[18.09.2008] I've lived not far from Northampton for 4 years now and it's fair to say that I'm generally pretty rude about what the town has to offer and I don't venture into the centre very often - it always seems to be full of yobby kids and there's not a lot to excite me on the shopping front. However, if you take a small trip just out of the centre, there's a park that's well worth a visit. I lived in the area for over a [more]

[22.08.2008] For those not so familiar with Yorkshire geography, Bingley is a real place and not just half of the Bradford and Bingley bank which is probably what most people will think of when hearing the name. Its located just to the north west of Bradford, nestled amongst some really pretty hilly scenery. To be fair, I couldn't have told you precisely where it was until I stayed there recently when visiting a factory in Bradfo [more]

[17.08.2008] Although I have only actually stayed at the Black Lion for one night, I know this hotel really well and have seen almost every room in the hotel. I used to work for a company that used it as their hotel of choice for visiting colleagues and, since I was the person who lived nearest, I was a sort of unofficial taxi service for picking people up in the morning and I also ate there often with visitors (although given th [more]

[16.08.2008] I've never been to Arundel before which is a bit of a shame as it seems to be a lovely little town, if a bit over-supplied with antique shops and speciality little stores selling things you don't need, like a whole shop just selling walking sticks for example. I nearly didn't stay at the Town House and visit Arundel at all due to a bit of a 'cock-up on the communication front' with the lady who was helping to book me [more]

[16.08.2008] Stansted airport used to be like a second home to me. I worked in the joyless town of Haverhill about 20 miles away and I flew out of Stansted at least once a week for many years. It used to be a super little airport where you could turn up shortly before the flight, drop your car in the short-stay and fly off without any trouble, but as the airport has grown it's become a much less pleasant and convenient place to u [more]

[16.08.2008] To set things in context before I even start to describe my experience at the Ibis in Reading, I think it's only fair to confess that I hate Ibis hotels. With a passion! I really did wonder what I'd done to offend our secretary and get booked in one this week. I'm sure I didn't forget her birthday, raid the stationery cupboard or commit any other serious secretary-annoying offences. If there's one thing guaranteed to [more]

[10.08.2008] The Swan at Lamport is our most local up-market restaurant but we've hardly been there for the past couple of years because every time we decide to give it 'one more chance' we come away feeling really let down. It ought to be a fantastic restaurant and elements of it are outstanding - the trouble is that they never seem to be able to pull everything together at any one time. The location is great - well obviously [more]

[10.08.2008] The Han's my number one choice for good fresh oriental food in a pleasant environment. [more]

[17.07.2008] When I was a kid, I loved going to airports but as I grew up the whole airport experience started to become just a tedious part of life. Most of the time, airports are little more than slightly-glorified bus stations. So today, if I have a choice and if it serves the destination I need, my first choice is always Birmingham. Birmingham Airport is situated to the East of Birmingham, close to the point where the M6, [more]

[17.06.2008] I stayed at the Mill House recently and was simultaneously impressed and depressed by what I found. I liked my room, which was exceptionally pretty and I liked the setting but the food was poor, the service ‘patchy and the public areas just a bit too much like a 1980s country pub with no customers. Location The hotel is in the tiny village of Ashington, about ten miles north of Worthing and just off the A24. If [more]