Fred Garratt-Stanley
@fred-gs
Freelance writer published in The Guardian, NME, GQ, Pellicle, Ferment, Time Out etc. | #ncfc fan, music lover, pub & beer enthusiast | blog:
Brits are flocking to Sri Lanka. But there’s a dark side to the tourism boom This story pieces together conversations with people whose beloved south coast has been transformed beyond recognition open.substack.com/pub/fredgarrattstanley/p/a-coast-transformed-part-one-neo?r=f0knr&utm_medium=ios
So pleased to be included on this list after another year of brilliant Pellicle stories. Thanks @katiematherkm.bsky.social for the incredibly lovely words!
It's been great contributing regularly to Ferment (one of the world's leading beer magazines) throughout 2025. I've covered craft beer and non-league football, honey ale, the politics of tapas, and cask beer in Italy. Plus a series of travel pieces on the way that I'm really excited about... 🍻
It's Shakespeare's birth(and death)day today - the perfect excuse to plug this Ferment piece I wrote about his most famous literary pub, the Boar's Head Inn. Some cracking quotes from @petebrownbeer.bsky.social & my old Shakespeare tutor Prof. Charlotte Scott in this one!
I wrote about a recent trip to Cheshunt for my non-league football blog stanchion. This was basically an opportunity to wax lyrical about MacIntosh Ales, my favourite micropub in London #nonleague #groundhopping #isthmianleague stanchiondotblog.wordpress.com/2025/04/22/c...
I spoke to The News Movement about how Reform are infiltrating football in the UK, following my reporting on this trend last week on my Substack. You can check out the piece here: substack.com/home/post/p-...
I’m in the latest issue of Ferment, exploring why the continued presence of pub cobs captures everything that’s great about British pub culture 🫓🧀🍺
Enjoyed speaking to @tajali1.bsky.social for this piece - valuable insights into the rise of Reform and the history of far-right expression at British football matches.
Always nice seeing my work in print, but doing two cover features for the @rollingstoneuk.bsky.social Future of Music 2025 issue feels special. Really enjoyed these conversations with Pozer and Jordan Adetunji www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/pozer-... www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/jordan...
In beautiful Rye today for a story I’m working on about pubs, history & politics. What a place
5. The Blue Boar, Leicester City centre micropub that keeps things simple. Friendly faces & good chat, huge £2.50 cheese & onion cobs, strong rotation of light & dark cask beers inc. a lovely Blue Boar Bitter brewed by Bang the Elephant
4. Hop Rocket, Norwich Stylish micropub opened by Fat Cat brewery in early 2024 on the site of a bakery I used to get cream horns & crusty white loafs from as a kid. Good cask & keg options and a well-stocked bottle fridge. Wood paneling and old tin signs everywhere for a lovely old school feel
3. The Mermaid Inn, Rye Rye is a magical old town and this pub reflects its history better than most. Black wooden beans, dried hops dangling from the ceiling, rickety stairs leading who knows where - it’s soaked in stories and, crucially, serves a great pint of Harvey’s Sussex Best.
2. The Rose & Crown, Oxford Tucked down North Parade Avenue, this pub has a dreamy interior - an assortment of small, poky rooms to hunker down in, with deep scarlet walls and trinkets all over the place. Quickly made me forget another Norwich City away day defeat
1. The Hope, Carshalton This place reminds me of the Fat Cat in Norwich and that’s the ultimate compliment I can pay. It’s warm and cosy, serves cheap hearty stews, and has seven well-kept ales on handpump. A gem in the deepest depths of south London
Amazing seeing my work on the front cover of the new @nme.com magazine. A very fulfilling moment that would’ve blown my 14-year-old self’s mind