World Pea Shooting Championships, Witcham (11th July)
Once the preserve of naughty schoolboys, in 1971, the residents of Witcham decided to hold a pea shooting competition to raise funds for the Village Hall. The event was a runaway success and now the village hosts the annual World Championships. Nowadays some contestants use laser sights, but former world champion, George Hollis still insists: It’s all about selecting the right pea.’
World Toe Wrestling Championship, Fenny Bentley (22nd July)
Continue reading ‘Weird and wonderful UK summer events’
La Gondola al Parco, Battersea Park
Set in one of London’s most beautiful and varied parks, this café is a great place to stop and quench one’s thirst with a cold beer. Situated at the Chelsea Bridge end, Gondola al Parco overlooks the lake and place where you can hire boats. Sit outside, enjoy the views and bring a crust or two for the ducks. Live music from June onwards. Bottle of Peroni, £3.50.
Battersea Park, SW11 0207 978 1655
The Lido Cafe, Hyde Park
Continue reading ‘London’s parks: Have a bite, take a swig’
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Bristol
Why: A vibrant city with an eclectic culture, history and beautiful buildings.
From London: Regular services from Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads with Great Western lasting 1 hour, 45 minutes. £49.00 off-peak return.
Where to Stay: Ramada Plaza, Bristol is only minutes away from the station and close to the city’s attractions. Not as grand as say the Bristol Marriott Hotel, but from £69.00 a night and a four-star rating, who’s complaining?
Where to eat: The Picture House, located on the fashionable Whiteladies Road, is where locals go for a good knees-up. Run by the dedicated Nick Armitage, the Picture House serves great food and a mean cocktail. Two courses: £10.00. Elderflower and Quince cocktail: £4.90
What to do: Stroll through the historic docks and climb aboard the ss Great Britain (£10.95), visit St Nicholas Market in the old Corn Exchange, or wander up to the world famous Clifton Suspension Bridge with its panoramic views over Avon Gorge. Continue reading ‘Bristol vs Istanbul’
Oxford, Oxfordshire
Why: Known as the ‘city of dreaming spires,’ Oxford is especially pleasant to explore during the summer months.
Where to stay: The Old Parsonage Hotel is a smart hotel located in a Wisteria-clad building dating back to the 1600’s – perfect for that romantic break. Rooms start at £175 a night, but check the website for last minute deals.
From London: Take the Oxford Tube, a 24-hour bus service that leaves every 10 minutes at peak times from Victoria. From £16 return. Continue reading ‘Oxford vs Warsaw’
Brighton Pier, East Sussex
First opened in 1899 after costing a record £137,000 to build, the Brighton Marine Palace and Pier – renamed Brighton Pier – is one of the UK’s more garish piers and is crammed with amusement machines, a motley of stalls offering fairground-style games and heart-attack inducing treats. The pier has a rollercoaster at its end and should not be confused with Brighton’s West Pier, which was ravished by fire in 2003.
Continue reading ‘Great British piers’
Barcode Art
Who would have thought barcodes could be engaging? Scot Blake started producing barcode art inspired by the 2000 YK2 computer bug. There is a section where you can barcode yourself (gender, weight, height, age and location) print the result out and scan the result down your local supermarket.
Continue reading ‘Weird and wonderful websites’
Bizarre Road Signs from Around the World
The UK is saturated with road signs telling us how to drive, or warning us of potential hazards, but few if any have much flair. This site has a collection of colourful road signs – some doctored – from around the globe. Low flying golf balls and prostitutes ahead are two we could adopt.
Continue reading ‘Weird and Wonderful Websites’
Chez Gerard in Covent Garden
Chez Gerard is one of the better chains of French bistros in London and their Grade II listed branch in Covent Garden sits opposite the Royal Opera House. As the days get brighter, why not take advantage of the daylight filtering through the restaurant’s large glass walls and terrace roofing. Prix Fixe menu: 2 courses – £16.95. 3 courses £19.95. Bottle of house red or white: £9.70.
The Opera Terrace, WC2 E 8RF 0207 379 0666
Man Babies
Send a picture of yourself and a baby – not necessarily yours – to Man Babies and they will your switch heads around. This isn’t some rushed photo shop job though and the baby’s head is enlarged so it’s in proportion to your body and vice versa. Very funny.
Continue reading ‘Weird and wonderful websites’
