About On The Spot Magazine

On The Spot Magazine is a small online magazine about free time and what to do with it. Saturdays, bank holidays, long summer evenings, the odd wet Sunday: those are the hours we write for. Our pages are full of games to play, gatherings to host, places worth a few hours of travel and ideas for making home feel a little more festive.

What you will find here

We cover a deliberately wide range, because a good weekend rarely sticks to one subject. Breakfast might be a picnic, the afternoon a round of lawn games, the evening a film or a match on the screen. Our categories reflect that mix:

• Games — from a clue trail in the garden to the creative worlds that video game communities build.
• Events — parties, celebrations and get-togethers, with an eye on seating, timing and keeping the host relaxed.
• Decor — dressing a table, lighting a garden, displaying photos and other small changes with a big effect.
• Tourism — day trips and short escapes that feel bigger than the time they take.
• Entertainment and Sport — screens, matches, hobbies and casual play.
• Tips and Lifestyle — practical know-how for everyday plans, plus the occasional look at how technology shapes the way we live and spend.

How we like to write

Every article starts from a real question: how do you keep twelve people fed in a park, which garden games suit guests who would rather not run, how do you stop a day out from turning into a long drive with a sandwich in the middle? We answer in plain language, in the order someone would actually do things, and we keep the advice general enough to fit different budgets and different places.

We do not invent numbers, prices or expert quotes. Where a choice depends on local rules, opening hours or the weather, we say so and point you towards checking it yourself. A recent example of our approach is the guide on planning a picnic without forgetting anything, which grew out of one too many afternoons without a bottle opener.

Who is behind it

The magazine is written and edited by a small team using pen names. We each look after a few corners of the site and read each other's drafts before anything goes live. You can read more about why the magazine exists and what we hope it does for readers on our purpose page, and the way a piece moves from first idea to publication is set out in how we put articles together.

Older and newer articles

Some of the stories here have been on the site for a while, and they cover a broader spread of subjects than our newest pieces, from table rentals to online football viewing. We revisit older articles from time to time and refresh them when details change. If you spot something that no longer looks right, our page on how we handle errors explains what happens next.

Get in touch

We enjoy hearing from readers, especially when a message starts with "we tried your idea and…". Suggestions for topics, corrections and stories from your own weekends are all welcome. The quickest route is our Say Hello page.