Reviews Archives - Page 11 of 14

November 19, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Hue Bridge Pro Review UK 2026: Is the Philips Hub Worth It?

Last updated: 26 March 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Cool Factor: 4/5 — Stone cold

If your smart-home lighting setup now involves more bulbs than your family has opinions, you need a proper conductor. That's exactly what the Philips Hue Bridge Pro sets out to be. In this Hue Bridge Pro review, we'll dig into whether Signify's upgraded hub truly earns the "Pro" badge, or if it's just the old Bridge in a new graphite suit. After several months of real-world use, here's our honest verdict.

Published by Stiv in New home, Reviews, Technology lover

Tags: hue accessories, hue lightstrip, hue motionaware, hue sync tv, matter smart home, philips hue bridge pro, philips hue bridge pro review, philips hue bridge vs pro, philips hue review, smart home UK, smart lighting hub

November 17, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Monzo Investments Review UK 2026: Honest Verdict for Beginners

Last updated: 2 July 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is my own experience. I've invested in Monzo's Adventurous fund since November 2025, paying in £50 a month, with round-ups and my savings interest topping it up on the side.

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are my own and do not constitute professional advice.

Cool Factor: 4/5 Stone cold

This Monzo Investments review is based on real money I've had invested since late 2025, not a quick five-minute demo. I wanted to invest without downloading five apps, reading 19 Reddit threads, and accidentally becoming a part-time day trader. Monzo Investments keeps things simple on purpose. You pick a risk level, deposit from as little as £1, and let BlackRock-managed funds do the heavy lifting. No stock picking. No fiddling. No "should I buy Nvidia" spiral at 1am. And with the recent launch of Build Your Own portfolios, there's now more choice than ever without losing that trademark Monzo simplicity.

Before you read on: This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view. This is not financial advice.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Want the Monzo current-account bonus?

There's no live Monzo Investments referral, but you need a current account to invest anyway, and that one does have a working offer (randomly £5 to £50, most people around £10). For the full lowdown on the bank itself, read our Monzo review UK after four years of daily use. The latest terms are on our referral page.

Get the Monzo current-account bonus

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Reviews, Services, UK Made

Tags: app investing UK, beginner investing UK, Cool Curation finance, Monzo investing, Monzo investments, Monzo referral, Monzo review, personal finance uk, stocks and shares isa, uk investing

November 16, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

TaxFix vs GoSimpleTax UK 2026: Which Tax Tool Wins?

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

If you need to file a Self Assessment tax return in the UK, the TaxFix vs GoSimpleTax question keeps coming up. Both promise to make tax season less painful, yet they work in completely different ways. One hands everything to a qualified accountant. The other gives you smart software and lets you do it yourself. So which one actually deserves your money? We have broken both down side by side to help you decide.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Leaning towards TaxFix?

Our referral page tracks the current new-customer discount and exactly how to claim it.

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Published by Stiv in Finance, Reviews, Services

Tags: best tax app UK, digital tax software UK, filing self assessment online, GoSimpleTax discount, GoSimpleTax review, HMRC approved tax apps, money saving guides UK, MTD compatible apps, self assessment tools UK, tax return software UK, tax return tips UK, TaxFix discount, taxfix review, TaxFix vs GoSimpleTax, UK finance tools, UK tax return apps

November 16, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Eero Mesh WiFi Review UK: Is It Worth It?

Last updated: 24 March 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Cool Factor: 4/5 – Stone cold

I used to dread working from home whenever my partner jumped on a video call. Our old router would buckle, the bedroom WiFi would vanish, and streaming anything in 4K was a fantasy. Then I installed an eero mesh WiFi system and everything changed overnight. This eero mesh WiFi review covers exactly what happened, which model suits which household, and whether it deserves the hype in 2026.

Published by Stiv in Android apps, Apple apps, Apps, Best of Amazon, New home, Reviews, Services, Technology lover

Tags: amazon tech, black friday deals, eero, eero mesh wifi, eero review, home tech, home wifi, mesh wifi, smart home, uk tech reviews, wifi review, wifi routers

November 15, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Best GABA Non-Alcoholic Drinks: Sentia vs Impossibrew UK

Last updated: 24 March 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

If you've ever wanted the social buzz of a night out without the grim aftermath, GABA non-alcoholic drinks might be exactly what you're after. These functional beverages target your brain's natural GABA system to deliver relaxation, sociability, and calm, all without a drop of alcohol or the hangover that comes with it.

Two UK brands lead the charge: Sentia, a botanical spirit designed by neuroscientists, and Impossibrew, a craft beer brewed with mood-enhancing nootropics. Both promise the good bits of drinking without the bad. So which one actually delivers? We've put them head-to-head on taste, price, effect, and convenience to help you decide.

Published by Stiv in Christmas, Comparison, Drink connoisseur, Reviews, Self-care Champion

Tags: adaptogen drinks, alcohol free cocktails, alcohol-free spirits, Christmas party drinks, festive drinks, functional drinks, GABA drinks, Impossibrew, NA spirits, New Year drinks, non alcoholic beer, non alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic beer, non-alcoholic drinks, Sentia, sober curious, wellness drinks, zero alcohol

November 13, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

SureFeed Feeder Review UK: Is It Worth the Price?

Last updated: 24 March 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Cool Factor: 4/5

If you live with more than one cat, you already know the villain of this story. In our house, we have The Grazer and The Food Thief. The Grazer is a gentle soul who nibbles throughout the day. The Food Thief is a vacuum in a fur suit who inhales his own food in seconds, then marches over to hers like he's collecting rent.

This SureFeed feeder review starts at the moment I realised I was spending half my life escorting bowls behind closed doors and emotionally counselling a skinny, bullied cat who just wanted her calories in peace. I needed a way to stop the theft without turning our home into an escape room. So we bought the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder, and after more than six months of daily use, here is exactly how it went.

Published by Stiv in Cat Lovers, Reviews, UK Made

Tags: automatic cat feeder wet food, best cat feeder for multiple cats, cat acne plastic bowls, cat feeding gadgets, Cool Curation cat lovers, microchip cat feeder, microchip vs RFID cat feeder, multi cat feeding solutions, stainless steel cat bowls, stop cat stealing food, Sure Petcare review, SureFeed feeder review, SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder

November 10, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

AeroPress Premium Review UK: Is the Glass Upgrade Worth £190?

Last updated: 24 March 2026.

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

The AeroPress Premium promised to turn a cult-favourite plastic brewer into a luxury countertop statement. Glass chamber, stainless-steel accents, and a price tag of £189.99. But does swapping polypropylene for borosilicate actually improve your morning cup? In this AeroPress Premium review, we put the Premium through its paces, compare it with the Original and the new AeroPress Steel, and tell you exactly who should buy one and who should save their money.

Cool Factor: 4/5

This review contains links to CoolCuration detail pages that include affiliate links. Our opinions remain editorially independent.

Published by Stiv in Coffee connoisseur, Foodie, Reviews, Self-care Champion

Tags: aeropress 2025 guide, aeropress coffee review, AeroPress comparison, aeropress glass, aeropress premium, aeropress premium glass and steel, AeroPress Premium review, aeropress premium review 2025, aeropress premium vs original, AeroPress Steel, best coffee maker 2025, best coffee maker UK, coffee accessories uk, coffee gear 2025, home coffee bar, home coffee bar setup, manual coffee maker uk

November 8, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Affinity by Canva Review: Is the New Free Creative App Actually That Good?

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

Affinity by Canva is Canva’s new all-in-one creative app that combines what used to be Affinity Photo, Designer and Publisher into a single, totally free program in this review we cover off everything from it's features to how it compares to Adobe's staples. It is aimed at people who want Adobe-level tools without paying a monthly subscription and it currently runs on Mac and Windows, with iPad on the way. Canva says this version is free forever and can export straight to Canva, which is a big shift from the old paid Affinity model.

Published by Stiv in Apps, Reviews, Services, UK Made

Tags: adobe alternative, affinity by canva review, affinity canva review, affinity design app, affinity photo designer publisher, affinity vs adobe, canva affinity app, canva ai tools, canva for designers, canva free design software, creative software uk, free creative apps, graphic design tools, illustrator alternative free, indesign alternative free, photoshop alternative free

November 6, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Collecting Contemporary Art: Gilbert & George’s Ink Washes 2023 – 2025

Bold, British and brilliantly irreverent 🎨

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

If you’re thinking about collecting contemporary art and want something that shouts personality, Gilbert & George’s ink washes are an ideal starting point. Known for their bold humour and graphic punch, the pair’s most recent works — the Royal Ink Washes (2023) and The 21st Century Ink Washes (2025) — bring colour, chaos and satire to your walls.

These editions are hand-painted on heavyweight 400 gsm watercolour paper, each signed, numbered and limited to 50. Whether you hang one in a hallway or above the sofa, they make a statement that says “serious collector with a sense of humour”.

Published by Stiv in Art Lovers, Artists, Reviews, UK Made

Tags: British artists, collecting art, contemporary art UK, Gilbert and George, home decor, ink washes, modern art collectors, Royal Ink Washes 2023, The 21st Century 2025

November 5, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

JPMorgan Personal Investing Review UK, Is It Worth It?

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

Cool Factor: 4/5

This is my honest JPMorgan Personal Investing review for UK investors. I've spent time with the platform, tested the app, compared the fees, and put together a clear take on whether it deserves your money. If you're weighing up a managed investment platform for your ISA, pension, or general investing, this should help you decide.

This review is based on years of my own use. I've been a customer since the Nutmeg days, I was even a small backer in their Crowdcube raise before JPMorgan bought the business, an Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) holding that earned me roughly a 50% return on that little stake when the sale went through, and today I hold several growth pots, a pension and a Lifetime ISA on the platform. So this comes from real, ongoing use rather than marketing material.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Want the JPMorgan new-customer offer?

The current new-customer offer (6 months of investing with no management fees at the time of writing) and full terms are kept on our referral page. Capital at risk. Terms and conditions apply.

See the JPMorgan referral offer

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Reviews

Tags: chase bank, investing, investment platform, isa, jpmorgan, JPMorgan Personal Investing, managed portfolio, money management, nutmeg, personal investing, referral code, robo advisor uk, sipp, uk investing