Rob Davies

@byrobdavies.bsky.social

Guardian reporter and author of Jackpot: How Gambling Conquered Britain.

My least favourite pub is the Arsenal pub in Finsbury Park I went to once when the North London Derby wasn't on telly. Didn't know it was a Gooner pub beforehand and had worn my Spurs shirt. At one point I went to the loo and a huge bloke with neck tattoos said: "You're a braver man than me, son."

Re the pub discourse... Maybe I'm weird in this respect but although I love pubs, spend a lot of time in them and write about them frequently, I've never really had a favourite. I don't really have a standout local now but I didn't really consider past good locals my "favourite". Not sure why.

“Reform.... present themselves as the anti-establishment insurgents, but banning independent journalists like me from party conference isn’t anti-establishment. It’s the establishment playbook.” Am taking being barred from Reform conference as badge of honour! www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Reform UK bans three journalists who have investigated party from its conference

Guardian City editor Anna Isaac, investigative reporter Peter Geoghegan and broadcaster Michael Crick refused entry

theguardian.com

No names but is this the weakest boast in PR history? "...one of the most exciting drinks brands to emerge from London’s creative community." Like...it's not even THE most exciting drink to emerge from London's creative community, a cohort I had not realised made drinks.

There is a special place in hell for the senior folk at banks like NatWest who abandon elderly customers (and not so elderly ones) to a chatbot that can't recognise simple queries and takes them round in maddening circles, always refusing to pass them on to a real person.