Fred Garratt-Stanley

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

Over the course of a month in Sri Lanka, it became clear that what’s happening to the south is a dark kind of neo-colonialism: land grabs, rent hikes, widespread cultural erasure and disrespect towards locals. I put a lot of effort into documenting this process - please read & share if you can 🇱🇰

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

Brewing independently in a country where 70% of people don’t drink is hugely challenging. But Malaysian brewery Paperkite are making it work.

In this story, I speak to founder Alvin Lim about the massive cultural & economic obstacles they’re overcoming

open.substack.com/pub/fredgarr...

Inside The Movement of Artists and Fans Boycotting Spotify The meagre financial returns of streaming for artists has been a point of controversy since its inception. Now substantial investments in AI weaponry are causing musicians, labels, and consumers to fu...

Spotify’s meagre artist royalties have caused controversy for a while, but recent AI military investments have caused the boycott of the streaming giant to grow

For @mixmag.net I spoke to artists, fans & groups like @umaw.bsky.social about why this movement matters

mixmag.net/feature/spot...

That’s so nice to hear, it was great working with you on it

So pleased to be included on this list after another year of brilliant Pellicle stories. Thanks @katiematherkm.bsky.social for the incredibly lovely words!

Interesting piece, thanks for sharing!

Yeah it’s been brilliant so far. Should be plenty more dispatches to come

Yeah I was so impressed by that wide range - will definitely try and make it back!

Taiwan: Unsung Veggie Heaven Forget the semiconductors and geopolitical tensions for a minute; Taiwan should be making headlines for its incredible plant-based food scene

Forget the semiconductors & geopolitical tensions for a sec; Taiwan should be making headlines for its ridiculously good veggie food scene

My latest free-to-read Substack explores the many factors that created this thriving plant-based culture 🥦

open.substack.com/pub/fredgarr...

Thanks David, glad you liked it

Really enjoyed this dispatch from Taiwan from @fred-gs.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/fredgarr...

This is a brilliant piece of storytelling from @davidjesudason.bsky.social & you can tell an enormous amount of work has gone into it 👏

Cool for Cats — The Fat Cat in Norwich, Norfolk — Pellicle Night has fallen over The Fat Cat in Norwich, and I’ve been here long enough to watch the clientele change. I saw the post-work crowd rush in; now, as it thins, I head to the bar to order a pint of Ti...

The Fat Cat, Norwich, is a special pub. I’ve pulled many pints and made many memories there, so it was a pleasure telling its story for @pelliclemag.com

Thanks to the Pellicle team & @seanislegend.com for the beautiful photos (as per). I hope you enjoy reading 🍺

www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/11...

Amazing work mate well done 👏

Congrats @beerinthecity.bsky.social! Very deserved winner. Delighted to have got silver in this really strong category🥈well done to all last night’s winners 👏

Always a treat working with Sean but I particularly enjoyed dragging him around the greatest pub of them all for this one

Thanks mate, you’re spot on there!

Thanks Tim, glad you enjoyed

Cool for Cats — The Fat Cat in Norwich, Norfolk — Pellicle Night has fallen over The Fat Cat in Norwich, and I’ve been here long enough to watch the clientele change. I saw the post-work crowd rush in; now, as it thins, I head to the bar to order a pint of Ti...

One of the greats. Norwich's Fat Cat gets the @pelliclemag.com treatment courtesy @fred-gs.bsky.social www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/11...

Cool for Cats — The Fat Cat in Norwich, Norfolk — Pellicle Night has fallen over The Fat Cat in Norwich, and I’ve been here long enough to watch the clientele change. I saw the post-work crowd rush in; now, as it thins, I head to the bar to order a pint of Ti...

For the last in our November-long series of pieces on pubs and pub culture, @fred-gs.bsky.social visits The Fat Cat in Norwich, a pub that's close to his heart for many reasons. We hope you enjoy this beautiful salutation of an all-time great.

www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/11...

Cool for Cats — The Fat Cat in Norwich, Norfolk — Pellicle Night has fallen over The Fat Cat in Norwich, and I’ve been here long enough to watch the clientele change. I saw the post-work crowd rush in; now, as it thins, I head to the bar to order a pint of Ti...

The Fat Cat, Norwich, is a special pub. I’ve pulled many pints and made many memories there, so it was a pleasure telling its story for @pelliclemag.com

Thanks to the Pellicle team & @seanislegend.com for the beautiful photos (as per). I hope you enjoy reading 🍺

www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/11...

Beautiful, vivid piece of work from Sean on the 2025 hop harvest. It’s made me very thirsty indeed

A Head of Steam Japan’s original Onsen town is a captivating case study of human interaction with the natural world

I’m currently travelling around beautiful Japan and recently visited the country’s original Onsen (hot spring) town, Beppu 🇯🇵

It’s a magic place built on steam, and a prime example of the human drive to exploit places of natural beauty for profit…

open.substack.com/pub/fredgarr...

Very lucky to have worked with Sean on this one!

Thanks for helping me bring that story to life Matt!

Cheers mate, congrats on your noms 👏

Really honoured to have been shortlisted for this year’s @britbeerwriters.bsky.social Best Communication about Beer and Travel award for my @pelliclemag.com long read on the pubs of Rye & the rich history that shaped them 🍻

You can read it here!

www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/3/...

Craft beer and non league football article

Politics of tapas article

Honey Ale article

Cask beer in Italy article

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... 🍻