Hello October, season of change – and, in this case, a surprise on our cover. It's rare for us to feature a person – in fact we've only done it twice before (thank you, Nigella and Delia), so it's a joy to have chef and TV presenter Tom Kerridge in prime position, shining a light on a great British tradition.
Autumn days mean misty mornings, the crunch of golden leaves underfoot and walks ending at a pub with great food, drink and (crucial) an immediate sense of belonging as you walk in. Yet pubs with such broad appeal are ever more rare. Price hikes in rent and ingredients, coupled with acute staff shortages, have created a perfect storm of challenges.
As publican Tom reminds us (see p46), if you have…
