Posts Tagged “Surrey”
Restaurant Quality. So many of us love the spice and complexity of authentic Indian food. Now we have an alternative to the local take-away. Mandira’s Kitchen can deliver delicious meals to one’s door. Mandira moved to the UK with no cooking skills. She missed the tastes of home but spent the next 17 years working…
We had visited this delightful and intimate hotel before (read my reviews here). The Garden House is part of the Beaverbrook Estate and the smaller of the two hotels, the other being the lavish and imposing main house which was once the home of Lord Beaverbrook, one of the most influential men of the last…
We are blessed, in the Home Counties and Greater London, with a wealth of fine hotels. There are boutique hotels, glitzy city hotels, former ancestral piles, and then there are those few gems which are timeless and utterly charming, and they might combine a little of all of the above, and in memorable fashion.. That’s…
I live only a short bus ride, or an even shorter train ride, from Kingston. I am there very often for retail therapy at the Bentalls Centre, and a frequent visitor to the large Chinese, Japanese and Korean supermarket. I enjoy the historic daily fruit and vegetable market. But I have never thought of Kingston…
There is a new stylish hotel in Kingston and it’s a Hilton. But why Kingston Upon Thames? Well, it’s a good location for a decent hotel for business or pleasure, in an area which seems to have something of a lack of such accommodation. But why would you want to go to Kingston, anyway? Kingston…
The Beaverbrook Estate is vast. The main house (to be completed as a hotel of distinction later in 2017) is baronial. But there is another hotel which is part of this well-appointed complex and it’s unique. The Garden House is on a more human scale than the main house which was once the home of…
Visitors to London are tempted to stay just in the city. There is plenty to see and do, so why roam? It’s the same for us Londoners – we tend to stay in town, but there is more to England than that and it’s on our doorstep. You must visit The Talbot. Ripley is a…
The Talbot has history. It’s typical of coaching inns all over the country and this one, in particular, has a story – well, probably many. It is said to have provided the venue for assignations between Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton in 1798. There is a brass plate bearing Nelson’s name on one of the…
People say it’s all about location. That’s probably true, as there is no finer spot than CAU in Kingston on a hot summer evening. Sitting outside with just a footpath between the diner and the Thames, one can bask in warm contentment, lifting a glass and the silverware being the only exertions. The team behind…
The town of Godalming is situated in the countryside in southern England but not far from London. Its narrow streets are lined with many historic buildings. It’s a town with history. The name means “of the clan of Godhelm”, and the Saxon settlement of Godalming was first recorded in the will of King Alfred the…
Sounds like the title of an improbable fable or fairy tale but here it all is and not far from London. Yes, there is more to Britain than just the tourist attractions of our Capital. It would be a shame to come here and just visit those well-publicised spots. Churt is an old village even…
We might be in London for a short holiday. We see the sights, monuments, museums. We shop till we drop and we are swept along by throngs of others looking for the same delights of retail therapy. But there is another vision of England. It’s that ‘green and pleasant land’ of manicured gardens, country houses…
This is a lovely spot on the River Thames and well patronised by shoppers during the day and socialisers in the evening. But despite its modern façade, Kingston has history and how a lote of restaurants such as Côte. It belonged to the king in Saxon times, as its name suggests, and was the earliest…
Brooklands is rather unique. It straddles contemporary design and the historic connections that its very name evokes. One might not be familiar with Brooklands Hotel but almost everybody will have heard of the Brooklands Racing Circuit. The restaurant is called 1907 and that doesn’t refer to seven minutes past seven in the evening. It’s the…
I live in West London but whenever I consider a weekend break I turn right instead of left at the end of the road. That takes me to central London with the thronging crowds, fuss and rush. Lots of excitement, it’s true, but it hardly constitutes relaxation, and perhaps if I turn left there could…
I have had a coffee at Carluccio’s a time or two. Its branches are all bright with a contemporary Mediterranean air. Cool blue and turquoise, banquettes and vinyl tables. Yes, Carluccio’s is a great spot for an espresso. Every catering company or supermarket has its range of Christmas fare, and it was at their recent…
Richmond is that leafy and rather posh terminus of the District Line. It’s got swanky river frontage, historic buildings and The Green skirted by homes of the rich and famous. A good location for some decent restaurants catering for the discerning high-end palate. The latest addition to the Thai Square group has arrived on the…
The Kerala Group was started by Mr. Haridas, more than 30 years ago. Often described as impresario, restaurateur and philanthropist, he started his career at the Indian High Commission in London and the Lions Group of restaurants. He now owns 12 restaurants and catering businesses in the UK specialising in Keralan South Indian cuisine. In…
Cobham, Surrey: a new magnet for those seeking a fine Indian dining experience. One looks at this green and leafy corner of the Home Counties and it doesn’t immediately speak to you of all things exotic and subcontinental. Yes, there are plenty of Indian restaurants in Cobham but we have found one that is exceptional…
Richmond, Surrey, is classy, there is no doubt of that. Its long riverside terraces attract those wanting a river view along with a glass or two of something summery. OK, that’s true when the sun’s shining, but summer is short and the weather gets cool. However, the well-appointed high street is buzzing all year round…