For those of you unfamiliar with Winchester, it’s a cathedral city steeped in history. With that history comes great beauty. Many of the side streets in and around Winchester Cathedral are stunning with the buildings capturing bygone eras. The cathedral itself stands at the heart of historic Winchester, once the seat of Anglo-Saxon and NormanRead more
There is something so special about going out for lunch on a Sunday. Yes, it’s great not having to cook and wash up obviously but it’s more than that. Being with your friends and family, catching up on the previous week’s news, sharing laughter and of course eating delicious food does us all the worldRead more
Firstly I need to send out a massive apology for going AWOL. August was a blur of daily hospital visits to my beloved Nanny’s bedside which resulted in me never finishing my August round-up. I lost my mojo as I saw her fading in front of my eyes and in all honesty, I am unsureRead more
Bill’s on Gandy Street, Exeter has recently undergone a bit of a refurbishment. Goodbye partition walls piled high with jams and chutneys and hello colonial Caribbean/1930’s speakeasy. Plush velvet banquette seating, lush green palms and sparkling chandeliers create the most wonderful setting that is so “on point” at the moment. I have to admit, theRead more
I am not going to lie, in the past, my experiences of dining at Hotel Du Vin, Exeter have been disappointing. From the waiter asking if a table of three could make do with 2 knives otherwise he would have to go “all the way to the kitchen” to get another to being forgotten aboutRead more
The Swan Inn, Lympstone has been at the hub of the local community for years. It offers a cosy interior complete with exposed oak beams and fireplaces that are perfect to snuggle up next to whilst sheltering from the inclement Devonshire weather in winter. In the summer it has one of the busiest beer gardensRead more
The seaside town of Exmouth has been having a bit of a foodie resurgence of late. Cafes, bars and restaurants seem to be opening their doors left, right and centre which certainly has given the slightly old fashioned town a well-needed boost. I tend to save my trips to Exmouth for bank holiday beach walksRead more
The season for festive gatherings, merriment and feasting has arrived. December seems to have crept up on me from nowhere! Where has the year gone? It only seems like yesterday that we were basking in the warm (dare I say hot) sunshine from one of the best summers in recent memory. Last Sunday my festiveRead more
I must confess this isn’t my first visit to Comptoir Libanais, Exeter. I have been quite a few times before but never has it been warm enough to be offered a table outside. What a treat indeed. The weather of late has been outstanding and being able to dine on Lebanese food in the warmRead more
Having visited Le Vignoble, Bath a few months back I was eager to head down to its older sibling in Royal William Yard, Plymouth. With the day starting rather drearily after all the fabulous sunshine, Steve and I headed off on the train to Plymouth hoping that the sun might show its welcome face yetRead more