Rosie Corriette

Notes from a retired blogger

Tag: Days out

  • Arundel Castle | Days Out

    Arundel Castle | Days Out

    Arundel Castle, one of those days out that is so British – nestled deep in West Sussex, close to the coast between Chichester and Worthing we enjoyed a spur of the moment adventure.

    The word castle I don’t think is a fair appraisal of Arundel Castle – from the private chapel, to the grand room and the various living rooms open – not to mention the very bedroom that was designed for Queen Victoria to stay in – it has more of a palace feel.

    There is so much history, which is not surprising as with nearly a thousand years of history.

    There are a number of ticket types, gardens only which are extensive – we were lucky to visit during the Tulip festival which was outstanding. To visit inside the castle, there is a general ticket and a type that includes the bedrooms. We opted for the general (this does include Queen Victoria’s bedroom) and found it to be more than enough. Both Castle tickets give access to the keep: it is steep at times, but the views are worth the climb.

    During our visit, we were helped along by guides who weren’t just there to help the flow but who were genuinely knowledgeable – a skill that is needed when you’re in the company of a fact thirsty 10-year-old.

    The Duke of Norfolk is considered the Premier Duke of England a fact that seemed to score bonus points with Boo: who knew there was a hierarchy of dukedoms.

    Arundel Cathedral, the Catholic cathedral church completely separate from the castle is the foundation of the diocese of Arundel and Brighton. Rising impressively over the town, it can be seen from the castle’s keep – we all know I love a Cathedral so running out of time has guaranteed our return to Arundel.

    Getting there
    Arundel train station is less than a 10 minute walk away and is served by trains from London Victoria with a regular service. If travelling by car there’s a car park directly opposite Arundel Castle and it was ridiculously cheap to park for the day so much so I had to check the app again and again – think the cost of an ice cream for the full day.

     

    The town
    Whilst you could get lost in Arundel Castle for a day or ten, the castle is on the edge of Arundel town itself. A small yet perfectly formed town Arundel is great for losing yourself (easily finding your way back to the main drag) along the small streets, popping into the numerous antique and collector shops with plenty of pubs and coffee stops too.

     

    Eating

    Whilst there is a restaurant and cafe within the castle itself it’s always nice to get out and explore the town; we settled on independent Italian restaurant for lunch, La Campania – its exterior is a hybrid of chocolate box come treasure trove which makes sense when you learn that it is a converted traditional pub. A set menu is availble at lunch and is easily one of the best hidden gem lunches we’ve had in a long time, a must if you’re visiting Arundel.

    Arundel is almost too big for it’s boots – I’m not sure you can do it justice in one day, with the cathedral next to the Castle, the town and surrounding countryside with all the walks that come with it; Arundel is a day out that will deliver again and again.

     

  • Puttshack Brunch Club | Review

    Puttshack Brunch Club | Review

    What do brunch and mini golf have in common? Well quite a lot actually if you ask Puttshack with the launch of their brand-new brunch club offering at the weekends.

    Brnaded beer mat help up in front of a bar

    Ahead of the launch we were Invited to a special preview brunch at Puttshack Bank. Let’s start with the food because let’s be honest it’s pretty important it’s a two course brunch offering. For the main we went for the eggs Royale and the chicken waffle both were amazing and cooked really well.

    chicken waffles and egg on a blue plate

    eggs royale on a blue plate

    For dessert we shared a cheesecake and churros my personal favourite was the cheesecake definitely recommend going for that. Now all too often the mere mention of free flowing ‘bubbles’ invokes an involuntary eye roll from me as you just know it’s going to be really rather hideous; but not this time. The prosecco served with brunch was not only palatable it was really nice, with a good depth of flavour and no lingering acidity – something that really stood out.

    churros and cheesecake on blue plates

    With a resident DJ the vibe is definitely party-esque and fun but it’s not over the top or overbearing, you can still hear yourself think and hold a conversation; it adds to the atmosphere it doesn’t dominate it – I think that’s really good Puttshack have got that balance just right.

    Brunch finished and it was time to tee off – It’s worth noting at this point that I am absolutely atrocious at mini golf and that’s absolutely fine my putting partner stole the golf show and won tremendously I was there to add the humour, as you can see from this hilarious action shot. Honestly it was just an achievement that I hit the ball in the right direction! Mini golf is all about friendly competition and not taking yourself seriously.

    Woman holding mini golf club laughing

    Ticket wise there are two options: a premium ticket will get you brunch which includes 75 minutes of unlimited Prosecco beer or a Mocktail +2 courses and a game of mini golf afterwards for £45 or a standard ticket gives you the brunch and booze without the mini golf afterwards for £40. It was a great day date for us, yet equally would be perfect for larger groups. 

    branded putt held in woman's hand

    Whilst Puttshack itself is open to children it’s worth noting that the brunch is available to 18+ only.

    And if you’re still not done after all that fun, then there’s a bar with a nothing mini about it cocktail menu to keep you entertained.

    two cocktails on black table next to black menu

    Brunches are in danger of becoming a bit stale – so anything that is fun (without being gimmicky) is a winner for me; that’s exactly what Puttshack Brunch Club have done here: a great core offering of brunch with lots of fun that doesn’t feel forced or rushed. 

    Puttshack brunch club is available every other Sunday at Bank and you can book online here.

    Disclosure: We were guests of Puttshack for the purpose of this review.

  • Ely Cathedral

    Ely Cathedral

    The perfect trip from Cambridge, we spent the afternoon in Ely – with no visit to the Cathedral city complete without visiting the gothically imposing Ely Cathedral that rises from the surrounding fens, perched on the hill of Ely.

    Exterior upshot of medieval cathedral

    Ely Cathedral is breathtaking, rendering visitors speechless at it’s scale and intricacy. I have a thing for cathedrals and religious architecture – I think it’s the complexity and nuance of the messaging contained often within what could be mundane structures: windows, pillars etc. The present Cathedral dates back to 1083, with an Abbey church originally being built on the site as early as 672AD.

    Upshot of intricately decorated octagon and lantern ceiling of Ely Cathedral

    Ely Cathedral is open daily (take care to note when events and services are on and be respectful) – as it was a breezy and damp Friday afternoon in March we found the Cathedral quiet with no wait to enter, however it is advised to prebook your tickets.

    Friday afternoons are organ practice so whilst (beautifully) noisy at times we were treated to the most delightful sounds as we wandered round. The cathedral unlike may of its’s counterparts in bigger cities isn’t full of crowds, meaning your visit is leisurely and let’s face it: much more enjoyable.

    colourful stained glass window depicting Noah's Ark

    marble statue of a man laid on his side in front of stain glass windows

    Self-styled as a medieval engineering masterpiece, the description is perhaps the best that could be said about Ely Cathedral – if you can look past the stained glass windows that are some of the best examples (from the Victorian period) with immense intricacy, the marble carvings that are more lifelike than any selfie could every hope to be – what you see is an engineering feat that is magnificent both on a level of scale and complexity. The nave is, well I’ll leave the words to you…

    Up shot of a nave of a cathedral

    As always I’m fascinated by graffiti, not the kind you see tagged on the side of a bus stop but the worn away type -medieval in this instance – that tells a story of the people who lived our their lives within the cathedral.

    Stone slab with medieval graffiti

    This lesser known Cathedral may be off the beaten track but is no less when it comes to beauty and awe. A truly worthwhile addition to a visit to Cambridgeshire and one definitely not to be overlooked. 

    Tickets and tours can been be booked online ahead of your visit. 

  • An Afternoon in Ely

    What better way to extend a micro city break than to add to an easy afternoon out onto it. That’s exactly what we did when we headed to Cambridge for 24 hours. Ely is 12 miles outside of Cambridge. The best way to get there is by jumping on the train, taking less than 15 minutes and costing a little over £3 return.

    We left our bags at the hotel we’d stayed at in Cambridge – I always recommended on ditching the bags if possible, even if it adds a little more time on to your day it’ll be worth it as you won’t be dragging them around and will be free to explore.

    Ely’s skyline is dominated by the imposing Cathedral – read more about our visit to the cathedral here – and no visit to Ely would be complete without a heaven gazing stroll around the magnificent cathedral which dates back to 1083, you may even find yourself recognising parts as scenes of The Crown were filmed there. 

    Exterior upshot of medieval cathedral

    As well as Ely Cathedral, Ely is home to Oliver Cromwell’s House – somewhere I wish we‘d visited; a reminder to plan our next trip as there would have been ample time.

    Thirsty from our cathedral gazing we settled in at one of the many pubs and spent a few hours playing backgammon and drinking beer – a truly indulgent way to spend an afternoon. 

    Pint of guinness next to wooden backgammon board in play

    A cathedral city, Ely is compact and more like a small town – easy to find your way around whether you’ve parked up or walked in from the train station.

    A very late lunch beckoned so we headed to the Royal Standard – a pub and hotel – and the oldest building on Ely’s Fore Hill, dating all the way back to the 15th Century; perfect for a lazy lunch with a great gin selection. There was plenty of seating available, yet it was an off season Friday afternoon so something to bear in mind if planning a trip in the summer holidays. 

    The quaint streets that surround the medieval masterpiece that is the Cathedral offer plenty of exploring with lots of small independent shops – the charm of Ely is you can come just for an afternoon and be satisfied or decided to return with your bags next time for an extended stay.

    Cream shop front of a stamp auction house

    Ely is I imagine just one of the many destinations that I’ve overlooked and will be added to the list of places I’m looking forward to revisiting. 

  • The Gruffalo Live

    The Gruffalo Live

    “A mouse took a stroll in a deep dark wood, a fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good…” I only need to say these words and Boo will scamper and fetch her beloved and somewhat tattered copy of The Gruffalo. Since it’s publication in 1999, The Gruffalo has become part of modern day childhood so what better treat to kick off the Christmas holidays than a trip to Vaudeville Theatre in London to watch The Gruffalo Live.

    Boo-at-The-Gruffalo-Live

    Boo didn’t need any persuading as we headed up on the train, she loves the Gruffalo and sat patiently waiting for the show to start as we chatted about her favourite part (apparently that’s not fair, and she loves it all!) The show was brilliant, with a great cast who managed to fit in a few jokes for the parents… All I say is Whack’im is the funniest snake you’ll ever meet.

    The-Gruffalo-Live-London

    The Gruffalo Live is like the book, it has something for everyone: from a 4 year old who knows it word for word and you can see the magic glisten in her eyes to parents who take pleasure in making such fun memories, thanks Gruffalo for a splendid end to what has been a fantastic 2015! Boo couldn’t agree more and what better way to celebrate than with a Shirley Temple at Byron after the show!

    Boo-at-Byron-Burger-And-Cocktail

    Disclosure: We received complementary tickets for the performance. All opinions are 100% honest.