Done right, a prawn cocktail is a beautiful Christmas starter - and John Torode's the man to show you how. Bring a large pan of water to the boil and add a squeeze of lemon and glug of vinegar.

they kept themselves warm and cosy with hot drinks. And, yes, the majority of them were alcoholic. Lightly spiced, beautifully aromatic, and full of heady botanicals, a glug of gin is the perfect ...