Metro.co.uk • 22nd September 2023

'An oat latte is basic, not PSL': Meet the die-hard Pumpkin Spice Latte fans

‘I’ve actually ran out of a meeting before to grab one next door – it’s become an addiction,’ says 30-year-old Joshua Simon. Joshua was just 17 when he had his first taste of Pumpkin Spice Latte – his first ever coffee and his ‘gateway’ to stronger caffeinated drinks. ‘When I was 17, I worked as an intern and did the office coffee round and I’d heard people talk about the Pumpkin Spiced Latte and it was very mixed – with some people saying it tasted like soup and others saying it tasted amazin

Metro.co.uk • 20th September 2023

We've discovered the female equivalent of the Roman Empire trend

There’s been a lot of chat about the Roman Empire over the last few days, after a new TikTok trend has shed light on just how often men think about. And it’s safe to say the results have been surprising. So much so, that it’s prompted us to dig deep and ask men what it is about this historical period that fascinates them so much. It also begs the question, if men think about the Roman Empire on a monthly, weekly, and sometimes even daily basis: what’s the equivalent for women? People on TikTo

Metro.co.uk • 8th September 2023

‘Weird’ baby names aren’t just for celebrities – they’re the new norm

From Apple and Peaches, to Bambi and Venezuela, celebrities have been naming their children weird and wacky names for years. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are the latest in a long line of recent celebs to reveal an off-the-beaten track name for their new arrival, settling on Riot Rose for their second son. But while outlandish and unusual baby names were previously associated with A-listers and their offspring, they’re becoming more and more popular with everyday parents. So while the likes of Ameli

Metro • 26th August 2023

The rise of #GutTok: How gut health went from cringe to cool

You only have to scroll on TikTok for a few minutes to experience #GutTok in full force. Whether it’s influencers sharing their transformative anti-bloating stories or ‘gut-friendly’ recipes, suddenly everyone is taking note of how important our gut health is – and why we should be focusing on it. It’s clear the topic has come a long way since the days of dreary Yakult TV adverts. In fact, #GutTok now boasts more than one billion views on TikTok. But why are we finding the chat so interesting

Metro • 25th June 2023

Registry office renaissance: How municipal buildings became chic again

While elaborate stately home and ornate church weddings have reigned supreme for the past few decades, a more humble and understated alternative seems to now be the choice du jour. Despite being previously considered an old-fashioned or even last resort option, registry office weddings are having a renaissance. In fact, it’s their understated nature – both in aesthetic and cost – that appears to be very much at the forefront of this revival. With the average cost of a mid-range wedding coming

Metro • 20th June 2023

Hunter gets the boot: How the darling of festival footwear fell out of favour

The snaps of Kate Moss and Alexa Chung living their best lives at Glastonbury in the noughties are etched into the minds of millennials everywhere. The denim shorts and Barbour jackets instantly spring to mind – but perhaps, most memorably, the Hunter boots. And, naturally, these wellies soon became a festival staple of the 2000s and 2010s. But, despite once being the footwear of choice for supermodels enjoying British summer time, Hunter Boots announced its collapse this week – entering admi

Metro • 14th May 2023

City and beach retreat: How to get the 'best of both worlds' in Portugal

City break and beach retreat: How to get the ‘best of both worlds’ in Portugal over a long weekend City break and beach retreat: How to get the ‘best of both worlds’ in Portugal over a long weekend Holidays in Portugal tend to be divided up into two camps: hustling and bustling city breaks in the likes of Lisbon and Porto, or relaxing, week-long affairs in the sunny Algarve. But what if you want to experience both in a long weekend? Fear not, it is possible to combine both city life and a be

Metro • 10th May 2023

Sorrows, sorrows, prayers: Why Queen Charlotte's line is a lesson in boundaries

The arrival of a new Bridgerton series always has us talking about something or other – from the first season’s steamy sex scenes to the delayed gratification in the second. And Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is no different. However, it’s not passionate bursts and slow burns that have sparked discussion this time around, rather a certain catchphrase from the protagonist herself. On numerous occasions during Queen Charlotte’s six episodes, the titular monarch offers up an usual way of con

Metro • 11th April 2023

'Ice Mermaid' swims in freezing Antarctic waters to spotlight climate change

For most people, even the idea of a cold shower is enough to make them shudder. However, for extreme open water swimmer Bárbara Hernandez, taking to icy cold waters is not only her day job, but her life’s calling. The 38-year-old, from Santiago, Chile, recently made history after being the first person to swim 2.5km in the biting 2°C waters of Antarctica, in February 2023. If that wasn’t impressive enough, she did it all in just a swimming costume, a swim cap and goggles. This is just the la

Metro • 28th March 2023

How to tackle 'wellbeing washing' at work

From mental health days to virtual counselling, there are so many ways companies ‘appear’ to prioritise the wellbeing of their employees. But digging into the specifics a little more, it’s sometimes a different story entirely. A snap poll earlier this year found more than half of employers are guilty of ‘wellbeing washing’ (AKA, appearing to care about mental health but failing to provide any real or tangible benefits) – in a similar way to greenwashing. And this can take various forms. It m

Metro • 27th March 2023

How the unpaid carer crisis is disproportionally affecting women

From mothers giving up their careers to provide childcare for little ones, to female employees being forced to work even longer before they can retire, there are so many different ways the cost of living crisis is disproportionately impacting women. But there’s another huge plight facing women across the country – one that, without awareness and more funding, will continue to get bigger and even more devastating. Recent ONS data shows that one in 10 women in the UK now have unpaid caring respo

Metro • 16th March 2023

Guinness Instagram legend shares where to get the best pints for St Paddy's

The name Ian Ryan may not ring any bells. But his Instagram account, Shit London Guinness (@shitlondonguinness), will be familiar to many up and down the country – particularly those partial to a pint of the black stuff. Ian, originally from Cork, has made a name for his account over the past few years by sharing some of the worst pints of Guinness around – amassing a loyal following of more than 233,000. And, due to a recent surge in popularity – with Guinness scooping the title of Britain’s

Metro • 15th March 2023

'Childcare costs forced us out of work, along with 32,000 women last year'

If the news last week that a tenth of parents are ‘paying to work’ wasn’t enough proof of a UK childcare crisis in full force, then newly-released figures just might be. New ONS statistics have shown that 32,000 women left the workforce last year to look after their kids. And it all makes perfect sense when you dig into the eye-watering figures. It’s estimated that full-time nursery fees for a child under two total around £13,000 per year – which is more than half of an average £33,000 salary

Metro • 28th February 2023

Man launches comedy course to help others with eating disorders

‘Comedy and therapy both work on the same things: good communication and crafting a sense of self,’ explains Dave Chawner, who had anorexia throughout his teenage years and early 20s. ‘They are about trying to make dark things understandable to other people, as well as building your own confidence.’ Now, 10 years after he began his recovery, 34-year-old Dave is using his own experience of anorexia to help others with eating disorders. But, as a stand-up comedian himself, his approach is all a

Metro • 17th February 2023

Why are we so bad at paying attention to what our friends do for work?

Most of us like to think we know our best friends inside out. We can recount their long line of terrible exes, we’re clued-up on their love language, and know their favourite meals to prepare when they come over for dinner. But there’s one area we all tend to fall short on: their jobs. Now, we’re not talking about their professional title, or where they work, but their fundamental day-to-day and what on earth they actually do. The amount of dinners and drinks we’ve had listening to our frien

Metro • 22nd January 2023

At this Caribbean wellness retreat, 'balance not abstinence' reigns supreme

The ‘wellness’ industry can feel like a pretty exclusive club – one that, unless you’re at the top of your mind, body and soul game, you’re not welcome to join. But one resort in the Caribbean is determined to promote the exact opposite of that. BodyHoliday, in St Lucia, is a wellness retreat that’s all about embracing all the areas of wellness – from fitness and self-care, to simply trying new experiences and enjoying life to the max. It champions balance – in every aspect of the word. Esse

Metro • 19th January 2023

Like Jacinda, we quit our jobs because we didn't have 'enough in the tank'

Anyone can experience burnout at work – no matter what industry, background or job title. It can even take its toll on world leaders. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern admitted just hours ago that she would be resigning next month – citing burnout as the cause. ‘I know what this job takes, and I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. It’s that simple,’ she said in a statement. Just like we’ve seen with Jacinda, people’s working days have shifted since the p

Metro • 17th January 2023

How to cope when violence against women is in the news

Yesterday, news broke that Met Police officer David Carrick admitted to being a serial rapist, with 24 counts of rape against 12 women over a 17-year-period. The serving Metropolitan Police officer is believed to be one of the worst sexual offenders in modern history. It was yet another horrifying event illustrating the current ‘epidemic of violence’ against women and girls in England and Wales. The shocking revelation has shaken women across the country – many of whom are now questioning the

Metro • 12th January 2023

The 'rum revival' - why the drink is set to be big in 2023

Take a journey with us over the past 10 years of drinking, if you will. Around a decade ago, gin hit the mainstream – and then some. Now, you only have to walk into a supermarket to be greeted in the alcohol aisle with an overwhelming number of varieties – from London Dry and Old Tom, to fruity and glittery options. Then, aesthetically-pleasing Aperol fast-became the go-to order, followed by frosé (that’s frozen rosé for those not clued-up), as well as tequila and mezcal – which also had their

Metro • 20th December 2022

What we’ll be drinking in 2023 - according to experts

From jalapeño rosé to Negroni Sbagliato… with prosecco in it, popular drinks in 2022 covered all areas. But what will be our drink of choice going into next year? We asked mixologists and bartenders what trends lie ahead next year and, most importantly, what we will find ourselves drinking. From old favourites to ‘complex minimalist cocktails’, here’s what to expect… Whatever is trending on TikTok Bartender, beverage consultant and author of The Tipsy Traveler Tyler Zielinski says that what