Hop, Clip, & Pump

There are moments when an industry reveals its true character, not in its busiest hours, but in its most difficult ones. When the venue I worked for furloughed us a week ahead of the rest of the country, it felt like stepping off a cliff slightly earlier than everyone else. At first, the 80% wage support seemed almost generous, especially on a zero-hours contract. But reality has a way of catching up. Like many in hospitality, I had always said yes to everything: splits, doubles, back-to-backs. Work wasn’t just work; it was momentum. And when that stopped, the financial gap became painfully clear. Because I’d worked two jobs the previous year, my furlough reflected only one. Compared to 2019, the drop was stark. Then, by chance, something shifted. A Lifeline When It Mattered Most I was invited to apply for a hospitality grant. It wasn’t just the financial help, though, that mattered enormously. It was the mental reassurance. The sense that someone, somewhere, understood what thi...

Back in the day, when pubs were pubs, loud with laughter and louder with drinkers, there was always a certain kind of customer. The ones who would happily put away ten pints and then, almost as an afterthought, reach for something stronger. A Belgian Tripel perhaps. A measure of Jameson’s. And more often than not, a bottle of Duvel . Not a personal favourite for everyone, but undeniably iconic. Because behind that pale, deceptively strong golden ale lies one of the most respected names in brewing: Duvel Moortgat Brewery . Beyond Beer: The Art of the Glass While many breweries focus solely on what goes into the glass, Duvel Moortgat Brewery has long understood that presentation is part of the ritual. Their glassware is instantly recognisable: the classic tulip shape, wide enough to release aroma, narrow enough to concentrate it. But beyond function, Duvel has built something more, a tradition of collectible, artist-led design. This is where beer crosses into culture. Morrison ...