candidtraveller
Restaurants
The Inn at Lathones: Stylish Dining at St Andrews, Scotland
Just outside St Andrews, a short drive south on the A915, is a jewel in the crown of independent eateries in Scotland. Behind the unassuming facade of the Inn at Lathones lies a restaurant that is, at best, deserving of its two AA Rosettes, but at the very least, worthy of much more. Focusing on fresh … Continue reading
Northern Belle; The Orient Express on Scotland’s West Highland Line
It was only eleven o’clock, and I was cautiously eyeing my first ever Bellini and wondering whether drinking alcohol this early was a good idea. Not when I had an article to write and there was the promise of Champagne – Laurent-Perrier no less – a little further down the line. But the tall monogrammed glass, … Continue reading
Verve Bar & Grill, Village Urban Resort Dudley
After travelling all day, and with two hungry kids in tow, I feel tired and considerably underdressed. I’m sitting in a contemporary booth in the Verve Bar & Grill restaurant of the Village Urban Resort Dudley, and I’m wearing jeans, a T-shirt that barely made it through a sticky visit to Cadbury World, and a … Continue reading
Garden Restaurant, Stone House Hotel, England
Dining at the Garden Restaurant is both enjoyable and surprising, in equal measures. When I visited on a busy Friday evening with my husband and two young children, I was delighted to discover that we weren’t relegated to a ‘child-friendly’ section of the dining area – you know, the furthest corner of that upmarket restaurant, … Continue reading
Dine at the Boathouse, Cameron House
Part of the Devere Group of hotels, Cameron House is one of those iconic locations that attracts travellers from around the world, keen to enjoy not only its sumptuous facilities, but also the stunning surroundings of Loch Lomond. And as you might expect, a hotel of this standard doesn’t let itself down when it comes … Continue reading
Get Fresh in Las Vegas
Welcome to the middle of the Nevada desert, home to the bright lights and big fun of notorious Las Vegas. With such a liberal attitude to entertainment the city has earned itself the arguably well-deserved title ‘Sin City’, and it features regularly in Hollywood movies with equally relevant scripts. But let’s not dwell on the … Continue reading
Monte Do Casal; An intimate boutique hotel in Portugal’s Algarve
Nestling on the sloping hillsides just north of Faro on the southern Portuguese coastline is a delightfully romantic hideaway that you’d have to look twice to notice. A stone’s throw from the Algarve’s popular tourist hotspots and bustling sandy beaches, the Monte Do Casal is a charming boutique hotel that offers a five star service … Continue reading
Brothels and Bagels; A View into Secret Paris
Somewhere beneath the Parisian streets, in a secluded basement on Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, is the wonderfully historic Delaville Cafe. With its rather dubious, and certainly notorious history as a popular brothel, it’s undoubtedly not the sort of place my mother would like to find me in; but it’s clearly proud of its past, clinging to … Continue reading
Las Ramblas Tapas, Glasgow, Scotland
Located in a quiet back street, just off the main road through upmarket Bearsden in Glasgow, is an unassuming building that houses one of the best Spanish Tapas restaurants this side of Andalucia. Las Ramblas is an authentic slice of Spain from the food through to the deçor, although you might not think it at first … Continue reading
Pump Room Restaurant, Roman Baths, Bath, England
To step into the Pump Room Restaurant in Bath, is to seriously step back in time. The room, which would once have been an important gathering place for ancient Romans, is still every bit as ornately designed as I imagine it would have been all those years ago. High, lofty ceiling complete with sparkling chandelier, … Continue reading
Mulberry, Bishopstrow House, Warminster, Wiltshire
Mulberry is the new restaurant at the stunning Bishopstrow House in Wiltshire, part of the successful and desirable Von Essen group of hotels. So, with a top-class name like that behind it, it stands to reason that I was expecting great food and superb service when I visited recently. And I’m pleased to say that … Continue reading
Frankie and Benny’s, Milton Keynes, England
I love dining out, but if there’s one thing that always frustrates me and guarantees I won’t leave a tip, it’s poor service, and sadly that’s exactly what I got when I stopped in at Frankie and Benny’s in Milton Keynes’s Xscape the other evening. I was travelling from Glasgow to London for an early morning … Continue reading
The Clachaig Inn, Glencoe, Scotland
The Clachaig Inn, a stunning restaurant and hotel in the heart of the Scottish countryside. Located at the foot of the Aonach Eagach ridge, and across from the Pass of Glencoe’s Hidden Valley and Bidean nam Bian, one of the highest Munro’s in Scotland, is the delightful Clachaig Inn, a whitewashed stonebuilt tavern that offers … Continue reading
