Latest news with #Babycham
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Times have changed, you should try and get out more'
Women just as likely to have torn jeans, tattoos and swear SCOTT Marmion in his letter to The Press regarding the Supreme Court's decision on the definition of a woman states that a woman is someone that anyone in the street could tell in seconds flat. Perhaps that was the case years ago when woman were more likely to wear flowery dresses, white stiletto heels, and drink Babycham. Now they're just as likely to have torn jeans, arms covered in tattoos, drink pints and swear like troopers. Times have changed Scott, you should try and get out a bit more often. D M Deamer, Penleys Grove Street, Monkgate, York What do you think? FEEL strongly about an issue? Send your views by email to: letters@ Write no more than 250 words and please provide your full name, address and mobile number. Congratulations to Children's Services in York AT a time of such much negative news about the work that councils do it was brilliant to read about the recent Outstanding Ofsted judgement for the City of York Children's Services Department. The transformation since the change of leadership at staff and political level is very impressive, in particular the proactive approach to recruiting a full team of permanent social workers has been crucial to this progress. There are many who are sadly cynical about the difference politicians can make to the lives of people but here we have a clear example that proves the cynic wrong. Congratulations to the staff team and Councillor Webb in leading this work. York's vulnerable children are very grateful.--- Why Conclave should choose a younger Pope WITH the really sad news of the death of Pope Francis, obviously a conclave will have to be convened to elect the next Pope. It would be quite nice to see a younger person in the role. I'm not talking about a half-witted teenager but someone, say in their late thirties or early forties. But also someone who is worldly wise with a bit of nous. This would give this person ample time to achieve something, (dare I say it - miraculous) in the religious world and in the actual world. Something worthwhile.--- Another great week for Labour WHAT another great week for Labour and the Change they promised Britain. First, we saw £200m invested to recruit 3,000 neighbourhood police and PCSOs in the next year which will put 13,000 bobbies back on the beat. Second, £38 million was provided to roll out 319 new zero emission buses across England. Third, we had the announcement that a new world class Universal theme park is coming to Bedford. Thus boosting our economy by an estimated £50 billion and creating 28,000 jobs. Fourth, Labour backed the British car industry in the face of global economic headwinds. This was on top of the £2.3bn to boost car manufacturing recently. Fifth, it was confirmed that 1,503 GPs have been recruited since October 1. Sixth, we saw Labour publicly back the South Yorkshire Mayor's plan to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Seventh, we had the announcement that more than 100,000 extra patients have been treated on time, 80,000 more people have had cancer diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days, and that NHS waiting lists have fallen for six months in a row. And eighth, not only did our Labour Government host the second meeting of the Steel Council with a commitment to British steelmaking including energy cost relief for businesses expected to be worth over £300m in 2025 but we also saw the government pass emergency legislation to give the Business Secretary the power and control necessary to do everything possible to protect the steel industry and steel jobs. Promises made by Labour and yet again promises kept. ---
The Guardian
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
When my 70s bar job was a Babychambles
Hannah Crosbie writes about Babycham's potential revival as though it lived up to its original marketing hype as a sophisticated drink for the ladies (Liquid optimism: why Babycham is ripe for a revival, 28 February). As a barman in the 70s, I remember the frequent orders of triple brandy and Babycham. They were often followed by devastation, and I can remember suggesting to the landlord that, if we stopped serving this 'alcoholic lemonade', we'd have less trouble. Unfortunately, my advice was ignored and the fights Holman-LisneyTadley, Hampshire The theatre or cinema pipe organ (Letters, 27 February) has almost completely faded from public awareness. Those that remain are mostly in the hands of charities and individuals, including the Mighty Wurlitzer in London's magnificent art-deco Troxy theatre. Let us ensure that these amazing instruments continue to make their special contribution to the world of popular orchestral LeemingVice-president, The Cinema Organ Society A wonderful English teacher at my secondary school commented 'Susan enjoys a bit of sedition' in my report (Letters, 3 March). After checking the dictionary, I decided that this was a good thing and have continued to do HutchinsonOxford The BBC could safely broadcast Malta's Eurovision entry here in the north (No kant do: Eurovision bars Malta's entry over title's similarity to C-word, 5 March). We would never confuse the C-word with CharltonNorthallerton, North Yorkshire Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
The Guardian
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Liquid optimism: why Babycham is ripe for a revival
Although the past is rarely ever as simple or as delicious as we remember it, it seems that culinary nostalgia is very much in vogue. Take the gelatinous success of Instagram accounts such as 70s Dinner Party or the unfathomable cool-ification of devilled eggs. Another thing that's deserving of a prance back into popularity is Babycham. It's kitsch in a bottle. Liquid, postwar optimism. And it's potentially up for a modern revival. Or at least I want it to be, so I'm writing a column about it. It's called manifesting. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. For those who didn't live through its heyday, Babycham is a sparkling perry, which is like cider, except made from pears. Originally named Champagne de la Poire, Babycham was created by the Showering cider family from pears they saw going to waste when they were buying from local apple orchards. In a postwar world, Herbert Showering saw the changes in drinking habits among women, and an opportunity to create a drink targeted specifically at them. And so Babycham sparkling perry was born. Dinky glasses, handsome men and extremely flammable dresses painted a picture of glamorous, feminine and moderated drinking. Back then, it was an aspirational picture for an emerging middle class; today, however, the obvious attempt to market to women by men feels dated and cynical. If you'd like some further reading on this, drinks writer Rachel Hendry wrote a sparkling deep-dive on Babycham as a precautionary tale about heavily gendered marketing and the part it had to play in the drink falling out of favour with a 21st-century audience. But a modern Babycham is more than deserving of a revival. In 2021, some 70 years after its launch, the sons of the original Showering brothers bought back the brand from Accolade Wines, with the aspiration to 'modernise' it to 'new and familiar customers' (if they're looking for a new Babycham girl, my DMs are open). At 6% ABV and with a sweet, fruity palate, it makes a lot of sense in the current market, where low-alcohol and storied drinks are favoured among a younger generation. If you like the sweet, soft fruitiness of prosecco, for example, you'll probably like Babycham. Other than drinking it straight, try treating it as you would sparkling wine in a cocktail. Anywhere you'd pop prosecco, use Babycham. Mix it into a sgroppino. Pour it into a bellini. Serve it alongside a pornstar martini. I even once had it at an underground bar mixed with eau de vie and raspberry syrup, though I don't remember a great deal after that. Babycham Sparkling Perry £3.50 (4 x 200ml) Tesco, 6%. Original-recipe, uncut Babycham. Fresh, light and ripe. Lockdown Liquor & Co Passionfruit Martini £25 (500ml) Lockdown Liquor & Co, 14%. Serve a chaser of Babycham with your martini. Funkin White Peach Purée £11.20 (1kg) Ocado. Baby bellinis, anyone? There's a kilo of the stuff in this pouch, but it'll last for a week (maybe more). One for birthday celebrations, perhaps. Vault Aperitivo Bitter £35 (700ml) Vault Aperitivo, 29.6%. Mix this British vermouth with Babycham to make a baby sbagliato (or should that be a babliato?).
