“This second wave is far, far worse than the first, because we now know what is coming” – anonymous health worker, who along with her team, and thousands of other NHS workers are questioning if they can do it again.
When friends and family on the NHS frontline began suffering severely with COVID-related stress and trauma earlier in the year, a group of over 30 professional complementary practitioners came together to set up FAST (Frontline Assistance for Stress and Trauma).
This voluntary team have worked selflessly through lockdown and now beyond into the second wave, providing a free, online support service to help all UK based healthcare and emergency workers overcome pandemic stress. Their confidential service uses EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) ‘tapping’ therapy – a powerful, cutting edge tool you can use anywhere, at any time.
For many of the healthcare workers, it was the first time they had tried any complementary therapy, but the results with EFT have been transformative (and eye-opening for many of the nurses and doctors). So far, FAST has provided over 300 sessions across the UK, with wholly positive results.
Up to now the FAST team have volunteered their time, skills, and expertise, raising simply for their basic set up and ongoing running costs. However, now FAST needs to fundraise so they can continue to offer their free service to every UK healthcare worker who needs their support.
As an anonymous hospital GP explains: “Before my FAST experience I was off the rating out of 10. It was 1000. In my first session I saw a change down to 3/10 and it has not gone back up.
“I find the techniques very functional, with real life relevance and applicable, which results in a positive impact in my ability to cope. I wanted to thank you for your incredible compassion and professionalism with me. All of you are so kind to donate your time and expertise to people like us and of course we can never thank you enough for this”.
EFT is not offered on the NHS – yet. Once considered a fringe therapy, EFT now has an impressive amount of scientific research to back it up. FAST believes it’s a matter of time until EFT is NICE recognised, but until then the team is committed to making EFT accessible by continuing to offer their service free of charge to our selfless front-liners for as long as they need to reach out to access support.
“We are now seeing evidence of ongoing mental health challenges, including emerging signs of PTSD amongst NHS workers, and demand for our FAST service is growing. With the predicted second wave upon us, the impact of COVID on our brilliant healthcare workers is only going to increase” says Wendy Power Stoten, founder of FAST.
“For six months FAST has proven its super efficiency, EFTs incredible effectiveness, and we, the voluntary FAST team, have grown our expertise in Covid-19 related issues”, continues Wendy.
FAST needs to be here for as long as the devastation and destruction to mental health that Covid-19 has created remains and has launched a fundraising campaign to raise £8000 to keep this vital service going.
Managers are much more positive about their staff working from home and working flexibly since lockdown says a new study undertaken jointly by the Equal Parenting Project at the University of Birmingham and the Work Autonomy, Flexibility and Work-Life Balance at the University of Kent.
The report titled ‘Managing Employees during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Flexible working and the future of work’ is based on a UK wide survey with managers which aimed to understand the organisational perspective on managing homeworking since the UK COVID-19 lockdown.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, many organisations have been forced to move the majority of their workforce to remote working, often at very short notice. In many cases these businesses had previously discouraged flexible working and had very little infrastructure in place to support these new ways of working. The question arises, what impact did this shift to homeworking have and what does this mean for the future of work?
To answer this question, the research team undertook a survey of managers between the 24th July to 11th August 2020. The sample consisted of managers from across the UK, an array of industries and all levels of management.
In total, 742 managers completed the survey which involved questions around norms for working from home, attitudes toward working from home, trust, key learning experience what tools the organisation supplied to employees to enable them to work from home and what support was made available to the employees.
As the first academic piece of research exploring managerial experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, this research discovered that 54.7% of managers reported over 80% of their employees have been working from home since lockdown.
As a result of their management experiences during lockdown, fewer managers now believe that presenteeism and long working hours are essential to career progression within organisations.
Many managers also reported that working from home increases productivity, concentration, and motivation due to their experiences in lockdown. 58.6% of managers surveyed said that working from home increases productivity whereas only 44.1% agreed with this statement before lockdown.
However, managers also saw some draw backs, with 58.7% of all those surveyed saying that working from home lead to isolation, and other citing issues around blurring of boundaries as key negative outcomes.
Regardless, most managers now believe working from home will become much more commonplace in the future, with more jobs, including senior roles, being advertised as being available for flexible working and more support being made available for home working.
Commenting on the report Dr Holly Birkett, Co-Director of the Equal Parenting Project at the University of Birmingham said: “The report shows managers are much more positive about working from home and flexible working, than they were before the pandemic.
“Managers say their organisations are going to be more supportive of homeworking and flexible working in the future, including more likely to support working from home, job shares and part time working even for Senior roles.
“This change along with the breakdown of the presenteeism culture and the removal of a flexibility stigma, which existed before COVID -19, could help improve employee wellbeing, help to support people to take on caring roles and break down many of the barriers women face to balancing career and family, with the potential to improve female representation on Boards and close the gender pay gap.”
Overall, the data included in the report has shown that working from home has been commonplace since the initial lockdown and managers have faced a steep learning curve regarding how to manage remote teams often with very little support or guidance.
Despite this, managers have been pleasantly surprised about the results with their teams generally performing really well during this time. While there have been some performance issues these were generally where this was already an issue prior to lockdown.
Dr Sarah Forbes, Co-Director of the Equal Parenting Project said: “Due to positive experiences of working from home and with flexible working patterns amongst their staff, managers are keen to support more working from home and flexible working in the future.
“This could take the form of better flexible working policies and tools to facilitate this as well as training being readily available for managers to learn how to better support remote workers in their team. However, we also need to understand working remotely over long periods of time can also be very isolating and that some people much prefer working in an office environment.”
Dr Heejung Chung, Principal Investigator of the Work Autonomy, Flexibility and Work-Life Balance Project at the University of Kent said: “As we have also seen in our previous employee survey, the flexible working genie is out of the bottle – more workers want to work flexibly in the future, and as this report has shown, managers now see how flexible working can benefit companies.
“However, that shift will not be the same for all companies and for all workers. Government policies to help make that cultural shift, by introducing stronger rights to flexible working and better protection against discrimination for flexible workers may help this transition go smoothly after the COVID-19 lockdown measures end.”
The webinar will also have presentations by Lauren Adams, HR Director at CBI , Daisy Hooper, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at CMI, and Anthony Fitzpatrick, Employee Relations and Global Employment Policy Lead at Aviva will deliver organisational and managers’ perspectives on experiences of remote working during the pandemic and how these experiences are likely to change the future of work.
Platforms fail to adequately protect users, says Which?
Almost one in 10 people (9%) have fallen victim to online scam ads via social media sites or search engines as platforms fail to tackle a flood of bogus ads posted by fraudsters, new research from Which? reveals.
The consumer champion is calling for the government to give tech giants greater legal responsibility for preventing scam content from appearing on their sites, after hundreds of people shared their often distressing stories of falling victim to convincing purchase scams.
A purchase scam is when a consumer is misled into paying in advance for goods that are never received or are not at all as described. They are increasingly common on popular websites and platforms with criminals creating fake websites and documents that seem genuine to trick their victims.
With 43 million adult social media users in the UK, Which?’s research suggests that some 3.8 million people might have fallen victim to a scam from an advert that appeared on their social media feed.
When Which? separately asked for victims of social media purchase scams to get in touch, its researchers heard from more than 200 people in just 48 hours.
One victim, Christine, ordered a CBD oil product advertised on Facebook that had been falsely ‘endorsed’ by Fern Britton and David Attenborough. She was promised a sample for £2.50, but £170 was later taken from her bank account.
She told Which? the money was “more than my weekly pension and I’m so upset. It happened weeks ago but I can’t stop thinking about it”. Christine is worried she faces a fight on her hands to get her money back because she did receive a sample, although she doesn’t think it is genuine CBD oil.
Which? surveyed 2,000 members of the public, asking those who use social media and search engines about their experiences of adverts on these platforms. It found that nine per cent of social media users had fallen victim to a scam ad on social media feeds. The same proportion of search engine users also reported falling victim to a scam ad on those.
It also revealed that six in 10 (64%) social media users and almost six in 10 (57%) search engine users said they were confident they could spot these scams. But previous Which? research has suggested this confidence is misplaced – which could create a perfect breeding ground for scams.
Louise from Birmingham regularly shops at Ted Baker and started seeing convincing ads for what she thought was a Ted Baker Outlet store on Twitter over a couple of days. She visited the site linked to the advert and paid £75 for a discounted bag and shoes.
She never received her order and is still waiting for her bank to decide whether it will refund her. The retailer’s Twitter account had already been suspended before Which? flagged it. “I will never, ever buy anything I’ve seen on a social media advert again,” she said.
Ryan, 24, thought he was buying a keyboard and mouse through a retailer advertising on Google’s shopping results. He paid £65 but ended up receiving a cheap iPhone case instead. “To get a refund I had to return the case to an address in China at a cost of £35, which is obviously ridiculous,” he said.
Ryan paid with PayPal, which is still investigating. He said he didn’t report the advert to Google because he did not know how to. Which?’s researchers found that Google’s tool for reporting adverts in its search results involved filling in a long form which could put people off using it.
While the sums of money involved in these scams may appear small to some people, Which?’s investigation suggests that online ad scams are happening on an industrial scale. They also provide fraudsters with sensitive information about victims that could potentially be used to mount future attacks.
Over the last 12 months, Action Fraud says that it has received 83,822 online shopping fraud reports, with reported losses reaching around £62.3 million over that period.
Which? believes social media sites and search engines must be far more proactive in preventing scam ads from appearing on their platforms in the first place, particularly as people are more reliant on shopping and socialising online than ever this winter.
Platforms have launched initiatives to deal with scam adverts but many of them rely on users having to report these themselves. This leaves lots of people still exposed to scam ads and at risk of falling victim before they are reported and taken down.
Which?’s investigations continue to expose the harms consumers face when shopping and socialising online. The consumer champion is calling for online platforms to be given greater legal responsibility to prevent scam content appearing on their platforms. The government has an ideal opportunity to deliver this in the upcoming online harms bill, but if it is not included, ministers must set out proposals for new laws to protect consumers from online scams.
Adam French, Consumer Rights Expert at Which?, said:“Our research suggests that online purchase scams are taking place on an industrial scale, with scam victims suffering significant financial and emotional harm when they are targeted by fraudsters.
“Despite being known for innovation, social media sites and search engines are lagging behind scammers, seemingly taking little responsibility for stopping misinformation and harmful content from reaching their users.
“The government must step in and protect consumers by giving online platforms more legal responsibility to prevent scam content from appearing in the first place.”
Which?’s advice on what to do if you’ve been scammed by an online advert
It is possible to get your money back in many cases, although the process might be time consuming and inconvenient.
If you paid using a credit or debit card your money is covered by card protections. Ask your bank if you’re eligible to claim using chargeback or Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
When you use PayPal, your money should be protected by its Buyer Protection policy. You can make a claim through your PayPal account.
If you paid using a bank transfer, contact your bank as soon as possible and ask if it can help you. This kind of fraud on social media is on the rise, according to UK Finance.
How do I report a scam advert on social media or search engines?
Report the advert to the platform you saw it on. All the major social media platforms and search engines allow you to flag scam adverts using a ‘report’ button or a reporting form.
If you’ve lost money or personal details to a scam, report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
James, from Lancashire, spotted an advert on Facebook for a Little Tikes clearance sale. It linked to a website that was convincingly branded to look like the official Little Tikes website, so he paid £105 for a climbing frame.
But it never turned up, and the website has since disappeared.
“It’s been so frustrating. It’s unbelievable scams can be so easily advertised on Facebook.” James said.
Fortunately his bank was “very helpful” and because he paid using a credit card, it refunded his money.
One victim in his 50s told Which? he’s been conned six times after buying products he’s seen advertised on social media, including shoes, toys and tools. He has lost around £200 in total.
Additional statistics from the market research
73 per cent of social media users aged 18-34 said they were confident they could spot a scam, although Which? research earlier this year into scams on Facebook suggested this group may actually be more vulnerable to being scammed on social media.
49 per cent of search engine users surveyed trust that the retailers that appear in their search engine’s results are safe from scams. Only 35 per cent of social media users say they trust the retailers that appear on their social media feed are safe from scams.
The Scottish National Investment Bank has officially opened for business with the completion of its first major investment. It is the UK’s first mission-led development bank and it is being capitalised by the Scottish Government with £2 billion over ten years.
The bank’s proposed missions will focus on supporting Scotland’s transition to net zero, extending equality of opportunity through improving places, and harnessing innovation to enable Scotland to flourish.
It will provide patient capital – a form of long term investment – for businesses and projects in Scotland, and catalyse further private sector investment.
Today’s £12.5 million investment in Glasgow-based laser and quantum technology company M Squared will support the company’s further growth in Scotland and speaks to the bank’s proposed core missions.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The Scottish National Investment Bank will help to tackle some of the biggest challenges we face now and in the years to come, delivering economic, social and environmental returns.
“It is hitting the ground running with its first major investment in M Squared – a great example of the ambitious and innovative companies we have here in Scotland that will be key to our economic recovery and future prosperity.
“The launch of the bank is one of the most significant developments in the lifetime of this parliament, with the potential for it to transform, grow and decarbonise Scotland’s economy.”
Scottish National Investment Bank Chair Willie Watt said: “Today is a key milestone for the Scottish National Investment Bank. Our launch enables us to make mission-led, strategic, patient investments in businesses and projects that can deliver benefits for the people of Scotland. I am excited about the role the Bank will play in supporting and enabling growth in the Scottish economy.
“We are particularly pleased that our first investment is in M Squared which is at the cutting edge of innovation and is a recognised world-leader in its field. It is our firm belief that the bank will make many more investments that deliver positive mission impacts in the years and decades to come.”
Dr Graeme Malcolm, CEO and founder of M Squared, said: “Science and advanced technologies have a major role to play in Scotland’s future economic prosperity. By increasing investment in research and development with a mission-based approach, Scotland has a real opportunity to actively tackle climate change and benefit from the coming quantum revolution.
“We are delighted that the Scottish National Investment Bank has invested in M Squared as its very first business – our shared commitments to society and the environment makes this an ideal partnership that will enable accelerated growth and progress in frontier technologies.”
Benny Higgins, Strategic Adviser to the First Minister on the establishment of the bank, said: “It has been a privilege to be part of an outstanding effort to make this a reality.
“We could not have predicted that the current pandemic renders the need for mission-led investment even more vital to create a robust, resilient wellbeing economy in Scotland.”
A £35 million five-year programme will make it easier for planners to work together and for members of the public to get involved in creating and shaping their places.
The new data and technology system, to begin development in early 2021, will provide a single place to access services and information about planning. This will generate up to 1,600 jobs in the construction and development sectors, and their supply chains, over the next 10 years, and bring as much as £200 million in economic benefits directly to users of the planning system.
Housing Minister Kevin Stewart, who will launch Scotland’s Digital Strategy for Planning tomorrow, said: “There is immense potential for digital to provide new ways to get people involved in the planning of great places.
“Our Digital Planning team has been hearing about the experiences of people who work within planning, and also of those who participate in various ways. We’ve learned about what works well, what could work better, and how digital transformation can help deliver positive impacts and outcomes at both the local and national levels.
“We’re now preparing to put our findings into action, and over the next five years we will be building a world-leading digital planning system, helping connect people with their places, influence positive change, strengthen decision-making and focus on delivery of high-quality planned development.”
Introducing new technology and ways of working in the planning system will simplify and speed up the application and assessment processes. It will give planners the tools and data they need to collaborate and improve decision making, making it easier to understand the planning process and get involved at every stage.
Transforming Places Together: Scotland’s Digital Strategy for Planning will be launched by Mr Stewart on Tuesday 24 November.
Oxford University vaccine shows 70% protectionwith single dose – and 90% with second dose
The University of Oxford, in collaboration with AstraZeneca plc, has today announced interim trial data from its Phase III trials that show its candidate vaccine, ChAdOx1 nCoV-2019, is effective at preventing COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) and offers a high level of protection.
The coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford stops 70% of people developing Covid symptoms, a large-scale trial has shown, and while the Oxford vaccine offers less protection than those produced by Pfizer and Moderna – both promising 95% protection – the Oxford vaccine is much cheaper and is easier to store. This gives the Oxford – AstaZeneca vaccine an advantage over the other two when trying to reach difficult to access areas across the world.
Phase 3 interim analysis including 131 Covid-19 cases indicates that the vaccine is 70.4% effective when combining data from two dosing regimens
In the two different dose regimens vaccine efficacy was 90% in one and 62% in the other
Higher efficacy regimen used a halved first dose and standard second dose
Early indication that vaccine could reduce virus transmission from an observed reduction in asymptomatic infections
There were no hospitalised or severe cases in anyone who received the vaccine
Large safety database from over 24,000 volunteers from clinical trials in the UK, Brazil and South Africa, with follow up since April
Crucially, vaccine can be easily administered in existing healthcare systems, stored at ‘fridge temperature’ (2-8 °C) and distributed using existing logistics
Large scale manufacturing ongoing in over 10 countries to support equitable global access
Professor Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and Chief Investigator of the Oxford Vaccine Trial, said: ‘These findings show that we have an effective vaccine that will save many lives.
“Excitingly, we’ve found that one of our dosing regimens may be around 90% effective and if this dosing regimen is used, more people could be vaccinated with planned vaccine supply. Today’s announcement is only possible thanks to the many volunteers in our trial, and the hard working and talented team of researchers based around the world.’
Professor Sarah Gilbert, Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford, said: ‘The announcement today takes us another step closer to the time when we can use vaccines to bring an end to the devastation caused by SARS-CoV-2. We will continue to work to provide the detailed information to regulators.
“It has been a privilege to be part of this multi-national effort which will reap benefits for the whole world.”
Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca, said: “Today marks an important milestone in our fight against the pandemic. This vaccine’s efficacy and safety confirm that it will be highly effective against COVID-19 and will have an immediate impact on this public health emergency.
“Furthermore, the vaccine’s simple supply chain and our no-profit pledge and commitment to broad, equitable and timely access means it will be affordable and globally available supplying hundreds of millions of doses on approval.”
Welcoming news of the breakthrough, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “This is incredibly exciting news. There are still further safety checks ahead but these are fantastic results.”
Shoppers in Edinburgh can now have their favourite Aldi products delivered to their door in as little as 20 minutes as part of a new partnership with Deliveroo.
The Cameron Toll Aldi store is amongst the first in Scotland to trial the new service, which will offer local residents a selection of almost 400 Aldi products at their fingertips via the Deliveroo app. This will include a range of essential items, such as bread, milk and fresh produce, which will be picked and packed by Aldi colleagues for delivery by Deliveroo’s network of riders.
The new on-demand service has been introduced to offer customers greater flexibility and access to affordable Aldi groceries.
The trial was initially launched at eight stores in England in May, and is now being extended to almost 130 stores across the UK, including in Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Perth.
Richard Thornton, Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: “The new trial with Deliveroo will provide more customers in Edinburgh with access to great quality food at Aldi’s unbeatable prices.
“This is an exciting venture for Aldi which provides a new way to serve our customers during these challenging times.”
With more people staying at home during the working day, due to COVID-19, the temptation to reach into the snack cupboard and graze on less healthy food, such as crisps, biscuits, chocolate, sweets and cake, may be high. Regularly snacking on foods that are high in energy (calories), fat, sugar and salt can increase your risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Here’s some simple tips for making healthier snacking choices at home:
Read the labels
When buying packaged snack foods, check the nutrition label on the pack and aim to choose foods that have:
6g or more of fibre per 100g
5g or less of total sugars per 100g
3g or less of fat per 100g
1.5g or less of saturated fat (saturates) per 100g
0.35g or less of salt per 100g
As the weather gets cooler, you could start your day with a comforting bowl of warm porridge. Rather than adding sugar, honey, jam or syrup to your porridge, you could try adding fruit, such as berries, chopped apple or sliced banana and a sprinkling of chopped nuts, seeds or cinnamon.
The Do’s of Snacking
Remove the temptation to snack on foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt by keeping them out of your home. Empty your cupboards of chocolate, crisps, biscuits, cakes and sugary drinks and replace them with healthier options
Include a variety of different snack foods in your diet. Choose a range of healthy foods to snack on, such as portions of fruit, raw vegetable sticks, low-fat dips and spreads, wholemeal toast, unsalted nuts, low-fat yoghurts, 30g portions of reduced fat cheese and wholegrain crackers or oatcakes
Choose snacks that contain at least one of your 5 a day. Fill your fruit bowl with your favourite fruits and keep plenty of veg in the fridge
Choose a portion of fresh fruit to snack on, such as an apple, banana, orange or a handful of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries or grapes
Choose vegetable sticks, such as carrot, celery, peppers, cucumber or sugar snap peas with low-fat dips, such as hummous
Limit fruit juices to no more than 150ml a day as they can be high in sugar
Choose snacks that are high in fibre. Wholegrain foods, such as wholemeal toast and crackers, as well as fruit and vegetables, are high in fibre, which is good for keeping your heart healthy. Choose packaged snack foods that contain at least 6g of fibre per 100g
Make your own popcorn at home, without adding salt or sugary toppings. This can be a healthier snack for all the family and a fun one to involve the kids with.
The Don’ts of Snacking
Avoid grazing
When you are distracted with work or the TV, or when you are feeling bored, it can be tempting to graze in the absence of hunger. If you regularly graze, try setting specific times when you will allow yourself to eat a healthy snack. For example, you could set an alarm for 10:00am and 3:00pm to enjoy a healthy snack in between your meals.
Try to avoid overdoing it
Less healthy snacks, such as crisps, chocolate bars, sweets, biscuits, and cakes. Avoid cheap supermarket offers on less healthy food options, as they can tempt you into buying (and eating) more than you need.
Occasional treats
For an occasional treat, choose foods that are individually wrapped, such as a small chocolate bar or a small packet of crisps, rather than larger sharing packs.
Limit less healthy snacks
Try no more than two or three portions each week. Portion (serving) size is often given at the back of packaging and this information can help you to limit the amount you are eating.
Love Home Swap creates a new compilation album featuring the greatest airport and airplane sounds we miss while grounded in lockdown
Love Home Swap has created Sounds of Travel: a nostalgic album made up of ambient airport and airplane travel sounds.
The album is full of sounds that travellers miss, including boarding announcements, planes taking off, the seatbelt sign being switched on and the rolling wheels of a suitcase.
The free Sounds of Travel album is designed to give people a little bit of that pre-holiday feeling at a time when international travel is challenging.
From boarding announcements to luggage carousels, passport stamps to clicking seatbelts: airport and airplane sounds are familiar the world over. But for many this year, they have become a distant memory.
For those that are missing the familiar soundtrack of travelling, Love Home Swap has released the free compilation album you didn’t know you needed – an album of well-known ambient airport and airplane sounds and chimes that can be recognised by anyone that has ever jetted away.
Although an album of airport sounds is no comparison to actually being there, it is hoped the album will bring a little nostalgic optimism to those yearning to get away.
So conjure up the best vacation memories with airport announcements and noises, the chatter of other travellers in airports, the whirr of plane engines, the rolling wheels of suitcases, planes taking off and landing, boarding passes being printed and the ‘fasten your seatbelt’ sound.
Célia Pronto, Managing Director at Love Home Swap says: “For many people, the sounds of airports are the sounds of going on holiday, and they are recognised all over the world.
“Unfortunately, not many people have been able to hear these familiar chimes, announcements and ambient noises this year. So, we thought we’d give people an easy way to evoke a little bit of that holiday feeling, and inspire feelings of optimism about the day in the not-so-distant future when we can all safely hear the sounds of airports and airplanes for real!”
When you sign up to Love Home Swap’s Standard or Platinum packages, members are entitled to four free airport lounge passes a year when their trip is co-ordinated with a swap, meaning the holiday excitement really can start at the airport!
A coveted Which? Best Buy has been awarded to a great value own-label champagne from Morrisons, proving that you can get your hands on a top-class festive fizz for under £20.
In a blind tasting of supermarket own-label (or exclusive), and top-selling big-name non-vintage champagnes priced up to £36, the Which? panel of experts awarded the highest score of 82 per cent to Morrison’s Adrien Chopin Brut Champagne.
Retailing at only £18, this Which? Best Buy was described as “golden champagne with stewed apple aromas, rich flavours and a hint of sweetness” winning the adoration of experts to become this year’s top-scorer.
Narrowly missing out on the top spot but awarded a Which? Best Buy in its own right was Waitrose’s Brut Champagne which fizzed into second place with a score of 79 percent. The Which? expert panel commended its “ripe red apples and apple blossom” character that makes it an ideal party fizz.
In joint third place but not quite achieving Which? Best Buy status was Moet & Chandon’s Imperial Brut Champagne, earning a score of 78 percent. It was described as a pleasure to drink due to its “candied notes, mellow aromas, crisp acidity, and a cashew-nut finish”. However, one expert called it a “little bland”, which might disappoint at £36.
Also rated a solid 78 per cent score was Sainsbury’s Landric Champagne Brut at £25. It only narrowly missed out on Best Buy status, pleasing experts with its “lemon acidity and toasty, nutty aftertaste”. However, its lone critic felt it was short of fruit with a slightly bitter finish.
At the bottom of the table and summed up as “wishy washy” by one panelist was Aldi’s Philizot et Fils Organic Champagne, which only managed a 67 per cent rating.
Harry Rose, Editor of Which? Magazine, said:“Your Christmas might be a bit more low key this year, but there is no reason to scrimp on the bubbly and we’re delighted that you can enjoy this season’s best fizz for only £18.
“Whether you opt for outstanding champagne at a great price or fancy paying a little more for a premium brand, our expert picks will make sure that whatever you’re doing this year, it won’t lack any sparkle.”
Also tested:
Lidl Comte de Senneval Champagne Brut (74% £12.50); Aldi Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut (74% £13); Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Blanc de Noirs Champagne (74% £21); M&S Louis Vertay Brut Champagne (74% £17); M&S Delacourt Brut Champagne (74% £20); Tesco Finest Premier Cru Brut Champagne (73% £20); Asda Extra Special Louis Bernard Premier Cru (73% £21); Veuve Cliquot Brut Yellow Label Champagne (73% £35); LANSON LE BLACK LABEL BRUT (72% £33); Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut Champagne (71% £24); Co-op Les Pionniers Champagne (71% £19); Asda Henri Cachet Champagne Brut (68% £13.50); Morrisons The Best Premier Cru Champagne (68% £21); Aldi Philizot et Fils Organic Champagne (67% £27)
The Which? panel of experts:
We consulted five of the country’s top wine experts to score this year’s offerings in our blind taste test: Charles Metcalfe – Speaker, author, and co-chair of the International Wine Challenge; Kathryn McWhirter – Wine expert and co-author (with Charles) of The Wine and Food Lover’s Guide to Portugal; Oz Clarke – Wine writer, television presenter and broadcaster; Sam Caporn – Master of Wine, freelance consultant and winner of the Madame Bollinger Medal for Excellence in Tasting; Peter McCombie – Master of Wine, restaurant wine consultant, speaker, writer and critic.
