How we review

Everything we recommend is chosen independently and checked at its source. This page explains how, so you can judge our advice for yourself.

We say how we know

There is a difference between a watch we have worn for a month and one we have read about. Every guide ends with a short note saying how we chose: whether we handled, wore, tasted or visited what we recommend, or researched it from the maker’s own information. We never present someone else’s verdict as our own.

Facts come from the source

Prices, specifications, opening times and recipes are taken from the maker’s, venue’s or governing body’s own website, not from retailers or other magazines, and we give the date we checked. Prices change, so treat them as a guide and check before you buy. Where we couldn’t confirm something, we leave it out rather than guess.

Nobody pays to appear

• Brands cannot buy a place in our guides or influence what we say about them.
• If a brand ever lends or gives us something to review, we will say so in that piece.
• We do not currently use affiliate links. If we ever do, they will be clearly labelled, and they will never decide what we recommend.
• Any sponsored content will be clearly marked as such.

Guides are kept up to date

We would rather improve one guide than publish five new ones. When we refresh a guide, its date changes to show when it was last updated. If you spot something wrong, please tell us; we correct errors quickly and openly.

Real photographs

We use real photographs, credited where they are not our own. We never use AI-generated images to show a product, a place or a person.

Drink and tobacco

We write about fine spirits, wine and the occasional cigar because they are part of a well-lived life, and we write about them responsibly. We never encourage excess, our drinks coverage is for adults only, and in line with UK law we do not promote or sell tobacco products. Please drink responsibly; the NHS advises not regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week.