We are now open! The long awaited Hawkchurch Resort & Spa is now open to the public.

Hawkchurch Resort & Spa is our brand new resort for 2015, take a sneak peek of some pictures from our VIP weekend.

Hawkchurch Resort & Spa has been extensively redeveloped, built from the ground up, and has been transformed from a former tenting and touring caravan park, in to one of the most relaxing sanctuaries in Devon. All surrounded by the magical views of the Axe Valley, it is sure to be one of the most desirable and relaxing holiday destinations in the South West, and is ready just for you. The fully equipped gym, glorious Hydrotherapy pool and indulgent Ezina Spa are all ready to relieve the tension and stress from your life. The beautiful lodges are primed and ready for you to take a break and put your feet up. Enjoy the serene surroundings, and marvel at the beautifully decorated reception and restaurant, The Beeches. The perfect place to relax and forget your worries.

take a sneak peek here…

And here is the amazing team that you will be meeting on your stay, all friendly faces for your relaxing break away…

So plan your next Darwin Escape at Hawkchurch Resort & Spa, book now for your rejuvenating holiday break, or if you are interested in holiday home ownership at this stunning resort, book a park visit now to have a look around.

Another beautiful destination and stunning location for Darwin Escapes.

What would you do if the Zombie Apocalypse hit today? And what if you were on holiday?

Well don’t fret! I am fully prepared for such an eventuality, and I am willing to share my secrets with you lovely readers!

So with the CDC in America disaster-scoring each city, and realistic films like World War Z being released (watch with caution!), it feels like everyone is preparing for this. Matt Mogk, the founder of the Zombie Research Society (which is a REAL thing by the way!) has said it is “not a matter of if, but when”. He says the zombie plague may not be for 100 years, or it could be tomorrow, we just don’t know, so it’s best to be prepared. Now the ZRS website is full of great tips and has over 350,000 members, with experts like an active US Navy officer, and a Harvard Medical School Professor (not kidding!)

The ZRS starts with the rule of three; stating you wouldn’t survive 3 minutes without air (no shocker there), 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food (pretty sure this is less for me, I start feeling funny when I haven’t eaten for 2 hours!). However in my expert opinion, my first top tip is to watch the film Zombieland, if you are reading this after the apocalypse started, well tough luck, you should have watched it when you could have, Woody Harrelson was hysterical, you really missed out!

Anyway let’s read on and make sure we aren’t zombie fodder in one of our luxury holiday homes…

supplies – food for thought!

It’s always about food with me, we know this. On a Darwin Escapes holiday break you can enjoy the glorious food from many of our delicious restaurants. This is still the case even after the zombie plague, just pop on over to the kitchens, avoiding those pesky brain eaters, and sit back and relax while enjoying a 3 course, 5 Star, meal. If you want something to take back to your luxury zombie safe house, drop into one of our on-park shops, all of them hold the essentials to get you through – and a few luxuries to indulge in too. Take a stroll back to your safe haven and cook up a storm in the fully fitted kitchen. Don’t forget the washing powder, we even have washer/dryers in some, so you can stay clean and presentable, should any other survivors pop over for a cuppa! As for water, well put some bowls on your lovely, private, outdoor decking area to gather up that falling rain. The classy decking is also a great place to start your post-apocalyptic herb garden! Don’t forget to use some mesh wire to keep those zombie hands off your grub!

safety – by this I mean weapons!

So in this situation our amazing Go Active resorts are in luck, with a selection of bow and arrows and crossbows floating around, there is a great supply of personal safety weapons here! And there are even testing ranges to make sure you don’t take any eyes out of the living too (please don’t touch these unless there is a zombie apocalypse though folks, we do still have health and safety!). For those not in the Go Active resorts, don’t panic, everything around you is a potential weapon! Every stunning holiday home holds a fire extinguisher or two, this is a great battering ram for those up close fights with undead, as well as a great fire safety feature! All our lovely holiday homes come fully equipped with everything you need for self catering holidays, including frying pans – again great personal safety weapons, turn that zombie face into a pancake face! To protect yourself during the zombie scuffles, why not grab the toilet seat for a first class and luxurious shield (again don’t do this until the zombie plague! We still need to use the toilet until then!). Now our holiday homes do sometimes have bottled gas – this should be conserved to keep you warm, however you can use a little to create a fire to get rid of the annoying zombies (please be careful, fire is just as dangerous as the zombie – if there is no zombie DO NOT TOUCH this gas bottle!)

location –safe but comfortable!

Yes you need a safe location for a zombie safe house, but it also has to be comfy and have some luxuries or you’re going to be completely bored! Our luxury holiday homes are very safe, secure and easy to barricade from unwanted zombie visitors. But we also have some great luxuries, from the little things like a dishwasher (who wants to wash the dishes with a apocalypse going on?). To full sized baths so you can have a relaxing bubble bath, and showers to keep extra clean (just because it’s the zombie plague, doesn’t mean your hygiene has to slip!). We also have great luxuries like flat screen TVs with Freeview, (to keep up to date on the zombie information) DVD players to curl up and watch a film, and a selection of board games. You can sit on the sofa playing your favourite game or watching you favourite movie, with the curtains closed so you don’t see the zombie fella outside trying to join your party (he might like Beauty and the Beast too!). At our brand new Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat we even have our one-of-a-kind tree house accommodations, perfect balance of luxury, with a glorious view from the decking area, and safety, being tucked away in the tree tops on the Isle of Wight (probably away from all the mainland zombie chaos). This stunning resort will open in 2016, let’s hope the zombie plague holds off until then!

plan B – always plan for the worst!

Okay so if you’re sitting in the spacious, beautifully designed and decorated living area of your holiday home, and you find the zombie’s just wont leave you alone, there are a few back up plans. If you didn’t watch Zombieland you were clearly not taking this possibility seriously, and it’s impressive you made it this far (kudos!) So the first thing you need to do is grab the frying pan from the kitchen (not just for tasty bacon guys!) and then run to hide in the ensuite, it’s the safest place because nobody will think a holiday home will have an ensuite, but a Darwin Escapes luxury holiday home does! (we don’t just give you the great holidays folks!) And if all else fails, run to the on-park Spa, get a face mask (green or grey colour is best) paint your face, stick your arms out in front of you and blend in, go make some new friends!

okay so what did we learn today?

We need to check Facebook regularly, and if you hear it on the radio/TV it is not a prank! Get yourself down to a Darwin Escapes luxury holiday home as soon as possible. Watch Zombieland, make sure you create a herb garden and water station on your private decking area, close the curtains on nosey zombies who want to watch your movie on the flat screen TV, hide in the ensuite (nobody will find you!). And if all else fails, use a face pack to blend in and make some new buddies – start practicing your zombie moan now!

Darwin Escapes giving you luxury UK holidays and keeping you safe from brain-eating zombies!

Good Luck and Happy Adventuring Ladies and Gents!

Disclaimer – not all holiday homes and resorts offer all of the luxuries mentioned, make sure you check zombie-proofing amenities before you book!

If you’re staying at Cheddar Woods then The Lion Rock Tea Rooms are a must-visit! Welcome to another Love Local blog dear readers…

After a fantastic stay at Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa, this month’s ‘Love Local’ blog features a lovely tea room at the foot of Cheddar Gorge. The Lion Rock Tea Rooms can be seen all along the Cheddar high street, a beautiful, bright blue beacon filled with goodies!

the tea rooms

 

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Now we all know how I feel about food, especially cake, I am aware how much I talk about it! But The Lion Rock Tea Room is spectacular. The building was once three stone mason cottages and dates back to the 16th Century, inside you can see all the nooks and crannies, with the low ceiling adding a cosy feeling, it was converted and established as a tea room in 1908. The building has seen many changes over the years, even surviving the great flood in 1968 and more recently winning the UK Tea Guild award of excellence in 2011/12 and 2013. The inside has a cosy atmosphere, with plenty of seating, there is cake to look at as soon as you walk through the door (always a good sign in my book) and the modern, simple, flowery décor adds a touch of class too! It was a lovely, cosy afternoon tea, safe from the very wet and dark day outside, however if you manage to get some decent weather, the tea garden outside is a stunning place to eat, it is partly undercover so you could eat out in the rain if you really wanted to!

plenty of choice and great service

 

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Everyone at The Lion Rock is friendly and attentive, they always had a ready smile and really knew about the food and tea they were serving. They create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, nothing seemed to be too much trouble, they cater to gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan diets. As well as taking care of any well behaved dogs that turn up too, and if they are very good they may even get a special doggy treat (Scooby snacks?) We had to leave Hugo at home this time, but really look forward to taking him next time!

At the tea rooms they offer all sorts of mouth-watering dishes, from soups and paninis to homemade fish pie and garlic mushrooms, as well as a cooked breakfast if you are out for a stroll early on. Everything looked and smelled amazing but for me, as always, it was all about the afternoon tea!

afternoon tea

 

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There is something so civilised about afternoon tea, it makes me feel like Jane Austin in The Pump Room back in the day. I shared my afternoon tea with the husband (now known as Hugo’s Dad) – who was also impressed with the spread we received, coming from a man who has eaten three steaks and two puddings in one meal before… We had a selection of ham and Cheddar cheese and onion finger sandwiches, perfect for us, Hugo’s Dad had the ham and I indulged in the cheese and onion. We then moved on to the scones, they were still warm from the oven and tasted amazing, much to Hugo’s Dad’s delight, who went on to steal a lot of the clotted cream, not that I’m holding a grudge… my mouth is watering just at the memory! And top all that deliciousness off, we both chose the chocolate fudge cake, and what a doorstop of a slice we got! It was simply scrumptious and as I couldn’t finish it, from being so full, I admitted defeat and took the rest of it home in a box. We had a pot of the house loose leaf tea, Miles, which was so nice we bought some to take home! I could not fault this lovely tea room and it is easy to see why it is the only award winning tea room in Cheddar. They go above and beyond to be friendly and welcoming to everyone that walks through the door, all while offering delicious food and a glorious selection of tea, coffee and sumptuous hot chocolate.

This is a must visit place in Cheddar, do not miss out on the chance to have a lovely, relaxing time and outstanding afternoon tea!

Hugo’s Dad and I recently went for a lovely weekend break away at Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa, totally pet free! What a treat! Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa is nestled in the stunning Mendip Hills, all the lodges are spread out around the resort, giving the feeling of privacy and peace to everyone and with the glorious woodland surrounding the resort you’ll feel safe and secluded in a magical land! (not like Unicorns kind of magical, more like responsibility-free magical!)

It was beautiful, relaxing and fun all in one weekend, also we didn’t have to get up for the dog in the morning, bliss!

read on and find out how it went…

what about the digs?

The weather was not on our side, as it rained the whole weekend, but we didn’t mind at all. The resort is beautiful all year round and has something for everyone no matter the weather; from the great outdoor Go Active programme, including swimming activities at the indoor pool too, to the indoor bowling lanes, pool tables and golf simulator, something to keep everyone busy, and not forgetting the great Eden Spa too. Here you can get some relaxing treatments throughout your stay, we didn’t stay long enough to make time for this, don’t worry I won’t be making that mistake again. Our lodge was stunning, had every essential we needed (including the heating on ready for our arrival!), plenty of room for the two of us, plus extra if we needed it! We had a good old route through the drawers and cupboards, (because we are nosy, and everyone else does it) and we found Monopoly and the kids game cube, including snakes and ladders and draughts, our wet weekend was saved! There was also a DVD player in the living room, and the option to rent DVD’s from reception, however we came prepared with our own selection (The Big Bang Theory, Arthur Christmas and The Inbetweeners 2 Movie …guess which was my choice).

adventure is out there!

Although the weather wasn’t great we still ventured out to explore the local area too, located just 50 minutes away is Bath, the hubby and I wandered around the Christmas Market and the historic city centre. We managed to get Hugo some treats and a toy, we did miss him and God forbid we go home without something for him! We also travelled 30 minutes through beautiful countryside, to Glastonbury, where we visited the Frost Fayre and saw the colourful and quirky high street shops. There were loads of book shops, stunning clothing shops and a shop called ‘Imaginarium’ which I just had to explore, I managed to find an amazing new Frankenstein-themed handbag, I wanted so much more there!

We also visited the town of Cheddar, which is much closer, only a 5 minute drive from Cheddar Woods. Although it is only small there was a lot to see, obviously the awe-inspiring Cheddar Gorge was top of the list, and it did not disappoint. The sheer size of the Gorge is amazing, and we saw a lot of people walking their dogs up there too, along with the loveable goats and sheep wandering around the mountain, so we are looking forward to taking Hugo next time! We stopped by the charming Lion Rock Tea Rooms for afternoon tea, I’m a sucker for cake we all know this, and we dropped into the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company shop and saw the tons of different cheese varieties, and managed to sample the goods of course!

it always comes down to food…

When we arrived we had a delicious meal at the Cheddar Woods bar, both having the Darwin Burger (loyalty at its best here!), with a side of onion rings, it was beautifully cooked and very filling! A must try if you are visiting, a burger topped with bacon and cheese…(Homer Simpson mouth-drooling moment). The day after, we decided on a takeaway, so we popped into the local town of Cheddar and chose the busy Chinese takeaway, it was very tasty, if a little pricey! A great foodie trip for me, Cheddar Cheese, afternoon tea and cake, glorious burger and a Chinese takeout, can’t go wrong really!

We had an amazing weekend at Cheddar Woods, and Hugo’s Dad loved it so much he has made me promise we will be going back next year, and taking Hugo with us too! I can’t wait for our trip back either, one of many Darwin Escapes holiday breaks next year!

Check out our selection of locations and have a Darwin Escapes holiday break too? Go on, spoil yourself and tell me all about it!

Happy Adventuring Guys and Dolls!

‘Said the Hatter with a sigh “It’s always tea time…So recently I was lucky enough to be treated to a visit to the Mad Hatters Tea Room in Chester, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tell you lovely lot all about it!

I think I’ve made it clear that I love food, but what you probably didn’t know is that I love Alice in Wonderland too, it was actually the theme to my wedding! I love all versions: from the classic Lewis Carroll book, the Disney cartoon to the brilliant Tim Burton adaption – they are all wonderful in my opinion. So to go to a place called the Mad Hatters Tea Room and have food? You can only guess at my excitement! Be warned I may ramble on a little in this post, sorry (not really…)

‘i knew who i was this morning, but i’ve changed a few times since then…’

The historic city of Chester was originally founded as a Roman Fort in 79AD and is one of the best preserved walled cities in Britain. With a number of medieval building and beautiful Victorian restorations, this stunning city is steeped in history, and this multi-award winning tea room is situated in the unique building of the Rectory. The Grade II listed building adds a touch of ‘wonderland’ and eccentricity to the Mad Hatters Tea Room, the building was probably built in the 15th Century, and was rebuilt and given to the St Michael’s Parish as a Rectory house in 1659. It was then altered again in the 18th century, and has been decorated and restored throughout its history, you can still see, however the 17th century timber frames, plaster panels and the form of the galleried hall open to the roof. A stunning and interesting setting with lots of nooks and crannies to explore.

‘why is a raven like a writing desk?’

Open since 2011 the Mad Hatters Tea Room have gained a huge following, and rightly so as they are very passionate about food, both savoury and sweet! The very talented bakers were featured in ITV’s ‘Britain’s Best Bakery’ in 2014 and in Channel 4’s ‘Heston’s Great British Food’, and are also in some up and coming TV productions too, so keep your eyes peeled! The bakers love to experiment and the Mad Hatters theme gives then huge scope to keep creating new and exciting flavours to try, like the upside down pear and ginger cake, raspberry brownies and the delicious looking walnut whip whoopie pies to name a few! They love the fun and quirkier side of life and the tea room has a warm, welcoming and relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy breakfast, elevenses, light lunches and, of course, afternoon tea.

‘imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality’

Imagine a world of cake, any flavour you could wish for, this is what the Mad Hatters Tea Room is all about! Endless, delicious food and a huge range of tea! They have everything from Camomile, mint humbug, pina colada and oolong (black dragon tea, I would have had this just for the name!) to green and normal breakfast tea, something for everyone! They also have a great selection of coffee, soft drinks and milkshakes! There is a great hot chocolate drink everyone should try, the KOKONOIR Hot Chocolate, it comes with a real Belgian chocolate stick to stir until it melts into your drink…I’ll just leave you with that beautiful mental image while I wipe away the drool from my mouth.

They don’t just do cake here, although that’s enough to get me out of bed in the morning, the Mad Hatters breakfast and lunch menus are filled with tastiness! Ranging from a full Mad Hatters breakfast, with bacon rashers and toast, to porridge or something my husband used to treat me to, Eggy Bread! The lunch menu has homemade soups, kippers, sandwiches, jacket spuds and an old university favourite of mine, Corned beef hash, (my roommate made this when I was very unwell with tonsillitis in my first year, it could have been freshers flu…) Both menus are full of lovely lunches to have before hitting the surrounding Chester shops!

‘if i had a world of my own everything would be nonsense’

Everything would be cake not nonsense for me, but each to their own ay Alice! The Mad Hatters Tea Room has a range of wonderful Afternoon Tea’s, from the Cheshire Cat’s Cream Tea of a duo of scones and a pot of tea, to the full Alice’s Afternoon Tea. Including a selection of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and a choice of cakes from the daily selection, served with a pot of salted popcorn and a great bottomless pot of tea of your choice. You can even add a glass of bubbly and turn it into the Red Queens Afternoon Tea! I loved my Alice’s Afternoon Tea, everything from the delicious finger sandwiches, to the mouth watering scones and my glorious macaroon and chocolate and caramel cupcake, which was mind blowing! The Earl Grey tea looked lovely and must have tasted good as a second pot was called for! Everything looked amazing and I wanted it all, but it is surprising how filling it is, cakes were taken home in boxes and polished off later that night. It was such a delightful treat!

‘if you don’t know where you are going, any road can take you there’

If you are looking for a lovely, relaxing afternoon, or even breakfast, out in Chester, look no further than the Mad Hatters Tea Room. You can even join in on the fun and learn how to use colour and glitter to set off your own cupcakes at their great bakery and cake decoration classes, where you can take home what you create and make everyone jealous! So why not pop into the Mad Hatters Tea Room in Chester, say hello to the friendly staff and try some cake, tea or a mouth-watering hot chocolate, you may even see a jabberwocky or two…

‘sometimes i’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast…’

Keep the imagination alive ladies and gents, happy afternoon tea! Change Places!!

Keeping warm in the winter is everyone’s top priority, but that doesn’t mean you have to head for the airport…you can enjoy a luxury warm holiday break here, in the UK!

Winter came out of nowhere for me this year! One day I was enjoying the sun with my puppy, and the next I had my coat and gloves on while trying to coax a 10 month old Bichon out of the door and into the rain. He promptly turned around and lay in front of the fire, a very sensible decision in the grand scheme of things. Looking around the same walls throughout the winter can be hard, the dark weather and coldness can make everyone (okay, mainly me) a little cranky, so a UK holiday break away is the perfect pick-me-up! And there are some great ways to keep warm while in a lodge or holiday home this winter, read on and find out more!

saunas

Saunas are a great place to keep warm, I genuinely love them as they mean doing my favourite thing in the winter – sitting down. They are guaranteed to keep you warm, so whether you are in North Wales staying at Talacre Beach, in Somerset at Cheddar Woods or in Cornwall at the Best in Britain 2015 winner, Piran Meadows, have a sit in the sauna to warm those digits! Looking for something even more luxurious? Some of our lodges at Tilford Woods offer stunning and soothing private saunas, so after a lovely stroll around the countryside that surrounds the beautiful lodge retreat, you can sit in your very own sauna and let it warm you to your bones. Sign me up!

cosy fire

Another great way to stay warm this winter was stolen from Hugo, my 10 month old stubborn Bichon, laying down in front of a cosy fireplace. For me there really is nothing better than sitting on the sofa with a good book, or movie, and being heated by a stunning and cosy fire. And with all our holiday homes and lodges available in the winter being double glazed and centrally heated, this adds extra cosiness! With the weather all dark and wintery outside you can relax with your feet up in style and luxury, while keeping those toes warm! I think I know where to take Hugo for the winter!

hot tubs

The Icelandic population are experts in keeping warm in cold weather (stay with me…). They say to layer your clothes, jump in a geothermally heated outdoor swimming pool, and if you don’t have one of those, because lets be honest, we don’t, then jump in a glorious hot tub! And I feel that if people who can live in a place where the temperature rarely rises above 15 degrees deem a hot tub a good way to keep warm, then that’s good enough for me! I love hot tubs, you can sit outside and enjoy the extraordinary scenery around you while keeping warm – it’s like being inside but outside! I once sat in a hot tub while in -32degrees temperature in Blue Mountain, Canada, it works! So whether you are in the Lake District at Thanet Well surrounded by the countryside or down at the most southern point of the UK in Mullion Cove, then jump into the hot tub and marvel at the stunning scenery surrounding you. Take a look at all the hot tub accommodation we offer and choose your perfect UK break!

indoor heated swimming pool

This may sound a bit obvious as it has heated in the title, but you know hot tubs…

Anyways, so if you are nothing like me, and you can actually swim, then you might become unmotivated this winter because it is hard to get going in the pool when you know that dipping your toes into it, is something like sitting in an ice bath, just waiting for hyperthermia to set in. I’m not being dramatic here, it can be that bad. Well no fear at Darwin Escapes, as you can dive bomb into any of our indoor heated swimming pools with no worry of frost bite! (please don’t actually dive bomb, health and safety obviously!) Our brand new Hawkchurch Resort & Spa has a Hydrotherapy pool, that not only is designed for releasing tension and increasing circulation, it is also heated slightly higher than other pools for extra relaxation…I’m sold.

winterisation for owners

For owners the winter can mean time away from your holiday home while your resort closes for the 6 weeks winter break. This can be a time of stress if you try to get your holiday home ready for the winter yourself, but we offer a great Winterisation Package that takes care of your home away from home during this break. The package protects against any frost damage, burst pipes or leaks, all costs are covered, as well as a complete restore of the water and heating at your convenience, meaning your holiday home is then ready for your return in the spring! Find out more from our friendly reception team.

Happy UK Winter Holidaying Folks, and Keep Warm!

Welcome to another Love Local post you lovely readers, this month we will be spending time in the Isle of Wight. Are you planning a stay at our own Woodside Coastal Retreat or Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat? Then a must visit is the glorious Garlic Farm on the island! Now before we start I know you will all be worried about endless Dracula or Buffy jokes, I have completely reined myself in, this is all about how amazing The Garlic Farm is, so read on and learn more!

40 years of garlic

The Garlic Farm is a family run business, with Mum and Dad (Jenny and Colin) at the helm and their children all involved, including Natasha who has written two cook books on cooking with garlic and how to get the most of its amazing health benefits. The family have been growing garlic on the farm for the past 40 years, with Granny Norah starting them off with a few bulbs, they have since spent the years exploring the history and origins of this fascinating plant. Colin and Jenny have travelled to the mountains of Georgia and Kazakhstan to find the ‘mother of all garlics’. It is safe to say you will be amazed by how much they know – probably more than a 300 year old vampire! (maybe not completely reined myself in then…)

farm shop and restaurant

“If you like Garlic this is a great place to visit, they have free tasters of there products, and a lovely shop and restaurant and café there, and when they have there products there you can watch them harvest the garlic, they also have history lessons and stuff for kids to do!”
“Great place to visit and try loads of different ways to taste garlic. Staff were really friendly and helpful. Well worth a visit”

Over the 40 years history of The Garlic Farm they have been experimenting with the many different varieties of garlic, creating garlic infused products from chutney, to beer and even ice cream! To try these creative ideas you can visit the renowned farm shop to take some home or eat at the delicious Garlic Farm restaurant, both making for a unique and memorable visit. Learn about the history and the origins of the farm in the Heritage Centre, taste the amazing range of garlic inspired products at the Taste Experience, and pick up a few garlicy goodies from the farm shop to take home! The restaurant was built in 2009 using Marco Carpa pine, that was planted around the farm by Colin and his dad 20 years before, the natural wood and stunning log fire creates such a cosy, family atmosphere to enjoy your meal in. They also have a charming open patio at the rear to enjoy the stunning views across the valley, a great spot for nature watching – you can often see a red squirrel family running back and forth along with the chickens, peacocks, doves and even Eric the dog makes an appearance now and again too! Great setting for a lovely meal, serving everything from hot garlic buttered shell on prawns, garlic hot dogs and smoked chicken with avocado salad to cakes and desserts of gluten-free brownies, or try the black garlic sundae! Something to everyone’s tastes here, where possible they also source all their ingredients locally, even serving their own farm reared beef, the cattle can be seen enjoying the open pastures around the farm. Give it a try and you will be surprised by how much you love it here.

the garlic festival

“The farm is tucked away in a rural part of the Isle Of Wight. It has a brilliant education centre to keep the kids entertained and a brilliant taster centre where garlic lovers can sample some of the many products on offer in the extensive shop and restaurant.”

The Isle of Wight is famous for its many festivals, but one that draws over 25,000 people every year is The Garlic Festival, with music, entertainment, beer tents, crafts stalls and a full timetable of events in the arena tent. They also have a theatre kitchen featuring special guests, this year it’s Nadiya Hussain from GBBO! The festival started in 1983, with 5000 people in attendance, and is now one of the largest on the island. In the early 80’s a fundraising committee was formed for Newchurch Primary School, and over 20 years it has raised a substantial amount for the school and local community, providing sport centres, better school facilities and recreation areas. In 2007 local businessman David Holmes took over the festival and still works closely with The Garlic Farm to provide a unique weekend to visitors and island residents alike, with a curious mixture of a late 60’s pop festival ambiance, a country fair and some stunning garlic cuisine, which is all coupled with entertainment for all the family. Plan your stay around this fantastic festival for some knowledge, fun and garlicy treats!

the garlic farm field kitchen

“We love this place ! We spend a fortune in the shop the produce is amazing the team are precise and all are passionate about garlic. When ever on the island we aim right for it. The cafe is superb!”
“The place was nice and clean and had a very friendly staff. The food was wonderful and the best breakfast I have had in a long time. The prices were very fair and portions were large.”

Ever fancied something different at your wedding, party or even just while out at a festival? This mobile catering company has been serving up garlic inspired gourmet food at festivals, events and private parties all the around the UK. The Garlic Farm Field Kitchen uses locally sourced ingredients and fresh produce where possible, using original recipes and, of course, loads of garlic they feed and delight thousands every year. Next time you see this delightful mobile kitchen try their garlic burgers, or have a garlic-inspired breakfast, which includes fried egg, cherry tomatoes and garlic mushrooms on top of garlic bread , with a healthy dollop of sour cream (How good does that sound?!).

events and health benefits (if you’re not a vampire)

“A scenic walk is also available for the more energetic of you around the farm to see the Garlic growing for yourself.”

The Garlic Farm has loads of events throughout the year from parties to opera evenings, film screenings to art exhibitions, they even offer growing tips and advice if you fancy trying your hand at growing it yourself, as well as recipes and cooking tips. The health benefits of garlic are still being discovered, but there are many that are known such as the antiseptic properties, as its kills both bacteria and fungi, it is also a great antioxidant, as well as being good for you gums to stay healthy too. There have also been experiments carried out in laboratories that support the idea that garlic can interfere with tumour activity, with cancers of the stomach, colon and skin that are most likely to be affected. All these amazing properties from this tiny, little clove!

Why not pop along to The Garlic Farm and find out more, enjoy the scenery and the wildlife, and try some of the delicious food – and let’s be honest here, if you don’t everyone will think you’re vampire, so it’s worth it just to prove that point! (I’m sorry, I really did try!)

As our opening is getting ever closer we wanted to give you another update on the development of Hawkchurch Resort & Spa.

This is the fourth update we have done for what is sure to be one of the most desirable holiday locations in the South West, and we have some brand new pictures for you to feast your eyes on!

Our new luxury holiday resort is taking shape and coming along nicely, have a look at the pictures to see for yourself…

Welcome to October’s Love Local blog! So this month, in honour of Halloween, I have chosen Bath Escape as our Love Local business!

Located only 15 minutes away from our own lovely Bath Mill Lodge Retreat this wonderful company, in the centre of Bath, offer an interactive thriller adventure experience! How amazing does that sound? Keep reading to find out!

“Fabulous entertainment for all ages. Nobody felt left out…Absolutely loved the atmosphere.”

“Definitely coming back soon! Would definitely recommend this to everyone!”

This is an unforgettable experience answering riddles and solving complex puzzles with friends and family. Perfect for team building exercises and hen parties, Bath Escape is fun for everyone with four different experiences on offer. Two live escape room games and two detective tours around the historic City of Bath.

live escape rooms

Using nothing but your imagination and logic you must try to solve the clues, to reveal hints for the next mystery and so on. All against the clock. You have 60 minutes to complete the assignments, the clues are in no particular order either, so once you have finally figured them out, you then have to figure out what order they go in. You may as well shut the door and throw away the key on me! The team, of a maximum of 6 people, must work together to complete each clue.

room one: six locked rooms

You are trapped in an area consisting of a few rooms, the goal is simple: complete each room and solve the clues. Complete the assignment and escape the last room on time! You will have to decipher the various elements to solve the mystery with the creative clues they have hidden throughout!

room two: the haunted house escape

(Now you understand why it’s my Halloween post!) You will be trapped in an apartment of a traditional Bath house that is full of puzzles and challenges. Again the goal is simple: get out of the haunted house by following the orders you get in the allocated time. Interpret the clues and find the solutions around you.

With both Live Escape Room challenges, upon completing them each team are invited to Bath Escape’s tea room, The Princes’ Treasury for refreshments. Also the team to complete the full challenge in the best time will receive a full refund, one team a month is chosen! As if getting stuck in a haunted house wasn’t enough motivation for you. If anyone in your team is celebrating a birthday, let Alex and the team know a few days in advance and they can surprise you with a cake!

detective tours – solve a murder and a mystery

If you wanted a tour around the stunning City of Bath and fancy yourself as a good Sherlock Holmes, then Bath Escape’s Detective Tours are for you! A choice of two tours await you to answer riddles and if you are looking for a challenge, the magnifying glass and deer stalker hat are optional! (except if you’re me.)

tour one: case no. 219

Investigate a murder while walking the beautiful, historic, City of Bath, the case can only be solved by visiting the sites of the famous landmarks of Bath. You must navigate through the streets and discover its secrets. Each site is another puzzle and you must collect all the information at each one to find the next clue. The tour takes around 2 to 3 hours and is recommended for groups of 3 to 6 people, it is a brilliant, fun and unique way to see all the beauty that Bath holds!

tour two: victoria’s secret

Join in on the challenging investigation in the largest and most popular park in Bath, the Royal Victoria Park. Throw yourself into the exciting game while visiting the most famous landmarks of the city, such as the Botanical Garden and the Royal Crescent. The tour takes around 2 to 3 hours to complete and is great fun for the kids as well, you will travel the main paths and find the enchanting hidden walks while discovering Victoria’s Secret.

After each tour the teams are invited back to the Princes’ Treasury tea room for refreshments and a lovely chat with the staff. All tours depart around every 15 minutes, pop on over to the website to check dates and book your unique Bath tour!

did you escape?

“Our host Alex was a great character and we had a good laugh with him.”

“I would recommend for young and old alike and we can’t wait to come back to do a different one!”

“Absolute fun had by all and we were all still buzzing from it days later!”

If, like me, it’s just impossible to choose between a tour and an escape game, you can buy a voucher for a combo day an experience both! My brain will be mush with so much puzzle solving going on, but it will be so worth it. The service is amazing, everyone is exceptionally friendly and very passionate about what they do. There is no photography allowed in the rooms or on the tours so nothing is ruined for anyone before they go into the rooms. In the heart of the City of Bath this is an excellent place to visit and great fun filled day with friends or family. I highly recommend Bath Escape, as does anyone who has visited and managed to escape! Make sure you book your team now and have an exciting challenge awaiting you!

Happy adventuring and escaping guys and dolls, don’t get locked in!

Welcome to another Hidden Britain post ladies and gents, this month it’s all about the Cornish coast! Our very own Mullion Cove Coastal Retreat is set in a beautiful location, surrounded by countryside, meadows and only a stone’s throw away from the Cornish seafront. All of the hidden secrets in this post are 30 minutes away from our one-of-a-kind destination, so let’s see what there is to explore…

the chocolate factory & craft centre

Just under 10 minutes away from Mullion Cove this is a fun day out for all the family, visit the art gallery on site, marvel at the homemade jewellery shops and fused glass workshops as well as a wonderful gift shop called Aladdin’s Cave! Drop into Honey Cosmetics who offer a range of skin and hair products made from Cornish Honey, or meet the resident llama family and have a little cuddle with these affectionate and inquisitive animals. Then head over to the Trenance Chocolate Factory and watch the master chocolatiers create amazing shapes, from bite sized bars to indulgent boxes, with mouth watering Belgian chocolate.

the lizard lighthouse heritage centre

The distinctive twin towers of the lighthouse mark the most southern part of the UK mainland, it boasts outstanding views and is still a working lighthouse guiding vessels along the English Channel. The lighthouse is steeped in maritime history, with building started in 1619 and finally completed in 1751, you can learn all about the varied history in the original engine room, through exhibitions and audio visual displays. Learn how technology and science has impacted the lighthouse over the last 500 years, before climbing up the stairs for breathtaking views out to sea.

trebah garden

Wander around the gardens with a breathtaking coastal backdrop, with their own secluded and private beach along the Helford River, and views out to sea. Trebah Gardens is famous for being a sub-tropical paradise bursting with exotic blooms and endless vibrant tunnels of flowers and plants to explore. With four miles of footpath in the magical Cornish valley garden, you can enjoy an enchanting day out; the kids will love the adventure play areas and fun trails; plus, dogs being welcome all year round too, so the whole family can enjoy it! Grab a bite to eat at the Planter’s Café, where they also have dedicated doggie tables and offer water bowls for the fur-babies too! There is also an ever-changing events and exhibitions programme to check out too.

the blue anchor inn

During the 17th Century the population of Helston was around 300, with about 30 ale houses brewing their own beer, where as now there are only around 4 in the whole of the UK and The Blue Anchor Inn is one of them. The pub can date its history back to the 15th Century and has been brewing its own ale, called Spingo’s, for over 600 years! The Inn has retained its original charm over the centuries, there are no slot machines or piped music within the walls of the historic building, with every Monday being quiz night and weekly live music nights in the recently refurbished skittles room. And in the summer you can relax in the garden and enjoy a delicious BBQ!

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