If you're going to the Australia tasting today...

Bumped into Neal (wine-journal) Martin last night who was still smarting from his experiences at the first of the two day Australia Day tastings in London's Horticultural Halls yesterday.

He didn't have any cash on him and had found life very difficult. Each item deposited in the Halls' rather gloomy cloakrooms is docked £1 on deposit (he had a coat and a bag). If you want anything to eat, you have to stump up more than £7 apparently.

I must say I was rather surprised by that cloakroom charge. I'm used to leaving a tip on collecting my things, but it's unusual...