Liverpool's family friendly restaurant.....What's Cooking

Heading into Liverpool with the kids at the weekend and looking for a family friendly restaurant that serves great food.....look no further than the multi award winning What's Cooking? in the Queen Elizabeth Hall on The Albert Dock which overlooks Liverpool's The Three Graces.  It's been serving up great food since 1978 and sources it from local butchers, farmers and bakers to provide you with the finest and freshest daily produce available from sustainable sources.



They're an American Diner style no-nonsense, TexMexin', Nachos and Cheesin',  Burger flippin', Chicken wingin', Steak sizzlin', Fajita wrappin', Drink pourin' sensation.....plus they have free WiFi, TV's in every booth and free DS Lite available for the kids!




There's always a great deal to be had too.....whether it's a 3 course meal deal for £20, a bucket of beer or a bottle of house wine for a tenner to the exceptionally priced 'Lets Do Lunch' where you get 2 courses for £10 or the Sunday Specials menu where you get 3 courses for only £15 all day long.....why should Mum cook for the family on a Sunday when she can relax and enjoy herself too.....Result!

                                                                                                         

Now if you're a fan of US TV series Man V Food this one's for you.....The Olympic Burger.....all you have to do.....is eat 24 ounces of ground beef in 24 minutes.....oh yeah, and all the trimmings.....and its FREE.....c'mon Dad are you man enough to step up to the challenge.....and if Dad isn't Randy Santell definitely is and you can watch him try live.....




You've seen the programme, you've winced at the challenges. Well have we got a treat for you! On 18th October What's Cooking will be hosting 'Man Vs Food' with 113 competition champion Randy Santel of Kansas City, America. 

During his UK tour Santel will be stopping of at Liverpool to take on the Olympic burger challenge. For those of you who don't know the challenge consists of 1 x 24oz beef burger with 6 rashers of bacon, cheese, onions, tomatoes and jalapenos as well as 2 sides of chili chips! Santel only has 24 minutes to devour this feast or he pays the forfeit!

                          

The Grassmarket Hotel

So you've heard about the Edinburgh Festival.....you're planning to go, have a few days in Edinburgh and take in some shows.....but where to stay?  Well your accommodation couldn't get any more Fringe friendly than The Grassmarket Hotel located in the hub of The Old Town at 94 - 96 Grassmarket.  It's in an historic location second to none, populated with shops, bars, cafes restaurants and Fringe venues not to mention that it's a stones throw from Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street and Waverley Station (890 steps away apparently, but who's counting).

Needless to say you don't have to wait until Festival time to visit Edinburgh, it's one of the worlds premier tourist destinations and with the great value for money accommodation on offer at The Grassmarket Hotel there's no excuse for not planning a visit at any time! 

The hotel has recently been refurbishing rooms and they've been shortlisted for the laterooms.com Best Kept Secret Awards in the Best Interiors category and it's easy to see why.....

.....and not only is it luxurious, it's probably Edinburgh's most family friendly hotel.....with Tunnocks Teacakes and a copy of The Beano and The Dandy coming as standard in every room!

Even when the Festival and Fringe aren't on, Edinburgh at night is an absolute delight with a host of pubs clubs and restaurants to choose from and many of the best are within a short walk of the hotel.  

The Witchery Dining Room

If it's dark, delicious gothic splendour you're after you have to visit The Witchery just a few yards away from the entrance to The Castle for a dining 
experience you'll never forget.

It has developed a world-wide reputation for its exceptional dining experience, showcasing the very best of Scotland's produce in the most magical of settings. Now in its fourth decade, the Witchery is a Scottish fine dining landmark, much loved by loyal locals, its celebrity fans and visitors to the city alike.

You wont get stung here.....

If it's a great pub you're after situated in the historic heart of Grassmarket, The Beehive sits in the shadow of The Castle and boasts a history going back around 400 years. With a drinks license thought to have existed since it was a 16th Century coaching inn, the present building replaced The Beehive Hotel in the 1860's. It incorporates a main bar, a satellite bar (The Honeypot), a 100 seat dining room, a meeting room and one of the best gardens in the city centre.

You wont have a
ghost of a chance

For an unforgettable, scary and spooky experience don't forget to book an award winning Cadies & Witchery guided ghost tour. Established in 1984, the Cadies have been scaring people from all over the world almost every single night since, and their walking tours have become one of Edinburgh's must-see attractions. 

For a truly inspiring shopping experience, look no further than Edinburgh’s Grassmarket.  From The Castle come down the Castle Wynd or Upper Bow steps to the Grassmarket for some retail therapy that gives you a true taste of modern Scotland.

The area is full to brimming with Scottish designers, artisans and independent merchants selling everything from gourmet food and drink and luxurious knitwear to cutting edge fashions, antique books and unique gifts. Most shops are owner operated; adding to the feeling that your shopping experience is truly special.

So have I convinced you yet.....not only is The Grassmarket area of Edinburgh a joy for the avid tourist, The Grassmarket Hotel is the jewel in it's crown.....and if you are heading to Edinburgh for The Festival I can only offer you this piece of advice from past 

experience.....

BOOK EARLY!

For the best rates it's always better to contact them directly through their website and if you're really lucky you'll catch one of the monthly offers of 10 'Mates Rates' rooms at £1 (are they mental) which you can find out about when you subscribe to their mailing list.

Just to prove they're not afraid of The Trip Advisor they even have a live feed to it on their website.....

262 reviews of Grassmarket Hotel in Edinburgh

Grassmarket Hotel

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

Based on 262 traveller reviews

TripAdvisor Popularity Index:^#111of 139 hotels in Edinburgh

Most Recent Traveller Reviews:

• 7 Sep 2012: “Stayed here our last night in Edinburgh. Loved the decor in the room, and bathroom! Had...” more
• 4 Sep 2012: “Had a wonderful stay at the Grassmarket during thje Fringe gestival for 3 nights The hotel...” more
• 2 Sep 2012: “When booking and paying in advance ( about 750 for 5 nights) we were encouraged by...” more
• 25 Aug 2012: “Having previously stayed here at the very end of 2009, finding the location to be excellent,...” more

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Ralph on Tour.....Llandudno

Here's a little twist on Ralph's Life where I get to go on holiday and blog about it!  The Old Dear decided his batteries needed recharging so I thought he was going to take me to Maplin, however it involved stuffing more food and drink into a car than is physically possible and heading to some big kennel in Wales (which is actually a country and not a big fish).  

Bron Berllan Uchaf cottage is on the outskirts of Dyserth village which is four miles from the seaside towns of Prestatyn and Rhyl (home of the legendary 2p machines).  It has 5 bedrooms sleeping 12, with 2 sitting rooms a dining room, a large kitchen/dining area separate toilet and two bathrooms with showers and it is extremely well appointed throughout.
  




Bron Berllan Uchaf, Bron Berllan
Hiraddug Road, Dyserth, Rhyl
Denbighshire, LL18 6HS.

You can contact the owner Mr J Scott directly on either 07974875019 or 02476725423 and tell him Ralph sent you!








The views from the cottage to the 
surrounding countryside are stunning and from the upper area of the grounds you have a lovely sea view over towards Kinmel Bay. 


There's an extensive patio area leading to a well kept sloping lawn where you can go and talk to some very nice horses in the next field!  To the front there's another nice lawned area but beware of the steep drop to the roadway over the low wall.


Once all the stuff was unloaded from the car and the double fridge/freezer was full it was time for a chillax on the patio where drink was plentiful and thanks to the chiminena blazing away much fun was had late on into the night.

Now one of the highlights of the week was our visits to the lovely seaside town of Llandudno with it's pier and spectacular esplanade situated between the Great and Little Ormes with two wonderful beaches, the award winning North Shore and the quiet, sand duned West Shore and and which has kept its Victorian and Edwardian elegance and splendour, despite its modern attractions.  

Having wandered the town's extensive shopping area and in need of refreshment, one of Ralph's favourite eateries was Kava , a charming little coffee house and licensed restaurant just off the main drag.  The staff are as attentive and friendly as the coffee and food is reviving and tasty!  After only one visit (like the bar in 'Cheers') they'll not only 'know your name' but remember your drink of choice.  

The highlight of several visits to Kava over the week was 'Corrie's' Les Battersby (aka actor Bruce Jones who was appearing in nearby Rhyl) having a cuppa with me (ok he was at the next table).  Apparently he wasn't overly starstruck by my presence so we didn't swap autographs.....









Now next door to Kava is a little shop that is very dear to my heart as it sells chocolate, and not just any chocolate as Grumpys is a traditional sweetie shop where you can take a trip down memory lane with their fantastic retro and old-fashioned sweets!

They have an amazing selection of traditional favourites as well as a plentiful selection of modern sweets! Every product listed has been chosen by Grumpy himself, and because of this they can be confident that you will be completely satisfied with your purchase!

Their shop stocks over 300 variations of sweets that you're bound to remember from your youth, and we're increasing our online product range every day. Remember; If you don't find exactly what you're looking for then please contact them and let them know. They'll do their very best to accommodate your requirements and seek out what you are looking for and you can order from Grumpys online!

There were only two downers over the week.  The first was missing one of Ralph's favourite groups Catfish and the Bottlemen playing Llandudno the day after I was due to leave (gutted).  On the plus side they're playing Sneaky Pete's as part of Ralph's favourite musical event EH1 LIVE on the 16th September in Edinburgh.  In the meantime here's a wee look at the video for their latest release 'A.S.A' and you can check out all their tour dates, music and merchandise on their website catfishandthebottlemen.com 

Second downer of the week was a visit to Rhyl Sun Centre, which I won't dwell on other than to say it's an overpriced, overcrowded, dirty, disorganized waste of two hours that I can't replace.  On checking the Sun Centre reviews by way of being even handed in my assessment I found that I was far from alone in my disappointment at what should be the main attraction in the list of things Rhyl has to offer the discerning visitor by way of entertainment.

Enough of the doom and gloom though.....highlights of the week were.....a visit to Dyserth Waterfalls

A stroll along the promenade in Llandudno only to be confronted by a seagull that thought it was a Pelican Crossing.....

We enjoyed a brisk 4 mile walk round the Great Orme at first in drizzly rain but half way through the sun broke through with the ensuing spectacular views.  Onwards and upwards to one of two hilltop cemeteries looking out over the bay and Llandudno rooftops. I must give a mention to the mental goats (not the name of a band) who inhabit the narrow ledges of The Great Orme!
Finally a mention to the beautiful Happy Valley Gardens opposite the pier at the start of the walk with it's Ski Slope and Happy Valley Cafe selling a Gold Award Winning Welsh Ice Cream.  A great place to sit, relax and take in the view at the end of a hard days walking!

Well the upshot is Bron Berllan Urchaf Cottage is the ideal place to stay in order to sample the delights of the Denbighshire and Conwy coastline.  Don't miss out on a coffee at kava in Llandudno and remember.....tell everyone.....Ralph sent you!

The Little House of Art.....Glastonbury

 Now if you're heading down to Glastonbury for the Pilton Party fund raiser (after the disappointing news of no festival this year) at Worthy Farm featuring Professor Green and The Vaccines, Supported by Zulu Winter and Manners on the 7th of September why not take the chance to check out the charming and unique Bed and Breakfast The Little House of Art only two minutes walk from Glastonbury town centre with its eateries, characters and unusual shops.  Why unique I hear you ask?  Well Martin and Sue own not just any B&B as it has its very own Art Gallery featuring the work of local artists. 

The accommodation consists of  two double bedrooms with luxurious Egyptian cotton bed linen and comfortable beds and considering the location and standard very reasonably priced from £65.00 per room, per night including breakfast.   A choice of delicious cooked breakfasts, including vegetarian is available using locally sourced organic produce wherever possible including eggs from their own chickens!  

There's a choice of a Private Bathroom with shower and full-sized bath - bath robes provided or a luxurious en-suite wetroom.  Wireless internet connection and digital TV/DVD with Freeview are provided with a wide range of  DVD’s available to view in your room.  There's tea and coffee making facilities and hairdryer in the rooms and the use of an iron and board is available on request whilst outside there's ample free parking.

Currently the featured artist is Sam Dunford from Poole in Dorset.   She specializes in Landscape paintings using oil paints on canvas. Her collection includes affordable Landscape paintings for your home, affordable paper prints of her landscape paintings, which are all handmade by Sam. She also welcomes commissions of landscape paintings from your photographs, visit her landscape painting commissions page for more details.  Sam's inspiration for her landscape paintings comes from everything, it can be from a walk around the Heath, a trip into town or just a walk into work.





Also featured are a number of 'Twitter' artists whose work can be found online..... 

Martin Lilley -  Photographs

Neil Gardner - Artist ngautoart.com  follow him on twitter @ngautoart

 Marilyn Ewens Painter - see more of her work at marilynewens.com

Emma Bradshaw: Painter withycombefair.co.uk  or on twitter @SAW_Ltd

Anita Pegler: Painter contact her via clivepegler@havenfarm.freeserve.co.uk 

Judy Blathwayt Painter contact her at judyblathwayt@btinternet.com 

Thomas Haskett Painter thomashaskettillustration.blogspot.com  on twitter @TmHaskettArtist

Jackie Curtis - Print Maker jcurtisart.com  follow her on twitter @jcurtisart

James Wedge - Painter jameswedge.com 

Alacoque Doyle - alacoquedoyle.com  follow her on twitter @alacoquedoyle

Jon Curtis - Potter - joncurtisceramics.com  follow him on twitter @Jonthepotter

Lucy Large- Artist lucylarge.com  follow her on twitter @lucylarge

Jenny Barron - Still Life jennybarron.co.uk @JENNYBARRON

Wendy Dunt - Ceramics merrymaiden.co.uk @wheelyworld

Sam Dunford - Artist samsart.co.uk @samdunford_art

Kathryn Nichols - Illustrator thedrawinghouse.com @thedrawinghouse

Julia Nairn - Artist Acolytehomeandgifts.com @myapplique

Paul Burgess - Artist paulburgessart.co.uk @PB_art

The Bed and Breakfast itself is situated within easy walking distance of all the major attractions like Glastonbury Abbey, Chalice Well Gardens and Glastonbury Tor.  A short 10 minute drive will see you in the historic cathedral city of Wells and the Somerset Levels Wildlife Reserves.  If you're feeling more adventurous it's only an hours drive to Bristol and Bath or the lovely beaches of Dorset and Devon on the world heritage site of The Jurassic Coast.

What's on in Glastonbury   

Follow Martin and Sue on Twitter and keep up to date.

Here they'll be providing information on what's happening in Glastonbury. Follow them on Twitter@arthousesue to keep up to date

Mid-Somerset Show Sheptom Mallet 19th August midsomersetshow.org.uk

Somerset Arts Week - 15th to 30th September www.somersetartworks.org.uk

Glastonbury Chilkwell Guy Fawkes Carnival2012 17th November 2012 The town centres largest event of the year with a procession of floats lasting all evening. A major spectacle, with collections for charity. The town is full of people and there is a great atmosphere.website

Glastonbury Frost Fair 15th December

Booking with Martin and Sue is easy. Simply click your arrival date, choose the number of nights you wish to stay and how many adults there will be. Click 'Check Availability' and you will be re-directed to their secure booking area where you can confirm and pay for your stay.

Room with private bathroom £65 per night incl breakfast.

Room with 4 poster and ensuite wet room £75 incl breakfast.






Secure Online Booking Instant Confirmation

Check Availability

Alternatively you can ring Martin and Sue on 01458 830485 and they will complete your booking for you.....tell them Ralph sent you.....


A scrumptious picnic Hamper with fresh produce, wine or
champagne, can be provided whether for the beach or a special occasion or treat yourself to Breakfast in Bed with a glass of Moet or Bucks Fizz? (option available during booking process) and breakfast is available outside when the weather permits.
 

Now the owners of some establishments cower in fear when the dreaded Trip Advisor website is mentioned (just ask Channel 5's Alex Polizzi, The Hotel Inspector) but not so Martin and Sue.  You can check their reviews of The Little House of Art safe in the knowledge they offer a 5* service at a very reasonable price.


Here's the latest Trip Advisor review.....

“A lovely B & B”

Reviewed 27 August 2012 

My husband and I stayed here for a long weekend, whilst attending a wedding in a nearby village.

The b & b itself is lovely - lots of thought has gone into its decoration, with art displayed on all the walls. We stayed in the poetry room, which was very sweet. Comfortable bed and spotless throughout. The weather wasn't nice enough to go out in the garden, but this looked nice. The b & b is a short walk to Glastonbury High Street, which was brilliant.

Sue and Martin were excellent hosts, advising us on local places to go and helping us with anything we needed. They made our three night stay very pleasant.

The breakfasts were fantastic. The vegetarian full English is one of the best I've had and my husband was impressed with the other options too. We would definitely recommend this b & b.