Blue Mountain Coffee
Lysander Tyler-Green
This delicious coffee is grown in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica and is considered some of the finest coffee in the world. On the expensive side, but worth every penny.
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France: Manoir Plessis Bellevue, Saumur
Thea Dale
This charming boutique hotel is on the ridge of the Loire Valley and was the home of Victor Hugo’s doctor and the writer visited many times. The manoir gives stunning views of the Loire and is only a short drive from the magnificent abbey of Fontevraud and the fortress at Chinon.
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France: Burgundy: Chateau de Guédelon
Genevieve Delacroix
The castle at Guedelon is a testament to the lengths that historians will go to to bring history to life. Using medieval methods, a team of seventy craftsmen, are in the process of building a 13th century style castle. A little off the beaten track but well worth a visit.
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TV: The Twilight Zone
Genevieve Delacroix
The Twilight Zone explores themes of totalitarianism, nuclear apocalypse and the speedy advance of technology, in short self-contained episodes. Masterminded by Rod Serling, it was originally broadcast in the 60s, but the message remains as powerful today
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Supersizers Go…
Lysander Tyler-Green
This fantastic show brings Giles Coren and Sue Perkins together for a jaunt through the greatest menus and meals of history. Most episodes are available on Youtube, eating popular foods from Ancient Rome to the 1970s, they get through a lot of food, from the delicious to the disgusting.
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Hacksaw Ridge
Thea Dale
This 2016 biopic follows the story of Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector in the Second World War, who joined the army as a medic. His refusal to carry a gun is made all the more shocking when contrasted with the violence portrayed of this film. An impressive story, told well.
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Website: The Happy Foodie
Hamish Charlton
This website does pretty much what it says on the tin. Sign up to their mailing list and you can get their latest recipes straight to your inbox. An indispensable resource for advice on any keen foodie.
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Newcastle: The Botanist
Genevieve Delacroix
The Botanist is well located. In the dead centre of town its rooftop bar has a fantastic view of Grey Street. The staggering selection of gins and cocktails is the perfect combination for a summer afternoon.
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Biscoff spread
Genevieve Delacroix
Biscoff's caramelized biscuits go hand in hand with a cup of coffee. Now, go one better, with this sweet spread. It goes pretty well on toast, but even better in cakes.
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TV: Luther
Thea Dale
Idris Elba is fantastic as DCI John Luther, a police officer working for the Serious Crime Unit, in London. Dealing with depraved killers and false accusations of corruption, Luther fights his critics as much as he fights crime. Luther is British crime drama at its best.
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Ken Burns: The Civil War
Thea Dale
Celebrated documentary filmmaker, Ken Burns, is known for his powerful historical documentaries. His 1990 miniseries about the American civil war is his masterpiece. Using the voices of Jeremy Irons and Morgan Freeman, it makes for impressive viewing.
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The Last Kingdom
Harold Llwelyn
Based on Bernard Cornwell's saxon saga, The Last Kingdom charts the life of the fictional saxon lord, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, as he gets in and out of trouble with Alfred the Great. Slightly hammy, but an amusing mix of history and semi-convincing fiction.
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Oblivion
Alfred Watchley
The earth has been ravaged by an invading alien force and humanity prepares to leave for pastures new. Tom Cruise patrols the earth, protecting humanity from the remaining invaders. A good post-apocalyptic film with a characteristically strong performance from Cruise.
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St Dalfour Jams
Charles Fergusson
These fantastic jams are all natural, free of preservatives and all the more delicious for it. It's a mild downside that their pots aren't teaspoon friendly, but the jams are excellent nonetheless. Their best has got to be their zesty orange and ginger marmalade.
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Bronson
Charles Fergusson
Bronson is a terrifying but brilliant biopic of Britain's most notorious convict, Charles Bronson. Scenes of Bronson's time in various prisons are cut with a fictionalized stage show presented by Tom Hardy, as Bronson. Unnerving in the extreme, this film is not for the faint-hearted.
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About Time
Lysander Tyler-Green
Richard Curtis is the master of the romcom and this time-travelling variant is a refreshing change from an otherwise done-to-death genre. Domnhall Gleeson plays the main romantic, but Bill Nighy steals the show as his eccentric Dickens-obsessed father.
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British Newspaper Archive
Jonathan Finchley
The British Newspaper Archive gives you access to the last 300 years of British journalism. Their website is easy to use and is an excellent tool for research.
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France: Canadian Memorial at Vimy Ridge
Lucy Blanchette
The Vimy Ridge memorial is staggering. The site commemorates the 11,000 Canadian soldiers who fell at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The two white columns rise 30 metres into the air, a though-provoking sight made all the more impressive by the emptiness of the sky around it.
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The IT Crowd
Alfred Watchley
Any show written by Graham Linehan is a safe bet. The IT Crowd is no different. Starring a head of IT who hasn't got a clue about computers, it follows the interesting lives of the three lives of an IT department's wacky crew.
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MOB Kitchen recipe book by Ben Lebus
Rich Davey
A book for anyone with a plan to create frugal food. ‘MOB’ comes from founder Ben’s mission to mob-ilise cooks everywhere, young or old, and inspire them to cook delicious, nutritious & inexpensive recipes. This book follows his social media breakthrough with his 1-minute, how-to-make recipe videos.
London: Bread Ahead, Borough Market
Lara Akeroyd
A groovy artisan bakery and baking school. Great experts in British baking, be that sourdough or gluten free. Bread Ahaed host regular baking workshops like ‘Victorian Christmas.’ Founder Andy is a firm believer of bread being made of three and ONLY three ingredients – four, milk & water.
Mallorca: An Olive Harvest in Son Penya
Ruby Scott
Stay at Son Penya, a former finca with 20 stone-built rooms and an elegant spa, in the last week of October and you can join the olive harvest in the fields that surround the hotel. Cooler temperatures make it an ideal time to explore on two wheels; 'La Via Verde' – 29km – offers great cycling.
'Just a French Guy Cooking' by Alexis Gabriel Aïnouz
Lucy Blanchette
Buy this book to help you make croissants with shop-bought pastry (and therefore doesn’t take hours and hours). The French cook Alexis Gabriel Aïnouz has some fantastic fuss-free recipes in his book, from ‘the easiest millefeuille’ to ‘foolproof brioche’. Warning: it is groaning with pastries.
'The Taste of Scilly' Food Festival, Isles of Scilly
Hamish Charlton
Held annually in September, this is the place to go for an Indian Summer with temperatures often staying high until November. 'The Taste of Scilly' food festival hosts lobster feasts, surf-and-turf barbecues, pop-up crab shack evenings, paella nights and a one-off Island Hopping Supper Safari.
Winchester: Follow the Keats Trail
Ruby Scott
Keats is said to have composed his famous ode 'To Autumn' whilst staying (and walking) in Winchester. The two-mile trail is an ideal way to discover the city and its surroundings. It’s the daily route that Keats is said to have walked and is very happily self-guided so you’re free to meander.