Merch Mates is an independent UK pop culture publication covering film, television, music, gaming, fandom, and the Disney parks. It was founded in 2021 by George Patient as a place to cover all of the shows, films, music, games, and franchises he was already engaging with.
The site regularly publishes reviews, news, rankings, guides, and other long-form features across all of the above categories. There are dedicated hubs for Star Wars, Harry Potter and Disney. There's also a Disney Parks section, an area George is particularly engaged with — including live wait times, guides, and other information specifically tailored to Walt Disney World.
There's also a Discover section where you'll find tools like a movie picker, Spin the Reel, and a binge calculator built specifically for readers of the site. As Merch Mates is independent, there's no media group or editorial calendar set by anyone else, so what gets published tends to have more thought and research behind it, and is usually linked to one of the fandoms the site typically covers.
George is the founder, editor, and writer. He runs the site alongside a day job working across digital platforms and marketing, and has written every piece on the site since 2021. More about him, the things he covers, and what he's currently watching or listening to can be found on his profile page.
If you've spotted a typo, got a story tip, or just want to say hello, drop us an email at contact@merchmates.co.uk.
A quick map of the site — pick a hub, dive into a tool, or browse the editorial.