Food & Drink

Beloved Australian biscuits Tim Tams are finally coming to the UK

They're literally considered 'Aussie gold'.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 21st March 2024

Brace yourselves, Brits, an iconic Australian food staple and popular Antipodean snack is finally coming to the UK after decades of waiting -that’s right, we’re finally getting Tim Tams.

The beloved chocolate-covered biscuit with an extra line of chocolate through the middle is the stuff of legend amongst the Aussies and the Kiwis have a line to some of the stock, but despite having been going since 1964, we’ve never had the luxury of finding them on shelves here in the UK supermarkets.

Until now, that is.

Yes, after years of us crying out for Arnott’s Tim Tams to brought to British shores, they will finally be available at Waitrose shops across the country and via Ocado.

While specialist Australian stores and online retailers like Sanza have obviously stocked imports from Down Under like these before, this will be the first time Tim Tams will be made readily available in shops you’ll find on the high street.

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Mouths literally already watering. (Credit: Arnott Group)

Part of the love affair with the moorish malt biscuits is the widely adopted manner of eating them colloquially known as the ‘Tim Tam Slam’.

Here’s the very precise process from start to finish: take a small bite from one corner of the rectangular biscuit, repeat on the diagonally opposite corner; then lower one nibbled corner into the cup of tea and the suck your tea through the opposite nibble — then eat it, and FAST, otherwise it’ll disintegrate.

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In fact, we don’t trust you — here is the method from start to finish in the form of a classic British TV moment featuring Graham Norton and Australian singer Natalia Imbruglia:

Even more iconic than Margot Robbie losing her sh*t after receiving a pack on the red carpet.

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Speaking to an extremely happy ex-pat, they said: “They are, easily, the best biscuits in the entire world. Tim Tam Slams are elite. And no, they are NOT like a Penguin. They are infinitely better than anything on the shelves in Britain.”

So there’s your warning, don’t you dare compare Tim Tams to Penguins or risk facing the wrath of every angry Aussie in earshot.

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Better still, the biccies that’ll cost you just £2.50 already said to have launched here in the UK and are available in plain chocolate, dark and chewy caramel flavour.

Race you to buy out every single one in sight.

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Featured Images — Arnott’s Group/Tim Tams (via TikTok)

Food & Drink

Huge bakery chain Gail’s confirms move to Prestwich – but spells village’s name wrong in signs

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Huge bakery chain Gail's confirms move to Prestwich - but spells village's name wrong in signage

After months of swirling rumours, bakery group Gail’s has finally confirmed it’s moving to Prestwich – but locals have spotted a glaring error at the first hurdle.

The popular artisan bakery will be moving onto Bury New Road, right in the heart of the suburb and directly opposite the new Rudy’s pizzeria.

Prestwich locals have been hearing whispers of a Gail’s arriving for a few months, and finally the London-founded cafe has stuck up signs to confirm it’s on the way.

But the sign contains one crucial mistake – it’s spelled Prestwich wrong.

The red window displays now read ‘Hello Preswich. We’ll be baking here soon’.

One local messaged Gail’s to point out the error and to say it’s ‘not a great first impression for the locals…’.

Gail’s has since confirmed it’s in the process of fixing the signs.

The arrival of both Gail’s and Rudy’s has already caused a stir in Prestwich, which has always been fiercely independent and has only a handful of chains within it (Greggs and Costa are perched by the tram stop).

In fact, one local business-owner shared a moving statement about his concerns for the future of local businesses just a few weeks ago.

Gail's has confirmed it's opening a bakery in Prestwich
Gail's has confirmed it's opening a bakery in Prestwich
Gail’s has confirmed it’s opening a bakery in Prestwich. Credit: The Manc Group

First formed in the early 1990s as a wholesale-only operation, Gail’s opened its first cafe on Hampstead High Street in 2005.

Today the brand has more than 100 sites spread across London, Oxford, Brighton and further afield, and is known more as a customer-facing cafe and bakery.

It’s famed for its freshly-baked loaves, cinnamon buns, ham and cheese croissants and coffees, and is likely to go down a storm in Prestwich.

But the signs have been causing a bit of a stir in the wrong way this weekend – in a local Facebook group, one person commented: “Not locals who own it then.”

Another described it as an ‘epic fail’.

And one person said: “Oh the DRAMA of it all.”

Someone else joked: “I cannot wait for Gais to come to Preswich.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Food & Drink

Hot Blobs – Retro drink makes return to Manchester Christmas Markets, but what is it?

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Hot Blobs - Retro drink makes return to Manchester Christmas Markets, but what is it?Hot Blobs - Retro drink makes return to Manchester Christmas Markets, but what is it?

It’s funny how we all turn a blind eye to the temperature outside when it comes to the Christmas Markets.

At a time of year where should probably all be hibernating inside, droves of us instead head out to brave the elements all in the name of the festivities.

Of course, the Manchester Christmas Markets sell all sorts of wares to take the edge off, and we’re not just talking about the stalls selling woollen mittens everywhere.

Our favourite winter warmers tend to take the form of a tray of piping hot garlic potatoes, or a mug of hot chocolate, or another boozy beverage that’s massively underrated.

The drink in question is a Hot Blob, which is listed on the menu at the Piccadilly Gardens markets as ‘legendary’.

A bold claim, but a lot of long-time Manc residents will understand why.

The Hot Blob is a jaw-clenchingly sweet concoction served piping hot at the Manchester Christmas Market, similar to a hot toddy.

It’s made with Australian fortified white wine, lemon, sugar, and boiling water.

Hot Blobs - Retro drink makes return to Manchester Christmas Markets, but what is it?
Hot Blobs - Retro drink makes return to Manchester Christmas Markets, but what is it?
Hot Blobs – Retro drink makes return to Manchester Christmas Markets, but what is it? Credit: The Manc Group

The drink was first invented by Yates, that well-known pub chain, which started life as Yates’s Wine Lodge up the road in Oldham.

According to Pubs of Manchester, the Hot Blob has a tendency to ‘speed up drunkenness to a young drinker’.

These days, it’s pretty rare to come across one on a menu, but back in 1990s it was a staple in a few pubs around town.

There even used to be a ‘Blob Shop’ on High Street, run by local legend Ged Ford (now in charge of the equally legendary Millstone pub), which found itself in a state of utter carnage when the IRA bomb went off.

The long-lost institution specialised in ‘cheap wine, cheap beer, and plenty of blobs’.

The old Yates Blob Shop on High Street, Manchester. Credit: deltrems@flickr

Ged sold 6,000 a week.

And while the drink may have fallen out of favour since then, there are still healthy numbers being sold at this time of year, even if they are a damn sight more expensive than they were in the 1990s (£6 a pop, plus a glass deposit).

Anyway. If you’re sick to the back teeth of the endless gluhwein being peddled across the markets, make a beeline for Manchester Winter Ale House at Piccadilly Gardens, where you can find Hot Blobs as well as boozy Vimto and cask ales.

The Manchester Christmas Markets officially end on 22 December.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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