Pete Brown

3 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Pete Brown

I don’t know if you want a sniff, but you’re getting one.” Rick Astley is standing in front of me, his palm towards my face. In his hand are pellets of compressed leaves. I take one and copy him, crushing it and inhaling: the smell is resiny, dank and spicy. Nineteen-year-old me, hearing Never Gonna Give You Up six times a day over the PA of a Barnsley clothes factory, would never have believed it. But here I am 38 years later, standing in a brewery sniffing hops with the singer.

1 month ago | thetimes.com | Pete Brown

1 month ago | thetimes.com | Pete Brown

1 month ago | thetimes.com | Pete Brown

London has about 3,500 pubs. Even if you take out the tourist traps, quasi-restaurants and boozers going through the motions, you’re still left with hundreds worthy of celebration. How can I pick nine? First, these are pubs I’ve loved drinking in. Second, I followed George Orwell’s lead. In 1946 he set out the ten key characteristics of his perfect pub, the Moon Under Water, including simple snacks and friendly staff.

1 month ago | thetimes.com | Pete Brown