Issue 51; The Editorial, 18th April, 2026

We are at war.

Not the dramatic, history-book kind. The everyday kind. The quiet skirmishes for truth, calm, manners, and kindness. Meanwhile, things like the “Manosphere” documentary exist. I will not be watching it. Why? Because it will make me angry, and honestly, I am already at capacity. No need to top that up.

So what have I been up to instead? Simplified fashion, apparently. This always sneaks in when the seasons change, like an uninvited but oddly welcome guest. I realised I had been wearing the same things for over a year. A clear-out was inevitable. The result? One colour. Navy. Nearly head to toe, decision made and one part of my life made easier.

Is it age? Is it laziness? Who knows. What I do know is that getting dressed now requires zero thought. I simply appear, fully clothed, like a well-organised magician. Sadly, unlike the great minds of our time such as Steve Jobs, I have not used this freed-up brainpower to invent anything revolutionary. Instead, I made this issue.

And here it is. The result of fewer outfit decisions and a noble attempt to redirect my simmering rage into something constructive. Welcome to Issue Fifty One.

Our social commentator Piers Little has a proper shout about social media and why he thinks it should be banned entirely, not just for youngsters. I, on the other hand, take a more indulgent route with a write-up of a rather wonderful dinner at Arlington. There are also my thoughts on three books, all read slowly over morning coffee, plus a reflection on my long and complicated relationship with alcohol. From early mischief to present-day moderation, or at least something resembling it.

I hope you enjoy this issue. If you subscribe, you will also have received an extra exclusive article written by me, which feels both generous and slightly narcissistic but is actually neither.

I would genuinely love to hear what you think. Send us an email anytime at mail@fakeintellectual.uk.

With gratitude,
Thomas W. Coombs
Editor-in-Chief

Issue 51; Food for Thought

Words by Thomas W Coombs

Moving through the revolving doors, you are transported back in time, the more glamorous era of shoulder pads and giant mobile phone and old Mayfair. The bar stands directly ahead, gleaming in all its resplendent glory, inviting you to refresh yourself at once. Then you remember to greet the maître d’hôtel and place your coat in the cloakroom. The air around the place feels right and you know you are in a Jeremy King restaurant. There is something about them that resonates the moment you step inside and are welcomed like an old friend, even though I had never set foot in the building before. Welcome to Arlington.

Issue 51; Panic at the Disco

words by Piers Little

Run and hide, Gen Alpha. Gen Z has already made a mess of things for you with its reckless use of social media. We have reached a boiling point, and governments have finally taken notice. Children are being banned from social media. Shock horror for them. I smile, take a breath, and think it is about time.

Issue 51; A History of Drink

Words by Thomas W Coombs

I always thought of cocktails as something for grown-ups, the height of sophistication. They were those strong, spirit-forward drinks you’d see men in suits nursing at a gleaming bar on television. I’m not talking about the teenage summer holiday “Sex on the Beach,” which is ninety-nine percent fruit juice. I mean what I then considered a real cocktail: Martinis, Old Fashions and, at that stage in my life, I hadn’t even heard of a Negroni.

Issue 51; The Morning Read Book Review

In this section, Thomas W Coombs shares his thoughts on the books he has been reading over coffee and breakfast. For this issue, he travelled back in time with Future Boy by Michael J. Fox, then took a seat at the table and immersed himself in the world of a restaurateur with Without Reservation by Jeremy King. And sipped a glass or two with Thirsty by Tom Gilby.