Volunteers stack donated food for the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry in Los Angeles on October 24, ahead of the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for 42 million recipients across the country. Photo by Allison Dinner/EPA
Nov. 6 (UPI) — The Trump administration has one day to fully distribute Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for November, a federal judge ruled on Thursday.
U.S. District Court of Rhode Island Judge Jack McConnell ordered the program funding after earlier requiring the Trump administration to access available money to at least partially fund SNAP benefits amid the federal government shutdown.
McConnell required the Trump administration to apprise the court on Wednesday of efforts to fund the program formerly known as “food stamps.”
“People have gone without for too long,” McConnell said during an emergency hearing on Thursday, as reported by CNN.
“Not making payments to them for even another day is simply unacceptable,” he added.
He said the Trump administration has not done enough to access an estimated $4.65 billion in contingency funds to partially fund the SNAP benefits that cost about $9 billion per month to help 42 million recipients put food on their tables.
If SNAP is not funded fully, “people will go hungry, food pantries will be overburdened, and needless suffering will occur,” McConnell said on Thursday, according to CNBC.
“That’s what irreparable harm here means,” he continued. “Last weekend, SNAP benefits lapsed for the first time in our nation’s history.”
He called it a “problem that could have and should have been avoided.”
McConnell ordered the Trump administration to provide the full amount of November SNAP benefits to respective states by Friday, which would enable them to distribute benefits to their residents within a few days.
The federal judge also referenced a Truth Social post made by President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
In that post, the president said SNAP benefits only would be funded “when the radical-left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before.”
The social media post served as evidence that the Trump administration would ignore McConnell’s prior order requiring it to access as much funding as possible to distribute SNAP benefits.
He criticized the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision not to access contingency funds to continue SNAP benefits instead of allowing them to be suspended as of Saturday.
“Even when Nov. 1 came, [the] USDA refused to use the congressionally mandated contingency funds,” McConnell said.
“USDA cannot now cry that it cannot get timely payments to the beneficiary for weeks or months because states are not prepared to make partial payments.”
McConnell is presiding over one of two federal cases filed by up to 25 states seeking to continue federal funding of SNAP benefits despite the record 37-day federal government shutdown that started on Oct. 1.
New York is party to both suits, and state Attorney General Letitia James welcomed McConnell’s ruling on Thursday.
“A judge in Rhode Island just stopped the federal government from starving millions of Americans,” James said in a prepared statement.
“I am relieved that people will get the food they need,” she added, “but it is outrageous that it took a lawsuit to make the federal government feed its own people.”
President Trump has long acknowledged that he doesn’t read books, so perhaps he’s never cracked the spine of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.” But hasn’t he seen one of the several movies? Does he really not know that Gatsby is a tragedy about class, excess and hubris?
It seems not. On Halloween, there was Trump, dressed as himself, hosting a Gatsby-themed party at his Gatsby-era Mar-a-Lago estate. The president was fresh from a diplomatic tour of Asia during which he’d swept up an array of golden gifts (a crown!) from heads of state paying tribute in hopes of not paying tariffs.
Trump’s arriving guests, costumed as Roaring ’20s flappers, bootleggers and pre-crash tycoons, passed a scantily clad woman seductively writhing in a giant Champagne glass, then entered his gilded ballroom beneath a sign in Art Deco script pronouncing the night’s theme: “A little party never killed nobody.”
That’s the title of a song from the soundtrack of Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 film take on Gatsby, the most recent. Perhaps Trump is unaware that in the wake of the fictional Gatsby’s own debauched party, three people died, including Gatsby.
The tone-deaf Trump faced a comeuppance far short of tragedy after his party, but painful nonetheless: a blue wave in Tuesday’s elections. Revulsion at his imperial presidency swamped Republican candidates and causes.
The apparent ignorance of Mr. Make America Great Again about one of the great American novels, now in its centennial year, wasn’t the worst of Trump’s weekend show of excess. This was: The president of the United States held courtat Mar-a-Lago, amid free-flowing liquor and tables laden with food, hours before federal food aid would end for 42 million Americans. Meanwhile, more than 1 million federal employees were furloughed or worked without pay amid a five-week-old government shutdown, some of them joining previously fired public servants at food banks. The online People magazine juxtaposed a photo of Trump surveying his Palm Beach party with a shot of nearby Miamians in a food line.
The president, who for nearly 10 months has seized powers he doesn’t have under federal law and the Constitution, professed to be all but powerless to avert the nutrition assistance cutoff, despite two federal judges’ rulings that he do so. And, characteristically, he claimed to be blameless about the shutdown that provoked the nutrition crisis.
“It’s their fault,” Trump said of congressional Democrats as he flew to Mar-a-Lago for the fete. “Everything is their fault. It’s so easily solved.”
How? Why, Democrats have to bend the knee, of course. They must abandon their quest to get Trump and Republicans to reverse their Medicaid cuts and to extend Obamacare subsidies for the working poor. Even as Mr. Art of the Deal claims (falsely) to have settled eight wars, bargaining even with Hamas, he’s refused to negotiate with Democrats. The shutdown is now the longest ever, on Tuesday surpassing the 35-day record Trump set in his first term.
There’s more.
En route to Florida aboard Air Force One, the presidential plane that Trump is replacing with a truly royal jet, a gift from Qatar, and having left behind the ruins of the East Wing where his $300-million ballroom will rise, Trump took to social media to boast of his latest project in the Mar-a-Lago-fication of the White House: an all-marble and gold do-over of the bathroom adjoining the Lincoln Bedroom. “Highly polished, Statuary marble!” he crowed, sending two dozen photosinaseriesofposts. Trump wrote that the previous 1940s-era bathroom “was totally inappropriate for the Lincoln Era,” but his changes fixed that.
“Art Deco doesn’t go with, you know, 1850 and civil wars and all of the problems,” he’d told wealthy donors last month. “But what does is statuary marble. So I ripped it apart and we built the bathroom. It’s absolutely gorgeous and totally in keeping with that time.”
And with that, Trump again showed his ignorance of America’s history as well as its literature. That said, the new bathroom is more attractive than the one at Mar-a-Lago in which Trump stashed boxes of government documents, including top-secret papers, after his first term.
Trump’s lust for power and its trappings seems to have made him blind to bad optics and deaf to the dissonance of his utterances. The politician who’s gotten so much credit — and won two of three presidential elections — for speaking to working-class Americans’ grievances now seems completely out of touch. There’s also his family’s open accrual of wealth, especially in crypto, and Trump’s recent demand for $230 million from the ever-accommodating Justice Department, to compensate him for the past legal cases against him for keeping government documents and attempting to reverse his 2020 defeat.
All of this while Americans’ costs of living remain high, people are out of jobs thanks to his policies and longtime residents, including some citizens, are swept up in his immigrant detentions and deportations, sundering families.
This week’s election results aren’t the only thing that suggests Trump is finally paying a price. So did the release of severalpollstimed for the first anniversary of his reelection. Despite Trump’s claims to the contrary, his job approval ratings are the lowest since the ignominious end of his first term. Majorities oppose his handling of most issues, including the ones — the economy and immigration — that helped elect him.
The narrator in “The Great Gatsby” famously says of two central characters, “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy — they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”
I’m looking forward to the day when the careless Trump is gone and his mess can be cleaned up — including all that gold defiling the People’s House.
The top fish and chip takeaways and restaurants across the UK have been listed, with some surprising entries
08:00, 06 Nov 2025Updated 08:32, 06 Nov 2025
There are seven takeaways in Yorkshire alone (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
As the year draws nearer to a close, it’s time to celebrate the very best of tasty food, as the Fry Awards announce their top spots for fish and chips in the UK.
Fry Magazine has yet again unveiled its ruling of the 50 best fish and chip takeaways, alongside their top 10 restaurants. These results come after months of judges secretly assessing fish and chip shops nationwide, assessing them on key things such as their food quality, cleanliness, staff, and value for money.
It was only those with the highest scores that rightfully earned themselves an award, and the pass mark for both categories had to be an impressive 96% and above. 2025 marks the 13th year of the awards taking place, and its list is evidence that good food is going nowhere in the UK.
The top 10 restaurants show a wide range of locations, from down south by the coast of Devon right up to Glasgow in Scotland, but it’s safe to say the top contenders are mostly based in beloved seaside towns. Sticking out like a sore thumb, however, is the capital’s only entry in the top restaurants list, and that’s Toff’s of Muswell Hill, in London.
10 Best Restaurants
Catch, Giffnock, Glasgow
Eric’s Fish & Chips, Hunstanton, Norfolk
Fish City, Belfast
Harbour Lights, Falmouth, Cornwall
Pier Point Bar & Restaurant, Torquay, Devon
Squires Fish Restaurant, Braunton, Devon
The Elite, Tritton Road, Lincoln, Lincolnshire
The Magpie Cafe, Whitby, North Yorkshire
The Scallop Shell, Bath, Somerset
Toff’s of Muswell Hill, Muswell Hill, London
Included in the sizeable list are plenty of places in Yorkshire, with seven total entries in the exclusive list, including the likes of Lighthouse Fisheries of Flamborough and Two Gates Fisheries. Home to the likes of Southend-on-Sea and Clacton-on-Sea, the county of Essex also came out with a total of four fish and chip takeaways alone, making waves in the world of seafood.
Reece Head, competition organiser, said: “Another year has passed and, once again, these shops have shown resilience, adapting to today’s challenges with remarkable dedication. At a time when inflationary pressures are being felt, these businesses continue to stay positive and prioritise their customers, maintain exceptional standards, and find innovative ways to keep fish and chips affordable.
“Starting the year as award winners is a fantastic way for fish and chip shops to kick off 2025, setting the tone for a successful year ahead. Whether served in a restaurant, a takeaway, or from a mobile unit, the Fry Awards prove that quality fish and chips can be enjoyed anywhere.”
50 Best Takeaways (in alphabetical order)
Ainsworth’s Fish & Chips, Caernarfon
Angel Lane Chippie, Penrith, Cumbria
Angell’s Fisheries, Newark, Nottinghamshire
Batterfly Fish & Chips, Surbiton, Surrey
Bredon Village Fish and Chip Shop, Bredon, Worcestershire
Callaway’s Fish & Chips, Dorchester, Dorset
Churchill’s Fish & Chips Langney, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Farnham’s at Fontygary, Rhoose, Vale Of Glamorgan
Fiddlers Elbow, Leintwardine, Herefordshire
Fintans Fish & Chip Co. Llanishen, Cardiff
Fishnchickn, Hutton, Brentwood, Essex
French’s Fish Shop, Wells next the Sea, Norfolk
Garioch Fish Bar, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
Greg & Lou’s, Redruth, Cornwall
Henley’s of Wivenhoe, Colchester, Essex
Hiks, Brynhyfryd, Swansea
Hirds Family Fisheries, Halifax, West Yorkshire
Howe & Co 55, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Joe’s Traditional Fish and Chips, Strabane , County Tyrone
Kellaway’s Fish and Chips, Truro, Cornwall
Kirbys of Horsforth, Horsforth , Leeds
Kirbys of Meanwood, Meanwood, Leeds
Lighthouse Fisheries Of Flamborough, Flamborough, East Yorkshire
Malt and Anchor, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Moore’s Fish & Chips, Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway
Oysters Fish & Chips, Lightwater, Surrey
Oysters Fish & Chips, Marlow Bottom, Buckinghamshire
Nov. 5 (UPI) — The disruption of federal benefits that help feed families spurred a Pittsburgh man to create a front-yard food bank to help others as the federal government remains shut down.
A.J. Owen. 36, resides in the Pittsburgh suburb of Whitehall, and initially started his ad-hoc food pantry after completing a $150 food run with his two sons about a week ago, according to TribLIVE.
Owen has large plastic bins containing canned goods and other foods placed on portable tables in his front yard for those who need food and for others to leave food donations.
“The amount of donations we received and the amount of people coming and getting food is both so gratifying and so horrifying,” Owentold TribLIVE.
“So many people need help,” he added, “and I’m so happy to be a resource for them.”
Owen said he initially started the food pantry to teach his sons about the need to help others, but it has become a much greater endeavor, as affirmed by a recent visit from Good Morning America and its cameras.
The single father notified others of his effort on social media, which resulted in additional food donations — including one donation that he said was thousands of dollars’ worth of $100 bills from an anonymous person.
He found the money stuffed in an envelope inside his mailbox with a note saying, “May God prosper and bless your food pantry,” Owen told ABC News.
“My body started shaking,” he said. “I started crying.”
He also said, “This was the best cry ever because whatever you want to believe, an angel truly came down and blessed us that day. And we’ve been good ever since.”
Owen didn’t say how much money was in the envelope, other than it added up to “thousands” of dollars.
He posted a video of the anonymous donation on social media, which drew millions of views and prompted others to visit and donate more food.
Among them were Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Yahya Blackand his fiancé, who donated “tons of food,” Owen said on social media.
Owen did not say if his food pantry effort might outlast the federal government shutdown, which entered a record 36 days on Wednesday and temporarily disrupted funding of the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Palestinians are turning to soup kitchens to feed their families as Gaza is gripped by a crippling food crisis because Israel is limiting the entry of aid trucks, despite the new ceasefire agreement.
The US government shutdown has now lasted for 36 days, making it the longest on record. Some welfare payments, including those that allow low-income families to buy food, have been halted. The shutdown means more than a million government employees are not being paid.
1 of 4 | Farmers for Free Trade sets up on the National Mall lawn to conclude its two-month tour, hosting farmers and organization leaders in Washington on Tuesday. Photo by Bridget Erin Craig/UPI
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) — Farmers for Free Trade, a nonprofit group that advocates for lower tariffs and expanded global market access, wrapped up its “Motorcade for Trade” tour Tuesday in Washington to urge policymakers to ease trade tensions and support struggling producers.
Dozens of farmers joined at different points along the route to participate in town halls and farm stops, contributing to discussions on trade priorities, export markets and challenges.
The organization has prioritized five issues, including tariff reductions, exemptions for agricultural necessities, such as fertilizer and equipment, and a timely review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
The caravan began Sept. 5 in Dorchester, Neb., with a cooperative event between farmers and Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb. The next three stops included sessions with Reps. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, and Jim Baird, R-Ind.
Although the Farmers for Free Trade team did not live in its RV, the group named it Ruth after driving more than 2,800 miles with it, spending many hours inside planning and being interviewed with their furry companion, a dog named Huckleberry.
“It’s really about getting information from farmers throughout the Midwest to understand what impact the administration’s trade and tariff policies have had on individuals,” said Brent Bible, an Indiana grain farmer. “It’s had an individual impact, not just on producers, but on communities throughout rural America,”
The caravan made 10 stops — in Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington.
“We hosted events throughout the Midwest — everything from meetings with members of Congress to farmer roundtables and tariff town halls,” said Brian Kuehl, the Farmers for Free Trade executive director.
Between the fourth and fifth stop, Kuehl said, it became increasingly difficult to set a schedule.
“Our No. 1 one priority was to meet with members of Congress, and a lot of times you wouldn’t know their schedule until a few days in advance. Then, in the middle of the tour, we had the government shutdown. A bunch of members we had events with canceled because they had to be in D.C.,” Kuehl said.
His team then pivoted to hosting listening sessions and trade talks with farmers, along with visiting the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin and various farms.
Despite some adjustments, Kuehl shared his team’s optimism for the tour.
“One of the things that’s so cool about agriculture is how diverse it is throughout the United States,” he said. “In the Midwest, you’re looking at soybean and corn farms. As we moved east, we saw more dairies and hog farms. We even visited a winery in Pennsylvania. Pretty much the trade disruptions are impacting them all negatively.”
In Indiana, Bible said, “Our input costs have gone up dramatically because of tariffs on imports — fertilizer, equipment, steel, aluminum. If we need a replacement part or a new tractor, all of those things are impacted. We’re getting squeezed at both ends, and when that happens, there’s nothing left in the middle.”
In Ohio, corn, soy and cattle farmer Chris Gibbs said, he’s felt that squeeze firsthand. After more than 40 years in agriculture, he described 2025 as “a cash flow and working capital crisis,” noting that he’s paying well above production costs for major crops.
“We’re about $200 per acre under the cost of production for corn and about $100 under for soybeans,” Gibbs said.
Because of the shutdown — now the longest in history — the U.S. Department of Agriculture “is essentially not functioning,” Gibbs said. “They normally release reporting information that the market relies on, but that hasn’t been occurring. Farmers are having to make major business decisions without the data we depend on.”
Gibbs added: “I’ve been farming almost 50 years, and I’m struggling, If I’m having to move money around just to stay afloat, what happens to the young farmers who don’t have savings yet? They’re hanging on by a thread.”
Farmers strategically planned the finale of their motorcade to be in Washington this week in alignment with the Supreme Court of the United States’ schedule. The high court plans to hear oral arguments Wednesday on whether the International Emergency Economic Powers Act authorizes President Donald Trump to impose tariffs to the extent he has.
“We’re in a commodity business,” Bible said. “If we have a truly free, functioning market, we can be competitive. But that hasn’t been the case. Prices have been artificially manipulated by policy decisions and retaliation from other countries.”
Nov. 4 (UPI) — Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will not be distributed until the federal government is funded and reopened, despite federal court orders to do so.
Two federal judges on Friday ordered the Trump administration to access contingency funds and distribute SNAP benefits despite the lack of funding for the federal government.
President Donald Trump on Saturday said his administration would do so, but he changed course and said SNAP benefits will not be distributed until the federal government is funded again.
“SNAP benefits, which increased by billions and billions of dollars during crooked Joe Biden‘s disastrous term in office, will be given only when radical-left Democrats open up the government and not before!” Trump said Tuesday in a Truth Social post.
U.S. District Court of Rhode Island Judge John McConnell Jr. on Saturday ordered the Trump administration to fund SNAP benefits no later than Wednesday, which the president initially agreed to do.
McConnell ordered the Trump administration to apprise him of efforts to fund SNAP, but White House officials on Monday said doing so would create an “unacceptable risk,” The Hill reported.
A contingency fund for SNAP benefits has about $4.65 billion, which is slightly more than half of the $9 billion spent monthly to provide SNAP benefits for about 42 million recipients.
Administration officials on Monday told McConnell that half of the cost of SNAP benefits would be covered for November, but the president on Tuesday changed course, according to CNBC.
Holding up the matter is an insistence by Congressional Democrats that a continuing resolution also include an extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire at the end of the year, plus expanded Medicaid funding.
Congressional Republicans say they are willing to negotiate with Democrats on those matters, but only in the fiscal year 2026 budget.
The Senate on Tuesday again failed to gain the 60 votes needed to overcome the Senate’s filibuster rule and approve the funding resolution.
Instead, the measure was supported by a simple majority, 54-44, which was the 14th vote on the bill.
Senate Democrats John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, along with independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, for the 14th time, were the only members of the Senate Democratic Party Caucus to support passage of the funding measure.
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the only dissenting vote among Senate Republicans for the 14th time.
Congressional leaders did not immediately respond to questions from UPI as to whether House and Senate members are continuing to negotiate a Fiscal Year 2026 budget or if all efforts are focused only on trying to pass a continuing resolution.
The House-approved continuing resolution favored by most GOP members of Congress would fund the federal government through Nov. 21, which is a little more than two weeks from Tuesday.
A continuing resolution introduced by Senate Democrats would have funded the federal government through Oct. 31 and no longer would be in effect.
A village in the UK has been hailed for its “insane” chippy and for providing visitors with an accurate taste of life in the past thanks to its “trapped in time” aesthetic and feel
Jess Flaherty Senior News Reporter
15:02, 04 Nov 2025
The retro village attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year(Image: Paul Maguire via Getty Images)
One such place is Beamish, an open-air museum village located in County Durham, England – north-east of Stanley. It offers 350 acres of rural countryside, as well as being a “living” museum, complete with vintage shops and restaurants, Georgian gardens, historic modes of transport like trams and buses, and much more. This charming and fascinating destination has been designed to give visitors a realistic glimpse into the history of northern England, attracting hundreds of thousands of people each year who come to experience it first-hand.
The official Beamish website states: “Step into the past at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North.
“Beamish is a world famous open air museum which brings the history of North East England to life at its 1820s Pockerley, 1900s Town, 1900s Pit Village, 1940s Farm, 1950s Town and 1950s Spain’s Field Farm exhibit areas.”
It’s a mix of original buildings, replicas, and relocated structures that together create a functional “living museum” that visitors can experience as if it were the real thing.
Food content creator Callum recently embarked on a journey to the village, which look like a seemingly untouched, historic British town.
He made a stop at the renowned Davy’s Fish and Chips, known for its traditional cooking methods.
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In a video tour of the chippy and the town, Callum said in a voiceover: “This is the fish and chip shop trapped in time – one of the last in the world that uses coal to heat the original 1950s fryers, with fish and chips cooked in beef dripping.”
He added: “The sweet shop makes candy by hand, the bakery makes the same cakes as a century ago. There’s no mobile phone reception up here so people actually have to talk to each other.
“A slice of England unchanged. It’s one of the most incredible fish and chips, it’s Davy’s in Beamish.”
In the caption alongside the video, he added: “Insane chippy stuck in history. Absolute scenes. Davys Fish and Chips, Beamish”.
TikTok users were quick to share their thoughts in the comments section. One user enthused: “Beamish museum if you’ve not yet been then go, it’s brilliant, them chips and fish best ever”.
Another reminisced: “We went on a school trip to Beamish when I was about 10. Loved it! I’m 57 now”.
A third said: “Wonder if no mobile reception is a specific tactic. What a world with no mobiles and social media.”
One enthusiastic fan shared: “I’ll just tell ya right now fish in beef dripping from that shop heated by coal is the BEST fried fish you will ever eat in your f***ing life”.
Another declared Beamish’s fish and chips the “best fish and chips [they] have ever had.”
While another user pleaded: “Make the WHOLE of the UK like this”.
A final commenter confessed: “Not me Googling if people live here, in attempt to escape modern society”.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday that SNAP benefits may be restarted by mid-week after two federal judges ruled that the Trump administration must use emergency funds to make the benefits available. Christian clergy, faith leaders and others are pictured during a vigil at the U.S. Capitol in June to rally against cuts to social service benefits. File photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 2 (UPI) — At least 42 million Americans could begin receiving SNAP benefits by the middle of the week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday. Funding for the program was set to run out Saturday amid the government shutdown, now in its sixth week.
Two federal judges ruled on Friday that the Trump administration must use emergency funding to pay for the social service during the budget impasse that led the government to shutter services, many of them critical for tens of millions of Americans.
While the judge’s order narrowly averted the suspension of SNAP benefits, it could take as long as two weeks before the benefits resume.
“There’s a process that has to be followed,” Bessent said Sunday on CNN”s State of the Union. “So, we’ve got to figure out what the process is.”
Bessent acknowledged that two weeks is a long time for people who need food, and added that the administration would not appeal the ruling.
He blamed Democrats for the prolonged shutdown, despite both parties refusing to reach a deal to end it.
“The best way for SNAP benefits to get paid is for Democrats, five Democrats, to cross the aisle and reopen the government,” he said.
The judges’ rulings mean, however, that the benefits will resume even without a vote.
Stumped for holiday present ideas? Food gifts have universal appeal: These are fun and practical at once. And even more meaningful because they’re from local small businesses including L.A. restaurants, bakeries, farms, markets and makers.
Who’s on your gift list? A chocolate lover? A Caracas-born chef in Pasadena makes her own hot chocolate mix from Venezuelan Criollo cacao. Coffee fan? East L.A.’s Picaresca Barra de Cafe roasts coffee beans and bottles its cinnamon-scented cafe de olla syrup. Tea aficionado? A Chinatown tea shop offers subscription boxes of thoughtful blends from China and Taiwan; some are rare finds.
And any farmers market regular would want to sport the Weiser Family Farm collab T-shirt emblazoned with a pink radish or Bonnie melon.
If you make a purchase using some of our links, the L.A. Times may be compensated. Prices and availability of items and experiences in the Gift Guide and on latimes.com are subject to change.
Nov. 1 (UPI) — The nation’s 42 million recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will have to wait for them to be restored after losing them on Saturday, which might take weeks.
The ongoing federal government shutdown has shut off funding for the SNAP program that enables recipients to buy food, but two federal judges on Friday ordered the Trump administration to continue it.
President Donald Trump on Friday night announced he is seeking ways to access funds to keep the program going as the federal government shutdown continues at least through Monday.
“I do not want Americans to go hungry just because the radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and reopen the government,” Trump said Friday in a Truth Social post.
Trump said the two federal judges issued conflicting rulingsand he does not think the federal government legally can access available funds to cover SNAP costs.
“I have instructed our lawyers to ask the court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible,” he said.
“Even if we get immediate guidance, it will unfortunately be delayed while states get the money out.”
U.S. District Court of Rhode Island Judge John McConnell Jr.was one of the two judges who ordered the SNAP benefits to continue despite the shutdown.
On Saturday, he responded to the president’s post by ordering the Trump administration to access $6 billion in contingency funds for SNAP benefits.
“There is no question that the congressionally approved contingency funds must be used now because of the shutdown,” McConnell wrote Saturday in a seven-page order.
The contingency fund is too little to cover the full $9 billion monthly cost of providing SNAP benefits, but SNAP is an entitlement that the federal government must provide to all eligible households, he said.
“To ensure the quick, orderly and efficient implementation of the court’s order … and to alleviate the irreparable harm that the court found exists without timely payment of SNAP benefits, the government should … find the additional funds necessary to fully fund the November SNAP payments,” McConnell ruled.
He ordered the Trump administration to make at least a partial payment of SNAP benefits by Wednesday and to report how it intends to do so by noon EST on Monday.
The Trump administration said it will take several days and possibly longer to get funds to the respective states and cover the benefits for those who don’t receive them this month.
If the government shutdown continues into December, the problem starts over again with no contingency funds available.
From gorgeous Getxo to the City of Love, you won’t want to come home from these mint mini-breaks
Find foodie heaven near BilbaoCredit: Supplied by PR
SPAIN – Palacio Arriluce Hotel, Getxo
Commissioning Editor Martha Cliff and fiancée Lauren found foodie heaven near Bilbao.
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THE PAD
Check in and zone out at the Palacio Arriluce
Perched on a striking cliffside overlooking the Bay of Abra in Getxo and with a beauty of an outdoor pool, this 18th-century boutique gem sits in a palatial setting and offers the perfect blend of historical charm and contemporary elegance.
Craving vistas of the rolling Basque mountains? You’ve got it. Want to gaze at boats bobbing in the harbour? No problem. A city view more your vibe? It’s got that, too.
Be sure to eat breakfast – think other-worldly Spanish tortilla and Iberico ham – on the terrace to take full advantage.
Meanwhile, come dinner at Delaunay, try local specialities such as grilled kokotxas (hake chin) on stewed spider crab, £35, and Iberian pork shoulder with passionfruit, £31.
Make sure you’re there on a Thursday to join locals in Getxo for “pintxo pote”, a foodie’s dream bar crawl and Basque country tradition.
Restaurante Ixta Bide offers four pintxos (small savoury snacks) – our fave was pintxo de txaka, akin to a mini crab sandwich – and two vinos for a mere £9.
Just don’t expect to bag a seat! Wind your way up the steps of Algorta to reach Arrantzale and finish on its perfectly salted pork belly (Arrantzale.com).
While day-tripping, step into one of Bilbao’s oldest bars, Café Iruña, just a hop from Arbando metro station.
Dating back to 1903, the beautiful tiling is reason enough to visit, but coffee for just £1.75, is a big pull, too.
Or opt for a glass of the local txakoli white wine, £2.70, instead (Cafeirunabilbao.com).
DON’T MISS
The works inside Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum are, of course, breathtaking, but the building itself and its surrounding sculptures – including Puppy, a massive dog made of flowers by American artist Jeff Koons – are worth the trip alone.
Fly to Bilbao from London Gatwick and Heathrow with Vueling from £56 return (Vueling.com).
FRANCE – Hôtel Dame des Arts, Paris
Creative Director Mark Hayman and wife Margaret fell for cocktails and culture in the French capital.
Fall for cocktails and culture in the French capitalCredit: Getty Images
THE PAD
Rest easy at Hôtel Dame des ArtsCredit: LUDOVIC BALAY
This sleek bolt-hole in the city’s Latin Quarter has shaken off its Holiday Inn past to channel full Hollywood glamour.
Think rich woods, bamboo accents and pretty palms, with rooms that feel like film sets, thanks to glass dividers, velvet finishes and luxe bathrooms made for long soaks.
Downstairs, Pimpan serves up bold Franco-Mexican fusions on a leafy terrace – highlights include beef tartare with piquillos, £12.50, lamb shoulder with harissa, £25, and hibiscus-poached pear, £11.
But the real scene-stealer is the rooftop bar, where 360-degree skyline views stretch from the Eiffel Tower to Sacré Cœur – even locals come here for the vistas.
Order a Spritz del Arte (Aperol, mango liqueur, rum and prosecco), £17, or the punchy Uno Mas margarita, £14, pop on your biggest sunglasses and watch the city turn blush at sunset.
There’s also a sauna and a gym kitted out with sculptural wooden equipment for those partial to a designer workout.
EXPLORE
Explore the history of Notre-DameCredit: Getty Images
First time in Paris? Glide down the Seine aboard the Batobus – this hop-on-hop-off riverboat is a relaxing (and photogenic) way to tick off major sights like the Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre.
For more treasure-hunting, swing by the flea market off Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine – a weekend haven of vintage mirrors, mid-century ceramics and nostalgic postcards.
There’s no entry fee, just bring cash and your best haggling game.
Then head to the Panthéon, a neoclassical gem where Voltaire, Rousseau and Marie Curie lie in dramatic crypts beneath a rooftop dome offering jaw-dropping views.
Lively, retro-chic Brasserie Dubillot’s espresso martinis, £10.50, are a must, but equally good is the sausage and mash with truffle sauce, £16, steak-frites, £21, and the perfect crème brûlée, £8 (Lanouvellegarde.com/brasserie-dubillot).
Craving something casual? PNY serves next-level burgers with aged beef, brioche buns and toppings like smoked cheddar and pickled jalapeños, from £11.50 (Pnyburger.com).
Or just nab a pavement perch at Café Saint-André for a croque monsieur, £10.50, a glass of sancerre, £7, and some world-class people-watching.
Double rooms at Hôtel Dame des Arts cost from £226 per night (Damedesarts.com).
Psst…
Fancy something a little more party? Rixos Premium Dubai JBR sits in one of the UAE city’s buzziest neighbourhoods, with captivating views of Ain Dubai, the world’s biggest ferris wheel.
Suave rooms come with huge tubs, rain showers and espresso machines, from £304 per night (Rixos.com).
Rixos Premium Dubai JBR sits in one of the UAE city’s buzziest neighbourhoodsCredit: SuppliedThe suave rooms have captivating views of Ain Dubai, the world’s biggest ferris wheelCredit: SuppliedHead to Aussie beach club Byron Bathers for great foodCredit: Byron Bathers Club/Instagram
Downstairs is Azure Beach Club with its large pool, pumping soundtrack, outdoor gym and private beach (Azure-beach.com/dubai).
The breakfast buffet is, in true Dubai style, eye-poppingly big – you can even blend your own fresh peanut butter.
Plus, you’re half an hour’s cab ride from the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, for that classic Dubai selfie – viewing platform visits cost from £37 per person (Burjkhalifa.ae).
When you’re craving a chilled day, head to Aussie beach club Byron Bathers for lobster linguine, £37, and burrata pizza, £17, with excellent Whitsunday spritzes – an exquisite blend of grapefruit bitters, strawberry shrub, pink grapefruit, citrus vodka, Aperol and prosecco, £14 (Byronbathers.com).
CLARKSTON, Ga. — After fleeing the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, Antoinette landed in the Atlanta area last November and began to find her footing with federal help.
Separated from her adult children and grieving her husband’s death in the war, she started a job packing boxes in a warehouse, making just enough to cover rent for her own apartment and bills.
Antoinette has been relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, for her weekly grocery trips.
But now, just as life is starting to stabilize, she will have to deal with a new setback.
President Donald Trump’s massive budget law, which Republicans call the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, slashes $187 billion — or nearly 20% — from the federal budget for SNAP through 2034. And separate from any temporary SNAP stoppages due to the federal shutdown, the law cuts off access completely for refugees and other immigrant groups in the country lawfully. The change was slated to take effect immediately when the law was signed in July, but states are still awaiting federal guidance on when to stop or phase it out.
For Antoinette, 51, who did not want her last name used for fear of deportation and likely persecution in her native country, the loss of food aid is dire.
“I would not have the means to buy food,” she said in French through a translator. “How am I going to manage?”
Throughout its history, the U.S. has admitted into the country refugees like Antoinette, people who have been persecuted, or fear persecution, in their homelands due to race, religion, nationality, political opinions, or membership in a particular social group. These legal immigrants typically face an in-depth vetting process that can start years before they set foot on U.S. soil.
Once they arrive — often with little or no means — the federal government provides resources such as financial assistance, Medicaid, and SNAP, outreach that has typically garnered bipartisan support. Now the Trump administration has pulled back the country’s decades-long support for refugee communities.
The budget law, which funds several of the president’s priorities, including tax cuts to wealthy Americans and border security, revokes refugees’ access to Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for people with low incomes or disabilities, starting in October 2026.
But one of the first provisions to take effect under the law removes SNAP eligibility for most refugees, asylum seekers, trafficking and domestic violence victims, and other legal immigrants. About 90,000 people will lose SNAP in an average month as a result of the new restrictions narrowing which noncitizens can access the program, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
“It doesn’t get much more basic than food,” said Matthew Soerens, vice president of advocacy and policy at World Relief, a Christian humanitarian organization that supports U.S. refugees. “Our government invited these people to rebuild their lives in this country with minimum support,” Soerens said. “Taking food away from them is wrong.”
Not just a handout
The White House and officials at the United States Department of Agriculture did not respond to emails about support for the provision that ends SNAP for refugees in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
But Steven Camarota, director of research for the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for reduced levels of immigration to the U.S., said cuts to SNAP eligibility are reasonable because foreign-born people and their young children disproportionately use public benefits.
Still, Camarota said, the refugee population is different from other immigrant groups. “I don’t know that this would be the population I would start with,” Camarota said. “It’s a relatively small population of people that we generally accept have a lot of need.”
Federal, state, and local spending on refugees and asylum seekers, including food, healthcare, education, and other expenses, totaled $457.2 billion from 2005 to 2019, according to a February 2024 report from the Department of Health and Human Services. During that time, 21% of refugees and asylum seekers received SNAP benefits, compared with 15% of all U.S. residents.
In addition to the budget law’s SNAP changes, financial assistance given to people entering the U.S. by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, a part of HHS, has been cut from one year to four months.
The HHS report also found that despite the initial costs of caring for refugees and asylees, this community contributed $123.8 billion more to federal, state, and local governments through taxes than they received in public benefits over the 15 years.
It’s in the country’s best interest to continue to support them, said Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Global Refuge, a nonprofit refugee resettlement agency.
“This is not what we should think about as a handout,” she said. “We know that when we support them initially, they go on to not just survive but thrive.”
Food is medicine
Clarkston, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb, is home to thousands of refugees.
(Renuka Rayasam/KFF Health News)
Food insecurity can have lifelong physical and mental health consequences for people who have already faced years of instability before coming to the U.S., said Andrew Kim, co-founder of Ethnē Health, a community health clinic in Clarkston, an Atlanta suburb that is home to thousands of refugees.
Noncitizens affected by the new law would have received, on average, $210 a month within the next decade, according to the CBO. Without SNAP funds, many refugees and their families might skip meals and switch to lower-quality, inexpensive options, leading to chronic health concerns such as obesity and insulin resistance, and potentially worsening already serious mental health conditions, he said.
After her husband was killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Antoinette said, she became separated from all seven of her children. The youngest is 19. She still isn’t sure where they are. She misses them but is determined to build a new life for herself. For her, resources like SNAP are critical.
From the conference room of New American Pathways, the nonprofit that helped her enroll in benefits, Antoinette stared straight ahead, stone-faced, when asked about how the cuts would affect her.
Will she shop less? Will she eat fewer fruits and vegetables, and less meat? Will she skip meals?
“Oui,” she replied to each question, using the French for “yes.”
Since arriving in the U.S. last year from Ethiopia with his wife and two teen daughters, Lukas, 61, has been addressing diabetes-related complications, such as blurry vision, headaches, and trouble sleeping. SNAP benefits allow him and his family to afford fresh vegetables like spinach and broccoli, according to Lilly Tenaw, the nurse practitioner who treats Lukas and helped translate his interview.
His blood sugar is now at a safer level, he said proudly after a class at Mosaic Health Center, a community clinic in Clarkston, where he learned to make lentil soup and balance his diet.
“The assistance gives us hope and encourages us to see life in a positive way,” he said in Amharic through a translator. Lukas wanted to use only his family name because he had been jailed and faced persecution in Ethiopia, and now worries about jeopardizing his ability to get permanent residency in the U.S.
Since arriving in the U.S. last year from Ethiopia, Lukas has been visiting the Mosaic Health Center in Clarkston, Ga., to address diabetes-related complications. Food stamps allow him and his family to afford fresh vegetables like spinach and broccoli.
(Renuka Rayasam/KFF Health News)
Hunger and poor nutrition can lower productivity and make it hard for people to find and keep jobs, said Valerie Lacarte, a senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute.
“It could affect the labor market,” she said. “It’s bleak.”
More SNAP cuts to come
While the Trump administration ended SNAP for refugees effective immediately, the change has created uncertainty for those who provide assistance.
State officials in Texas and California, which receive the most refugees among states, and in Georgia told KFF Health News that the USDA, which runs the program, has yet to issue guidance on whether they should stop providing SNAP on a specific date or phase it out.
And it’s not just refugees who are affected.
Nearly 42 million people receive SNAP benefits, according to the USDA. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that, within the next decade, more than 3 million people will lose monthly food dollars because of planned changes — such as an extension of work requirements to more people and a shift in costs from the federal government to the states.
The USDA also posted on its website that no benefits would be issued for anyone starting Nov. 1 because of the federal shutdown, blaming Senate Democrats. The Trump administration has refused to release emergency funding — as past administrations have done during shutdowns — so that states can continue issuing benefits while congressional leaders work out a budget deal. A coalition of attorneys general and governors from 25 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit on Oct. 28 contesting the administration’s decision.
Cuts to SNAP will ripple through local grocery stores and farms, stretching the resources of charity organizations and local governments, said Ted Terry, a DeKalb County commissioner and former mayor of Clarkston.
“It’s just the whole ecosystem that has been in place for 40 years completely being disrupted,” he said.
Muzhda Oriakhil, senior community engagement manager at Friends of Refugees, an Atlanta-area nonprofit that helps refugees resettle, said her group and others are scrambling to provide temporary food assistance for refugee families. But charity organizations, food banks, and other nonprofit groups cannot make up for the loss of billions of federal dollars that help families pay for food.
Over 5 million California residents — including 2 million children — rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits that cover essential food such as fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy, bread and snacks. Those funds are on hold as the federal shutdown continues, putting economic strain on the 1 in 8 Americans who rely on SNAP benefits, during a time of year when budgets are already tight as many prepare for holiday gatherings and gift giving.
But Angelenos are stepping up for those in need, from neighborhood nonprofits and community centers to local restaurants and chefs, offering grocery delivery, mobile farmers markets, grab-and-go meals and Thanksgiving spreads.
Here are 40 food initiatives happening across Los Angeles County this November, from free chicken rice porridge on Sundays to a communal Thanksgiving feast. Be sure to read details carefully; some events are open to all with no registration required, while others require advance sign up with proof of income and residency.
Times staff writer Kailyn Brown contributed to this report.
A member of the California Army National Guard packs bell peppers for distribution at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank in Los Angeles on Thursday. California Gov. Gavin Newsom deployed National Guard troops to food banks across the state to help prepare emergency food supplies for people who were expecting to lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. Photo by Allison Dinner/EPA
Oct. 31 (UPI) — Those who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program shoudl continue to do so in November and possibly beyond after two federal court rulings ordered program funding.
Federal judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts on Friday ordered the Trump administration to continue providing SNAP benefits amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
U.S. District Court of Massachusetts Judge Indira Talwani told the Trump administration to access available funds to continue providing SNAP benefits while the federal government shutdown continues on its 31st day, according to CNN.
Talwani cited a contingency fund containing $5.2 billion that Congress had appropriated to help fund SNAP benefits when needed, but acknowledged the program’s monthly cost is $9 billion.
“This court has now clarified that defendants are required to use those contingency funds as necessary for the SNAP program,” Talwani said in her 15-page ruling.
“While these contingency funds reportedly are insufficient to cover the entire cost of SNAP for November, defendants also may supplement the contingency funds by authorizing a transfer of additional funds,” she said.
Talwani on Thursday heard oral arguments from the Justice Department and attorneys representing 25 states that sued the Trump administration to continue SNAP benefits.
Shortly after Talwani submitted her ruling on Friday, U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell Jr. in Rhode Island issued an oral ruling blocking the Trump administration from not funding SNAP benefits that provide food support for 42 million recipients across the United States, CNBC reported.
The benefits lack funding as Senate Democrats, during 13 votes, overwhelmingly have voted against a funding resolution that would keep the federal government funded and open, including the SNAP benefits, through Nov. 21.
Because there is no funding available for the SNAP program, Justice Department attorney Tyler Becker said the program does not exist.
“There is no SNAP program and, as a result, the government cannot just provide SNAP benefits,” Becker argued.
McConnell rejected the argument and, like Talwani, said the Trump administration must use congressionally appropriated contingency funds to continue providing at least some of the benefits that are due starting on Saturday.
While the Trump administration has been ordered to fund SNAP benefits via the U.S. Department of Agriculture, many will experience delays in getting them due as the USDA and respective states need time to access and distribute the benefits.
President Donald Trump on Friday told reporters the government could fund SNAP benefits past Saturday.
He said it would be easier if Senate Democrats voted in favor of the continuing resolution to fund the government while negotiating policy differences in the eventual 2026 fiscal year budget.
The fiscal year started Oct. 1, but so did the shutdown after the Senate failed to muster the 60 votes needed to approve it and keep the government open.
The shutdown will last at least through Monday after the Senate adjourned for the weekend Thursday.
The park, home to Peppa Pig World, is opening a new land in 2026 with thrill rides and a themed restaurant. Paulton’s Valgard zone is sure to be a hit when it welcomes in the public
The park is planning an entire new themed world(Image: PR Handout)
Paultons Park, a theme park known for being the home of toddler favourite Peppa Pig World, is set to expand with a new land as part of a whopping £12 million development.
The new addition, Valgard – Realm of the Vikings, is designed for older children and teenagers and is scheduled to open in spring 2026. The Viking-themed land will feature two new adrenaline-pumping rides: the inverting rollercoaster Drakon, and Vild Swing, which will whirl riders 12 metres into the air in a first-of-its-kind ride in the UK.
A sneak peek video on the park’s official YouTube page offers thrill-seekers a taste of what to expect from Drakon, promising plenty of twists and turns. An existing ride, Cobra, is also set for a revamp and will be rebranded as Raven to align with the Viking theme.
The park also plans to add a themed restaurant and a playground for younger guests to Valgard. Further expansion of Valgard is planned for 2027, including a new water ride, although details are currently being kept confidential, according to the Express.
James Mancey, deputy managing director at Paultons Park, expressed his excitement about the project, stating: “We are thrilled to share our plans for our largest and boldest investment to date. As an independent, family-owned theme park, we’re incredibly proud of the investments we make to deliver the very best guest experience. We’ve opened two brand-new rides in the last two years and with the build of Valgard firmly underway, we’re excited to open a further three, bigger-and-better-than-ever-before rides, between now and summer 2027.
“Valgard promises an immersive, atmospheric, and action-packed experience for families and has been specifically designed to grow with our fans. The introduction of inversions and a vertical lift hill on Drakon certainly up the adrenaline levels at Paultons Park, but staying true to our roots, we haven’t forgotten about the little ones and there is something for all of the family in our new Viking village.”
The fresh Viking-themed area will join the park’s existing six themed worlds, including Tornado Springs with its American setting, and Lost Kingdom which focuses on dinosaurs.
Among the park’s most famous attractions is Peppa Pig World, inspired by the beloved children’s cartoon series, which Paultons Park has been crowned the UK’s top theme park, beating out competition from Alton Towers, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Legoland Windsor. The Hampshire-based attraction scooped the prestigious Theme Park of the Year award at the UK Theme Park Awards 2025, as well as being named Best Theme Park for Families (Large), and Best Theme Park for Toddlers (Large).
Its Ghostly Manor ride was also voted Best New Attraction.
Visitors have been quick to sing the park’s praises on Tripadvisor, with one reviewer, Ste H, describing Paultons Park as a “brilliant” place that is “spotlessly clean”. He added that the staff are “some of the friendliest people” he has ever encountered at such a venue, and that “[G]enuinely everyone we met made it perfectly clear they love working there, which is great to see.”
Another visitor, Lizzie L, shared her experience of visiting midweek, writing: “All the rides in Peppa Pig world were a walk on and the only time we queued was to meet Peppa. The theming is great and perfect for little ones.”
Roshni Ward, 30, and Louis Hunt, 33, were fed up with the UK and high living costs
10:50, 30 Oct 2025Updated 10:56, 30 Oct 2025
Roshni Ward and Louis Hunt in Thailand(Image: Roshni Ward/SWNS)
A British couple, fed up with the UK’s “poor work-life balance” and cost of living, have found their own paradise where their water bill is a few pounds and a meal out costs a fraction of what it does at home. They say that, in Thailand, they save a whopping £1,000 a month on rent and pay just £2.76 for water bills.
Roshni Ward, 30, and her fiancé Louis Hunt, 33, were exhausted from working 11-hour days and overtime in their flat in Rye, East Sussex, and yearned for a “slower pace of life”. The pair decided to pack their bags and move to Chiang Mai, Thailand, last September.
They were instantly smitten with the laid-back lifestyle, friendly locals, balmy 30C weather, and breathtaking architecture. Their monthly rent is now a mere £300, which includes access to a gym and pool, while water bills are only £2.76, taxis cost £1.50, and takeaways are just £2. This has resulted in savings of over £1,000 compared to their previous UK rent of £1,350.
Roshni, who now works as a content creator, said: “We always wanted to move abroad and had toyed with the idea of it. The UK didn’t feel safe and a poor work-life balance meant we were too burnt out to enjoy life.
“Since moving, we love the slower pace of life, as well as the weather, the rich culture and the welcoming locals. And the cost of everything is so much lower, which was a shock to the system – in a good way! If we can help it, we won’t come back to the UK.”
Roshni and Louis began earnestly considering an overseas relocation following their return from a Thai getaway in December 2024. Roshni was employed full-time as a corporate team leader in broadband sales and revealed she’d frequently find herself putting in extra hours at weekends, preventing her from unwinding and savouring her leisure time.
Louis was employed full-time as a carpenter, enduring 11-hour shifts including his commute, and would become physically drained as well.
Roshni said: “There was a poor work-life balance. When we got to the weekend, we were so burnt out that we didn’t want to do anything.”
They also felt insecure in the UK, especially Roshni as a woman, owing to crime rates, and recalled from their December break that they felt considerably safer in Thailand. So the moment their lease on their rented property in Rye expired, they started searching for rental properties in Thailand and relocated to Chiang Mai on September 3.
Roshni and Louis both quit their UK positions – with Roshni becoming a full-time content creator and Louis becoming an online fitness coach. She said the residents were all incredibly friendly and everyone was prepared to assist you if you were struggling.
There is a substantial community of international expats, providing plenty of chances to encounter fresh faces and mingle. The pair love exploring stunning temples, elephant sanctuaries, Thai eateries and waterfalls.
Roshni said: “There’s something for everyone in Chiang Mai.”
The couple have discovered that swapping the UK for Thailand has slashed their living costs dramatically. Despite both working remotely for international clients and earning UK wages, they’ve found life in Thailand to be a fraction of the cost.
Their stylish condo, just a ten-minute drive from the city centre and boasting a gym, swimming pool and co-working area, sets them back a mere £300 per month. This is a stark contrast to their previous flat in the UK which cost them a hefty £1,350 each month.
Utility bills are also significantly cheaper, with water costing a mere £2.76 compared to the UK’s steep £76. Even getting around is a bargain – a 20-minute taxi ride in Thailand will only set you back £1.50.
Electricity bills are another area where they’re making huge savings, paying just £44 compared to the UK’s whopping £300. And because taxis are so affordable, they’ve ditched owning a car or bike, saving even more on fuel and maintenance costs.
Eating out is also a steal, with takeaways costing between £1.50 and £2, and a full meal and drinks at a restaurant coming in at just £8 – a far cry from the UK, where it would be around £60. Roshni added that pints of beer are “no more than £2”.
The only item they’ve found to be pricier in Thailand is Bisto gravy granules, setting them back around £5 due to import costs. But despite the financial benefits, what they love most about their new home is the slower pace of life and the rich culture.
Roshni said: “In the mornings we can get lie-ins, go to the gym, have a swim and then start work. In the UK, everyone starts early and is asleep by 11pm, here, you could finish work at 10pm and everything is still open. Louis has some UK clients – he can have a business call at 11pm and we can still go out for a meal after.”
They are smitten with the culture – the opportunity to visit stunning temples, elephant sanctuaries and tours – as well as the tranquil and friendly locals.
She said: “Anyone will stop and help you if you need it. In the UK, if someone foreign came up to you asking for help, most people wouldn’t stop.”
Despite their short stay in Thailand, they are so enamoured that they can’t envision returning to the UK.
Roshni revealed: “We would like to stay permanently. We’d be more open to starting a family here than in the UK because it’s so much safer. We’ve just fallen in love.”
Costs: UK vs Thailand
Monthly rent: £1,350 vs £300
Monthly water bills: £76 vs £2.76
Monthly electric: £300 vs £44
Monthly transport: £95 for car costs vs £30 for taxi
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly alternative to the UK’s overpriced Christmas markets, look no further than the ‘lesser known’ markets in Europe which offer a cosy day out without breaking the bank
Enjoy a cheap Christmas break in Europe this year(Image: Getty)
Many believe there’s no better way to embrace the festive spirit than with a hot cup of mulled wine while perusing a European Christmas market. However, these events can often be quite pricey.
For instance, a cup of mulled wine at the Berlin Christmas market could set you back five euros, and an additional three if you fancy keeping the mug as a keepsake.
Staying closer to home doesn’t necessarily mean saving money either. It’s well known that UK Christmas markets are among the priciest in Europe.
For example, a visit to the Manchester Christmas markets this year could see you shelling out around £25 for a beer and a bratwurst.
If you’re eager to plan a festive trip but don’t want to break the bank, some of the ‘less popular’ European Christmas markets offer much more affordable prices. Plus, they’re usually less crowded than their UK counterparts, reports the Daily Record.
The team at Eurochange have done some digging into the best alternative Christmas markets across Europe, including the cheapest flights from the UK and average hotel costs. They’ve also investigated which cities offer the best exchange rates, so you know where your money will go furthest.
Laura Evans-Fisk, head of digital and engagement at Eurochange, said: “Our research shows the Christmas market in Wroclaw, Poland, is one of the best in Europe if you’re looking for excellent value for money and a truly authentic experience. Two nights of accommodation for two adults costs just £47, and food and drinks are very affordable. Sibiu in Romania is a close second when it comes to the cheapest Christmas markets in Europe. Here, you can get a mulled wine for just 86p.”
Sibiu, Romania
Laura describes Sibiu as Romania’s leading Christmas market destination, surpassing even Bucharest. The Transylvanian winter celebration, dubbed ‘The Fair In Sibiu’, attracts Romanians in crowds, running from November 14, 2025, through to January 4, 2026.
The town boasts a distinctive blend of Hungarian, Romanian and German influences, creating a cultural richness unmatched elsewhere in Transylvania, according to Laura. Set within the historic old town at Piața Mare, the markets are “beautifully decorated with thousands of fairy lights and festive trinkets”, she noted.
The affordability is particularly striking, she points out. Mulled wine typically ranges from five to 10 leu (merely £0.86).
Visitors should sample regional delicacies, including Kürtőskalács (spit cakes) and cozonac (sweet bread).
Wroclaw, Poland
According to Laura, Wroclaw is considered among Poland’s finest and most stunning Christmas markets. “It is an idyllic, real-life winter wonderland, scattered across the city,” she said.
Situated across Rynek Market Square, Place Solny, Świdnicka Street and Oławska Street, numerous stalls await visitors. Laura notes many vendors offer handcrafted items and delicacies, largely from independent traders.
Laura explains that prices remain highly accessible, with mulled wine available for merely 15 PLN (£3.08) plus a 15 PLN mug deposit. However, if you prefer not to keep the mug, surrounding restaurants and bars offer warming mulled wine for just 9 PLN (£1.85).
Innsbruck, Austria
Laura said: “Nothing will give you the ‘festive feels’ like roaming the streets of Innsbruck in the run-up to Christmas. The aroma of freshly made Kiachln (piping hot doughnuts laced with Sauerkraut) and the sound of Christmas carols are guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit.
“Fairy lights give the medieval alleys a magical glow, and in front of the city’s famous ‘Golden Roof’, you will find the Christmas markets. Visitors can also wander across to Innsbruck’s main shopping street, Maria-Theresien Straße, where there are even more chalets offering tasty snacks and handmade crafts.”
Tallinn, Estonia
“Tallinn Christmas market is a real-life fairytale in the heart of Estonia’s capital”, Laura says. Visitors can sample local delicacies, including black pudding, sour cabbage, gingerbread and warming festive tipples from 1-2 euros, making it amongst the cheapest and most authentic Christmas markets in Europe.
She said: “The real star of the show is the incredible market Christmas tree, which has been set up every year in the Town Hall Square since 1441, making it the first ever Christmas tree to be put on display in Europe.”
Croatia might not be the first destination that springs to mind when thinking of a ‘festive’ location, but Laura claims Zagreb’s Christmas market shouldn’t be overlooked. Also known as ‘Advent Zagreb,’ the city “truly comes to life” during the festive season with an epic Christmas market, a rich programme of music and art exhibitions, and an impressive ice-skating rink in King Tromislav Square.
