Latest news with #BigLunch
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Pub chain plans to bring people together for Big Lunch campaign as research reveals increasing community disconnect
Pub chain plans to bring people together for Big Lunch campaign as research reveals increasing community disconnect The research from the UK's leading pub company and brewer, Greene King, reveals that the simple joy of heading to the local pub for a fish and chips lunch could be the ultimate remedy for community disconnection. 22% of people in London revealed that the pub is one of the few places they can still truly connect with their community. As the digital shift takes its toll on community spirit, new research has revealed that 30% of people in London feel disconnected to their community and 17% have never even spent time with their local community. However, London folk could have a unique solution…and it's served with a side of mushy peas! The research from the UK's leading pub company and brewer, Greene King, reveals that the simple joy of heading to the local pub for a fish and chips lunch could be the ultimate remedy for community disconnection. The iconic British dish has been crowned London's favourite lunch (32%) when socialising. As a response to these findings, Greene King has partnered with the Eden Project for The Big Lunch (7–8 June) — a nationwide event designed to bring neighbours and communities together to connect and build friendships. In fact, 22% of people in London revealed that the pub is one of the few places they can still truly connect with their community. Food was also hailed as the most important driver for togetherness, with a staggering 76% of people agreeing that sharing a meal is the number one reason to create more moments to socialise. With this in mind, Greene King is on a mission to bring communities around London back together one dish at a time by supporting The Big Lunch, helping people rediscover the joy of shared moments, whether it's with old friends or new faces from across the street. The simple joy of heading to the local pub for a fish and chips lunch could be the ultimate remedy for community disconnection. Entering the second year of its partnership, Greene King will be hosting events at many of its managed pubs throughout June, including community get togethers and giveaways. To find out what is going on at your local pub, visit here. Andrew Bush, Chief Experience Officer at Greene King, said: 'Our research shows that 80% of London believes that food is the most important part of a social gathering. And with 22% of people choosing to socialise in the pub, it really does show the important role that both of these things can play in bringing people together. 'However, even surrounded by huge communities it's easy to feel alone, which is why The Big Lunch is the perfect opportunity for connection - whether it's with neighbours, old friends, or someone new. "We encourage everyone to check out the website to see what's happening at their local Greene King pub and join us for great food and even better company.' Greene King will be hosting events at many of its managed pubs throughout June, including community get togethers and giveaway Lindsey Brummitt, Programme Director at The Eden Project, said: 'This marks our second year partnering with Greene King for The Big Lunch, with their support again offering people a wonderful chance to get together, share delicious food and make new friends in our communities. Article continues below "Following last year's success, which saw communities across London come together to share friendship, food and fun, we hope even more people join in The Big Lunch this year on 7 and 8 June. 'The Big Lunch is a fantastic way to reach out and make valuable social connections, especially given over a quarter of people in the UK (27%) report a sense of disconnection as Greene King's recent research has discovered.' To find out what is going on in your area, visit:
Scotsman
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
The Big Lunch returns: How to join the celebration
The Big Lunch is the UK's annual get-together for neighbours and communities Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Big Lunch is back on June 7 and 8, with the chance to join millions of people across the UK sharing friendship, food and fun. The event is all about feeding community spirit, creating a chance to reach out and meet new people, and to get to know familiar faces better. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Research shows taking part in The Big Lunch helps people feel less lonely, and that those who join in go on to do more in their community – from a wee neighbourly act of kindness to fundraising and volunteering for local causes. Communities are being invited to plan parties for The Big Lunch 2025 | The Big Lunch The Big Lunch also encourages climate action with 79% of people taking part saying they are more likely to help the environment too. People are the key ingredient and we all have something to share – whether that's serving up a delicious dish, having a wee chat or bringing music and laughter. The Big Lunch helps increase a sense of belonging, making the places where we live feel friendlier and safer and giving us a chance to make new connections. An idea from the Eden Project, it has been made possible thanks to the support of Pears Foundation and corporate partners Co-op and Greene King. Grainne McCloskey, of Eden Project in Scotland and Northern Ireland, said: 'The Big Lunch is easy, it's fun and it's for everyone so help get involved and make your community the place to be this June. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's an opportunity to get together, make new friends, share delicious food and have some much-needed fun so get yourself a resource pack on our website and get your party planning started.' The Big Lunch has been bringing millions of people together in a nationwide act of friendship every year since it launched in 2009. In the next couple of weeks, the organiser will be sharing competitions and collaborations with its partners Co-op and Greene King which will help invite even more people to tuck in. What can I do to join the Big Lunch? There are lots of ways you can get involved. Here are just a few ideas: Suggest a sharing table where every guest is invited to bring along a dish to enjoy together. Everyone can show off their cooking skills and try something new and delicious at the same time. where every guest is invited to bring along a dish to enjoy together. Everyone can show off their cooking skills and try something new and delicious at the same time. Get crafty and make your own bunting by decorating individual paper triangles and combining them with ribbon to make a colourful string. and make your own bunting by decorating individual paper triangles and combining them with ribbon to make a colourful string. Get the street grooving and ask every household to suggest a few songs to add to a communal playlist. You'll soon see people of all ages on their feet! and ask every household to suggest a few songs to add to a communal playlist. You'll soon see people of all ages on their feet! Be kind to the planet and encourage everyone to bring their own plate and cutlery instead of buying disposables – as well as containers to take any leftover food home. and encourage everyone to bring their own plate and cutlery instead of buying disposables – as well as containers to take any leftover food home. Do some good by popping a collection bucket out at your Big Lunch so that you can raise money for a local cause that could do with a boost. Or fundraise for the Eden Project, to connect people and nature, and restore a happy planet.
Scotsman
18-05-2025
- General
- Scotsman
The Big Lunch returns: How to join the celebration
The Big Lunch is the UK's annual get-together for neighbours and communities Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Big Lunch is back on June 7 and 8, with the chance to join millions of people across the UK sharing friendship, food and fun. The event is all about feeding community spirit, creating a chance to reach out and meet new people, and to get to know familiar faces better. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Research shows taking part in The Big Lunch helps people feel less lonely, and that those who join in go on to do more in their community – from a wee neighbourly act of kindness to fundraising and volunteering for local causes. Communities are being invited to plan parties for The Big Lunch 2025 | The Big Lunch The Big Lunch also encourages climate action with 79% of people taking part saying they are more likely to help the environment too. People are the key ingredient and we all have something to share – whether that's serving up a delicious dish, having a wee chat or bringing music and laughter. The Big Lunch helps increase a sense of belonging, making the places where we live feel friendlier and safer and giving us a chance to make new connections. An idea from the Eden Project, it has been made possible thanks to the support of Pears Foundation and corporate partners Co-op and Greene King. Grainne McCloskey, of Eden Project in Scotland and Northern Ireland, said: 'The Big Lunch is easy, it's fun and it's for everyone so help get involved and make your community the place to be this June. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's an opportunity to get together, make new friends, share delicious food and have some much-needed fun so get yourself a resource pack on our website and get your party planning started.' The Big Lunch has been bringing millions of people together in a nationwide act of friendship every year since it launched in 2009. In the next couple of weeks, the organiser will be sharing competitions and collaborations with its partners Co-op and Greene King which will help invite even more people to tuck in. What can I do to join the Big Lunch? There are lots of ways you can get involved. Here are just a few ideas: Suggest a sharing table where every guest is invited to bring along a dish to enjoy together. Everyone can show off their cooking skills and try something new and delicious at the same time. where every guest is invited to bring along a dish to enjoy together. Everyone can show off their cooking skills and try something new and delicious at the same time. Get crafty and make your own bunting by decorating individual paper triangles and combining them with ribbon to make a colourful string. and make your own bunting by decorating individual paper triangles and combining them with ribbon to make a colourful string. Get the street grooving and ask every household to suggest a few songs to add to a communal playlist. You'll soon see people of all ages on their feet! and ask every household to suggest a few songs to add to a communal playlist. You'll soon see people of all ages on their feet! Be kind to the planet and encourage everyone to bring their own plate and cutlery instead of buying disposables – as well as containers to take any leftover food home. and encourage everyone to bring their own plate and cutlery instead of buying disposables – as well as containers to take any leftover food home. Do some good by popping a collection bucket out at your Big Lunch so that you can raise money for a local cause that could do with a boost. Or fundraise for the Eden Project, to connect people and nature, and restore a happy planet. For free resources and ideas for decorations, plus delicious shareable recipes and free event packs to get your party started, visit the Eden Project website.
RTÉ News
30-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- RTÉ News
Jamie Oliver's air fryer mint choc chip whoopie pie
The Big Lunch is back this year, with celebrity chefs encouraging us to come together through food. Ingredients The Big Lunch – an annual event encouraging communities to come together to share lunch – is back on June 7 and 8. Although the event, which sees celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver, Mary Berry, Rick Stein and Tom Kerridge encourage more of us to come together through food, takes place in across the UK, there's no reason we can't take inspiration from the recipes on this side of the pond. Here's a Jamie Oliver recipe for some baking inspiration. Mint choc chip whoopie pies Hands on: 10 minutes, plus chilling Cook: 37 minutes Ingredients: (Serves 8) 1-drawer air fryer 1 x 145g bar of mint Aero 150g full-fat cream cheese 85g unsalted butter 200g self-raising flour 100g caster sugar 3tbsp cocoa powder ½tsp bicarbonate of soda 100g milk or dark chocolate chips 2 medium free-range eggs Method 1. To make the filling, snap 120g of Aero into a heatproof bowl and melt in the air fryer for three minutes at 170°C, then stir until smooth and mix in the cream cheese. Cover and leave to firm up in the fridge for at least one hour. 2. Melt the butter in a heatproof bowl for four minutes at 170°C. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa and bicarbonate of soda, then stir through the chocolate chips, mix in the melted butter, then the eggs, until the mixture is well combined. With wet hands, roll into 16 balls and place on a lined baking sheet, pushing them down slightly to flatten. 3. Line the air-fryer shelf with greaseproof paper. Transfer four to six cookies into the drawer, making sure there's a one centimetre gap between them. Cook for 10 minutes at 170°C (12 minutes from chilled or 15 minutes from frozen) then, using the paper to help you, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool, and repeat. 4. Once the cookies are completely cool, sandwich them with the filling, crumbling up the leftover Aero to sprinkle into each one, before sandwiching. Get ahead: If not cooking straight away, cover the raw cookies and keep in the fridge for up to two days, or the freezer for up to three months, ready to cook to order! Or, once cooked, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, stashing the filling in the fridge, ready to assemble. Energy: 451 kcal Fat: 25g Sat fat: 15.1g Protein: 6.7g Carbs: 52.2g Sugars: 32.6g Salt: 0.6g Fibre: 1.9g
Leader Live
30-04-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
MS shares his weekly updates from across North Wales
MS for North Wales It was a pleasure to attend the official launch of the Eden Project's Big Lunch Campaign for Wales 2025 at 'Outside Lives', Aberduna Hall, Gwernymynydd. The Big Lunch is the UK's annual get-together for neighbours and communities. Mold-based 'Outside Lives' actively brings together members of the community, providing activities and events that support personal wellbeing and growth, building stronger, healthier connections among people through shared interests, understanding and celebrating our natural world. I met charity 'Young Lives vs Cancer' to discuss the key findings in Wales of their new report 'The Cost of Waiting – The need for improved benefits support for young cancer patients and their families', which found that more than half of young people with cancer and their families face extra expenses within the first month, and that almost a third of patients finish active treatment before receiving a decision on benefits. I also met the UK charity 'Missing People', which is dedicated to offering support to children and adults when they go missing, to discuss the important issue of children and adults going missing in North Wales. Each year approximately 18,000 missing incidents are reported in Wales, while across the UK more than 170,000 people are reported missing in 320,000 incidents. I was told that 1,400 of those incidents are adults in North Wales and, worryingly, that 555 children were also reported missing to North Wales Police last year alone, involving more than 2,800 incidents. Discussion included the need for this not to be seen as just a Police issue, and instead for multi-agency prevention and emotional support; the strong link between missing adults, mental health and suicide; and concern that although 'Return Home Interviews' are offered to children and young people in England, they are not offered to them in Wales, despite evidence showing that they reduce harms and those going missing again. People who go missing are among the most vulnerable in our society, including care experienced or exploited children, adults in mental health crisis, and older people living with dementia. Other engagements included a briefing on the proposed Carbon Dioxide Spur Pipeline to connect the cement works at Padeswood with the HyNet Carbon Dioxide Pipeline at Northop Hall, focused on carbon capture and storage (CCS) to reduce emissions from industry and support economic growth, and an interview for research about politicians' attitudes towards the companies that will develop renewable energy projects across the UK, and how developers can best communicate with politicians and their constituents. For help, email or call 0300 200 7219.
