Latest news with #FortnumandMason
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I bought £34 Fortnum and Mason meal deal – and it left me flabbergasted'
When one man purchased his lunch, he didn't expect to be parting with such a large amount of cash, but he did say it was 'worth every penny' as a 'treat' in the park Outrage has been felt across the UK when the price of the humble meal deal went up, with some options coming in at around a fiver - but one man managed to buy one that cost him a whopping £34, and he was floored. Big Brother star and food critic Henry Southan said he was "hungry" and "by Fortnum and Mason," so he was going to "get a meal deal". However, how much of a deal it actually was is questionable. He bought three items for the money he paid, and at the start of the video, he pondered whether to get an iced tea, but instead decided to get the Fortnum and Mason champagne, Blanc de Blanc, joking it was "meal deal size". "I think I'm gonna go for a bagel," he said, as he queued for it. He asked for the "dapper salmon but with no capers," as he's not a fan. While he was waiting for his bagel, Henry decided to complete his meal deal with a Scotch egg as a "snack". When he stepped outside of Fortnum and Mason, he said: "I've got my meal deal, and I need to go and find somewhere to eat it." Henry decided to sit in the park and enjoy his food, saying he was going to start with the bagel. He said the dapper smoked salmon bagel was "quite a traditional one". He claimed it included "chive cream cheese with smoked salmon, lemon, red onion, cucumber". Henry joked he was going to do an "influencer-type reveal" of his bagel, showing the perfectly positioned filling of the bagel he purchased. He also commented on how "big" the bagel was, saying there was "no attractive way" to eat it because of its sheer size. "Mmm, that is a thing of beauty," he commented after taking a big bite. Henry said: "What I love is the smokiness of the salmon, the fresh kind of crunch of the red onion and the cucumber. That is a great bagel. I think I need a drink." He then proceeded to get out the champagne bottle he'd bought, 'cheersing' the camera, and then drinking it straight from the bottle. It was then time for him to eat the snack, saying he was "excited" about scoffing it. "If you didn't know, Fortnum and Mason invented the Scotch egg". He broke it apart, and the yolk of the Scotch egg was runny, which is incredibly rare. "I have not felt this happy for a very long time," he gushed, saying: "Oh, come on, are you joking me? That is so delicious." He then got the receipt out, admitting the "champagne did cause this meal deal to become quite expensive," saying it was almost £20. But, he did say that "obviously you're not drinking this all the time," claiming it was for "special occasions". The foodie detailed the bagel was £9, but is "huge," and the Scotch egg was £5.30, but "worth every bloody penny". "So, in total for that meal deal, I paid £34.55," he admitted, joking that he "hates himself sometimes".
Metro
19-06-2025
- Metro
‘Swan Whisperer' banned from Hyde Park after public row over kissing birds
A homeless man who 'stroked, cuddled and kissed' swans in Hyde Park has been banned from the public space after a getting into a fight with disapproving onlookers. Anders Fernstedt, 57, was known locally as 'The Swan Whisperer', and was filmed touching and kissing the creatures in the central London park. Resident Virginia Grey took the footage, while swan volunteer Jon Ferguson told Fernstedt to leave the birds alone because of an outbreak of avian flu. Swedish man Fernstedt responded by ramming Ms Grey with his bicycle, then attacking Mr Ferguson when he tried to stop him, during the incident in 2023. Fernstedt denied a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, but was convicted by a jury at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday. He was sentenced to a 15 month community order and a 15 day rehabilitation activity requirement by judge Recorder David Etherington, KC. Fernstedt was well-known around London's so-called billionaires' row in Knightsbridge, where he had pitched up in a doorway with a bed, plants and books. During the trial at Southwark Crown Court, the court heard he enjoyed gifts including designer clothes and a £5,000 Fortnum and Mason hamper from residents of the wealthy west London neighborhood. He became homeless in 2023 after he was evicted from the house he was living in when it was sold. Fernstedt, who had no previous convictions, represented himself in court with his long hair tied up in a bun and sporting a long grey beard, while wearing a navy suit with a purple tie. The judge also passed a restraining order preventing Fernstedt from going into Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park, or contacting Mr Ferguson or Ms Grey, for two years. The judge said: 'There were clearly issues with the swan population due to an outbreak of avian flu and Mr Ferguson had warned you about touching the swans and you ignored him several times and enticed the swans out of the water with food. 'You have beliefs about interacting with and touching swans and showing them to tourists to understand the bird population. 'The sad thing is all three of you have an interest in the welfare of birds but different views about how this should be achieved.' When Ms Grey was filming him touching the swans, Fernstedt 'clearly moved forward and rammed your bicycle into Mrs Grey, causing her to fall over, the judge added. Mr Ferguson's attempts to apprehend Fernstedt led to a 'tussle' on the ground which left the swan volunteer needing stitches to his mouth. The judge said: 'I find you to be an eccentric man but not suffering from an underlying mental illness.' He added: 'Just because people are intelligent it doesn't mean they're always wise. 'You are obviously an intelligent man, you clearly have had a responsible work history and it is unfortunate that seems to have gone away.' During cross examination, Ms Grey even cast doubt on Fernstedt's connection with the swans, saying that they would 'go to anybody who has food… It is not because they think you are fantastic'. 'But you stroke them, you cuddle them, you kiss them, you pick them up. That is interfering with wildlife, and disturbing them. It is not natural.' More Trending Fernstedt asked her: 'Do you consider yourself as someone with royalist sympathies?' Mrs Grey replied: 'I just have concerns for the birds themselves and for their welfare.' She added: ''I was very scared, you called me Hitler, you called me evil.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: London's best lidos, ponds and outdoor pools to beat the heatwave MORE: Man 'carrying a gun' at Elm Park Underground station arrested during rush hour MORE: Predatory PhD student Zhenhao Zou who drugged women and filmed himself raping them jailed for life
North Wales Live
10-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
'I got a £16 Cadbury Father's Day gift box for 7p by stacking online deals'
With Father's Day coming up this weekend, shoppers across the nation are busy trying to find the perfect gifts for the father figures in their lives. Popular choices include crowd pleasers such as discounted whiskey and aftershave deals, Father's Day themed skincare collections from brands like LookFantastic and Next, and tech gadgets on Amazon that have been slashed by at least half price, including Samsung's SmartTag2 and Frameo's smart photo frame. For dads who favour edible gifts over accumulating more 'stuff', there are plenty of excellent options still available for delivery in time for the special day. These range from a Father's Day brownie box to a luxurious Fortnum and Mason pork pie adorned with 'Dad ', priced at £14.95 and accompanied by a jar of Piccalilli for an elevated snacking experience. For fathers with a sweet tooth, Cadbury offers a wide array of chocolate favourites in various gifts and hampers to commemorate the occasion. Options span from individual personalised bars to larger gift boxes packed with treats. Ahead of the big day, deal hunter Narin Flanders may have found what could just be the most striking deal yet. The No 1 dad Selection box typically retails for £16, but savvy shoppers can effectively snag one for just 7p by combining several deals with a money-saving website. Cadbury's sought-after 'No 1 Dad' chocolate box, ordinarily retailing at £16 on Cadbury Gifts Direct, can be nabbed for a mere 7p when savvy shoppers use a special TopCashback offer. By signing up for a free membership to the deals platform, customers gain access to a generous £15 welcome bonus on top of percentage cashback options which apply to thousands of retailers, including Cadbury, reports the Manchester Evening News. By buying the item using their TopCashback membership, shoppers will get cashback and the new member bonus added to their account, totalling £15.93. Once the cashback has been paid it can be withdrawn, effectively making the end price just 7p , although there will also be a delivery charge. Cadbury says the No 1 Dad box is one of their best sellers and the double layered, beautifully packaged box can be ordered either to be delivered directly, with an option to add a gift message at checkout, or sent to them to wrap and hand over on the big day. It includes more than half a kilo of chocolate and has bars of various sizes although it also has nine full size bars including Crunchie, Flake, Wispa, Twirl, Double Decker, Curly Wurly and several types of Dairy Milk. The full contents of the No 1 Dad selection box weigh 524.5g and includes: 1 x Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Bar 110g 1 x Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Bar 45g 1 x Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate with Caramel Bar 45g 1 x Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Fruit & Nut Bar 49g 1 x Cadbury Crunchie Bar 40g 1 x Cadbury Twirl Bar 43g 1 x Cadbury Flake Bar 32g 1 x Cadbury Curly Wurly Bar 21.5g 1 x Cadbury Wispa Bar 36g 1 x Cadbury Boost Bar 48.5g 1 x Cadbury Double Decker Bar 54.5g While there aren't reviews specifically for this year's edition of the No 1 Dad selection box, Cadbury Direct proudly holds a 4.6-star average from over 1,400 Trustpilot reviews, with an impressive 85% of all customers giving a full five stars. Customer service appears to be just as tasty as the chocolates, based on the customer feedback. One patron, reflecting on a previous Father's Day purchase, highly recommended the gift: "When I opened it, the packaging was lovely and I liked the gift card idea when they were able to personalise for free. Would definitely buy from them again." Another shopper added: "If you need something special at a reasonable price then this is the site. Who doesn't love Cadbury's and to get a personalised hamper from them is a treat. I've placed a lot of orders this year and everyone I dealt with was really helpful. Any issues and problems were sorted out incredibly quickly." Despite the positive reviews, some customers have raised concerns over delivery and packaging methods. An unsatisfied purchaser remarked: "The three stars is because the gift arrived at the door, my husband took the parcel in which had 'Cadbury Gifts Direct' written clearly on the package. So now he knows he has a Cadbury 'surprise.' (I'm sure the choc will be great)." How to get a Cadbury Father's Day hamper for 7p Sign up to TopCashback for free via this link. Search for Cadbury Gifts Direct on TopCashback, click through and find and buy the hamper normally. Get £15 cashback when you spend £15 or more on any purchase on the site. The cashback should track to your TopCashback ' Earnings page ' within seven days of your purchase with the money available to withdraw after that.
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Nab a £16 Cadbury Father's Day hamper for 7p by stacking online deals - how to get yours
The dad themed gift is full of treats and costs just a few pennies thanks to a clever deal stacking trick As Father's Day approaches, consumers across the nation are on the hunt for the perfect gift to express their gratitude towards the father figures in their lives. Traditional favourites such as discounted whiskey and aftershave deals, Father's Day skincare collections from brands like LookFantastic and Next, and tech gadgets from Amazon with at least 50 percent off, including Samsung's SmartTag2 and Frameo's smart photo frame, are all popular choices. For fathers who favour edible treats over accumulating more 'stuff', there's a plethora of fantastic options that can still be delivered in time for the special day. These range from a Father's Day brownie box to a luxurious Fortnum and Mason pork pie adorned with 'Dad' costing £14.95, which comes with a jar of Picalilli for an elevated snacking experience. Fathers with a sweet tooth can indulge in their favourite Cadbury chocolates, available in a variety of gifts and hampers to celebrate the occasion. Options span from personalised individual bars to larger gift boxes dedicated to them. However, we've spotted what could be the most eye-catching deal yet. The No 1 dad Selection box typically retails for £16, but savvy shoppers can snag one for a mere 7p by combining several deals via a money-saving website. The hamper that usually retails for £16 at Cadbury Gifts Direct is now a steal for savvy shoppers who join the deals site TopCashback for free, bagging them a £15 bonus on their first acquisition plus cashback on every purchase at countless affiliate retailers, including Cadbury. Factoring in the cashback and new member perk, the delightful box of treats effectively costs a mere 7p, reports the Manchester Evening News. Cadbury touts their No 1 dad selection as a top seller, and this two-tiered elegantly presented package of confectionary delights can be shipped directly with a personalised message or to oneself for gifting on Father's Day. Packed with over half a kilo of chocolate, it boasts nine full-size bars like Crunchie, Flake, Wispa, Twirl, Double Decker, Curly Wurly and assorted Dairy Milk chocolates. Tipping the scales at 524.5g, the No 1 dad selection box's assortment is generous and includes: 1 x Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Bar 110g 1 x Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Bar 45g 1 x Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate with Caramel Bar 45g 1 x Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Fruit & Nut Bar 49g 1 x Cadbury Crunchie Bar 40g 1 x Cadbury Twirl Bar 43g 1 x Cadbury Flake Bar 32g 1 x Cadbury Curly Wurly Bar 21.5g 1 x Cadbury Wispa Bar 36g 1 x Cadbury Boost Bar 48.5g 1 x Cadbury Double Decker Bar 54.5g While there aren't any reviews for this year's No 1 dad selection box yet, Cadbury Direct shines on Trustpilot with an average score of 4.6 stars from over 1,400 reviews, receiving a full 5 stars from 85 percent of reviewers. Many of them praised not only the chocolates but also the customer service. A previous Father's Day customer expressed delight in their purchase, stating: "When I opened it, the packaging was lovely and I liked the gift card idea when they were able to personalise for free! Would definitely buy from them again." One customer lauded their chocolate hampers for fitting every budget, stating: "If you need something special at a reasonable price then this is the site. Who doesn't love Cadbury's and to get a personalised hamper from them is a treat. "I've placed a lot of orders this year and everyone I dealt with was really helpful. Any issues and problems were sorted out incredibly quickly." Yet not all feedback was glowing, as there were complaints regarding delivery and packaging. A dissatisfied purchaser commented: "The three stars is because the gift arrived at the door, my husband took the parcel in which had 'Cadbury Gifts Direct' written clearly on the package. So now he knows he has a Cadbury 'surprise.' (I'm sure the choc will be great)." Here's how you can bag a Cadbury Father's Day hamper for just 7p. How to get a Cadbury Father's Day hamper for 7p Register for free at TopCashback by following this link. Look for Cadbury Gifts Direc t on TopCashback, go through their link to make your purchase as usual. Earn £15 cashback when your spend reaches £15 or more on any item on their platform. Your cashback ought to appear in your TopCashback 'Earnings page' within seven days post-purchase, after which it can be withdrawn.
The Courier
29-05-2025
- The Courier
The Great Scottish Tea Blag — Perthshire businessman guilty of £550k tea firm fraud
A Perthshire businessman who claimed to have created the Queen's favourite brew at 'Scotland's first tea plantation' has been convicted of an elaborate £550k fraud. Thomas Robinson – better known as Tam O'Braan – made up awards and qualifications to blag sales from some of the country's top hotels and stores including the Dorchester, the Balmoral and Fortnum and Mason. The father-of-four also duped growers from around Scotland into buying Camellia Sinesis tea plants from his remote facility in the hills of Amulree, south of Aberfeldy. In reality, the crops were purchased wholesale from a plantation in northern Italy. Other plants were used to decorate a 0.3 acre 'kitchen garden' at this farm ahead of visits from potential buyers. Robinson bought these 'show plants' from esteemed tea vendors in the UK, and even demanded one sign a non-disclosure agreement to keep his sales a secret. The 55-year-old's too-good-to-be-brew story sensationally unspooled following a three-year investigation by Food Standards Scotland and a four-week jury trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court. Robinson – who once told the press 'call me Mr Tea' – was remanded in custody and told jail will be 'inevitable.' The jury deliberated overnight for six-and-a-half hours before returning unanimous guilty verdicts to two charges of forming a fraudulent scheme over a period of more than four years. Sheriff Keith O'Mahony told Robinson: 'The jury have convicted you of two very serious charges, with a total combined value of between half-a-million-pounds and £600,000. 'There will be significant sentencing consequences for you.' Robinson will also face proceeds of crime action to claw back his ill-gotten funds. He showed little emotion as he was led out of the dock in handcuffs but could be seen shaking his head as the jury delivered its verdict. Claims Robinson's tea was grown in Scotland using some kind of miracle plastic sheeting sparked a media buzz, helping to secure sales with high end customers. Michelin star chef Jeff Bland of Edinburgh's Balmoral Hotel was among those who were tricked into buying it. Between November 2014 and February 2019, Robinson's Wee Tea Plantation made £84,124 selling nearly 460kg of loose leaf tea to the Balmoral for its Palm Court menu. Mr Bland, known as Jeff the Chef who referred to Robinson as Tam the Man, told the trial he would not have bought the tea if he knew it was not Scottish. Similarly Robinson sold £54,648 of tea to the Dorchester, £39,875 to Fortnum and Mason and £32,878 to gourmet tea company Mariage Freres. Robinson also duped Jamie Russell and Derek Walker of Fife's Wee Tea Company, who agreed to package and sell his teas, again believing they had been grown at Dalreoch. Between 2014 and 2018, he sold £67,109 to the Wee Tea Company. Robinson was further convicted of defrauding 12 individual buyers – 11 in Scotland and one from Jersey – out of £274,354. Suspicions started to grow around 2016 when, on the back of press reports, Perth and Kinross Council investigated Dalreoch to see the scale of the operation for itself, only to be told production was carried out in Fife. A subsequent probe by Fife Council found this was not true. At the same time, people who had bought plants from Robinson were surprised to find their own teas listed on The Balmoral menu. Food Standards Scotland, set up in the wake of the horse meat scandal, was tasked to investigate. As the probe progressed, the teas were yanked from hotel menus and Robinson's contract with the Wee Tea Company was terminated. During the trial, it emerged Robinson made up outrageous claims about his product, telling one customer it was the Queen's favourite tea. His tall tales including signing a contract with President Barrack Obama's US administration for crop trials, deals with Kensington Palace and playing and coaching rugby for several well-known clubs. Robinson, most recently working as a chef at Taymouth Castle, claimed to have invented a 'unique' plastic sheeting that allowed his tea plants to grow at record-breaking speeds. He fabricated awards, including the prestigious-sounding Salon de Thé prize, to boost his company's profile. He pretended to be former employee Lindsay Deuchars, using her old email address without permission to communicate with customers and media – usually when trying to avoid troublesome questions – signing off messages with 'Lins x'. Robinson tried to explain he had a four-and-a-half acre plot near his land which was used to grow thousands of tea plants. The land, he said, had been leased from a shepherd but he could not remember his name. No one who visited Dalreoch – such as potential buyers and investors – was shown this land. Robinson struggled to explain how he claimed 70,000 plants had been removed from the four-and-a-half acre plot, when he had earlier said he grew plants at a rate of about 1,000 per acre. He said the plants and all the equipment at Dalreoch had been moved to Ireland, because he was quitting Scotland after Perth and Kinross Council gave funding to a competitor. But he said he could not produce photos of the plants and equipment sitting in Ireland because he had been let down by an IT guy called Mike, whose surname he could not remember. Prosecutor Joanne Ritchie told jurors: 'This was a scheme to deceive, a scheme to make money on the basis of lies. 'This man has lied to every single witness who encountered him. 'But more than that, he lied to the public at large.' She said Robinson made himself out to be a 'knowledgeable and credible person,' while exploiting a gap in the market but urged jurors to reject his testimony entirely, branding it 'absurd.' Defence advocate Colin Neilson KC urged jurors to acquit his client, even if they had suspicious about his business practices and his tendency to 'big himself up' to others. Giving evidence at his trial, Robinson said he was 'proud' of his achievements. 'This is what I consider to be my life's work,' he said. 'This will stand in the history of tea.' Robinson said he felt 'injured and hurt,' but also 'annoyed and angry' by the allegations. 'The first time I've heard the evidence is here, at the same time as the jury,' he said. The case represent a significant win for the Food Standards Scotland's crime and incident unit. Ron McNaughton, who heads up the department, said: 'This was a highly complex and protracted investigation which required a significant amount of time, expertise and coordination across our team with partner agencies.' He added: 'This is not a victimless crime – individuals, businesses and an emerging sector of genuine Scottish tea growers suffered real financial and reputational harm as a result of deliberate deception.'
