A Perfectly Formed Boutique Hotel in Stockbridge Edinburgh – Nira Caledonia. Thinking of visiting Edinburgh? Stockbridge is one of the few central parts of the City that still has a village feel to it. On the edge of what is known as ‘Edinburgh New Town’ – built from the 1760s to the 1830s after an […]
Burgh Island Hotel – Devon Art Deco and Decadence
The Great White Palace – Burgh Island Hotel – channel your inner Agatha. What better setting for a murder mystery than an island. Perhaps that was why Burgh Island inspired not one but two of Agatha Christie’s novels (‘Evil Under the Sun’ and ‘ And Then There Were None’). Or was it just because she […]
The Black Bull at Sedbergh – Review
Enjoy an award-winning culinary experience whilst savouring some serious countryside. England’s Lake District is rightly known for its famous fells and fabulous vistas. But the county of Cumbria contains many more atmospheric attractions down roads a little less travelled. Just off the M6, the ancient town of Sedbergh stands as a gateway to the glorious […]
Rothay Manor – boutique hotel in Ambleside – review
Finest of fine dining and accommodation in the heart of the Lake District You have to hand it to those merchants of old Liverpool who came to the Lake District – they could spot a great place for a country retreat, somewhere to escape the stresses of nineteenth-century living. They also had the brass to […]
Channels Lodge Hotel – Essex
A perfect staycation in the Essex countryside at Channels Hotel. I’m a Londoner through and through, and for me, life in the city has many advantages. During lockdown though, I’ve longed for a break in the countryside and plenty of fresh air. Since restrictions have been lifted and the hospitality trade has reopened, I’ve particularly […]
Hotel Indigo Bath – Staycation and Dining at The Elder
Boutique comfort at Hotel Indigo Bath with excellent food at The Elder Restaurant. A second winner for the Hotel Indigo/Mike Robinson pairing We recently heard about the opening of the latest Hotel Indigo in Bath. We’ve loved the way that this quirky line of hotels has evolved and we’ve already visited a few, in London, Stratford-upon-Avon, […]
Devon Staycation – The Food and Drink of Devon
An awfully big foodie adventure in Devon A two-week staycation in September turned from my second choice holiday into the best fun I’ve had since lockdown began. This summer, like many others, we would have been abroad if COVID had not scuppered our plans. We decided that a staycation would make a welcome alternative and […]
Great Fosters Historic Hotel & Gardens
Take a break from the “new-normal” and discover a right royal retreat near Windsor. You know you’re in for a treat when you turn into the gravel drive and approach the distinctive façade of Great Fosters, once a hunting lodge used by Henry VIII and his daughter Elizabeth I and now a four-star pile of […]
Seeking a staycation? Why not enjoy a warm, Windsor welcome?
Less than an hour from London, Windsor offers all you need (plus a castle) for the perfect staycation. You’ll be surprised by Windsor. You think you know it: familiar due to its royal linkage and recent weddings; a castle you’ve seen so often on TV you could draw it in your sleep. But when […]
Hotel Indigo Manchester
The perfect staycation in central Manchester For the past couple of years, I’ve been travelling up and down to Manchester delivering or visiting my daughter at the university. Discovering this vibrant Northern city has been a real pleasure and I have come to love the amalgamation of old and new architecture, with clear evidence of […]