Our Editor’s Guide To Stockpiling

If the news cycle is anything to go by, we have an unfortunate announcement to make. The end is nigh. This morning, the government announced with their Be Ready campaign that all Britons should start stockpiling food and water to prepare for the climate crisis, technological dependency and threats by hostile states. 

One Country & Town House member has been prepared for this moment for a while now: our very own Editorial Director Lucy Cleland began compiling her stores when she moved house last year, and since then has gathered together a rather comprehensive collection of supplies in preparation for what’s becoming an all-too-real crisis. 

With the country descending into panic, we asked her to share some words of wisdom on how best to prepare ourselves to survive an emergency situation. 

‘People who know me or who are followers of C&TH have an inkling that I have slight prepper tendencies,’ Lucy says. ‘Turns out we all should, and I’m not sure it’s that odd after all. What do I keep? Here’s my list… though not in full – you’d be shocked!’

What To Stockpile For An Emergency

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Food

70L of Water 

We may take for granted our ever-flowing taps with drinkable water – a whole industry of water bottles has grown out of this privilege. But in case of emergency – droughts, Thames Water redirecting its untreated sewage straight into our faucets (at this point, we wouldn’t put it past them) – hydration may be taking a more pre-bottled turn. Lucy recommends 70 litres – hopefully enough to get a family through a few days of tea drinking and teeth brushing – but we may have to put away our Stanley Cups and keep excess water drinking to a minimum.

600 Teabags

This might be a particularly British essential but it’s an essential nonetheless. We’re a nation built on tea. For morale, for warmth, for caffeine and energy – if it’s gotten us through two world wars and one world cup, it can get us through anything. According to the UK Tea and Infusions Association, we drink about 100 million cups a day – 36 billion per year – so Lucy’s bet of 600 bags should be about right. 

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11 Cans of Tuna

2026 has been a big year for tinned fish. We’ve been guzzling sardines in the morning, promised that the oils and omega 3 will give you glossy locks and glowing skin – but going back to basics, tuna has long-been known as a cheap, filling and high protein cupboard filler.

1kg Peanut Butter

If the tuna is getting a bit too fishy, peanut butter is another great source of fat and protein (and we’ll need a bit of blubber to keep us warm when the heating goes off). On the bright side, it’s a good excuse to start eating it by the spoon… 

1kg Mixed Nuts

Keeping on theme, a giant bag of mixed nuts is not only ideal for keeping fuller for longer, but the variation makes the food experience a little less monotonous (humour us, we’re clutching at straws here) – never before has a cashew been so exciting!

Superfood Porridge

Put the Ottolenghi cookbook away – now is not the time for black limes or za’atar. We’re in lockdown, and any cooking that gets done will be a two-ingredient performance: porridge oats and water. At least a superfood version of the breakfast essentials will offer some much-needed nutrients.

Assorted Flapjacks

Carb- and sugar-maxxing is perfectly acceptable in these trying times, and thanks to the excess of golden syrup, flapjacks are a cakier biscuit-alternative that keep for weeks (if you can look past them going a bit stale). Note the word assorted – you’d be surprised at how much a chocolate chip or dried cranberry can make a difference to your culinary experience when you’ve been living on tins of tuna for two days. 

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Assorted Biscuits

A crunch is a rare privilege when your diet is one step away from space food. With an assorted pack of biscuits and the flicker of candles, you could even make-believe it’s just a cosy festive evening in… maybe. 

Assorted Chocolates

Adding a sliver of good cheer to the apocalypse, an assorted box of chocolates is essential – even the Bounties will be eaten by the end. Just tread carefully; you only have 70L of water to get you through, so chocolate-induced nausea is not an option. 

Supplies

Candles

When we think of buying candles in 2026, it’s usually a fragrant Diptyque, or an elegant tapered one to decorate a dinner table. In an emergency, though, vibes will have to take a back seat – multi-holdered candlesticks are ideal, but if not, whatever gives the most light and (minimal) warmth. 

AA & AAA Batteries

Why is it that every drawer has a stray battery in until you need one? With almost everything plug-inabble, our reliance on batteries are becoming a rarer and rarer. But if the power turns off, they may be our only source of energy, so make sure you’ve got one on hand to power up that torch you’ve dug out of the loft.

Wind Up Torch 

Speaking of, while candles might be great for ambience, they’re not so good for digging around in dark corners (accidental arson is never a great addition to an already high-stress situation). Make sure you’ve got one on hand – ideally wind-up, in case of the aforementioned battery shortage. 

General First Aid Kit

With all that stumbling around in the dark, who knows what could go wrong? A first-aid kit is essential for any tuna tin-cuts or bumps in the dark. 

Paracetamol

Paracetamol should always be on hand to mask any aches or pains long enough for them to pass. And given that you’re likely to be spending 72 hours straight with your loved ones, you may be more prone to headaches than normal…

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Camping Stove & Burners

Your kettle has almost certainly stopped working, but there’s tea to be brewed and porridge to be cooked! It’s time to dredge up those Duke of Edinburgh Award camping skills from the back of your memory bank and figure out how to use a camping stove, as it might be the only real source of warmth you receive for a few days. 

ROCAM Wind Up Radio

With no Wi-Fi, your BBC sounds app is unlikely to provide much solace. We’ve all been talking about going analogue, so maybe this is a good excuse – a ROCAM wind up radio doesn’t rely on mains power or those pesky batteries, so you’ll still be able to have some contact with the outside world. 

SAS Survival Guide (Book)

It’s fairly undeniable that the 21st century has made us all creatures of comfort. Very few of us know how to tie a proper knot, let alone get through the apocalypse – so while a survival guide may seem a bit extreme, when we get down to it it’ll likely provide some tips you didn’t know you needed. 

48 Loo Rolls

Realistically, we don’t know how long we’ll be trapped in our houses for, and while hunger is hard, the agony of going to the toilet and finding that there’s no toilet paper is harder. Better safe than sorry – time to order in that box of Who Gives A Crap bog roll. 

4 x Water Wipes

Anyone who’s tried to wash up using cold water know how unsatisfactory it is, so unless you’re planning on whipping out the camping stove every time you want to wipe your pits, water wipes are a non-negotiable.

Dog Food (24 Pack)

It’s not just us we have to consider in these situations – our furry pals need sustenance too. Make sure to prep everything your pets will need – including extra water. 

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‘I see absolute zero harm in keeping a certain amount of supplies – if you have the space, and the spare cash – to have some supplies at hand,’ Lucy tells us. ‘Whether it’s a power outage that lasts a day, or something more serious, it’s far better to be safe than sorry – plus it means I’ll have more to share with neighbours.

‘Furthermore, I keep a spare petrol can in the car – I don’t want to be queuing if I need to get somewhere and there’s a shortage.’