Wallace’s Arthouse and Field in Daily Record.
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PAGE 38
TRAVEL
DAILY RECORD Saturday, November 22, 2014
with
MELANIE HARVE HARVEY Y
IT’ IT’S A WOLD WOLD The rolling hills of the Cotswolds are are the perfect spot spot for a break.. andthe place was rocking rocking as Heather Heather and family found out NO HEARTH MEASURES
Cuisine is outstanding in The Field in central Edinburgh
Capitalstay staywas wasa taste taste T of the good life life – just like Charlie planned it MY MATE Charlie had an idea which for once seemed liked a winner. His idea was to change our usual routine of meeting once a month, going to the same old haunts in Edinburgh and Glasgow, but instead, do a bit of research and choose a couple of unfamiliar restaurants and bars. Sounded like a plan. Now, as this idea coincided with an invite I had received to stay at the wonderfully named Wallace’s Arthouse Scotland, a guesthouse situated within the 19th century Assembly Rooms of Leith, there seemed no reason to delay implementing Plan Charlie. This fascinating guesthouse caught my eye the minute I received the witty and original brochure which followed my inquiry over availability. It totally encapsulates the unique charm and personality that is Mr Wallace Shaw, the XXXXXX xxxxxx owner, and my host for the two days. Xxxx A fascinating man, he made you feel very welcome from the minute you entered the magnificent hallway. His warm welcome, and the accompanying glass of Prosecco, made it clear you were going to enjoy your visit. The sitting room is full of interesting pieces of art to catch your attention. Wallace’s knowledge of the pieces, along with his anecdotes regarding his Glasgow School of Art background and his travels around the globe, keep you entertained and amused. The bedrooms mirror all of this, from the crisp white linen sheets and the large ensuite shower-room, to the interesting array of books and paintings left for you to peruse at your leisure. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it was so refreshing to have a room filled with imagination and creativity, rather than the duplicated blandness of the larger hotel chains. The location is also ideal as it is so close to a large array of great quirky shops selling everything from arts and crafts to wonderful delicatessens and a wonderful range of antiques. Accommodation sorted, it was time to put Charlie’s plan into action so we met at Nobles Bar in Constitution Street for a pint of the wonderful Caesar Augustus Lager – one of my
o say the Cotswolds is an Area of Outstanding Outstanding Beauty Beauty is an understatement... it’s one of the most beautiful regions we have ever had the pleasure of visiting. My family and I spent a glorious weekend at Hoburne Hoburne Cotswold Holiday Park in South Cerney, Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, and are counting the days until we can return. Set among the rolling hills of BRIAN GALLAGHER central southern England, the [email protected] park’s wooden lodges had a real favourites – to discuss the details of Swiss Family Family Robinson feel to Charlie’s research. Our first port of call them. Our two boys Archie, four, was to be Field, a cosy restaurant in the and Alfie, 18 months, at the time, heart of Edinburgh. Opened in 2013 and quickly being included in would have been quite quite the Michelin Guide, it happy if we had never does not take you long to left the spacious cabin, understand why. with its multitude multitude of I have to mention the ■ Flying from Glasgow hidey-holes. pistachio tart dessert I on December 22, seven But it would have had, accompanied by nights half-board at been a shame to miss pistachio ice cream. 4T Thomson Couples out on all the park had Totally fantastic. Hotel Savoy Gardens to offer. From the family in Madeira from £560 A real class restaurant pool and its super-fast super-fast based on two sharing. at a decent price and a flume to the softplay ■ Flying from Glasgow winning start for the area and outdoor on December 21, seven Hibee Charlie. nights all-inclusive at playground, it was every Buoyed by his success, 4T Thomson Couples little kid’s dream. Charlie had arranged that Scheherazade Sousse we met early for lunch Entertainment-wise, in Morocco from £398 the next day. We made we couldn’t couldn’t have each based on two the short trip to Dalkeith chosen a better sharing. to try The Itihaas, a weekend for our stay. stay. ■ Flying from Glasgow Bangladeshi and Indian The park was having a on December 23, seven restaurant, which had celebration of rock and, nights all-inclusive at good reports. Another 4T Hotel Flamingo on the Saturday night, victory for Charlie’s plans. Oasis in Spain from Archie got his his first taste taste A stylish restaurant, with £731 each based on of Meatloaf. an exciting menu it made two sharing. Hundreds of people for an excellent lunch. ■ To find out more packed the show show bar to All in all, a great two about this holiday or see the fantastic days, to which the credit to book visit your Meatloaf tribute act, must lie with Charlie. local Thomson travel which prompted Archie shop, thomson.co.uk to ask if he could grow or call 0871 230 2555. his hair long and wear a leather jacket. When the stage wasn’t being used by rockers, rockers, Sammy the Seahorse and his energetic gang of entertainers kept the children happy. Alfie wasn’t wasn’t too sure of the big COMFORT AND JOY At Wallace’s blue furry creature that kept wanting him to play games but, but, to Archie, Sammy Sammy was better better than any Disney character he had ever met ■ Brian stayed courtesy of Wallace’s and he danced so hard to impress Arthouse Scotland. See www. him, he won the prize for best wallacesarthousescotland.com mover. He now guards his ■ For the restaurants, see certificate and trophy with the www.fieldrestaurant.co.uk and same zeal a footballer would the www.itihaasrestaurant.com World Cup. Cup. Using a crowbar to prise the boys
Latedeals
Facts..
MONKEY BUSINESS
Archie checks out a ring-tail lemur in Cotswolds Wildlife Park
HEATHER GREENAWAY [email protected]
away from the park, we explored the surrounding area, spending a rainy afternoon looking round the quaint town of Cirencester. The Cotswolds is speckled with hundreds of picturesque towns, villages and hamlets, hamlets, so no matter matter in which direction you head, you stumble upon a wee gem of a place. With the houses houses all built from the region’s trademark yellow limestone, it’s like taking a drive through Postman Pat country and Cirencester could be mistaken for Greendale. Decked out in
puddlesuits, the kids had a great time jumping up and down in the rain, while we nipped in and out of the copious charity shops, snapping up bargains, including an all-singing, all-dancing T-Rex for £1. It was perhaps the only buy we ended up regretting. On the Sunday, we headed off to the beautiful city of Bath, just an hour and a half ’s drive from the holiday park. It was somewhere I had always wanted to visit and I wasn’t wasn’t disappointed. It’s no wonder it has been classed as a World Heritage Site. From the stunning terraced houses of the
PAGE 38
TRAVEL
DAILY RECORD Saturday, November 22, 2014
with
MELANIE HARVE HARVEY Y
IT’ IT’S A WOLD WOLD The rolling hills of the Cotswolds are are the perfect spot spot for a break.. andthe place was rocking rocking as Heather Heather and family found out NO HEARTH MEASURES
Cuisine is outstanding in The Field in central Edinburgh
Capitalstay staywas wasa taste taste T of the good life life – just like Charlie planned it MY MATE Charlie had an idea which for once seemed liked a winner. His idea was to change our usual routine of meeting once a month, going to the same old haunts in Edinburgh and Glasgow, but instead, do a bit of research and choose a couple of unfamiliar restaurants and bars. Sounded like a plan. Now, as this idea coincided with an invite I had received to stay at the wonderfully named Wallace’s Arthouse Scotland, a guesthouse situated within the 19th century Assembly Rooms of Leith, there seemed no reason to delay implementing Plan Charlie. This fascinating guesthouse caught my eye the minute I received the witty and original brochure which followed my inquiry over availability. It totally encapsulates the unique charm and personality that is Mr Wallace Shaw, the XXXXXX xxxxxx owner, and my host for the two days. Xxxx A fascinating man, he made you feel very welcome from the minute you entered the magnificent hallway. His warm welcome, and the accompanying glass of Prosecco, made it clear you were going to enjoy your visit. The sitting room is full of interesting pieces of art to catch your attention. Wallace’s knowledge of the pieces, along with his anecdotes regarding his Glasgow School of Art background and his travels around the globe, keep you entertained and amused. The bedrooms mirror all of this, from the crisp white linen sheets and the large ensuite shower-room, to the interesting array of books and paintings left for you to peruse at your leisure. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it was so refreshing to have a room filled with imagination and creativity, rather than the duplicated blandness of the larger hotel chains. The location is also ideal as it is so close to a large array of great quirky shops selling everything from arts and crafts to wonderful delicatessens and a wonderful range of antiques. Accommodation sorted, it was time to put Charlie’s plan into action so we met at Nobles Bar in Constitution Street for a pint of the wonderful Caesar Augustus Lager – one of my
o say the Cotswolds is an Area of Outstanding Outstanding Beauty Beauty is an understatement... it’s one of the most beautiful regions we have ever had the pleasure of visiting. My family and I spent a glorious weekend at Hoburne Hoburne Cotswold Holiday Park in South Cerney, Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, and are counting the days until we can return. Set among the rolling hills of BRIAN GALLAGHER central southern England, the [email protected] park’s wooden lodges had a real favourites – to discuss the details of Swiss Family Family Robinson feel to Charlie’s research. Our first port of call them. Our two boys Archie, four, was to be Field, a cosy restaurant in the and Alfie, 18 months, at the time, heart of Edinburgh. Opened in 2013 and quickly being included in would have been quite quite the Michelin Guide, it happy if we had never does not take you long to left the spacious cabin, understand why. with its multitude multitude of I have to mention the ■ Flying from Glasgow hidey-holes. pistachio tart dessert I on December 22, seven But it would have had, accompanied by nights half-board at been a shame to miss pistachio ice cream. 4T Thomson Couples out on all the park had Totally fantastic. Hotel Savoy Gardens to offer. From the family in Madeira from £560 A real class restaurant pool and its super-fast super-fast based on two sharing. at a decent price and a flume to the softplay ■ Flying from Glasgow winning start for the area and outdoor on December 21, seven Hibee Charlie. nights all-inclusive at playground, it was every Buoyed by his success, 4T Thomson Couples little kid’s dream. Charlie had arranged that Scheherazade Sousse we met early for lunch Entertainment-wise, in Morocco from £398 the next day. We made we couldn’t couldn’t have each based on two the short trip to Dalkeith chosen a better sharing. to try The Itihaas, a weekend for our stay. stay. ■ Flying from Glasgow Bangladeshi and Indian The park was having a on December 23, seven restaurant, which had celebration of rock and, nights all-inclusive at good reports. Another 4T Hotel Flamingo on the Saturday night, victory for Charlie’s plans. Oasis in Spain from Archie got his his first taste taste A stylish restaurant, with £731 each based on of Meatloaf. an exciting menu it made two sharing. Hundreds of people for an excellent lunch. ■ To find out more packed the show show bar to All in all, a great two about this holiday or see the fantastic days, to which the credit to book visit your Meatloaf tribute act, must lie with Charlie. local Thomson travel which prompted Archie shop, thomson.co.uk to ask if he could grow or call 0871 230 2555. his hair long and wear a leather jacket. When the stage wasn’t being used by rockers, rockers, Sammy the Seahorse and his energetic gang of entertainers kept the children happy. Alfie wasn’t wasn’t too sure of the big COMFORT AND JOY At Wallace’s blue furry creature that kept wanting him to play games but, but, to Archie, Sammy Sammy was better better than any Disney character he had ever met ■ Brian stayed courtesy of Wallace’s and he danced so hard to impress Arthouse Scotland. See www. him, he won the prize for best wallacesarthousescotland.com mover. He now guards his ■ For the restaurants, see certificate and trophy with the www.fieldrestaurant.co.uk and same zeal a footballer would the www.itihaasrestaurant.com World Cup. Cup. Using a crowbar to prise the boys
Latedeals
Facts..
MONKEY BUSINESS
Archie checks out a ring-tail lemur in Cotswolds Wildlife Park
HEATHER GREENAWAY [email protected]
away from the park, we explored the surrounding area, spending a rainy afternoon looking round the quaint town of Cirencester. The Cotswolds is speckled with hundreds of picturesque towns, villages and hamlets, hamlets, so no matter matter in which direction you head, you stumble upon a wee gem of a place. With the houses houses all built from the region’s trademark yellow limestone, it’s like taking a drive through Postman Pat country and Cirencester could be mistaken for Greendale. Decked out in
puddlesuits, the kids had a great time jumping up and down in the rain, while we nipped in and out of the copious charity shops, snapping up bargains, including an all-singing, all-dancing T-Rex for £1. It was perhaps the only buy we ended up regretting. On the Sunday, we headed off to the beautiful city of Bath, just an hour and a half ’s drive from the holiday park. It was somewhere I had always wanted to visit and I wasn’t wasn’t disappointed. It’s no wonder it has been classed as a World Heritage Site. From the stunning terraced houses of the
