From pasties, tea and The GC… how bizarre TikTok trend is changing the way the world views British culture
QUIRKY British culture is going viral thanks to a bizarre TikTok trend fuelled by the return of Oasis and Charli XCX’s “brat girl summer”.
But while we are mostly known for our love of fish and chips, tea and orderly queueing, the #Britishcore hashtag highlights a different side of UK culture.
People online are going wild for more oddball British habits including Greggs, Wetherspoons in Folkestone, Corrie character Gail Platt and Towie’s Gemma Collins.
Louisa McGillicuddy, a trend specialist at TikTok’s UK operation, said: “From the phenomenon of Brat to the excitement around the Oasis reunion, the TikTok community in the UK and beyond have been embracing all things Britcore.”
GREGGS-CELLENT GRUB: It looks like jacket potatoes and Greggs bakes are the new fish and chips, according to TikTok.
One post, which is racking up thousands of views, notes: “The British aren’t lying about Greggs. This place is so good. I will always come back for a steak bake.”
Visitors have also been flocking from all over to sample the jacket potatoes from an old tram in Preston.
Run by Harley and Jacob Nelson — known as the Spud Brothers — their videos have been viewed 1.5billion times this year.
SUPER SPOONS: Forget historic hotspots such as Oxford and Bath, Folkestone in Kent is now a hit — for its pubs and shops.
One TikTok account tells viewers: “Folkestone has an incredibly grand Wetherspoons. It’s like a presidential palace. There’s one branch of Lidl, no branch of Aldi and one Iceland.”
One American influencer’s UK wish list includes going on a “cheeky Tesco run” and “pints with the boys”.
BEST OF BRAT-ISH: Charli XCX’s strappy tops and distressed denim are more likely to be on TikTok hits than floral dresses and flip flops.
Along with her style, the British singer’s album Brat sparked the “brat girl” summer trend, said to celebrate “sweaty party-girl chaos”.
CUPPA LOAD OF THIS: American videos of teabags brewing in mugs — not pots — and tea-making tutorials are getting huge hits online.
TikTokkers show how to make the perfect cuppa and warn to “never refuse a cup of tea” and “never add your teabag after the boiling water has been poured”.
A REAL GEM: Move over The Beatles and Rolling Stones, Britishcore now celebrates with clips of Gemma Collins and Corrie’s Gail Platt.
One clip, with almost four million views, even shows a US cinema worker who is enjoying lip-synching to a clip of The GC.
THIS IS NOT JUST CAKE . . . Marks and Spencer’s Colin the Caterpillar cake has replaced the classic Victoria sponge as a crowd fave — and gained quite a following.
US pop star Olivia Rodrigo was amazed when presented with the M&S treat, which was seen in a video viewed 2.7million times.
She says: “I feel bad cutting this up, it’s so beautiful. I’ve no idea what this is but it’s a great idea”