cafés

From pumpkin patches and apple orchards to woodland viewpoints glowing with autumn colour, these spots are some of the best for a seasonal escape

As autumn arrives, foliage in every hue from crimson to bronze drifts from branches, whilst pumpkins await harvesting.

From pumpkin patches and apple orchards to woodland viewpoints ablaze with autumnal colour, these locations offer some of the finest seasonal getaways.

A countryside stroll provides the perfect remedy.

All that’s required is planning your journey – and every one of these destinations can be reached by rail.

Simply pack some cosy clothing and a warming beverage and you’re prepared for the day, reports the Express.

Hewitts Farm – Knockholt, Kent

Pumpkins become the star attraction at Hewitts from early October, when the fields welcome visitors for pick-your-own and families descend to collect the ideal gourds for carving and adorning.

However, there’s far more to gather here: the 78-acre farm also boasts orchards laden with dessert apples, plus Bramleys for culinary use.

Visitors can also harvest pears and late plums to introduce another burst of autumnal sweetness.

At the farm shop, guests can load up on marrows, squashes and root vegetables, making Hewitts the ideal destination to fill a hamper with everything required for seasonal crumbles, pies and warming roasts.

How to get there: Train to Knockholt, then a 17-minute walk via the public footpath across Chelsfield Lakes Golf Course.

Swallow Falls – Betws-y-Coed, Snowdonia

Frequently dubbed the “Gateway to Snowdonia,” Betws-y-Coed ranks among Wales’ most stunning locations, and it truly sparkles in autumn.

From the station, there’s a leisurely riverside stroll to Swallow Falls, where the River Llugwy plunges spectacularly through the trees. The beech and birch trees that line the path turn vivid shades of amber and gold in October, creating a breathtaking backdrop.

The village itself also offers cosy cafés and shops, making it an easy, full day out by train.

How to get there: Train to Betws-y-Coed, then follow waymarked woodland paths to the falls in around 30 minutes.

Lymefield Garden Centre – Broadbottom, Greater Manchester

Tucked in the countryside near Manchester, this family-run garden centre goes all out for autumn.

Alongside its annual pumpkin patch, visitors can browse a farm shop brimming with local produce, enjoy homemade cakes in the café, or take a short riverside stroll before heading home.

A wholesome escape that makes for a perfect half-day trip from the city. The pumpkin patch opens 18th October and you can book tickets here online.

How to get there: Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Broadbottom, then an 11-minute walk.

Castle Farm – Eynsford, Kent

Best known for its lavender fields in summer, Castle Farm is equally inviting in September when its apple orchards open for PYO weekends.

Families can fill baskets with crisp Kentish apples and enjoy the rural scenery of the Darent Valley.

With refreshments on site and countryside footpaths leading through the farm, it’s a slice of rustic autumn just under an hour from London.

How to get there: Train to Eynsford, then a 27-minute countryside walk via the Darent Valley Footpath.

Orrest Head – Windermere, Lake District

There are few finer introductions to the Lake District than Orrest Head.

The journey begins right next to Windermere station, meandering through golden woodland before revealing a summit with panoramic views of the lake and surrounding fells.

Alfred Wainwright once described this walk as the moment he fell head over heels for the Lakes – and in autumn, with the hillsides ablaze in hues of red and amber, it’s not hard to understand why.

Getting there: Take a train to Windermere, then start your walk from the station. Follow the signposted Orrest Head path (20-30 minute climb).

Arthur’s Seat – Edinburgh, Scotland

Towering above the city, Arthur’s Seat serves as a reminder that Edinburgh is as much about untamed landscapes as it is about cobbled streets.

From Waverley station, it’s merely a short stroll to Holyrood Park, where lochs and crags are framed by trees transitioning into shades of gold.

The ascent to the summit takes 30-45 minutes, rewarding hikers with a sweeping view of the city and beyond. For a more leisurely outing, the lower paths around St Margaret’s Loch and Salisbury Crags are equally rich in autumnal colour.

The town has been labelled “such a gem” and “so lovely” by visitors

A town dubbed the “most underrated” in the UK has been praised by visitors online. Royal Leamington Spa, located in the heart of Warwickshire, has been labelled “such a gem” and “so lovely”, and is home to “stunning” architecture and award-winning parks.

The town has been renowned for its mineral springs since the Middle Ages, while its historic Jephson Gardens are well-loved. Royal Leamington Spa is surrounded by countryside, waterways and cross-country routes to villages, hamlets and traditional pubs.

Birmingham-based blogger @bababouttown shared a clip praising the town on TikTok, and suggested it could be “the most underrated town in the UK.” The clip racked up more than 27.4k views, hundreds of likes and many comments.

The post was captioned: “The Most Underrated Town in the UK? It honestly blows my mind how Leamington Spa still gets overlooked by the big travel platforms — especially when it rivals some of the UK’s most loved spots!

“Think grand Victorian buildings, dreamy cafés, gorgeous parks, buzzing coffee shops, flaky pastries, incredible independents and so many foodie finds. It’s the kind of place that feels like a mini escape, perfect for a chilled day out or a spontaneous weekend adventure.

“Need to know: – Dog friendly – Easily accessible – Only 45 mins from Birmingham Moor Street.” The video showed clips of different things to do in Leamington Spa, including parks, restaurants and attractions.

Beneath the clip, people were quick to share their thoughts on the town. One person said: “Leamington is such a gem of a place!” and a second wrote: “Lem has my heart! Love this city so much.”

A third comment read: “Ooh I need your itinerary, looks fab,” while a fourth said: “My favourite town ever.” Another person commented: “Been to Leamington Spa last weekend and became one of my favourite places to visit in the UK. So so lovely.”

RoyalLeamingtonSpa.co.uk said: “Wide boulevards, stunning architecture and award-winning parks provide a sophisticated backdrop to this Regency town. Leamington town centre combines a treasure-trove of independent, specialist boutiques alongside high street brands and a huge variety of eating experiences.”

It added: “With a town centre of around a third of a mile square, getting around Royal Leamington Spa couldn’t be easier. All areas of the town centre are easily accessed on foot within a ten minute walk, which is a great way to appreciate the stunning Regency architecture.”

In all human endeavours undertaken within Britiain’s isles, the provision of tea and cake is the most vital consideration. When a walker or cyclist delivers the damning judgment “there’s no decent caff” to a group of friends, the ghastly silence is followed by everyone crossing the accursed region off their map. The sheer importance of this staple dietary ingredient is obvious from our island geography: Dundee, Eccles, Bakewell, Chelsea …

So it was with some trepidation that I set out to walk around the Llŷn peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales, on part of what is called the Seafood Trail. I mean, I love a lobster, but what about the fruit scones? Bangor University’s school of ocean sciences has produced a map of seafood producers and outlets to encourage hikers as they stride along the coastal path. Fine, but it’s the late afternoon sugar lull that I worry about.

We start on the north coast in Nefyn, a place that boasts an excellent brewery and a good beach with one of the most Instagrammed pubs in Wales, the Tŷ Coch Inn. Me and my friend Andy are both nervously scanning the weather apps as the forecast is stormy. The plan is to walk and camp, but only after a gentle start in the Nanhoron Arms hotel. This proves doubly beneficial as the dinner includes a delicious Anglesey sea bass and, next morning, we can stay dry while watching a barrage of lashing rain come down. We have each brought a tent, but neither item has been tested at this level of downpour.

I am already a convert to the Welsh Coast Path, one of the finest walks in the world, but I have never done this particular section. Immediately, we are off to a great start: the rain stops and we cross Nefyn golf ccourse and settle into a rhythm of cliff and cove. In one sheltered spot, a few Atlantic grey seals play in the shallows while the older ones snooze on the beach. A kestrel hovers overhead and butterflies skip around a few late flowers. In May this would be a floral bonanza, but now we have blackberries to keep us going.

Then, with lunchtime approaching, we start scanning ahead and almost immediately we see Cwt Tatws. The translation is roughly the Potato Shed but the name belies the true magnificence of this cafe, all the more splendid for its ideal location close to a beautiful stretch of sandy beach in Towyn. A rich selection of sandwiches, salads, pies and, of course, cakes, is augmented by cosy seating, a vintage clothing section and a range of Welsh products. Neither of us, unfortunately, has space in our rucksacks for a sack of sea salt or a bottle of Welsh whisky. However, we do manage an extra slice of coffee and walnut sponge before heading off.

After 3 miles (5km), we drop down on to a sandy beach at low tide and weave through a set of sentinel rocks. This long lovely stretch, Traeth Penllech, is a real gem, leading us up to the first campsite at Moel-y-Berth. Run by Mike and Joanna Smith, this is the kind of place people return to every year. There is a shop and a handy cafe for breakfast where, the next morning, we sit and watch another rampaging storm come blasting through. When we emerge, however, the sun is out again.

Our luck holds all day, but by midafternoon a crisis is looming. Without tea and cake, I reckon, I’ve only got a few miles left in my legs. But then at Porthor’s Whistling Sands beach, Caffi Porthor pops up, another gem, serving a vast range of delicious homemade cakes, including a Welsh stalwart, Bara brith. If you’re not familiar with this heavenly manna, it’s a fruit cake made with tea and spices. And Caffi Porthor makes the best I’ve ever tasted. Andy, foolishly, turns it down and the result, three miles later, is that he runs out of steam, taking a short cut across the headland to Dwyros, our second campsite. Meanwhile, powered by tea and cake, I stride on for a further seven miles around what is the best section so far: the actual tip of the Llŷn peninsula. The spectacular cliffs offer a fine view of the tidal race between the headland and Bardsey Island. On a day like this one, when the wind is gusting powerfully and the current is running at about four metres per second, it’s a fearsome sight.

Aberdaron, just around the corner, is a lovely village with an excellent fish and chip shop, Sblash, and a fine pub, The Ship, a good spot to try out a few words of Welsh as that’s the main language here, as on most of the Llyn.

Unfortunately, the following morning my own language skills fail. When I ask some teenage boys for the path to Rhiw, the next village, I’m met with sniggers. Apparently I’m asking for sex.

The seafood, however, has really kicked in now. At Rhiw I meet Brett and Nia who harvest crab and lobster for their Top Cat Caffi where we eat a lobster salad lunch. However, the weather is deteriorating fast so we can’t get out to help with the day’s catch, something Brett encourages visitors to do. That evening, camped at Rhydolion farm, we stagger an extra mile to the pretty inland village of Llanengan and eat bowls of delicious mussels at the Sun Inn.

The final day is a bracing stomp across surfers’ beach, Hell’s Mouth, a notorious shipwreck spot in the past, then around Mynydd Cilan headland to Abersoch where there’s plenty of cafes to hide from the storm. The seafood has been great, but it’s the memories of tea and cakes that I will treasure.

The trip was provided by Natural Resources Wales

The UK’s coastlines are among the most stunning in the world and can be appreciated all year round, especially in autumn

Just because the summer season has concluded, it doesn’t mean you can’t still relish sandy shores and delightful coastal towns. The UK’s coastlines are amongst the most breathtaking globally and can be savoured throughout the year – especially during autumn when you can wander the coastal path and treat yourself to hot chocolates at welcoming beachside cafés.

Senior Journalist, Portia Jones, confessed that autumn is her favoured time to visit the seaside towns of Wales as it tends to be more peaceful, and lodging could potentially be more affordable (particularly if you manage to bag a brilliant deal). She revealed: “Tenby, widely regarded as one of the best seaside towns in Wales, is one of my favourite destinations during the off-peak season.”

With gorgeous beaches just a brief stroll from the vibrant town centre, charming cobbled streets that could rival those in Italy or the French Riviera, and a selection of eye-catching, brightly-coloured houses that many British towns would covet, it’s scarcely shocking that this coastal treasure consistently features as one of the “best” seaside towns in the entire UK, reports the Express.

Dubbed the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the ‘Welsh Riviera’, Tenby has long been a favoured tourist hotspot and is one of the most cherished seaside towns in Wales.

Here, you’ll uncover a scenic harbour, Victorian architecture, sandy beaches, independent cafés and picturesque coastal walks along the captivating shoreline, reports Wales Online. Step beyond its ancient 13th-century walls, and you’ll discover sun-drenched shores and breathtaking clifftop vistas across the water towards the enchanting Caldey Island.

Portia revealed: “I have visited Tenby many, many times over the years, from childhood holidays to grown-up escapes with friends and my significant other, and I love it a bit more with each visit.

“While summer is perfect for sea swimming and long wine-filled afternoons on sun-trap pub terraces, I have come to appreciate Tenby more in autumn. Sure, the weather might not be as sunny, but this is Wales. Frankly, you can have a torrential downpour in August and a mini-heatwave in late September.

“It’s completely unpredictable, so you may as well chance a cheaper autumn visit and hope the weather gods smile upon you. I love that if you visit Tenby during the week, say, mid-October, you can escape the crowds and wander the pretty streets and sandy beaches in relative peace. Just wrap up warm, buy a hot chocolate, and watch the waves roll in from a chilled-out seaside cafe. Lush.”

She added: “Accommodation-wise I’ve found that you can get some pretty good deals in the off-season – especially if you visit midweek rather than at a weekend. One of my favourite spots is YHA Manorbier – a very affordable stay that’s a short drive from the town centre.”

This wallet-friendly hostel, situated in a former military base, provides glamping and camping options and costs under £50 for a private en suite room for two people (YHA members pay even less). Lodging choices include reasonably priced private quarters, distinctive American Airstreams, charming camping pods, and pitch-up camping.

Portia usually books a pristine private en suite room for just £45 for two visitors, and as a YHA member, she gets an extra 10% reduction. Granted, the private quarters may have limited space for large luggage, which estate agents might call “bijou” and regular people might describe as “compact.”

However, for slightly over £20 each, it offers outstanding value – especially in the expensive Pembrokeshire area. Portia observed: “Let’s be honest; you’re not checking into a YHA expecting a concierge, Egyptian cotton sheets, and a robe monogrammed with your initials. You’re here for the vibes. A community-spirited atmosphere fostered by shared kitchens, mismatched mugs, and conversations over wine in the lounge.”

Fancy staying closer to the town centre? Browse autumn deals on Booking.com and bag a hotel for roughly £75 for two adults. The Premier Inn Tenby Town Centre property costs just £68 per night for two in October and offers a cosy base right in the heart of all the action. Despite the summer rush being over, there’s still plenty to savour in Tenby.

From strolling along the coastal path and sampling craft beers in local pubs, to exploring independent shops for your Christmas shopping, Tenby has it all.

The town is home to several golden beaches perfect for a brisk autumn sea dip if you’re brave enough, or simply sipping hot chocolate while taking in the windswept coastline. South Beach, a sandy beach backed by dunes near the town centre, proudly holds the esteemed Blue Flag status.

When it comes to dining, Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant, situated right on the beach, is well worth a visit. Castle Beach, just a hop, skip and jump from the town centre, was crowned the UK’s best beach in 2019 and currently boasts an impressive 4.8 out of five rating on Google.

North Beach, nestled in Pembrokeshire, has previously been voted the most photogenic beach in the UK, beating other stunning spots like Durdle Door in Dorset and Brighton seafront. Harbour Beach may be the smallest, but it offers a charming backdrop of colourful houses, bobbing boats, and a road leading back to the town centre.

Autumn is the perfect time to explore the Tenby Coast Path. This picturesque section of the larger Pembrokeshire Coast Path offers breathtaking views of Tenby’s vibrant harbour, Caldey Island, and St Catherine’s Island.

Favourite trails include the four-mile stroll to Saundersfoot, a moderate nine-mile loop that returns inland, and a challenging 10.9-mile point-to-point path to Freshwater East. If the weather takes a turn for the worse, why not pop into Tenby Museum and Art Gallery?

It’s the oldest independent museum in Wales. Founded in 1878, this charming museum is home to a wide range of local geology, biology, archaeology, and maritime artefacts waiting to be explored.

Many of the exhibits also delve into the culture and heritage of South Pembrokeshire, offering you a peek into local history and art. A delightful gift shop near the entrance sells local books and gift items.

Entry to the museum will set you back £6.50 for adults and £3.50 for children. They also run a reusable ticket scheme – all tickets can be used for one year after purchase, so you can make as many return visits as you like within that time at no extra cost.

For those who fancy a Welsh tipple, there are two local breweries in Tenby. Both produce top-notch beers and supply local bars and restaurants. Tenby Brewing Co., which took over from Preseli Brewery, has multiple stockists in Tenby and is one of the leading craft breweries in Wales.

The award-winning brewery was conceived when two mates decided to ditch the daily grind and start their own brewery over a pint. The Yard, their trendy venue at the brewery, boasts a capacity of 150 and offers an exciting rotating menu from fantastic pop-up food vendors, draft beer lines from their range, and some of their favourite brewers.

Harbwr, the newer kid on the block, is a craft brewery and taproom that brews a variety of cask and bottled ales just above Tenby harbour. When it comes to food, Tenby’s cluster of tiny streets and pastel-coloured buildings conceals its best restaurants and cafes down the narrowest of alleys.

Plantagenet House is a hidden treasure, featuring flagstone floors, exposed beams, and a 40-foot medieval Flemish chimney. If you’re quick off the mark, you might even secure a table by the fireplace.

“A recommended dish is their vegan Thai coconut curry, which features squash, chargrilled spring onion, spiced rice, and roasted almonds,” Portia suggested.

Links restaurant, located on the ground floor of Tenby Golf Club, offers Michelin-starred dining, making it a top pick for food enthusiasts visiting Pembrokeshire.

The menu, crafted by a talented local chef, focuses on simple yet incredibly tasty dishes made with high-quality Welsh produce. Start your meal with their freshly-baked ale bread served with whipped Marmite butter – trust me, it’s the perfect starter.

The ambience strikes the perfect balance between laid-back and sophisticated, with a menu that seamlessly merges humble yet thrilling dishes. From hot smoked salmon paired with cucumber and buttermilk to heritage tomatoes coupled with buffalo mozzarella, there’s something to tickle every palate.

For your main course, relish in locally-sourced delights such as Pembrokeshire beef or Cornish cod in a bisque sauce, or treat yourself to a succulent rump of Welsh lamb served with all the right trimmings.

And don’t forget to save space for pudding – whether it’s a decadent dark chocolate fondant with tarragon ice cream or a zesty lemon meringue with almond cake and blueberry sorbet, you won’t leave feeling unsatisfied. D. Fecci and Sons might just dish up the best fish and chips in Wales, having catered to both locals and tourists since 1935.

With potatoes grown locally in Pembrokeshire and groundnut oil creating wonderfully crispy haddock, cod, and calamari, the chippy also offers fresh mackerel during the summer months.

For delightful treats, pop into Mor Tenby, an elegant family-run coffee house and gift boutique selling their signature coffee blend (“Coffi Mor”), sweet treats, deli items, home fragrances, household goods, gifts, and Welsh specialities.

A beloved establishment in Tenby, Top Joe’s remains the top spot for pizza lovers. This former ’60s diner has transformed into an artisanal pizzeria offering freshly-made pizza, pasta, and salads featuring high-quality Italian ingredients. Nestled in the heart of this delightful coastal town, it’s a firm favourite with both locals and visitors.

The culinary expertise of Chef Giovanni Recchia, recently acknowledged as one of the world’s best at the Pizza World Championships, enhances the menu. He crafts pizzas using locally-milled flour and top-notch ingredients, including cured meats from Trealy Farm Charcuterie.

On the corner of East 4th Street and South Evergreen Avenue on a recent Friday night in Boyle Heights, a large crowd gathered in front of Picaresca Barra de Café swaying to the syncopated beats of Los Chicos del Mambo. Near the band, Natalia Lara of Tortas Ahogadas El Águila filled birote salado rolls from Gusto Bread with carnitas. But the main event was underway inside the cafe: a latte art throwdown.

Throwdowns, special menus, omakases, pop-ups, speakeasies and out-of-the-box events are part of L.A.’s growing underground coffee scene. And they might be the best way to tap into what’s happening in the world of coffee. Cuppings, signature drink service and guest barista takeovers add to the diversity and creativity of these coffee experiences, which keep evolving.

“Each one is offering something special and has varying approaches with some very limited coffees or methods,” says Mikey Muench of Senses Café Projects, a pop-up that has made its way around Los Angeles from the Lasita window in Far East Plaza in Chinatown to restaurants, breweries and cafes such as Homage Brewing, Canary Test, Ondo, HIGTE and Woon.

Senses Café Projects allows Meunch to explore the coffees he enjoys drinking and to experiment with new tools and brew methods, he says. He focuses on pour-overs. “It’s my personal favorite way to enjoy coffee,” says Muench. “I am also experimenting with the nostalgic flavors of my childhood. I’m half Thai and half German. The majority of the beverage ideas and components are inspired by my Asian heritage.”

Yasuo Ishii, founder of leading-edge Tokyo roaster Leaves Coffee, was a guest brewer at Kumquat Coffee downtown last March. Other barista guest appearances at Kumquat have included brewers from Fritz Coffee in Seoul and Ditta Arigianale in Florence.

A few hard-to-get reservation-only coffee omakases also have popped up in L.A., such as Nobu Coffee at Courage Piano Lounge in Gardena, serving coffee hand-poured into a fabric Nel filter in a traditional Japanese kissaten style. Tangible Gratitude serves by reservation only a five-course sensory tasting experience in its Hermosa Beach design studio for $125 per person.

Strategic planning unlocks access. Follow coffee experts, specialty roasters and professional baristas from the high-profile competition circuit on social media; they often drop breadcrumbs to the next opportunity.

Keep up with the 2025 U.S. Coffee in Good Spirits Champion Jerry Truong, for example. He recently guest-bartended special shifts at Hollywood cocktail bar Night on Earth and Johnny’s Bar in Highland Park to serve his competition-winning coffee cocktails. Other key players include Frank La of Be Bright; Kay Cheon of Dune Coffee Roasters in Santa Barbara; World Barista Champion Michael Phillips of Blue Bottle; and consultant Jaymie Lao.

In addition to cafes, restaurants and farmers markets, coffee events are spilling into culinary festivals, art galleries and retail stores around the city. Automaker Rivian recently invited Cheon to make coffee with his Slayer espresso machine on the back of an R1T truck in its Venice showroom garden. The cafe kiosk at fashion brand Goodfight’s Historic Filipinotown shop has become a favorite destination for the coffee community.

“Coffee pop-ups are happening all the time in Los Angeles where your favorite baristas can express their ideas, and coffee folks, professionals and enthusiasts can celebrate coffee in ways you just don’t see in cafes every day,” says Lao.

Here are nine places where you can check out previews of yet-to-open cafes, guest baristas serving rare coffees, special pop-up menus or multicourse tastings.

Behind a car repair business on an unremarkable Thai street are the cherished pets of a rising TikTok animal influencer: Two lions and a 200kg (440lb) lion-tiger hybrid called “Big George”.

Lion ownership is legal in Thailand, and Tharnuwarht Plengkemratch is an enthusiastic advocate, posting updates on his feline companions to nearly three million followers.

“They’re playful and affectionate, just like dogs or cats,” he said from inside their cage complex at his home in the northern city of Chiang Mai.

Thailand’s captive lion population has soared in recent years, with nearly 500 registered in zoos, breeding farms, petting cafes and homes.

The boom is prompted by social media, where owners like Tharnuwarht post lighthearted content and glamour shots with lions.

Since 2022, Thai law has required owners to register and microchip lions, and inform authorities before moving them.

But there are no breeding caps, few enclosure or welfare requirements, and no controls on liger or tigon hybrids.

Tom Taylor, chief operating officer of conservation group Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, and his colleagues have tracked the rise in lion ownership with on-site visits and by trawling social media.

They recorded about 130 in 2018, and nearly 450 by 2024. But nearly 350 more lions they encountered were “lost to follow-up” after their whereabouts could not be confirmed for a year.

That could indicate unreported deaths, an animal removed from display or “worst-case scenarios”, said Taylor. “We have interviewed traders (in the region) who have given us prices for live and dead lions and have told us they can take them over the border.”

As a vulnerable species, lions and their parts can only be sold internationally with Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) permits.

Media reports and social media have documented lions, including cubs, in Cambodia multiple times in recent years, though CITES shows no registered imports since 2003.

There is also growing evidence that captive lion numbers in Laos exceed CITES import licences.

In Thailand, meanwhile, imports of lion parts like bones, skins and teeth have dropped in recent years, though demand remains, raising questions about how parts are now being sourced.

Thai trader Pathamawadee Janpithak started in the crocodile business, but pivoted to lions as prices for the reptiles declined. She sells one-month-olds for about 500,000 baht ($15,395), down from a peak of 800,000 baht ($24,638) as breeding operations like hers increase supply.

Pathamawadee’s three facilities house about 80 lions, from a stately full-maned nine-year-old to a sickly pair of eight-day-olds being bottle-fed around the clock.

He sells about half of the 90 cubs she breeds each year, often to other breeders, who are increasingly opening “lion cafes” where customers pose with and pet young lions.

The growing lion population is a problem for Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), admitted wildlife protection director Sadudee Punpugdee.

“But private ownership has existed for a long time… So we’re taking a gradual approach,” he said.

That includes limiting lion imports so breeders are forced to rely on the domestic population.

Already stretched authorities face difficult choices on enforcing regulations, as confiscated animals become their responsibility, said Penthai Siriwat, illegal wildlife trade specialist at WWF Thailand.

“There is a great deal of deliberation before intervening … considering the substantial costs,” said Siriwat. Owners like Tharnuwarht often invoke conservation to justify their pets, but Thailand’s captive lions will never live in the wild.

Sanctuary chief vet Natanon Panpeth treads carefully while discussing the lion trade, warning only that the “wellbeing of the animals should always come first”.

Sadudee is hopeful some provisions may be tightened, though a ban is unlikely for now. He has his advice for would-be owners: “Wild animals belong in the wild.

“There are plenty of other animals we can keep as pets.”

Unexpectedly, porridge is a Finnish obsession, available in petrol stations, schools and on national airline flights. But Helsinki’s gastronomic offerings are a lot wilder, featuring reindeer, moose, pike perch, salmon soup, herring, seaweed – and even bear meat. And from summer into autumn, Finns’ deep affinity with nature blossoms, fusing local organic produce with foraged berries and mushrooms. This inspires menus to feature whimsical fusions of textures and flavours, all straight from the land.

Garlanded with superlatives, from “friendliest” and “happiest” to “world’s most sustainable city”, this breezy Nordic capital is fast catching up on its foodie neighbours. Enriched by immigrant chefs, the youthful, turbocharged culinary scene now abounds in excellent mid-range restaurants with affordable tasting menus – although wine prices are steep (from €10/£8.60 for a 120ml glass). Vegan and vegetarian alternatives are omnipresent, as are non-alcoholic drinks, many berry based. Tips are unnecessary, aesthetics pared down, locals unostentatious and dining starts early, at 5pm. And, this being Finland, you can digest your meal in a sauna, whether at an island restaurant (Lonna) or high in the sky on the Ferris wheel (SkySauna).

Eat, sweat, swim – go Finn!

Nolla

Top of the table in zero-waste cred is pioneering Nolla (meaning “zero”), which even boasts a designer composter in one corner. It serves regularly changing taster menus (four courses €59, six courses €69) in an old townhouse with a relaxed, hip vibe. Led by Catalan chef and co-owner Albert Franch Sunyer, the 70-seater espouses localism and upcycling: staff uniforms are made from old curtains and sheets, while the base of a wine bottle becomes a butter dish. Nothing goes to waste, whether leftover bread or used coffee grounds (an ingredient in a roasted hay ice-cream). Goose is a recent innovation, roasted deliciously with honey turnips, parsnip puree and hazelnut crumble, while Finncattle carpaccio with a radish and tomato harissa dressing brings an exotic hit. With a Michelin green star, Nolla’s easygoing atmosphere and strict environmental policies make it a winner.
restaurantnolla.com

Muru

Not far from Nolla, in the popular central area, is long-standing Muru, one of the first French-style bistros in Helsinki. Masterminded by award-winning sommelier Samuil Angelov, it’s intimate, with a slightly worn, rustic edge and eccentricities that stretch to a wine store at the top of a vertiginous ladder. The changing menus (four courses €59, two courses €39) are chalked on a blackboard in Finnish, which any waiter will translate – English is virtually a second language in Helsinki. Depending on the season, you might indulge in a starter of lavaret (freshwater fish) with pickled cucumber, radishes and dill flower, a nettle risotto with rhubarb and parmesan (risottos are Muru’s speciality) and end with a luscious pannacotta and strawberry dessert.
murudining.fi

The Room

This is where the Middle East comes to Finland – dramatically. Cloistered in a curtained room, 14 diners sit around a kitchen bar to watch Kurdish chef Kozeen Shiwan enact his gastronomic life story. This is represented by 14 meticulously conjured courses – from a single richly decorated olive (“Made in Suleymaniah) to a spicy quail’s leg buried in flowers (“Flora’s Quail”). Each dish is introduced by the chef’s witty patter. Gold rules, too, whether in Kozeen’s teeth, his necklace, or encasing a platter of glittering potatoes baked with amba sauce and roe before they sink into a mayo, saffron and olive oil sauce. It’s a memorable dining performance (€159), but make sure Kozeen is present on the night you book, and choose wine by the glass rather than the €119 wine pairing.
kozeenshiwan.com

Finlandia Hall

Nobody can visit Helsinki without paying homage to Alvar Aalto (1898-1976), the groundbreaking architect and designer who brought functionalism to Finland. After three years of renovation, his monumental Finlandia Hall, an events centre which opened in 1971, now includes a sleekly designed bistro and a cafe. Everything in the building is by Aalto, from lighting to furniture and brass fittings, explained in an illuminating permanent exhibition. On the food front, the bistro (open for dinner Thursday to Saturday) offers typically creative Nordic cuisine with Mediterranean accents (four courses €59, six courses €69, plus à la carte) in a moody interior. For more luminosity, or for lunch, head for Finlandia Café&Wine (open all week), with terrace views over the bay. Self-service snacks and drinks are backed up by a daily lunch special (€14.70) or a copious breakfast (€19.90) – porridge included, of course.
finlandiatalo.fi

Nokka

Down on the south harbour, beside a stretch of other eateries, Nokka’s spacious warehouse is full of nautical artefacts and enlarged sketches of wild animals. The philosophy of chef-founder Ari Ruoho, a keen hunter and fisher, is to bring Finland’s peerless “wild nature” on to the plate, nose to tail. Apart from the wild meat, there is a huge emphasis on organic vegetables. There are three menus (four courses €89, vegetarian €74, eight courses from €129) and à la carte options. The smoked bream mousse starter with pickled cucumber, cucumber sorbet and a crispbread combining fish skin with dried roe and pumpkin seeds (€24) is a revelation, as is tender roasted reindeer, seasonal vegetables and roast potatoes with grated elk heart. This is ambitious, perfectly honed food that easily justifies its Michelin green star.
nokkahelsinki.fi

Lonna

Several thousand islands speckle the Gulf of Finland, so there’s no excuse not to hop on a ferry for a 10-minute ride to Lonna island. Here, recycling comes with a twist, as ageing military structures now house an eponymous restaurant with bar and terrace overlooking the Baltic. Add to that a beach, a sleekly designed sauna and views to Helsinki and you have a bucolic escape. The 60-seater Lonna restaurant is low key, with bare brick walls and gorgeous Finnish tableware, and is open May to September. Excellent-value menus (three courses €39) change monthly, offering local organic produce and plentiful vegetarian options, such as oyster mushrooms with barley and smoked tomato, or a meaty option such as organic pork with bok choi and trout roe.
lonna.fi

Bona Fide

In an elegant residential neighbourhood, this quirky little restaurant offers a four-course menu (€48) tweaked every few weeks. “We do what’s in season, using French technique and good ingredients from abroad, and only wild game or fish,” says Ilpo Vainonen, one of the two young chefs who are co-owners with sommelier and manager Johan Borgar. Like many of their peers, they make their own bread, which comes with a black olive dip. Every dish is presented superbly: try a starter combining fresh and semi-dried tomatoes framed by hazelnuts, cream cheese and tiny cherries, or an ice-cream in a puddle of olive oil served with a pan of stone fruits poached in rum syrup. Suddenly, a spoonful of raspberry sorbet coated in pink peppercorn appears. Divine.
bonafide.fi

Lunch on the run…

As most of the restaurants above open for dinner only, lunch during Helsinki’s summer is all about outdoor grazing. Ice-cream kiosks dot the city, while numerous lippakioski (wooden kiosks dating from the 1920s) provide drinks and snacks. Countless cafes include quaint Café Regatta, an old waterside fisher’s shack with terrace. The touristy Market Hall offers wide-ranging choices, from reindeer salami and salmon soup to Asian fast food. Inside Oodi, Helsinki’s spectacular central library, you can enjoy a bargain set lunch or take snacks on to the panoramic terrace. And as everyone has the right to forage, for dessert head for Central Park to fill your pockets.

M&S has made a huge change at all cafes and shoppers will be fuming.

Prices at the Percy Pig makers in-store cafes have risen by up to 20%, with the cost of a Gastro Fish & Chips meal increasing by £2.

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It’s beer battered fish, served with chips, petit pois and tartar sauce used to cost £9.95 in August 2024.

But its most updated menu for June 2025 shows the cost of the beloved British dish has risen to £11.95 across sites.

The price of a single portion of chips at the cafe has also increased by 50p, now costing £2.50.

And fans of its brekkie are forking out more too.

M&S’s All Day Big Breakfast, served with sausages, bacon, soft poached eggs, tomatoes, potato rosti, baked beans and toast, used to cost £9.50.

But punters are now paying an extra 45p for the hefty morning meal.

Elsewhere, toast with jam and butter now costs £3.75 up from £3.50 and a breakfast ciabatta’s was £4.95 but now costs £5.25. 

The posh retailer has also shaken up what is served on menus, axing its nutty granola bowl priced at £4.25.

This has been replaced with a Berry Bliss granola bowl that costs 70p more.

An M&S spokesperson told The Sun: ” We’re committed to providing trusted value for our customers by mitigating and offsetting as much of the current food inflation as we can.

“We are working hard to ensure we offer a wide range of price points and options for our customers, never compromising on the M&S quality they expect.”

It is not uncommon for restaurants, cafés and grocery stores to raise prices due to increased operational costs, including hikes to National Insurance contributions and wages.

M&S has previously faced ridicule for hiking the cost of popular items, such as Percy Pigs.

Shoppers were outraged after it was discovered a 170g of the iconic sweet treat had been hiked by 10p, now costing £2.

The bestselling sweets have undergone a 33% price hike since 2017 when a packet cost just £1.50.

MORE PRICE RISES

M&S is not the only retailer hiking costs for customers.

Earlier this year, Morrisons also increased the cost of a number popular menu items in its cafés.

The Full Breakfast was hiked by 25p to £7, while its sweet Stacked Pancakes have risen by £4.25 to £4.50.

The price of a Ultimate Fish, Chips & Mushy Peas has increased by £7.75 to £8.50.

Meanwhile, battered sausages, chips and mushy peas increased from £6 to £6.50.

Greggs increased the price of a sausage roll to £1.30 nationally at the start of the year.

The rise means that the Brit favourite jumped by more than a third since it cost £1 in 2022.

At some travel locations, such as London Bridge, the price of a sausage roll has increased from £1.50 to £1.55.

Elsewhere, Costa Coffee has hiked the price of a brew across its hospital concessions.

An audit by our investigators found that a small latte or cappuccino costs £3.90 and a medium £4.10 at Medivest’s Royal Victoria Infirmary’s Costa Coffee outlet in Newcastle.

That’s a 10p increase on February 2025 prices and a 20p more compared with high street prices just yards down the road.

ASDA is set to roll out a huge shake-up across 180 in-store cafes with the launch of new menu items and digital ordering screens.

One of the UK’s biggest supermarkets is pumping £10million into freshening up dozens of cafes.

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The retailer will start the makeover this month with all works set to be complete by the end of October.

The 180 cafes, managed by Compass Group, will be upgraded to include new digital ordering screens where shoppers can pick what food and drink they want.

Customers will also be able to order from their tables or via staffed tills.

A number of existing menu items will continue to be on sale including full English breakfasts, fish and chips, lasagne and jacket potatoes.

But some new ones will be added as well, including smashed avocado on toast, katsu chicken curry, topped salad bowls and wraps.

Shoppers will be able to buy full 12inch pizzas or single pizza slices from the cafes for the first time as well.

Customers can pick from flavours including margherita, pepperoni, American sizzler, spicy chicken and meat feast.

There will also be a range of hot drinks on offer as well as cold ones like iced coffees and cakes.

Asda’s “Kids Eat for £1” café meal deals will remain available.

We have asked Asda how much some of the menu items will cost and for the full list of 180 stores where cafes will be freshened up and will update this story when we have heard back.

Ian McEvans, vice president of commercial food at Asda, said: “This significant investment alongside allows us to bring a new look and feel, as well making improvements to the service and a refresh of the menu.”

It comes after some other changes at Asda, including the retailer ditching Star Products on its loyalty scheme at the start of the year.

However, the move to axe the feature came as the supermarket brought back its Rollback price commitment at the end of January.

Asda introduced the price cuts at its more than 1,200 stores meaning lower prices on 4,000 products.

Then in March, prices were lowered on 10,000 products by up to 45% as the retailer looked to steal its rivals’ customers.

New Asda boss Allan Leighton insisted the supermarket’s turnaround was on last month, despite the supermarket’s sales falling 3.1% in the four months to the end of April.

Mr Leighton urged Sun readers to come back to see the UK’s third largest grocery chain’s revitalised stores.

In May last year, Asda said it would invest majorly overhaul 170 stores as part of a £50million makeover.

SUPERMARKETS SHAKING UP IN-STORE CAFES

The latest announcement from Asda on its in-store cafe upgrades comes as two other major supermarkets row back on their cafe offerings.

Sainsbury’s shut 61 in-store cafes in April as it looks to explore “future opportunities” for the spaces.

The retailer said it was closing its remaining in-store cafes due to lower footfall and as its hybrid cafe and food halls become more popular.

It is likely to replace the cafes with restaurants run by franchises, such as Starbucks and Gourmet Burger Kitchen.

In March, Morrisons said it would shut 52 cafes as part of a huge overhaul of its store estate.

The retailer also said 18 Market Kitchens, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters and four pharmacies would shut.

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