I remember reading about the beautiful rooms at the Fox & Anchor when they first opened, a few years ago. I no longer recall which travel magazine or supplement featured them, perhaps more than one, but I do remember being drawn by the modern styling and funky bath tubs. I’ve tried twice in the last ... Read more »
Phoenicia Rising
We had a marvellous fortnight in Lebanon, as will already be clear from my recent posts about the overall trip and our day with Abu Kassem. After our Taste Lebanon tour was over, Pete and I stayed on in Beirut for 3 extra days, basing ourselves at The Phoenicia hotel, part of the InterContintental group. ... Read more »
Fifteen Cornwall
There can be few people who’ve not heard of Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen, the project he established back in 2002 to help disadvantaged young men and women to train as professional chefs. I’d heard of it too, but didn’t know a great deal about it until I was invited to visit Fifteen Cornwall earlier this year. ... Read more »
Ben Tunnicliffe at The Scarlet
The Scarlet Hotel‘s restaurant is in the very capable hands of Ben Tunnicliffe, formerly of The Abbey in Penzance, where he earned a Michelin star for his cooking. Ben gives a frank, informative and sometimes amusing account of his cooking career on the hotel’s website. He also reveals his food philosophy which boils down to ... Read more »
Love Shack, that’s where it’s at! (Scarlet Hotel, Cornwall)
If you see a faded sign by the side of the road that says ’15 miles to the love shack’, love shack, yeah, yeah I’m headin’ down the Atlantic* highway Lookin’ for the love getaway, heading for the love getaway I got me a car, it’s as big as a whale And we’re headin’ ... Read more »
Hotel du Vin Cheltenham
This time last year I had a disappointing experience at a Hotel du Vin. I’d been wanting to stay at one of the chain’s modern, funky hotels for some time and finally made a booking at the Bristol property, known as The Sugar House. Our stay was let down firstly by a particularly poorly planned ... Read more »