Jay Rayner tells stories from his 25 years from his career as a restaurant critic in conversation with Sophie Haydock.  

Jay Rayner is an award-winning writer, journalist and broadcaster. He has written extensively across the British and international media as both feature writer and columnist on everything from crime and politics, to the arts and fashion. He was the Observer’s restaurant critic and feature writer from 1999 until February 2025, when he joined the Financial Times in the same role. 

Sophie Haydock is an award-winning author and curator of the Folkestone Book Festival. A former Sunday Times food journalist, she has published two novels, The Flames and Madame Matisse, through Penguin.