Month: October 2018

Part 1: Shopping in Swanage – lots of little surprises

Lindy Lou's Blog
If you visit Swanage make sure you don’t miss the many independent traders. Especially those located in courtyards between the main shopping areas of Station Road and the High Street/Kings Road East. Or on the High Street itself. All within a five minute walk you find tea rooms, coffee houses, artwork, gifts, a butcher and  hand-made chocolates.

 @ The Old Stables

The Old Stables is packed full of eccentric pieces for gifts or your home. art, photographs, stuffed fish, t-shirts, nautical theme items….. too much to mention. Located at 37 Commercial Street with a coffee corner and upstairs gallery.

JJ Moore- Butcher

Local small butchers are few and hard to find but JJ Moore can be found at 34 The High Street. I can recommend the lamb which is tender and always cooks well on a barbecue ( we camp a lot). A Swanage ‘ must visit’. Closes by 4.30pm

Curiosity Enterprises

Family owned gift shop operating since 1995 at 35 The High Street selling ornaments, bunting, party items, candles, cards and craft supplies. Find your inner pirate with lots of pirate themed items available items when I last visited.

Lucy’s Farm

In a back street courtyard, you will find Lucy’s Farm, an art shop selling memories of your stay in Dorset to take home. The artist and shop owner Lucy Tidbury creates moo selfies which are pictures of moos at various Purbeck and Dorset landmarks such as Corfe Castle or Lulwoth Cove.  Other work on sale includes moo mugs, tea towels, kitchenware, cards and paintings. Lucy’s Farm can be found a 7 Tilly Mead on Commercial Street, Swanage.

 

For more information…..

  • @ The Old Stables
http://www.facebook.com/theoldstablesswanage
  • Curiosity Enterprises
http://www.curiosityenterprises.co.uk
  • Lucy’s Farm
http://www.lucysfarm.co.uk

 

Part 2 : Shopping in Swanage- lots more surprises

Lindy Lou's Blog

Love Cake etc

Love Cake menu
Cream Tea
Award winning jam
Cafe frontage
Love Cake menu
It’s fair to say, that when in the West Country it’s important to find a good cake shop and to tick off the cream tea from your ‘Holiday Must Do List’. Love Cake etc delivers on all fronts. Describing itself as a Café, Deli and Cake Emporium. You can find this treasure at 42 The High Street serving locally sourced artisan coffee & teas, cakes and Dorset cream teas from their on-site bakery.

Chococo

Chococ ice-cream sundae
Sample chocolate with coffe
Chococo chocolates
Menu
Chococo’s forcourt
If handmade chocolate is your secret vice then Chococo on 21a Commercial Street is for you. Describing itself as a ‘Cocoa Central’ selling award-winning chocolates which are made in-house as well as ice-cream sundaes, drinks and cakes from its bakery. A lovely quiet courtyard retreat away from the high street to have a quiet rest. Seats both inside and out to enjoy your coffee or Purbeck ice-cream sundae.  Or even to try some naughty luxury chocolates made from Dorset cream sold next door to the cafe.

Budgens

You might think that I have lost my mind by including Budgens in this blog. It is only one of two supermarkets in Swanage and for several miles until your reach Wareham. Budgens at 36 Station Road is my ‘goto place’ to pick up local produce such as Dorset cheeses, ham, pates, tea, jams and chutneys. Tomatoes from the Isle of Wight and luscious River Cottage Organic yoghurt made with Guernsey milk and fruit at the bottom. ‘ From Dorset with love’ jam and curds are highly recommended especially their Passion Fruit Curd.

For more information…..

Love cake etc
http://www.facebook.com/lovecakeetcswanage
http://www.lovecakecatering.co.uk
Chococo
http://www.chococo.co.uk
Budgens
http://www.budgens.co.uk

Malmaison Brighton

Lindy Lou's Blog
New Year’s Day 2017 brought a treat. A one night to stay at Hotel Malmasion, Brighton.
Previously know as Hotel Seattle, in 2016 it was taken over by the Malmaison Group . We last stayed at the hotel a few years ago, so we were keen to see what changes had been introduced to this boutique hotel.
Brighton Marina and new flats
Brighton Marina at dawn
We stayed in a double clubroom with sea view.  The balcony had views of the marina and we were a little surprised to see that a block of flats spring up on one side of the marina that used to be a harbour wall. Also, the number eateries in the marina seemed to have doubled since our last visit.
Wall paper in club room
Headboard and cushion
On our that last visit, the room had started to look past its best due to the easily marked cream walls. The room was spacious and fully refurbished. The wall paper and headboard were themed in the typical dark Malmaison colours that you would expect. Complimentary chocolates and strangely two green apples greeted us on arrival. The room was well equipped with a mini bar, hairdryer, iron & ironing board, Lavassa coffee machine, kettle and safe. For tech lovers there were amble plug sockets around the room.
Bedroom art
Room decor
Disappointingly, I couldn’t attach my iPad to the back of the Samsung TV as it was too close to the wall so had to use mirror screening instead. The coat hangers in the wardrobe were so high you could have difficulty reaching them. Sadly, no bath but a large shower. I loved the electic designs of the wall paper, cushions, lighting and pictures in the room. The king size bed and pillows were very comfortable and I enjoyed an excellent sleep.

Food…..

On arrival we had lunch in the hotel restaurant which was empty apart from two other tables. I can recommend the ribs and crème brulee. Next day the breakfast didn’t disappoint and the staff were very efficient and friendly.

IMG_1486

Especially in the colder and wetter months, I have to admit that more than once we haven’t ventured out of our hotel room.  The rooms are so comfortable and warm. After all, you need to get your money’s worth! Sea air, good sleep, good food….. it’s definitely the place go to for a good shot of R&R.
I am sure we will be back and maybe will try one of the hotel’s cocktails or an afternoon tea.

For more information…..

Hotel Malmaison Brighton:
Brighton Marina, Brighton BN2 5WA
http://www.malmaison.com

 

Botany Bay Hotel- Broadstairs

Lindy Lou's Blog
If a break from London and sea air is your desire then the Botany Bay Hotel near Broadstairs, Kent may be the answer. Set on chalk cliffs looking out to the English Channel with Botany Bay beach a short walk away.
Botany Bay Hotel
Outside view of feature room
Botany Bay Hotel
During World War Two this property was commandeered by the Royal Navy for Wrens to stay in. The turret was used as a watch tower. In 1960, it became a hotel called The Fayreness. Until 2014, when it was refurbished and renamed the Botany Bay Hotel. For beer lovers the hotel is owned by the Kent brewery, Shepherd Neame.
Views from feature room
Arriving on a Sunday in March, we snatched a bargain break for one of the best rooms in the hotel – the feature room with sea view. The room included large windows with panoramic views, a comfy king size bed, seating area looking out to the coast and a balcony with table and chairs. Beware some rooms just have Juliette balconies. The hotel and rooms are decorated in a nautical theme with local pictures of the Kent coast.
A welcome surprise, in addition to the normal tea-making facilities was a Nespresso coffee machine! Excellent Wi-Fi was available in the room but the large TV disappointingly only had five channels. In the morning, I was able to enjoy a long luxurious soak in the large bath.

Food…..

It’s lovely to have a Sunday dinner that you don’t have to cook yourself. Even better not to have pots and pans to wash afterwards?
So we were looking forward to the Carvery Sunday Dinner available all day on Sundays. Unfortunately, we arrived too late for the Carvery? Nevertheless, I had a lamb roast dinner and my partner, had fish and chips. The bar had a wide range of affordable good wines.
In the morning as always, we looked forward to the breakfast which was included in the price for the room. Sadly, although hot it didn’t live up to expectations or the description in the menu. Portions were miserly and let the hotel down. ‘Locally smoked kippers ‘ meant one kipper! Pancakes with banana and bacon came with a few slices of banana and small snips of bacon. Not a rasher in sight. Nowhere to be seen were the croissants and yoghurt mentioned in the menu. Staff were friendly and service was good both in the evening and morning.

The Beach…..

Botany Bay beach is less than a minutes walk away from the hotel. This Blue Flag quality beach was used for smuggling years ago.  A visit at low tide in the evening can offer lots of surprises amongst the rock pools.
Donkeys near St Peters
Donkey near St Peters
Cabbage field at North Foreland
North Foreland lighthouse
North Foreland lighthouse

Nearby…..

Margate and the Turner Gallery is less than 3 miles away.  Closer to the hotel is Broadstairs, Joss Bay and the North Foreland Lighthouse.

For more information…..

Botany Bay Hotel:
Marine Drive, Kingsgate, Broadstairs, Kent  CT10 3LG
http://www.botanybayhotel.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

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