The Fence
@thefence.bsky.social
Facts, features, fiction, etc. Buy a subscription to the UK's Only Magazine here: https://www.the-fence.com/shop/
Pinned
The Fence
@thefence.bsky.social
· Dec 10
Issue 26 - the Print Special - is here 🖨️
With Chris Black, John Banville, Sarah Haque, Dan Beaumont, James Riding, Hannah Crosbie, Isobel Thompson, Kieran Morris, Edward Platt, Naomi Wood, Tom Ford, Jack Goulder, Matt Nida, Ian Trueger, Phin Jennings and William Clarke.
the-fence.com/shop
With Chris Black, John Banville, Sarah Haque, Dan Beaumont, James Riding, Hannah Crosbie, Isobel Thompson, Kieran Morris, Edward Platt, Naomi Wood, Tom Ford, Jack Goulder, Matt Nida, Ian Trueger, Phin Jennings and William Clarke.
the-fence.com/shop
This cat is quite literally 'On The Fence'
February 18, 2026 at 3:10 PM
This cat is quite literally 'On The Fence'
Does anyone know who this MP is?
February 18, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Does anyone know who this MP is?
Reposted by The Fence
Incredible reporting by @thefence.bsky.social as always. Peerless.
February 17, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Incredible reporting by @thefence.bsky.social as always. Peerless.
The neighbourhood is rocking
February 17, 2026 at 12:22 PM
The neighbourhood is rocking
Issue 26 in Magalleria in Bath (with Ralph J)
February 16, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Issue 26 in Magalleria in Bath (with Ralph J)
TF Issue 26 providing wholesome parenting opportunities
February 16, 2026 at 6:03 PM
TF Issue 26 providing wholesome parenting opportunities
Reposted by The Fence
Interesting read on the impact of private equity on the UK restaurant sector: “Over the last few decades, the sector has gobbled up £1.2 trillion in assets across the British economy, a greater proportion than any other advanced economy. Strangely, it has shown a remarkable taste for British food”
Whining and Dining
Sometimes, everything must change so that things can stay the same. Since it opened in 1889, Sweetings has been serving fish lunches smack-bang in the middle of London’s Square Mile, closing by 3pm on...
www.the-fence.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Interesting read on the impact of private equity on the UK restaurant sector: “Over the last few decades, the sector has gobbled up £1.2 trillion in assets across the British economy, a greater proportion than any other advanced economy. Strangely, it has shown a remarkable taste for British food”
This piece is now Popbitch official!
Still in front of the paywall
February 12, 2026 at 2:11 PM
This piece is now Popbitch official!
The latest Capital Letter is live, and it's very, very good:
thefencecapitalletter.substack.com/p/capital-le...
thefencecapitalletter.substack.com/p/capital-le...
Capital Letter #24
A medieval tour of London and much more besides
thefencecapitalletter.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 12:37 PM
The latest Capital Letter is live, and it's very, very good:
thefencecapitalletter.substack.com/p/capital-le...
thefencecapitalletter.substack.com/p/capital-le...
'Prior to The Fence, the only publication to register an interest in how panel shows were made was Nuts, who dispatched a correspondent to shadow us in the Mock the Week studio.'
the-fence.com/have-we-got-...
the-fence.com/have-we-got-...
I’m Going to Be Sacked for Shagging About
Is that a dolphin in a bathtub?
the-fence.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:48 PM
'Prior to The Fence, the only publication to register an interest in how panel shows were made was Nuts, who dispatched a correspondent to shadow us in the Mock the Week studio.'
the-fence.com/have-we-got-...
the-fence.com/have-we-got-...
We've got a big story about the Birmingham jihadi-turned-politico, Shahid Butt, in this week's newsletter:
thefence.substack.com/p/off-the-fe...
thefence.substack.com/p/off-the-fe...
Off The Fence: Acid Nightmares
And we've got a BIG scoop about Birmingham's Shahid Butt
thefence.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:28 PM
We've got a big story about the Birmingham jihadi-turned-politico, Shahid Butt, in this week's newsletter:
thefence.substack.com/p/off-the-fe...
thefence.substack.com/p/off-the-fe...
Still in front of the paywall
February 10, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Still in front of the paywall
Issue 26 is in Patagonia
February 10, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Issue 26 is in Patagonia
Issue 26 is at the Met!
February 10, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Issue 26 is at the Met!
Here is THE PUB at the Owl Bookshop in NW5
February 10, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Here is THE PUB at the Owl Bookshop in NW5
Reposted by The Fence
Oh this is such a depressing read. It’s a great article, but deeply worrying.
It’s so had to watch an industry that you love just…die off. It has given me a great career, lots of fun and so many friends. TV is a huge part of our cultural history too. And there are enough fucking podcasts
It’s so had to watch an industry that you love just…die off. It has given me a great career, lots of fun and so many friends. TV is a huge part of our cultural history too. And there are enough fucking podcasts
February 10, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Oh this is such a depressing read. It’s a great article, but deeply worrying.
It’s so had to watch an industry that you love just…die off. It has given me a great career, lots of fun and so many friends. TV is a huge part of our cultural history too. And there are enough fucking podcasts
It’s so had to watch an industry that you love just…die off. It has given me a great career, lots of fun and so many friends. TV is a huge part of our cultural history too. And there are enough fucking podcasts
Reposted by The Fence
My account of the life, death and afterlife of the comedy panel show for @thefence.bsky.social is now online to read for free!
February 10, 2026 at 11:56 AM
My account of the life, death and afterlife of the comedy panel show for @thefence.bsky.social is now online to read for free!
Reposted by The Fence
Massive canary in the coalmine if even comedy panel shows are too expensive for modern TV tbh.
February 10, 2026 at 11:42 AM
Massive canary in the coalmine if even comedy panel shows are too expensive for modern TV tbh.
I’m Going to Be Sacked for Shagging About
Is that a dolphin in a bathtub?
the-fence.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:20 AM
THE PUB is drawing a crowd at the @londonreviewbookshop.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 2:38 PM
THE PUB is drawing a crowd at the @londonreviewbookshop.co.uk
Reposted by The Fence
Younger people interested in the career that strips everything from you but grants fantastic anecdotes, listen up!
JOB(S) ALERT
We're looking for TWO new members for the editorial team - send your application to editorial@the-fence.com.
We're looking for TWO new members for the editorial team - send your application to editorial@the-fence.com.
February 8, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Younger people interested in the career that strips everything from you but grants fantastic anecdotes, listen up!
Last chance to send your application in!
JOB(S) ALERT
We're looking for TWO new members for the editorial team - send your application to editorial@the-fence.com.
We're looking for TWO new members for the editorial team - send your application to editorial@the-fence.com.
February 8, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Last chance to send your application in!
Reposted by The Fence
Whereas if he could, JD Vance would wear a four piece suite
"The senior sub was a smoothly silver-haired gent of the old school. One could have said of Leo what Virginia Woolf said of T. S. Eliot; that if he could, he would have worn a four-piece suit."
For Fence #26, John Banville recalls his start in the newspaper biz.
www.the-fence.com/banville-pub...
For Fence #26, John Banville recalls his start in the newspaper biz.
www.the-fence.com/banville-pub...
Lead Heads
It would be libellous to print anything else.
www.the-fence.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Whereas if he could, JD Vance would wear a four piece suite
Reposted by The Fence
As a former night sub, I approve this message.
"The senior sub was a smoothly silver-haired gent of the old school. One could have said of Leo what Virginia Woolf said of T. S. Eliot; that if he could, he would have worn a four-piece suit."
For Fence #26, John Banville recalls his start in the newspaper biz.
www.the-fence.com/banville-pub...
For Fence #26, John Banville recalls his start in the newspaper biz.
www.the-fence.com/banville-pub...
Lead Heads
It would be libellous to print anything else.
www.the-fence.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:05 PM
As a former night sub, I approve this message.
Reposted by The Fence
"The senior sub was a smoothly silver-haired gent of the old school. One could have said of Leo what Virginia Woolf said of T. S. Eliot; that if he could, he would have worn a four-piece suit."
For Fence #26, John Banville recalls his start in the newspaper biz.
www.the-fence.com/banville-pub...
For Fence #26, John Banville recalls his start in the newspaper biz.
www.the-fence.com/banville-pub...
Lead Heads
It would be libellous to print anything else.
www.the-fence.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:34 AM
"The senior sub was a smoothly silver-haired gent of the old school. One could have said of Leo what Virginia Woolf said of T. S. Eliot; that if he could, he would have worn a four-piece suit."
For Fence #26, John Banville recalls his start in the newspaper biz.
www.the-fence.com/banville-pub...
For Fence #26, John Banville recalls his start in the newspaper biz.
www.the-fence.com/banville-pub...