Riding down to the Kent coast

Jesal Thakker and Vikram Mertia have closed The Riding Wine Company in Ealing, which opened in 2019, and started a new venture in Margate.

Their new, bigger venue, Streets, combines “Indian street food, amazing wine, beer and music”.

The online shop, selling wines that the business imports direct, remains open, offering nationwide delivery.

• Cairns & Hickey, the specialist wine shop in Bramhope, Leeds, has ceased trading.

Owner Peter Cairns told customers: “After 56 years of trading, we have closed our doors for the last time. We thank all of our customers that have kept us open for so long. After 44 years, Peter has retired and looks forward to seeing more of his three granddaughters.”

• The M wine shop in Victoria, London, has closed, along with the restaurant of the same name in which it was situated.

Running from 0% wine

Rob Hoult, arguably one of the top arch-based wine merchants in the Huddersfield area, was on the wagon for a month before his participation in this year’s London Marathon (finish time 3 hours 44 minutes 45 seconds).

It mostly involved “swirling an Orangina round and round in my glass, trying to imagine that its bouquet is reminiscent of a summer’s morning in Provence”. But he also explored some alcohol-free wines.

“De Bortoli make terrific wines and produce a couple of 0% ones called The Very Cautious One, so I thought they were the ones to try,” he says.

The white was “OK in an elderflower pressé kind of way”. The Shiraz wasn’t so well received.

“It smelt and tasted like liquid furniture polish and I managed about a thimble-full before I clicked the kettle on and made a brew – bloody dreadful stuff,” was the verdict. Rob was left with five bottles that he was happy to give away in return for donations to Parkinson’s UK, for which his run has raised more than £4,000. “I can’t bring myself to sell them properly. I’m just not that sort of shopkeeper,” he says.

The monotony of Monopoly

Pip Gale, of Gales of Llangollen, advises customers that he is morally opposed to Monopoly. But why?

“My stance may seem extreme, but I have my reasons,” he tells us. It is, he argues, “a terrible game” intended to illustrate the flaws of capitalism.

“People do not play the game according to its correct rules, such as failing to hold auctions or adding house rules like putting money on Free Parking. This can make the game even more frustrating and unenjoyable, as these rules extend the game and make it a mockery of what it should be.

“I take my games seriously and appreciate playing them with others who are similarly invested. However, many people seem to play Monopoly just to wind me up or to gang up against me to ensure I don’t win.”

Pip is proudly “24 years clean from the game, and not the person of rage I once was”.