Alentejo Portugal The ‘it still feels new’ experience of Heathrow’s terminal 2 is emphasised by swish shops, top class eateries (best bacon breakfast roll is from London’s Pride FYI) and incredibly the latest ‘essential’ electronic dispensing machine where you can buy Bose headphones before your journey. This ‘newness’ seemed most appropriate as I travelled to
The Henry Root 9 Park Walk London SW10 0AJ Tel: 020 7352 7040 I had been to The Henry Root before a few years ago but as it has recently relaunched I thought I’d better check it out. It sits at the end of Park Lane one of those lovely Chelsea streets that look like
Following The Grand Tour Lake Geneva Switzerland The subtle but lovely part of flying Swiss to Geneva is breakfast, a fresh pain au chocolate. And afterwards as you settle into a good book or a nap a basket comes round with the most divine chocolate bars, as a prelude to a country that says
Harrogate Yorkshire Consistently voted one of the happiest places to live in the UK the spa town Harrogate in North Yorkshire certainly doesn’t disappoint. It’s a gloriously Georgian city full of striking architecture and packed with independent shops and restaurants. It has also been voted one of the most romantic cities in the world
Porto Portugal Porto as we all know is the birthplace to that revered tipple Port. Despite a decline in popularity it has had many loyal followers over the centuries and continues to generate new admirers, including this writer. Even that great recorder of Dr Samuel Johnson’s work, James Boswell noted “Claret is the liquor
Isola 2000 and Nice France As incongruous as it sounds getting to the southern French Alps is best achieved by flying into Nice. The ninety-minute flight takes you to the land of yachts and the super rich with all those beautiful people to look. I was to discover more of this luxury later but first
The Duke on the Green 235 New Kings Road Fulham London SW6 4XG Tel: 020 7736 2777 Parsons Green is really Fulham. The Duke on the Green sits prominently in front of the green. It is a glorious Victorian pub that has retained much of its character despite the ravages of fashion to remove
Catford Constitutional Club Catford Broadway Catford London SE6 4SN Tel: 020 8613 7188 Over the last few years Catford has been fighting back from the perceived reputation of being a bit down at heel. But faith is being restored in this much-loved forgotten South London suburb. It is with a heavy irony that where the
The Butcher’s Hook 115 Dalling Road W6 0ET Tel: 020 8741 6282 Sitting in the middle of the Bermuda triangle of Hammersmith, Shepherd’s Bush and Chiswick and only 500 metres from Ravenscourt Park tube station is The Butcher’s Hook. Sister to the highly successful Fulham Road branch this relatively new outpost has hit the
Saltwood on the Green The Green Saltwood Hythe Kent CT21 4PS Tel: 01303 237 800 Saltwood on the Green is a village restaurant that could very easily be a backdrop to a Midsummer Murders mystery. Such is the quaint beauty of its location and the calm demeanor of the locals. I found myself here
Mauritius An island of dreams It might only be a tiny speck in the Indian Ocean but Mauritius is no lightweight when it comes to having fun. Lying between Africa and India with its nearest significant neighbour Madagascar some 2000 km away it is fair to say it has it’s own identity albeit made
Eating out in Nottingham The first thing to realise is that Nottingham has a tremendous choice of good food on offer. It’s very easy to get caught up the London bubble when it comes to restaurants. But if anything, London is guilty of muddying the water with its fads and fickle pop ups that
Nottingham Nottinghamshire Nottingham has several claims to fame the most prominent being the home to Robin Hood and his nemesis the Sheriff of Nottingham. It has an illustrious past in lace making and is still the home to Raleigh bicycles. It has another strange accolade, the most haunted town in Britain. My interest piqued,
Glazebrook House Hotel South Brent Devon TQ10 9JE Tel: 01364 73322 Between Exeter and Plymouth is a small village called South Brent on the A38. Off a smallish county lane you will find the entrance to Glazebrook House Hotel. The gate pillars are old and as you wind up the drive you haven’t got
Belmond Reid’s Palace Hotel Funchal Madeira As your car takes you through in the in out drive of The Belmond Reid’s Palace Hotel you might be forgiven for thinking you had arrived at a large cliff top villa not a local legend with over 180 rooms. It is beautiful in an understated way, there