If there's something we know how to do here in Yorkshire, it's make a good cup of tea.
Let's face it, nothing beats a good brew and arguably no one knows this more than the builders and construction workers out there.
No matter how you like it, whether it be black, green, with a dash or milk, or maybe even with three sugars, when you’ve got a big manual labour job to be cracking on with, then it’s pretty much crucial to know that you’ve got a steady supply of tea to sip to keep you going throughout the day.
Materials Market’s first band of ‘Builder’s Brewers’ will be tasked with discovering what makes the best tea / Credit: Flickr
But what exactly is it that makes the perfect ‘Builder’s Brew’?
To get to the bottom of this all-important question, Materials Market – a marketplace connecting DIY enthusiasts and the construction industry with materials suppliers – wants to recruit three lucky people to taste test lots of different types of tea in a mission to find out what makes the “ultimate Builder’s Brew” – and they’ll pay you £500 for your efforts.
Materials Market’s first band of ‘Builder’s Brewers’ will be tasked with discovering what makes the best tea.
They’ll need to test out different tea brands, milks, the addition of sugar and sweeteners.
There’s so many different ways to make a brew, and while it may be true that everyone has their own preference, the three successful candidates chosen from those who apply for the role will be paid to sample different types of tea and making methods, and essentially, make an executive decision as to which is the best.
Each ‘Builder’s Brewer’ will record their opinions on each one and report back their findings.
Materials Market’s first band of ‘Builder’s Brewers’ will be tasked with discovering what makes the best tea / Credit: Unsplash
The brewers will also have to judge the tea’s optimal drinking temperature, the best type of drinkware to sip the tea out out, and even what type of biscuits are best for dunking.
“How to make a cup of tea is something us Brits love to debate,” said Samuel Hunt, co-founder of Materials Market.
“There is no doubt we all have our methods and go-to tea brands, but at Materials Market, we want to discover which method and brand is best [and] we hope by hiring a range of people across the country, we will be able to discover the best tasting tea for everyone.”
Fancy applying then?
Fancy making £500 to drink tea? ? ☕️ We’re excited to announce that we’re looking for our very first band of ‘Builder’s Brewers’ as we hope to discover what makes the ‘ultimate Builder’s Brew’! Apply here: https://t.co/mjuazP0Jjypic.twitter.com/5UbDDUFdJ6
There’s no previous qualifications or experience required for the role, you’ll just need to be over 18 years of age, love tea, and get your applications in before the cut-off date on Friday 18 February, so it can be judged internally by the leadership team, before the successful candidates are selected soon after.
As well as being paid £500 for the role, the testers will also be given a free supply of different brands of English breakfast tea, and will also be sent sugars, biscuits, and a range of milks to try out too.
The beautiful spa town of Ilkley has been crowned the best place to live in the north of England by The Sunday Times.
The results are in, and our very own Ilkley has taken the top spot for the north and north-east category.
The list posted but the Sunday Times every year, features 72 locations across the UK that they deem are the best spots to settle down in.
Judges visited each location to take in the atmosphere, explore the history and chat to the locals to find out what made each place so special.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's not the first time the wonderful spa town of Ilkley has been praised, having been the national winner back in 2022 it's no stranger to taking home the trophy.
The judging panel said about Ilkley: “It’s not just the fresh air, fantastic scenery, excellent schools and direct trains to Leeds that make Ilkley this year’s pick of the north and northeast. It’s the get-up and go of a community that tackles every challenge with gusto.”
"It's hard to imagine anywhere with more opportunities for youngsters."
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Also getting a mention in the regional category was Horsforth, which was recommended for its transport links, brilliant local schools and thriving social scene.
The guide said: "The city is Yorkshire's economic powerhouse - but for something a bit greener, a bit more family friendly, it's hard to better Horsforth's streets of sandstone houses."
Elsewhere up north, Sheffield got a special shoutout where the judges said: "Burgeoning creative industries and judicious regeneration are igniting interest in previously overlooked postcodes ... Hipsters and happy families alike are celebrating, welcoming, embracing, loving this city-wide vibe."
So if you fancy escaping the hustle and bustle of the city centre, then why not hop on a train and visit the best place to live up north and see for yourselves what the fuss is all about.
Adolescence tops Netflix charts with more than 24 million views in four days
Emily Sergeant
New British series Adolescence has shot right to the top of Netflix’s most-watched TV charts after more than 24 million people tune in.
Hitting the streaming platform just last Thursday, Adolescence is a four-part limited series about a 13-year-old boy who is accused of murdering one of his classmates, with each episode remarkably being filmed in one unflinching and continuous shot.
This truly gripping story unfolds in real time as the main characters search for answers in the wake of a shocking tragedy.
Who is actually responsible? Why did it happen? And could it have been prevented?
Image: Netflix
Co-created and written by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, with Graham starring alongside an ensemble cast of accomplished actors such as Ashley Walters and Erin Doherty, as well as screen newcomer Owen Cooper as the young boy Eddie Miller, accused of murder, the show tells the story of how a family’s world is turned upside.
“We could have made a drama about gangs and knife crime, or about a kid whose mother is an alcoholic or whose father is a violent abuser,” Stephen Graham said ahead of the show‘s release.
Image: Netflix
“Instead, we wanted you to look at this family and think, ‘My God, this could be happening to us.’ And what’s happening here is an ordinary family’s worst nightmare.”
Over the course of the four intense one-shot episodes, the show shines a uncomfortable spotlight on and examines key themes such as male rage, the dangers of social media, cyberbullying, incel culture, and more.
The latest viewing figures show that Adolescence undoubtedly has been a runaway hit, with a whopping 24.3 million views amassed in its first four days of availability, making it the streaming platform’s top show for the week of 10-16 March.
Image: Netflix
As the show continues to garner universal acclaim, standing at 98% on notable critic website Rotten Tomatoes, those viewing figures are set to clock up thick and fast as the days go on.
While Adolescence and Jamie’s story isn’t based on a real person or event specifically, Graham, Thorne, and director Philip Barantini have confirmed that the idea for the series did spring from reports that co-creator Graham had heard about on the news of young boys being involved in knife crimes – particularly the shocking 2021 murder of Ava White in Liverpool.
Much of Adolescence was filmed in Pontefract in West Yorkshire, with the casting of Cooper in the role of Jamie ultimately influencing where the show was shot.
“We knew it was going to be set somewhere in the North of England, and we also knew it would be from somewhere around wherever our Jamie was from – in this case near Warrington – because it would have been unfair to make him do an accent,” explained director Philip Barantini.
All four episodes of Adolescence are now available to stream on Netflix.
The Hoot -
2nd February 2022 
