Soho House can do no wrong in my eyes. From the recently refurbished original Soho House to the Electric Cinema in Portobello Road to White City House to The Ned – I love them all and I’m not even a member! Here, we have their latest opening, a roadside motel and diner by the name of Mollie’s. It sits next to the BP Garage on … Continue reading Mollie’s Motel and Diner
We won’t talk about my first visit to the Mariners in Rock (just a short boat ride over the estuary from Padstow) back in the day when it was owned by Nathan Outlaw. Let’s just say it left me feeling cold. Freezing cold. It was good news then to hear Paul and Emma Ainsworth were taking it over. I’ve been a fan of this husband … Continue reading The Mariners, Rock
Apart from a thoroughly decent Easter chocolate range at Waitrose (that chocolate teapot was lush) Heston Blumenthal’s been a bit quiet as of late. He’s had no UK openings for some time. What he has got is a collection of great restaurants that have been consistently-so for a while. One of those is his Michelin starred pub in Bray, Berkshire, just a few doors down … Continue reading The Hind’s Head, Bray
Our visit to Parkers Arms starts with a stunningly beautiful drive from Cumbria to a small village called Newton-In-Bowland in Lancashire. The views are breathtaking. An ordinary looking pub on the outside it may be, but inside, next to the open fire, it’s cosy and quaint. We feel at home. Service is as warm and the surrounds. Two young chaps, efficient and switched-on, and AJ … Continue reading Parkers Arms, Newton-In-Bowland
We’re in Amsterdam for a few days, staying at the new Soho House, which comes highly recommended. (You don’t need to be a member to stay there FY)I. A pleasant 20 minute stroll away is SUSHISAMBA. We start with a Smoked Plum Negroni and green bean tempura with black truffle aioli (£8) out on the terrace. We’re right by the canal watching the peddle boat … Continue reading SUSHISAMBA, Amsterdam
Ask a Hampshire local (Hey, Dad!) and they’ll tell you Heckfield Place has been a long time comin’. Five years in fact. It’s easy to see what’s taken so long when you drive through the manned front gate, up the winding path through the forest and arrive at the Georgian mansion facade. It’s a looker. The website is full of twoddle like “THE GROUNDS ARE … Continue reading Heckfield Place, Hampshire
You might know Adam Reid from Great British Menu and his ‘Golden Empire’ pudding which he cooked at the banquet. You might also know The Midland hotel in Manchester from the time Simon Rogan had a restaurant there. It’s all changed though… You’ll find Adam Reid at The French here now where it’s all multi course menus served in a fancy dining room. Two giant … Continue reading Adam Reid at The French
It’s not often you’ll find me in Birmingham, lesser still Moseley, a suburb of south Birmingham. But a breezy three hour drive from London and you’ll find Michelin-starred Carters of Moseley. It was seeing chef and owner Brad Carter on Saturday Kitchen that inspired the trip and I’m bloody glad we bothered. It’s a simple dining room; small service bar at the front, kitchen with … Continue reading Carters of Moseley
I first knew of chef Scott Barnard after eating his food at the now-closed restaurant at The Grove where he was sous chef. He then went on MasterChef the Professionals where he came second. I was excited then to hear he’s now running the kitchen at a new place called Crockers Chef’s Table. It’s an interesting set up; just 14 seats round the counter of … Continue reading Crockers Chef’s Table
The menu at Paco Tapas, a small tapas bar on the Harbourside in Bristol, is one that makes you want to order the lot. It’s unsurprising really as it’s a restaurant from the Sanchez Brothers (named after their father, Paco) who own Casamia next door. This is more a rough and ready affair with stool seats and high tables in a small space playing loud … Continue reading Paco Tapas, Bristol
Part of the Calcot Collection, which consists of 7 hotels, restaurants and pubs across the UK, Calcot Manor is the jewel in their crown. Sprawled across 220 acres of Cotswolds meadowland it truly is a stunning place. Our one night stay is in a Large Family Suite called The Woodchester and although we arrive child-less, I imagine it’s the perfect space for a couple and … Continue reading Calcot Manor, Gloucestershire
Regular readers of this blog (hey Dad!) will know I’m a big fan of Corbin and King restaurants. From Brasserie Zédel to Colony Grill there’s something about the slick service and always-solid cooking which keeps me going back. The Wolseley is the jewel in the crown for owners Jeremy King and Chris Corbin, described on the website as an “all-day café-restaurant in the grand European … Continue reading Café Wolseley, Bicester Village
If you only have time for one breakfast in Paris, you really should check out Frenchie to Go. It’s the creation of Gregory Marchand, who owns Frenchie just next door and also Frenchie in Covent Garden, London. It’s a cute little Parisian street with a butchers, greengrocers and coffee shop all within spitting distance. As the name would suggest, Frenchie to Go isn’t a full-on … Continue reading Frenchie to Go, Paris
There are no two ways about it – Rosewood London is a fine example of what a hotel is all about. I’ve written previously about the hotel’s glorious suites and pastry-dazzling restaurant on the blog. I was excited then to see what their Parisian sister, Hotel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel, had to offer. It’s a veritable fun house of beautiful bits and bobs. From … Continue reading L’Ecrin, Hotel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel
Massimo Bottura is the chef and owner of 3 Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana, voted number two in the World’s 50 Best list. He’s also been the subject of a Netflix Chef’s Table, he’s helped saved millions of pounds’ worth of Parmigiano Reggiano and he runs pop up soup kitchens using surplus food to feed those in need. A busy boy you could say. We’re in Florence, … Continue reading Gucci Osteria by Massimo Bottura, Florence
