Another year is in the books and over here at Thatsup we're happy to say it's been one of growth – personal, professional, and, er, waistline alike. Just the everyday dangers that come with a job involving excellent restaurants and delicious food, we guess. And as we're getting ready to settle in for the festive celebrations, we thought we'd take a look at what you, the users, have been up to on our website during the past year, as well as tease a few exciting developments and opportunities coming up on our end. Hit it!
Iconic characters
Let's start with a pair of absolute legends. As the dreadlocked kid in the video for Bomfunk MC's “Freestyler”, Mario Snellman has been in our hearts since the 90s, even if we didn't know who he actually was. All grown up, he's now a chef and he came over to Oranj in the beginning of the year for a short pop-up to show off his culinary skills – and rule our list of most-read articles.
The only one who could stand up to him when it came to readership was homegrown hero Steve Hayes from the West Midlands. At the time of our interview with him, he'd been to 923 Wetherspoons across the country, and he showed no signs of slowing down – he plans on ticking them all off his list sooner or later. Truly the hero we need in these times!
Winning wieners
Looking at the most read articles on Thatsup London, a clear shape begins to take form and it's, er, somewhat cheeky in nature. There's the big rush of readers on the announcement that a new pickle festival is coming to Deptford. Then you were all eager to ditch your skivvies and hop on the world naked bike ride. Finally, despite being published just a month or so ago, the article about a festive sausage dog walk was a massive hit. Look, no judgment here, but Freud would probably have a lot to say about these results.
Doing it for the culture
Our esteemed readers will be happy to learn they've proven themselves quite cultured in 2024. Articles on new exhibitions hitting the city were a big hit, with the most-read ones covering a wide range of topics – walking on the moon with Tom Hanks, “Accidentally Wes Anderson”, David Bowie, Italian design, 1970s Brazilian art, City sculpture, and more.
The rest of the restos
All that's well and good, but getting down to the meat and potatoes of what we do, it was our vast and varied assortment of reliable restaurant guides y'all came here for. Looking at the most read ones, it's clear diners these days are looking for an extra bit of pizzazz when dining out, whether it's rooftop bars or breakfast views, quirky dining experiences like conveyor belt sushi, the latest viral craze, or simply put, restaurants that make you go “wow!”
Another big factor when looking for your next meal out is affordability – no big surprise in these troubled economic times. Whether it's where to go for a budget-friendly meal in Soho, Camden, or London Bridge, or just where to pile on the all-you-can-eat sushi, our trusty guides will help keep your balance out of the red.
Looking ahead
As we mentioned, 2024 was a big year for growth at Thatsup. Not only did we firmly establish a foothold as a trustworthy source of hospitality, entertainment, and lifestyle recommendations and news in London, we also expanded to Manchester – if you're heading north, make sure to check out Thatsup Manchester for the low-down on food and fun in this exciting city.
That was just the beginning, however – we've got a major development planned for next year, and you're welcome to join us. We'll be building out our operation in London in early 2025 and we're looking for driven, goal-oriented Business Development Managers to join our roll-out team. You can find out more about the position and apply here.
Of course, we'll keep covering the goings on in London and Manchester, bringing you everything you need to know to enjoy everything these incredible cities have to offer. We're excited about the future and we hope you'll be there with us. Happy holidays to all!