More themes and activities

Well, I never thought I’d be in a pub quiz team with my sworn enemies but sometimes life comes at you fast! (I’m being a bit extreme, they’re not really my enemies, just friendly rivals…) 

I found myself teamed up with Tim Lusher, who of course heads up all food and drink content for The Guardian and Observer, and Tony Turnbull of the Times and Sunday Times, at an event last week and it got me thinking about launches.

This one was for Tom Kerridge’s new book, Pub Kitchen, so it was only sensible that it was in a pub, but (also sensibly) Tom’s team decided against trying to herd journalists out to his pub in Marlow. Never underestimate how lazy we journalists are – my first reaction on getting any invitation with a postcode that doesn’t start W, SW or WC is to google it (and usually decide I don’t have time).

The second smart move was to host a pub quiz – it gave a sense of shared experience for those attending (even those who by necessity had to team up with unexpected people) and also an element of excitement and competition – there were prizes up for grabs. I will say that offering cookbooks to a room of food journalists may not be quite the thrill – can you imagine our groaning office shelves?! – but playing for a prize always adds a frisson.

It was, as Tom pointed out at the start of the night, a short event, bustling along that meant we all had lots of fun and were still out the door, if we wanted, by 8.30pm.

Themes and activities – let’s have more of them please. (Not going to lie, the fried snacks were also very welcome and on-brand…)

PS. I can’t share the exact details with you thanks to an embargo but I got a release last week about a legendary, world famous musician taking part in a new ad campaign and his name was spelt wrong multiple times. Please, please check before sending. 

PPS. I have been cloned/faked on Instagram which is not only very boring, but also dangerous as many of my friends, colleagues, contacts and followers have been receiving messages and DMs, pretending to be me, gathering information. I know it happens to lots of people, just sharing it here as I hope you haven’t been suckered into it.