Food & Drink

Review: Outstanding service and creative food at the DoubleTree Cheltenham

Lois Barnes Tue, 23rd Sep 2025 at 09:00

When we arrived at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cheltenham-Cotswolds hotel to review their restaurant, Herberts, we were met by a polite, friendly young waiter who welcomed us in and showed us to our table. Right from the get go, the service was... When we arrived at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cheltenham-Cotswolds hotel to review their restaurant, Herberts, we were met by a polite, friendly young waiter who welcomed us in and showed us to our table. Right from the get go, the service was... When we arrived at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cheltenham-Cotswolds hotel to review their restaurant, Herberts, we were met by a polite, friendly young waiter who welcomed us in and showed us to our table. Right from the get go, the service was...

Recipe: Vegetable and chickpea tagliatelle

Lois Barnes Tue, 23rd Sep 2025 at 09:00

Sometimes you need a bit of inspiration for a simple mid-week meal that doesn’t require much effort. This dish does just the trick. The combination of garlic, olive oil and basil works perfectly with the roasted vegetables to give you a... Sometimes you need a bit of inspiration for a simple mid-week meal that doesn’t require much effort. This dish does just the trick. The combination of garlic, olive oil and basil works perfectly with the roasted vegetables to give you a... Sometimes you need a bit of inspiration for a simple mid-week meal that doesn’t require much effort. This dish does just the trick. The combination of garlic, olive oil and basil works perfectly with the roasted vegetables to give you a...

Recipe: Very lemony flapjacks

Delicious Dish: Roasted cauliflower in a tomato and lentil sauce

Helen Kingscott Fri, 22nd Aug 2025 at 09:00

A delicious, flavour-packed curry that even the most avid meat-eaters will enjoy! In fact, my husband wasn't looking forward to eating this for dinner, but even he couldn't control his grin when asked if he liked it – he said it was... A delicious, flavour-packed curry that even the most avid meat-eaters will enjoy! In fact, my husband wasn't looking forward to eating this for dinner, but even he couldn't control his grin when asked if he liked it – he said it was... A delicious, flavour-packed curry that even the most avid meat-eaters will enjoy! In fact, my husband wasn't looking forward to eating this for dinner, but even he couldn't control his grin when asked if he liked it – he said it was...

Review: Our review of one of Gloucester's oldest and best-loved pubs, Café René

Lois Barnes Fri, 22nd Aug 2025 at 09:00

Tucked away just off Southgate Street, Café René offers an experience quite different from that of your average city pub. With its ceilings adorned with wine bottles and the soothing sound of water trickling in the Roman well at the... Tucked away just off Southgate Street, Café René offers an experience quite different from that of your average city pub. With its ceilings adorned with wine bottles and the soothing sound of water trickling in the Roman well at the... Tucked away just off Southgate Street, Café René offers an experience quite different from that of your average city pub. With its ceilings adorned with wine bottles and the soothing sound of water trickling in the Roman well at the...

Recipe: Mango panna cotta

Helen Kingscott Tue, 22nd Jul 2025 at 09:00

This elegant dessert is ideal for summer entertaining or a sunny weekend treat. Ingredients (serves 8-10): 4 large ripe mangoes 1 tbsp lemon juice 480ml double cream 200g granulated sugar (plus 1 tbsp for the purée) 3 tsp powdered... This elegant dessert is ideal for summer entertaining or a sunny weekend treat. Ingredients (serves 8-10): 4 large ripe mangoes 1 tbsp lemon juice 480ml double cream 200g granulated sugar (plus 1 tbsp for the purée) 3 tsp powdered... This elegant dessert is ideal for summer entertaining or a sunny weekend treat. Ingredients (serves 8-10): 4 large ripe mangoes 1 tbsp lemon juice 480ml double cream 200g granulated sugar (plus 1 tbsp for the purée) 3 tsp powdered...

Review: A sensational sampling of The Gloucester Old Spot's new summer menu

Lois Barnes Tue, 22nd Jul 2025 at 09:00

We arrived at The Gloucester Old Spot on a warm summer’s evening, excited to sample the latest delights on their new summer menu. Nestled between Uckington and Coombe Hill along the A4019, the independent pub has built a reputation for its... We arrived at The Gloucester Old Spot on a warm summer’s evening, excited to sample the latest delights on their new summer menu. Nestled between Uckington and Coombe Hill along the A4019, the independent pub has built a reputation for its... We arrived at The Gloucester Old Spot on a warm summer’s evening, excited to sample the latest delights on their new summer menu. Nestled between Uckington and Coombe Hill along the A4019, the independent pub has built a reputation for its...

Recipe: Rainbow salad

Lois Barnes Mon, 21st Jul 2025 at 09:00

Gone are the days when a salad consisted of lettuce, tomato and cucumber. Boring salads are out, and fresh, vibrant, flavourful salads are in. You may have heard of the 30 plants challenge whereby we are encouraged to consume 30 different plants... Gone are the days when a salad consisted of lettuce, tomato and cucumber. Boring salads are out, and fresh, vibrant, flavourful salads are in. You may have heard of the 30 plants challenge whereby we are encouraged to consume 30 different plants... Gone are the days when a salad consisted of lettuce, tomato and cucumber. Boring salads are out, and fresh, vibrant, flavourful salads are in. You may have heard of the 30 plants challenge whereby we are encouraged to consume 30 different plants...

Recipe: Batch cook vegetarian chilli

Lois Barnes Sun, 20th Jul 2025 at 09:00

Last month, I shared my husband's recipe for a slow cooker chilli con carne that he batch cooked, so this month I'm sharing my vegetarian (vegan) version. With different dietary requirements, we find it works well to batch cook our own... Last month, I shared my husband's recipe for a slow cooker chilli con carne that he batch cooked, so this month I'm sharing my vegetarian (vegan) version. With different dietary requirements, we find it works well to batch cook our own... Last month, I shared my husband's recipe for a slow cooker chilli con carne that he batch cooked, so this month I'm sharing my vegetarian (vegan) version. With different dietary requirements, we find it works well to batch cook our own...

Recipe: Strawberry and apple crumble

Lois Barnes Sat, 19th Jul 2025 at 09:00

It had never occurred to me to use strawberries in a crumble before. I regularly make apple or blackberry and apple crumbles, occasionally a pear crumble, and I've even made a peach crumble (which was delicious, by the way), but I've never made one... It had never occurred to me to use strawberries in a crumble before. I regularly make apple or blackberry and apple crumbles, occasionally a pear crumble, and I've even made a peach crumble (which was delicious, by the way), but I've never made one... It had never occurred to me to use strawberries in a crumble before. I regularly make apple or blackberry and apple crumbles, occasionally a pear crumble, and I've even made a peach crumble (which was delicious, by the way), but I've never made one...

Delicious Dish: Sticky BBQ chicken

Review: A warm welcome, delicious comfort food and a cosy atmosphere

Lois Barnes Tue, 24th Jun 2025 at 09:00

From the second we sat down at our table at The Fountain Inn our mouths were watering, as we watched plate after plate of delicious looking food exit the kitchen on its way to a pub full of hungry diners. We were met with friendly faces and a... From the second we sat down at our table at The Fountain Inn our mouths were watering, as we watched plate after plate of delicious looking food exit the kitchen on its way to a pub full of hungry diners. We were met with friendly faces and a... From the second we sat down at our table at The Fountain Inn our mouths were watering, as we watched plate after plate of delicious looking food exit the kitchen on its way to a pub full of hungry diners. We were met with friendly faces and a...

Recipe: Slow cooker chilli con carne

Recipe: Veggie pinwheels