Outside, the seasons are changing.  Nights are getting colder, bluff oysters are flying off the shelves and Magnum PI makes a welcome return to early morning television. 

It is hard to say that the sleepy Taranaki hamlet of Urenui is ‘best known’ for something without sounding terminally ironic. 

It’s been quite a week at the Malthouse.  First, Prime Minister John Key began following @malthouse and @malthousewizard on Twitter.  Next, there was official confirmation

Throughout the arc of human civilisation, the vast majority of mankind have believed that they were, in fact, very interesting individuals and they knew, actually, how to fix the government, balance the budget and raise other people’s children properly.  In virtually every case, they were wrong.

Although it is only an official public holiday in Ireland and Montserrat, Saint Patrick’s Day is traditionally one of the hospitality industry’s biggest days of the year.

While virtually anyone can stand behind a counter and try to pour drinks, only a select few will ever run a great pub.   Most punters know a great pub when they find one but the exact combination of skills needed by the manager and staff to create a popular yet responsible establishment has long been the subject of great debate.