Jay Rayner joined the Financial Times in 2025. He has covered everything from crime and politics to the arts and social affairs but for more than 25 years has been best known as a restaurant critic for the Observer, a role he continues for the FT. He has published over a dozen books and is the host of BBC Radio 4' Kitchen Cabinet. He regularly performs live, both as a jazz pianist and in one-man shows, details of which can be found on his website jayrayner.co.uk.