK.

And those who like a bit of spice will want to try the Nether Flame Sauce, inspired by the Nether in Minecraft – a land where lava is more common than water. The sauce is made with crushed red pepper and cayenne, with hints of garlic and sweetness. The chain recommends pairing it with your nuggs and fries for an added kick. 

Little ones don’t have to miss out on all the fun though, as the classic Happy Meals are also getting a Minecraft makeover for the next few weeks. 

The box will be Minecraft themed and the meal will include one of 12 brand new toys inspired by the movie characters such as Evoker, Bee, Skeleton, Sheep and Creeper, along with a Grass Block and Llama or Stone Block and Garret.

For those who prefer books to figurines, there’s a Minecraft Adventures Book available with the Happy Meals too, as part of McDonald’s continued commitment to providing access to books for as many families as possible through its Happy Readers programme. This has distributed over 160 million books to date.

Speaking about the adult meal launch, Ben Fox, senior vice president chief marketing officer at McDonald’s UK and Ireland said: ‘McDonald’s is exploring a brand-new world with the A Minecraft Movie collaboration. We’re always looking for fun and exciting ways to bring excitement to our menu and the A Minecraft Movie Meal is a perfect way to bring two icons together. 

‘This partnership has allowed us to bring amazing collectibles, crafted for adults, to the UK for the first-time ever!

‘We can’t wait for fans to meet their favourite McDonaldsland characters in blockified form, and to experience the new products which have been inspired by the A Minecraft Movie universe – Nether Sauce and Apple Cake McFlurry.’

And of the new Happy Meals, he added: ‘We are delighted that two iconic worlds are colliding – McDonald’s and A Minecraft Movie, to create the ultimate Happy Meal. This first-ever collaboration allows us to bring the characters of A Minecraft Movie to life, including beloved Creeper and Skeleton, in the form of exclusive Happy Meal toys.

‘Children will be able to unleash their imagination and embark on their very own A Minecraft Movie adventures.’

This comes after McDonald’s announced it would be making its biggest change to Happy Meals in the UK in years.

In 2021, the chain removed plastic toys from the children’s meals in a bid to reduce its environmental impact and cut down on their use of virgin fossil fuel-based plastics. Most recently this included the introduction of paper fibre toys for children.

However, the chain has since revealed it’s going to be changing its stance on plastic toys.

For decades customers had been able to save and pass on their Happy Meal toys for new generations to enjoy, but it seems some of the newer ones haven’t offered the same longevity and durability, due to the ‘limitations’ of paper.

As such, McDonald’s is looking into using more ‘durable materials’ – including plastic – to give families the ‘value’ they deserve, while still meeting global sustainability ambitions.

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It’s officially hot cross bun season, which means the supermarket shelves are bursting with everything from the classic fruited buns, to cheese variants and even chocolate ones.

But it’s not just the shops that are stocking up on the seasonal treat, even fast food chains are adding them to the menu.

From March 19, Subway is launching two brand new hot cross bun menu items – a Footlong Hot Cross Bun Slice and a Cheesy Bacon Hot Cross Bun Toastie.

The former is a long slice of traditionally spiced hot cross bun loaf, containing sultanas, as well as orange and lemon peel, and served toasted with Cornish salted butter. 

White the latter offers a sweet and savoury alternative, made with hot cross bun bread and packed with streaky bacon, double American-style cheese and BBQ sauce. It can be ordered as either a Footlong or 6-inch and costs £5.99 and £3.99 respectively.

Subway fans have already been sharing their thoughts on the new products, hailing the hot cross bun slice ‘yummy’ and comparing it to the Footlong Gingerbread served at Christmas which was ‘elite’ on Instagram.

However, not everyone was so impressed, as Matt Richardson called the new sandwich a ‘man made horror beyond comprehension’ on Facebook, while Ricky Whelan thought it looked ‘vile’. 

Others pointed out that the slice couldn’t be called a ‘hot cross bun’ as it didn’t have a top piece.

Speaking about the launch, Cathy Goodwin, Culinary & Innovation Director at Subway EMEA, said: ‘We’re celebrating spring with a Subway twist! Combining the nation’s love of hot cross buns with our bread-baking expertise, we’re excited to unveil our delicious new limited-edition menu items catering to both sweet and savoury fans. Baked fresh daily and full of flavour, we’re sure they’ll be a big hit this Easter, so get them while they’re hot!’

These aren’t the only new items Subway has launched of late, as the chain also recently started selling jacket potatoes in 170 UK locations, following the ‘jacket potato renaissance’ on social media. 

With a brand new ‘Spudway’ selection on the menu, customers will be able to pick from fillings like the classic Heinz Beanz and Cheese and Tuna Mayonnaise, or Subway fan-favourites such as Chicken Tikka, Taco Beef, or Rotisserie Style Chicken and Bacon. 

But the options aren’t limited to just these flavours, as any Sub can be turned into a spud, so people will be able to get creative and add whatever toppings they fancy.

The jacket potatoes can be enjoyed on their own, or as part of a new meal deal which will include a spud and drink, plus a packet of crisps or a cookie. The price of the deal hasn’t been confirmed as of yet, but Subway says individual spuds will start from £4.29 (although this will vary by store).

Spudway is available until April 15 while stocks last, and if the trial proves successful there’s potential for Spudway to be rolled out nationwide later this year. 

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The sun is shining, you’re at the beach and you’ve got a nice, cold bottle of Lipton Peach Ice Tea in hand. Does life get any better than this?

Well, it seems it certainly can get a lot worse… and for 24 hours it did.

That’s because Lipton had many Brits convinced that summer was ‘ruined’ after it shared its iconic peach flavour was being discontinued. Say it ain’t so!

Without any warning, the ice tea brand took to social media claiming they were axing the drink and apologising for ‘any inconvenience caused’.

The post read: ‘You may have heard that our iconic Peach Lipton Ice Tea flavour is getting discontinued. We know – it hurts (sorry if we’ve ruined your go-to afternoon chill bev). 

‘But don’t worry, the rest of your faves are still here to keep you refreshed. And who knows? Maybe one day, Peach will make a legendary comeback. 

‘We appreciate your understanding during this period of adjustment and apologise for any inconvenience caused. #RIPeach.’

The announcement quickly went viral, garnering thousands of comments – many of which were filled with outrage, disbelief and general backlash, as people were ‘distraught’ by the news.

However, just one day later the brand has done a U-turn on the decision and confirmed it was just a joke and Peach Ice Tea is here to stay.

‘Oops, is it still March? Got my dates mixed up… thought it was April Fools already! I’d never take away your favourite flavour, pookies,’ they said.

But people haven’t been placated by the confirmation that the beloved drink isn’t going anywhere, instead they’ve branded the brand’s actions ‘cruel’ and a ‘horrible prank’ that left Brits ‘on the verge of tears’.

An Instagram user known as @7ouzia wasn’t amused in the slightest, saying: ‘Let’s be clear – never, EVER try to pull this stunt again! This was NOT a funny prank; it was pure stress for all of us who love Peach Lipton. Don’t mess with perfection! Keep it on the shelves forever.’

As @jleigh_o wrote: ‘FML the unnecessary trauma today.’ Similarly, @cestmoivivii said: ‘Can we not with this new marketing strategy, it’s annoying.’

And @hassandraws proclaimed: ‘I want to be compensated in ice tea of the grief this caused.’ While @loredeloreto posted: ‘You made me cry!!! Compensate me.’

A few people were also mortified they’d gone to extreme lengths after falling for the stunt. @taylrsstillhere admitted: ‘I quite literally emailed the prime minister about this.’

‘I literally screamed at my mother to buy 15,000 bottles,’ added @arnopersoons.

Others demanded an apology, as it didn’t go unnoticed that the word ‘sorry’ had been absent from the second statement.

In the UK, Lipton is owned by Britvic, under an agreement with PepsiCo. 

The peach flavour was first launched in 2004, just two years after the brand made its debut in the UK.  However, there have been several other ice tea flavours sold by the brand over the years, including lemon, raspberry, mango and mint and lime. 

Most recently Lipton has started producing a new kombucha range, with options including Mango Passionfruit, Strawberry Mint and Raspberry.

Speaking about this launch, Ben Parker, the VP of sales off-trade for Carlsberg Britvic, said: ‘We know how popular the kombucha trend is and believe Lipton has created a product that can introduce even more people to the category and its benefits. 

‘As a brand, we are in a good position to grow an exciting category and we’re really looking forward to shoppers being able to try the flavours and for retailers to reap the current untapped rewards of stocking it.’

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There’s been a seemingly never-ending stream of chicken chains setting up shop in the UK of late – from Dave’s Hot Chicken to MB Chicken and BonBird.

But fast food fans are finally being treated to something a little different in the UK, as a chain that’s been dubbed the ‘McDonald’s of the sea’ is going to be coming here soon.

Captain D’s was founded in 1969 in Nashville, Tennessee and has gone on to open more than 530 restaurants across the US. It specialises in seafood, with everything from catfish to butterfly shrimp on the menu, as well as classics like battered fish and chips.

The menu at Captain D’s also features fish sandwiches as well as sides such as corn on the cob, baked potatoes, green beans and fried okra. And fans seem to particularly love the hush puppies – deep fried balls of cornmeal batter served hot and crispy.

This summer the chain will be heading across the pond to launch its very first UK site in Kent, which will start serving customers in August. 

Captain D’s has signed a 20-unit agreement with CD’s Holdings for the UK with restaurants also planned for Sussex and Hampshire later this year.

Speaking about the launch, Naveed Chattha, the operations director of CD’s Holdings, said: ‘We have been looking for the right brand to introduce to the UK market, which is exciting and healthy.

‘There is a large fish and chips market in the UK, but no one has tried to apply discipline, standards, and quality to such a level here before. With our experience, we feel Captain D’s is the right choice.’

We’re sure the people behind the UK’s top 50 best fish and chip takeaways, might have a few things to say about that statement. But anyway, moving on…

What do customers really think of the food at Captain D’s?

Like most fast food spots, Captain D’s has received mixed reviews online, especially on Reddit and Tripadvisor. Some people have branded it ‘so so’ and ‘disappointing’, while others ‘love it’ and say it’s their ‘favourite’.

The most interesting comment comes from a Tripadvisor reviewer known only as Florida_sugar_Daddy who dubbed Captain D’s the ‘McDonald’s of the sea’.

They wrote: ‘This is the McDonald’s of seafood and they do a great job at it. The Sebring store is clean and well maintained with a friendly and helpful staff who get your food to you quick and the prices are good.’

Pag057 felt similarly, saying: ‘We always love to stop at Captain D’s. The food is always good, the service is great and the price seems fair.’

And PJSteeby said: ‘Fast food never tasted so good and served so quickly with a smile! We visit every week and are NEVER disappointed!’

Others claimed it was the ‘best fast food seafood’ they’ve come across, and better than another rival US chain known as Long John Silver’s.

However, not everyone felt so warmly about Captain D’s, as Barbara K thought it was ‘another average fast food chain’. She posted: ‘The food was prepared quickly, but it is not that tasty and is often quite greasy.’

While 910peggy agreed, sharing: ‘This was standard fare. Good fast food but nothing special.’

A user known as cttagent added: ‘Fish sounded like a good thing for lunch, so we stopped here. Catfish meal contained three very small fillet pieces, definitely not worth the price. Batter dipped fish was average tasting. Broccoli was inedible: overcooked, rubbery tasting, and burnt.’

In other fast food news, McDonald’s recently announced it would be making a major change to its Happy Meals in the UK for the first time in years, and the beloved chain also launched the famous Shamrock Shake here for the first time.

Burger King unveiled some changes to its most legendary menu item, while Subway decided to start selling jacket potatoes, because why not?!

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For many of us, the idea of being surrounded by chocolate all day, and coming up with ideas for new and delicious sweet treats, sounds like a dream – but for Lizzy Dinsdale, it’s a reality.

The 34-year-old has spent the last 14 years working with Mars Wrigley as a chocolate scientist, creating new products for iconic brands like Galaxy, Twix, Snickers and more.

She also plays a key role in helping to bring back some retro favourites that have been axed over the years – such as the recent return of Milky Way Crispy Rolls. 

But how do they decide which discontinued snacks from the 80s, 90s and 00s to give another go? According to Lizzy, it’s all to do with us, the consumers, and how much fuss we’ve been making over a specific product.

‘We’re always listening to consumer feedback, so when we see a clear desire with people for a certain product to return, we take note,’ she tells Metro. 

‘We don’t follow strict rules for product returns, but if there’s clear demand for a product then it’s definitely something we will consider. We even have a dedicated social team to monitor ideas and love for retro products, and online petitions definitely factor into this too!’

Lizzy recalls how petitions played a big part in driving the return of the Milky Way Crispy Rolls, with one particular petition reaching more than 8,000 signatures. 

So if you do want to see a long lost chocolate bar come back from the dead, it could be word getting onto change.org and spreading the word… 

However, it’s worth keeping in mind that when a nostalgic treat like the Crispy Rolls gets brought back, it might not taste exactly as you remember, as the experts will likely have made some ‘improvements’.

‘Our main focus is ensuring the essence is the same, so that people trying it can experience the product that they know and love, to really capture that magic nostalgic moment,’ Lizzy explains.

‘But at the same time, we’re always doing our utmost to make improvements to the taste or texture of a product.’

If she had her way, there are two Mars Wrigley products Lizzy would love to bring back – the yellow Starburst flavour and the Galaxy Truffles from Celebrations tubs.

‘The Galaxy Truffles returning would be a dream come true and I know I’m not alone on that one,’ she says.

No matter how much you love a certain sweet or chocolate bar, its survival is never guaranteed and there are several reasons as to why your favourite product might end up getting axed.

Lizzy claims the most common reason chocolate bars don’t make it is that they can’t be scaled efficiently or consistently. This means a brand is unable to produce hundreds of thousands of them that all look and taste the same. 

‘If we can’t do that, then we pause and relook at the recipe and process to see if we can make it work.’

Quality is also another big factor in this decision making process, and this is where Mars’ dedicated chocolate testers come in – yes, apparently that’s a real job. Where do we apply?!

Ultimately though, it might just be the case that the product doesn’t ‘fit’ with the established brand.

Lizzy adds: ‘From Maltesers to Mars and Snickers, our brands are the heart of Mars, and all have distinct and iconic recipes, textures and flavours, so it’s important that new products support what’s already out there and have a familiarity and distinctiveness to the brand. 

‘If consumers don’t associate the new product with the brand or aren’t happy with it, we won’t continue with it. They call the shots!’

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Wetherspoons is making some major changes to its menu.

If you’re a lover of the pub chain’s meat options, you may — or may not — want to read on because steak, mixed grills and gammon are being removed from the menu from May 14.

The ‘disappointing’ news was revealed to staff on Friday in an email, with a representative confirming to Metro that the changes are going ahead.

‘Wetherspoon is making changes to its menu in May,’ the spokesperson said in an email statement. ‘This includes the removal of steaks, mixed grills and gammon (May 14).’

The message was reportedly shared by Wetherspoons chief executive John Huston to team members in an email, explaining that the changes came ‘after much debate’ and are the result of multiple factors, including the company’s goal to return to pre-COVID profit levels.

Understandably, it’s news that will upset some diners. On X, one fan voiced their upset, writing: ‘Absolutely gutted about Wetherspoons removing the steak off the menu.’ While another said they ‘feel like crying.’

As a result of the departing meals, Steak Club, which runs every Tuesday between 11.30am and 11pm, will be cut from the deals list. The bargain deal allows Spoons goers to enjoy a steak and a soft drink for £9.67, or upgrade to an alcoholic drink for only £11.20. 

Fortunately, it’s not all bad news. In place of the meals, a new range of gourmet burgers will be available, meaning you may just find a favourite affordable plate to fill the steak sized void.

In the statement to Metro, a representative said: ‘A new range of Gourmet Burgers will be introduced; The Big Smoke, Buffalo Burger and Cheese Meltdown, on Wed 14 May.’

The new additions are called The Big Smoke, Buffalo Burger and Cheese Meltdown and expand their current menu, which includes both beef and chicken burgers.

In addition to the burgers, there will also be a range of Korean style chicken meals on offer, with a spokesperson telling us: ‘Wetherspoon is confident that its menu provides a variety of choices and value-for money meals.’

Steak lovers will still be able to enjoy the delicious meal for another eight weeks in pubs across the UK and Ireland, but some diners have said it’s about time the meat cuts were taken off the meny

It follows news Wetherspoons enjoyed sales growth of nearly 8% over the 12 months leading up to July this year when it published its most recent trading update.

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Imagine if the crunchy, caramelised texture of a Biscoff biscuit was combined with the creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture of a Cadbury Dairy Milk block.

Well, it’s no longer just something to dream about, because the two have united to create the Dairy Milk Biscoff block.

After landing in stores over the weekend, sweet-toothed fans flocked to get their hands on the treat, but were left completely and utterly ‘disappointed’ after the first bite.

It seems to have proved a major letdown for chocolate lovers who have been waiting months to try it, since it was first announced.

The brands teased the new collab for months, resulting in extra high expectations, but it’s safe to say that the feedback isn’t exactly what Cadbury and Biscoff were hoping for.

On Facebook, Katie Griffin wrote: ‘Tried it today from a new agents it’s nice can’t taste the Biscoff much though.’

Sam Oakley agreed, writing: ‘Just had it and not worth it.’ They continued to say that they ‘couldn’t really taste the Biscoff’ and were ‘disappointed’.

‘Got it yesterday and can’t really taste the Biscoff not that impressed’, Steph Penny wrote on the social media platform.

‘That is so disappointing, all that time I waited,’ @libbymayfitspatrick said in a TikTok video review. ‘It’s got like a tiny bit of Biscoff, but it’s not that good.’

So why is the block going unloved? According to TikTok user @billydean1997 it’s because it is ‘97% chocolate and 3% Biscoff’.

Other shoppers have pointed out the same thing and said that instead of small rations of the biscuit being sprinkled throughout the block, they should have done something more like Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Caramel block, which has a gooey centre.

@rowan wrote on TikTok: ‘Am I the only one who thinks they should have put spread in it like the Oreo one?’

@user4760313381182 agreed, adding: ‘Would be SO much better with Biscoff spread’.

For those who do want something a bit more spread-inclusive, shoppers suggested they buy Biscoff’s own chocolate block, a milk chocolate bar filled with Biscoff cream and crunchy biscuit pieces.

While this block appeared to be a flop, Cadbury will have a chance to win over chocolate lovers again. A spokesperson previously told Metro they have more than one Biscoff collaboration up their sleeve this year.

A spokesperson for Mondelēz International—which owns Cadbury—previously shared: ‘Mondelēz International and Lotus Bakeries are excited to start working together to develop and market co-branded chocolate products in Europe, with potential options to expand into additional markets.

‘While specific formats are still in the early stages of development, we’re aiming to bring new innovations to the chocolate category that will surprise and delight consumers.’

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McDonald’s Happy Meals have been a staple on the fast food chain’s menu for almost 40 years in the UK.

During this time, they’ve undergone some major changes – from the iconic yellow smile being removed from the boxes, to the introduction of four new food options for kids. But one of the biggest changes in their history has to be the removal of plastic toys, which came into force in 2021.

In a bid to reduce its environmental impact and cut down on their use of virgin fossil fuel-based plastics, Maccies transitioned from plastic toys such as action figures, My Little Ponies and music players to offering books and soft toys. Most recently this included the introduction of paper fibre toys for children.

However, the chain has just announced its biggest change to Happy Meals in six years, which is that it’s going to be changing its stance on plastic toys.

For decades customers had been able to save and pass on their Happy Meal toys for new generations to enjoy, but it seems some of the newer ones haven’t offered the same longevity and durability, due to the ‘limitations’ of paper.

As such, McDonald’s is looking into using more ‘durable materials’ – including plastic – to give families the ‘value’ they deserve, while still meeting global sustainability ambitions.

According to the chain, ‘choosing the right material’ for each toy is key, and in some cases this will continue to be paper. But where they feel plastic is the right option they will explore the type of plastics that can be used.

Currently they are looking at using two types of ISCC Plus Certified (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification system) plastic, including Mass Balance plastic, where some of the plastic is made from used cooking oil, and Green PE, which is plastic made in part from sugar cane.

Both of these are recyclable via specialist recycling and McDonald’s is teaming up with Wastebuster and joining their Recycle to Read programme, helping encourage families to rehome unwanted toys, recycle broken plastic toys and help get books into schools to support children’s literacy.

Speaking about the Happy Meal change, Ben Fox, the chief marketing officer for McDonald’s UK & Ireland told Metro: ‘Our iconic Happy Meal has been creating fun family moments for decades and that familiar feeling of excitement when kids open the box to discover which book or toy it contains. 

‘The new approach we’re testing means that we can keep delivering that great experience through a range of toys made with different recyclable materials that children can enjoy playing with for longer.’

This isn’t the only change McDonald’s has made of late, as the chain recently added a brand new item to the menu – the Shamrock Shake.

The vivid peppermint milkshake had become somewhat of a cult item amongst fans, after being sold in the US for years, but never previously being available in the UK.

However, it has finally made its debut here, and those who want to try it will have to be quick as it’s only available for a limited time until March 25 – and once it’s gone, it’s gone.

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It’s a good week to be a Walkers crisps fan, as the snack giants just brought back a discontinued favourite – Worcester Sauce flavour.

The crisps, which were axed in 2023 and feature the iconic taste of Lea & Perrins, have finally returned to shops nationwide after Walkers admitted they’d made a mistake only bringing them back in one shop in the West Midlands.

But that’s not all… There’s even more exciting news for those who have been missing another top tier flavour, as Walkers has confirmed that Heinz Tomato Ketchup crisps are also going to be making a comeback.

Yes, Walkers and Heinz are joining forces once more to bring back the saucy crisps many shoppers have been missing for two years.

Walkers teased the return of the fan-favourite on Instagram, sharing a snap of a crisp covered in the classic Heinz sauce, along with a date showing March 17. 

They captioned the post simply writing: ‘You know it makes sense.’

More than 44,000 people liked the post, with hundreds going wild in the comments, proclaiming the crisps the ‘best’, their ‘fave’, and ‘elite’.

A user named @shazzathewino posted: ‘This better be UK wide, unlike Worcester Sauce. Don’t break my heart again.’ And @robin_hope_summers wrote: ‘Ketchup is genuinely my favourite flavour crisp. I’m dying over here bro.’

Similarly @another_snack_reviewer admitted they were her ‘fave’ crisps, adding: ‘So glad these are back!’ While @realpeteyquinn commented: ‘Love me some Ketchup Walkers. Easily the best flavour.’

Metro’s very own assistant news editor Isobel Frodsham was also ecstatic about the snack news, boldly proclaiming the Walkers and Heinz treat ‘the greatest crisp creation ever created’. 

She said: ‘For some people the McDonald’s McRib might be their dream food return to the shelves, but for me, it’s always been Tomato Ketchup crisp. 

‘While I am a salt and vinegar lover at my core, the Tomato Ketchup flavour is the greatest crisp creation ever created, in my humble opinion. It’s perfectly balanced – salty and sweet, and not too overpowering with the tomato flavour. I am delighted they are returning to the shops – I’m rushing out to buy a packet asap.’

And while Walkers was teasing something for March 17, it seems those who just can’t wait another day might already be able to get their hands on the crisps, as several shoppers claimed they’d already spotted multipacks of them on sale in Iceland and the Food Warehouse stores for £2.

It’s not yet known how long the tomato ketchup crisps will be sticking around for, so you’ll probably want to make the most of them and stock up while you can.

In other exciting foodie news, another discontinued favourite recently returned to the shops, but this one is a little sweeter.

Caramac chocolate bars by Nestlé got the boot from the confectioner’s line-up in 2023, making a brief reappearance in 2024, before disappearing again.

Chocolate lovers mourned the loss of what they called Nestlé’s ‘best ever’ item, and shed tears over the loss. 

But they don’t need to cry anymore as it’s been spotted on sale once more. 

Heron Foods is currently selling the chocolate bar in packs of three for just £1 – and with more than 340 stores nationwide, you’ll likely be able to nab yourself some.

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Call me boring if you want, but I love a good supermarket shop.

Take me to big Tesco or Sainsbury’s and I’ll be in my element looking at homeware and cute pyjamas that I don’t really need, before stocking up on my favourite snacks. Simple pleasures and all that.

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise then, that going to Costco for the first time ever would be a big deal for me.

Standing outside the warehouse in Hayes, I was giddy with excitement. It wasn’t quite on par with the way a child feels at Disneyland for the first time, but it was up there. 

The wholesale chain has pretty strict membership criteria and I’d never previously met the requirements to get in. But thanks to my husband switching jobs, that had all changed.

Finally armed with my very own Costco card I headed inside the store… and was met with utter chaos.

If you’ve never been to Costco before, it’s my duty to warn you never to go on a weekend – it’s akin to being in London when the Christmas lights are switched on, or at a UK beach in the height of summer. There were people absolutely everywhere and endless queues, both to get into the store and for the checkouts. It isn’t for the weak.

The layout of the shop itself was also rather chaotic, although this is definitely part of the experience. I never knew what I was going to find from one moment to the next – there were sports bras on a shelf next to blenders, and children’s toys near power tools. 

While I was busy adapting all of this, my husband, who usually hates any form of grocery shopping, was having a blast. According to him it’s because the warehouse set up feels remarkably like being in a B&Q, thanks to the really tall shelving, as well as the drills and furniture for sale.

We quickly realised we’d never be able to do a proper grocery shop here. Everything is sold in bulk, which is ideal if you’re running a business or feeding a large family, but rather unnecessary for just the two of us, as there’d be too much waste. 

That said, there were some store cupboard essentials, that would not only last for ages, but proved to be better value when bought this way.

For instance, a 600g tub of Marmite cost us £5.99 at Costco, while a 250g jar is £3 at Sainsbury’s (our nearest shop). Similarly, Twinings English Breakfast Tea Bags are £4.80 for 80 bags at Sainsbury’s, but £7.99 for 300 bags in Costco.

And it’s not just kitchen staples, there were more bargains to be found in the toiletries section, with a 96 pack of Tampax Pearl Compak costing £11.99. In comparison, a 16 pack is £3.25 at Sainsbury’s. You do the math.

For the Micellar Water girlies, this is also notably cheaper to buy at Costco, with a two-pack of 700ml Garnier bottles costing £8.49 – at Boots, one 700ml bottle is £9.99. 

Not everything was necessarily good value for money though, especially products in the bakery section. A 12 pack of croissants was priced at £5.49, whereas 12 croissants in Sainsbury’s work out at £3.20.

I also audibly gasped when I saw that a six-pack of chocolate muffins was going for £7.99, but thankfully a kind stranger pointed out the fine print on the label, which said you could get two packs for £7.99. There were a few sneaky offers like this, so definitely worth keeping your eyes peeled to get the most bang for your buck.

Outside of nabbing a bargain, you can get pretty much everything and anything from Costco, including an eye test for £19.99 at the in-store opticians. Over the course of our two hour exploration of the store we also found a £73,000 diamond ring (who is buying this from Costco?!), smutty fantasy books, and salvage palettes which contained everything from clothing, to nappies and washing machines.

There were two things that really surprised me during our visit though – one positive, the other not so much. We’ll start with the negative.

I was gobsmacked by how much money we spent, despite shopping pretty carefully. Our haul was mostly practical purchases like cereal, spaghetti, cheese, vegetables, condiments, and butter.

We’d tried to limit the number of ‘rogue’ items we added in for the hell of it, although we did also take home a tub of pretzels bigger than my head, a pack of 36 Babybels and a tray of 24 of the viral cookies (sadly not worth the hype, too artificial tasting).

Our total spend came to over £100, which is more than our weekly shop, and we had much less food to show for it. I was flabbergasted, and had immediate buyer’s remorse. I pushed the trolley from the till to the food court by the exit in a bit of a daze.

After all that shopping, we’d definitely worked up an appetite so we ordered a slice of pepperoni pizza, a hot dog and soda.

Little did we know that this pit stop at the back of the store would be the highlight of the whole visit.

I was sceptical about the kind of food we’d receive from what was essentially a hatch at the back of a warehouse, especially given that it was so cheap – £1.50 for a hot dog and drink and £1.99 for a slice of pizza – but the food really blew me away.

The pepperoni pizza was better than the likes of Domino’s, Pizza Hut or Papa John’s. That’s fighting talk, I know, but I’m not the only one who thinks it. Reddit users agree, even going as far as to proclaim it the ‘best takeaway pizza in the whole of the UK’.

I enjoyed it so much, I was already chomping away before I remembered to snap a quick pic for this article, hence the giant bite mark.

My husband felt similarly about the beef hot dog, which can be ordered with or without onions, and along with a soda of your choosing for less than £2. He could have added in an ice cream as well and the price would still have put supermarket meal deals to shame. 

There’s plenty more on the menu, including a chicken sandwich, jacket potato, chicken and bacon bake, gelato, plus those famous cookies, which can be bought individually – something I wish I’d known before buying 24 of them.

Everything was under £5, except for whole pizzas which cost £9.99, but in today’s climate, that’s still felt like a steal.

The only downside was that there were only a handful of seats in the food court, and like the rest of the store it was heaving with people. Being too hungry to wait for a table, we tucked in there and then slumped over the handlebar of our trolley.

The pizza was messy and theawkward standing position made for one of the most undignified eating experiences of my life, but I enjoyed the meal none the less. 

Will I be going back to Costco again any time soon?

I’d go back for another slice of the pizza in a heartbeat, but I’m no longer feeling the same levels of excitement about shopping there. But that’s ok, because it’s not really meant for me.

If I’m ever planning a big dinner party it could be worth another visit, but otherwise I think I’ll be sticking with Sainsbury’s and Tesco for now.

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When I was invited on a bar crawl with Jason Momoa to launch his craft vodka, Meili, I may have flipped my keyboard over in the flurry to say yes.

Wouldn’t you, though? He is the coolest-looking man I’ve ever laid eyes on, and that’s saying something as I’ve met Idris Elba.

Both have a cool-factor that knows no bounds, but Jason is the only man that can make a waistcoat with a tank top underneath look like a fashion smash. I, on the other hand looked like I’d got dressed in the dark when I tried it once… Ah, the early noughties.

I’m not going to lie, being in the presence of Jason piled on the pressure to like his vodka. It wasn’t just him either. My plus one, Clara Batten and I were rubbing shoulders with Jason’s entourage; his security team, girlfriend (the actress, Adria Arjona from Blink Twice) and business partner, Blaine Halvorson.

In my mind, the slightest side-eye, purse of the lips or head shake between Clara and I would have been clocked in a heartbeat.

Look, I’m always going to be honest in my feedback about drinks. I felt bad when I smack-talked Dolly Parton’s range of wines for a Metro taste test, saying they were poorly-made, and I’m a giant Dolly fan.

What happens if Jason’s vodka tasted like paint stripper? I really wouldn’t want to be in a feud with Aquaman, even on dry land.

As it happens, I needn’t have worried.

Firstly, the vodka is good, but we’ll get into that later. Secondly, Jason and Blaine (who is also achingly cool to look at because he’s a designer) are charming with a reassuringly warm demeanor and a shared passion for water. Yes, water, and before you ask, that has nothing to do with the whole Aquaman thing.

It’s because Meili Vodka (pronounced ‘may-lee’) is allegedly made from the purest water on earth.

Blaine explained that he fully geeked out in researching the world’s water sources in anticipation of making their chosen spirit. He knew that the key to, as he put it, ‘mending vodka’ was to produce a spirit that was so naturally pure and delicious that it could be sipped neat, warm, chilled or on the rocks like a top-tier whisky, tequila or cognac.

Given that vodka is 60% water, the duo spent nine years researching the purest water for the job.

Spoiler alert, it wasn’t arctic water that proved the purest. What surprised them was that it came from an unlikely source – a 300 million-year-old aquifer in the US state of Montana, of all places.

For those, like me, who haven’t the foggiest what an aquifer is, Blaine explained it’s an ancient underground river. Hence, he refers to it as ‘old water’, which doesn’t do it justice. So pure is this water, in fact, that they don’t even need to filter it.

But, given that neither Jason nor Blaine were vodka drinkers before creating their own brand, why did they choose, um, vodka?

Their strapline explains it succinctly; ‘vodka sucked, so we fixed it’.

It was precisely because they saw the vodka category as ‘broken’, or at least underdeveloped and unexciting, that they chose it. For them it was far more rewarding to reinvent a spirit that’s known for its eye-watering burn, flavourlessness and its primary role as the neutral accompaniment to mixers in a drink, than hop on the celebrity tequila train in rush hour.

Until now, vodka has (on the whole) been deliberately multi-distilled to achieve a kind of homogenous spirit lacking in flavour or texture. The more a spirit is distilled, the more is stripped out. So, when you hear the words three-times distilled, you know it’ll be super pure but lacking in personality. It becomes a blank canvas to which the drinker can introduce flavour by adding in other components, like coke, orange juice or vermouth, in the case of a Martini.

Jason and Blaine wanted to create a vodka with its taste profile in tact, that wasn’t just an ingredient, but the main event. That’s why you don’t have to be an expert to smell and taste that Meili Vodka is single distilled. It’s also housed in 100% post-consumer recycled glass, with no bottle being the same as another.

How does Meili Vodka taste?

That’s all fine, but let’s cut to the chase, how did Jason and Blaine do overall? During my time with the pair, we stopped at several different London bars to try Meili Vodka in various different forms. Here’s my verdict on each…

Neat

A tumbler of neat Meili vodka (not full) was thrust into mine and Clara’s hands on entering the Karma Sanctum Soho Bar’s roof terrace. All eyes were on us (they probably weren’t) as we went in for our first sip. We both found it to be soft, textured with a sweet cereal nuance to it. A good start, even at a slightly warmer temperature. 9/10

Vodka Cranberry

Look, all I’ll say is diluting this vodka with cranberry juice is a heresy. It was fine, but tasted predominantly of cranberry. Best to use one of the mass market bottles for that. 5/10

Dry Martini

The first version was brought over with a touch of vermouth in the mix. It tasted, well, like a perfectly decent vodka Martini. Blaine took a sip and deemed the vermouth level too high. He then ordered one made with vodka and a twist of lemon only, so basically neat vodka again. He was right, the smooth, chilled, creamy vodka took on the lifted nuances of the lemon rind, making it a delicious sipping experience. 10/10

Dirty Martini

We tasted this in the Artesian Bar at The Langham Hotel. Waiters were bringing out trays of Meili cocktails from all angles, and at one point, Jason joined the bartenders behind the bar, to uproarious applause. The Dirty Martini was transformed by Meili’s cushiony texture and sweetness, into a more approachable, softer landing of a cocktail for anyone who finds Dirty Martinis overly aggressive and intense. 7.5/10

Negroni

The fact that you can swap out gin in a Negroni for vodka was one of the biggest reveals of the evening. Unlike the botanical nature of gin, vodka’s creaminess dials back the bitterness, softening the angles of the Campari and Vermouth for a smoother riff on a classic. I’m a Negroni purist though, so will be sticking to gin for this particular cocktail. 7/10

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A beloved bakery chain is due to return to the high street after being forced to close all 13 of its UK stores earlier this year.

Dubbed ‘better than Greggs’ by loyal customers, family-run bakery Oddie’s first opened more than a century ago in 1905.

Despite surviving Covid, the company was crippled by soaring energy costs and dwindling footfall, leaving it with no option but to shutter.

Upon closing, Oddie’s left a note for customers in its shop windows which read: ‘The last day to stock up will be Saturday January 11. After 120 years we are closing our doors. We have loved being part of your lives.’

But it seems fans of the bakery have had their prayers answered, because the chain has announced it will be reopening seven of its stores.

Five of its seven Burnley shops and one store in both Nelson and Colne are set to open their doors once again in April, although the exact date is unknown.

Owner and managing director, Lara Oddie, had previously revealed she was hopeful some of the 13 Lancashire locations would open back up, thanks to a prospective buyer.

And Waterfields bakers, founded in 1926 in Manchester, has now stepped in to rescue the family-run business.

Scott Davies, of Waterfields, which has a long history of family baking between Leigh, Warrington, and Preston, said: ‘Our priority is keeping these local bakeries alive and thriving.

‘We understand how important Oddies is to the community.’

Oddie’s is a well-loved staple throughout Lancashire, and previously had seven shops in Burnley and two in Nelson, alongside branches in Colne, Foulridge, Padiham and Todmorden.

The closures had meant 100 staff were let go, despite them being ‘like family’ – with a third of them working for the business for more than 20 years.

Gutted shoppers took to Reddit when the chain shut, writing: ‘Very sad, Oddie’s is far superior to Greggs.’

‘I’m sorry to see Oddie’s go too,’ @Dependent-Bet1112 added. ‘End of an era. They will be sorely missed.’

Others also gushed over the bakery’s jam squares which were described as ‘real binge-eating worthy’, as well as local specialties like fisherman’s pasties and pork and pepper rolls.

On Facebook, Lynne Mitchell wrote: ‘Nobody’s bread tastes as good as Oddie’s bread,’ while Christina Marie said: ‘Oh please come back. No one does currant tea cakes and custard pies like Oddie’s.’

It’s not just us regular Joes who might be excited at the prospect of the Oddie’s return either.

In 2005, King Charles visited the company’s headquarters in Nelson to celebrate its 100th anniversary – and if it’s good enough for royalty, it’s good enough for us.

Scott Davies, of Waterfields, said the Oddie’s brand was ‘cherished’ by locals, adding: ‘Our priority is keeping these local bakeries alive and thriving. We understand how important Oddies is to the community.’

This article was first published on February 27, 2025.

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We’re no strangers to having our favourite chocolate bars taken away from us in the UK — from the Cadbury Dream to Mars Delight.

But one that really hit us hard was Caramac, when Nestlé axed it in 2023 after producing it for more than 60 years.

The caramel-based product was hailed as ‘the best ever’ chocolate bar and fans were left in tears by the news it had been discontinued.

Nestlé admitted it had been a ‘difficult decision’ and ultimately made a bit of a U-turn last year when they brought the product back for a very limited run. However, all too soon it was gone from the shops again.

There’s good news for those who have been missing their fix of the sweet treat though as shoppers have spotted it’s available to buy in the UK once more.

Where to buy Caramac bars in the UK

Heron Foods is currently selling the chocolate bar in packs of three for just £1 – and with more than 340 stores nationwide, you’ll likely be able to nab yourself some.

Unsurprisingly, people are thrilled to see the axed item make a comeback, with shoppers on the Hot Deals UK site sharing their thoughts on the find.

A commenter known as NewForestMonkeyBrains said: ‘Heaven in a bar. Just wonderful. I don’t have one for ages, then I get one and remember just how great they are.’

As dappodan1 wrote: ‘Caramac is like crack, very moreish.’ And wonderingstar shared: ‘I love Caramac, it reminds me of my childhood.’

It’s not known how long the chocolate bars will be around for this time, so you’ll likely want to stock up while you can if you’ve been missing your fix.

For those who aren’t able to get to a Heron Foods store, don’t panic as Cadbury fans have suggested an alternative product that’s a ‘top tier’ replacement.

Tesco shoppers claim Cadbury Caramilk, which launched in the UK in 2021, shares similarities with the discontinued favourite.

The chocolate is described as ‘a golden blend of Cadbury white chocolate and caramelised milk powder developed for the UK & Ireland’. 

Cadbury adds: ‘The result is a smooth golden caramel chocolate flavour. One bite is all it takes to be converted. Made with sustainably sourced cocoa. Vegetarian friendly.’

A number of Caramac lovers say they have been ‘converted’, including Andy Nevans who posted on Facebook, saying: ‘For folk like myself who were dismayed  at the news that Caramac was no longer being made.’

While @BarleylandsShop said Caramilk is ‘like the yummy Caramac that’s not here anymore.’ 

And @JimOFlynn6 posted: ‘I’ve just been in Tesco and bought the new Cadbury Caramilk and it’s the same as Caramac if not better.’

Cadbury fans also have a new treat to look forward to very soon as the highly anticipated Dairy Milk Biscoff bar is launching in Sainsbury’s supermarkets from March 15.

The bar will feature the classic taste of Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate with crunchy caramelised Biscoff pieces throughout, and a 105g bar will be priced at around £2.

Morrisons shoppers will be able to get their hands on the treat from March 19, while it’ll be in Tesco stores from March 25 and finally at Asda as of March 27.

If this weren’t enough, chocolate lovers were also recently treated to the return of another axed blast from the past – Milky Way Crispy Rolls.

First launched in the UK in 1996, but discontinued in 2022, the crispy sweet treat returned to supermarket shelves last month.

Mars Wrigley admitted they made ‘a mistake’ in axing the product, so decided to release it once more to the masses. For those who aren’t familiar with the product, Milky Way Crispy Rolls are a milk chocolate covered wafer biscuit finger, with a lightly whipped filling inside. 

And for the very first time, Mars also added two new Crispy Roll flavours to the line-up, including Twix Crispy Rolls and Bounty Crispy Rolls. Hurrah!

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It’s that awkward time of year when Easter eggs and hot cross buns are absolutely everywhere, despite it being several weeks too early.

But the premature arrival of the seasonal treats in supermarkets means you’ve got time to do your research and pick the best of the bunch – which is where the results of a new taste test will come in handy.

The consumer champions at Which? have revealed the winners of a blind test which pitted eight supermarket hot cross buns against each other in a bid to see which ones are worth snapping up.

And according to the results, the winning hot cross bun from M&S is ‘top notch’.

Of the 65 people who tasted each of the buns, 73% picked the M&S Luxury Fruited Hot Cross Buns as the ‘best buy’.

Priced at £2 for a pack of four they were undoubtedly one of the most expensive options on the list, but shoppers felt they were ‘worth paying more for’ as they are ‘top notch buns’. 

The product, which is celebrating its 50th year being sold at M&S, was praised for being ‘fruity and well-spiced’ with the levels of sweetness, spice and amount of fruit ‘spot on’. 

Metro’s specialist food writer, Courtney Pochin, put the classic M&S buns to the test and was very impressed, scoring them a 4.5/5.

‘This isn’t just any hot cross bun, it’s an M&S hot cross bun, so it won’t come as a surprise to anyone that these are really good,’ she said. 

‘They’ve got a rich, aromatic taste, that’s rather warming. There’s plenty of fruit packed in there as well, and the texture is beautifully soft. This is definitely the one for hot cross bun purists.’

Coming in second place in the Which? taste test was Co-op’s Irresistible Richly Fruited Luxury Hot Cross buns, with a score of 69%. 

Also priced at £2 for four, these were described as having an ‘enticing aroma and moist texture’ which consumers loved, with ‘well-balanced flavours’.

But the best value of the bunch was Aldi, who came in joint third place (with Waitrose) after garnering a score of 66%. The bargain retailer’s hot cross buns cost £1.39 for four, making them 35p each and very ‘budget-friendly’. 

Taste testers said they weren’t quite as moist as some of the others, with just over 40% of participants finding them ‘too dry’. But the flavour and appearance were well-liked and most people thought he had the right amount of fruit inside.

The final verdict was that they were ‘cheap and cheerful’, and Courtney agreed with the sentiment. She gave the budget ones 4.5/5, saying: ‘There’s a good ratio of fruit inside, the buns are nicely spiced and they look really appetizing.’

Hot cross buns from Waitrose, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Tesco were also featured in the taste test. 

Waitrose Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns scored 66%, Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Fruity Hot Cross Buns got 65%, Asda’s Exceptional Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns and Tesco Finest Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns both scored 64%, while Morrisons The Best Extra Fruity Hot Cross buns came out at 61%.

Lidl’s hot cross buns were not included in the Which? test as they weren’t available at the time of testing.

However, the Lidl Deluxe Luxury Hot Cross Buns are not to be overlooked as they came out trumps in Metro’s taste test in 2024, scoring an impressive 5/5.

If hot cross buns aren’t for you, there’s plenty of fun Easter chocolate that could tempt you in the shops right now, from the viral Waitrose Cracking Pistachio egg and Chocolate Croissant to the loaded eggs at Morrisons.

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If you thought the UK had enough chicken shops, think again, because another chain is going to be setting up shop.

Dubai-based BonBird is looking to open 50 new locations across the UK over the next five years, after signing a franchise agreement between Yolk Brands (which owns BonBird) and City Restaurants Group.

Founded in 2023, BonBird’s goal is to ‘make chicken great again’, and the brand’s website describes it as a ‘community chicken shop where everyone can grab a bite and share a bucket with family and friends’.

The chain currently has six sites across the UAE, Qatar and Pakistan, but is exploring expansion and franchisee opportunities across Europe and Asia as well. 

The menu has everything you’d expect from a chicken joint, including bone-in chicken pieces, chicken tenders, chicken burgers, sandwiches and wraps. All of these come in five spice levels, which range from Lemon Pepper to XXX Hot. 

For those who want something a little different there are also smaller snack-a-wraps, rice bowls and a selection of sides and drinks.

Burger flavours include the BBQ Chicken, Classic Chicken, Korean Chicken and Good Good Chicken, all of which can be paired with Ck’n Salt Fries, Spicy Fries, Angry Buffalo Fries, BBQ Beans, Mac & Three Cheese, Mash, Pickles, or Bread. 

Online reviews for the brand are mixed, with some Reddit users claiming it’s ‘the best fried chicken in Dubai’, but others saying it’s ‘awful’ and ‘used to be good but fell off hard’.

This hasn’t stopped people getting excited about the UK launch though, with Instagram users admitting they ‘can’t wait’ to try the chicken. Before you get too excited though, it’s worth noting that no specific locations for the chain have been confirmed as of yet.

Speaking about the UK plans, Steve Glawith, the founder and CEO of Yolk Brands told Restaurant Online: ‘Bringing BonBird to the UK is a proud moment for myself and everyone at Yolk Brands. 

‘We’ve always believed in the global potential of the brand and this moment validates that vision. In City Restaurants Group we know we’ve found the perfect partner to share in our passion for amazing fresh fried chicken. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to fulfil our vision for this amazing concept.’

As well as BonBird, Yolk Brands also owns a burger chain called Pickl, which is also in early talks to launch in the UK. So keep your eyes peeled for that one too.

While chicken lovers wait for a chance to try this new spot, there have been plenty of other openings to satiate their cravings of late…

Most recently Dave’s Hot Chicken – a chain specialising in Nashville Hot Chicken – opened in London so Brits can finally see why Drake and Samuel L. Jackson love it so much.

Canadian chain, MB Chicken (also known as Mary Brown’s), set up shop in London back in November, bringing fried chicken and a twist on poutine to the Big Smoke.

If that weren’t enough, Louisiana chicken chain, Popeyes, has been expanding across the UK, meaning more people are able to try its famous chicken sandwich.

And before BonBird lands here, America’s beloved Chick-fil-A will also be returning to the UK, with sites planned for London, Leeds, Liverpool and Belfast.

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