The Domino’s playbook for growth will keep it going for many more years.
Domino’s Pizza(DPZ -0.60%) may be best known for late-night delivery, but for investors it represents something bigger. One of the most durable growth stories in the restaurant industry. Over the past two decades, Domino’s has outpaced the S&P 500, delivering close to 3,000% in stock return to investors.
Now, with more than 21,000 stores worldwide, the question is what keeps Domino’s compounding from here. The answer lies in three powerful forces: International expansion, digital leadership, and menu innovation.
Image source: Getty Images.
1. International expansion, and particularly China
One of the biggest issues with Domino’s is the sheer size of its U.S. store count (7,031 as of March 23), which limits its future growth potential. While the bears are not wrong in saying that, they are missing the bigger picture, wherein the real growth engine is from overseas. For perspective, Domino’s now operates more international stores than domestic ones, and global markets (with more than 14,000 stores) are providing both scale and profitability.
The most significant growth opportunity here is China. Domino’s master franchisee there, DPC Dash, ended June 2025 with about 1,198 stores across 48 Chinese cities. Same-store sales have grown for more than 30 straight quarters, and management expects to add about 300 stores in 2025 and 350 more in 2026. It also has 30 million customers on its loyalty program there, up from 19 million a year ago.
Importantly, DPC’s growing scale is translating into profitability. In the first half of 2025, Domino’s China generated $362.7 million in revenue and a fivefold increase in net profit year over year, with adjusted EBITDA margins climbing to 12.4%. Those numbers highlight a rare combination: Rapid revenue growth alongside improving margins.
While impressive, the growth in China is likely to be in the early days. With a population of 1.4 billion, the country can certainly accommodate many more thousands of stores. For investors, that’s a blueprint that could extend to other emerging markets as Domino’s replicates the model in emerging markets like India or Southeast Asia.
2. Ongoing investment in digital and technology
Domino’s has long differentiated itself through technology. It was one of the first pizza chains to roll out mobile ordering, and today, digital accounts for a large share of its sales base. In the U.S., more than 85% of sales now come through digital channels.
That’s more than just a convenience metric. Digital orders typically carry higher average tickets and lower error rates, and foster customer loyalty through push notifications and rewards. By steering customers to its own app, Domino’s also collects valuable data, enabling upselling and targeted marketing.
The company is also partnering with other tech companies. Its DoorDash deal, announced in May 2025, allows Domino’s stores to appear on DoorDash’s marketplace while still using Domino’s drivers for fulfillment. This hybrid model expands customer reach without compromising the delivery experience for customers.
Looking ahead, Domino’s ongoing investment in the latest technology and innovations could further enhance the customer experience while making its operation leaner and better. Both will add to the bottom line over the long run.
3. Menu and value innovation
People crave variety, even in a category as simple as pizza. Domino’s continually updates its menu with new toppings, sides, and limited-time offers that encourage repeat visits from loyal customers while attracting new demographics.
Internationally, Domino’s adapts to local tastes — paneer pizzas in India, durian pizzas in China — to ensure cultural relevance while still leveraging its global brand. That balance of localization and consistency is a significant strength as it expands into new markets.
Value remains just as crucial as novelty. Domino’s has consistently positioned itself as an affordable option in quick-service dining, offering carryout deals, bundles, and promotional pricing that appeal to price-sensitive consumers. This approach has helped Domino’s not only sustain demand through economic cycles, but also gain market share during more challenging times.
The combination of menu variety and value pricing has cemented Domino’s position as the largest pizza chain in the world, and it gives the company multiple levers to drive growth even when broader consumer spending slows.
What does it mean for investors?
Domino’s isn’t just a restaurant chain anymore — it’s a global platform powered by scale, technology, and relentless customer focus.
International expansion, particularly in China, offers a long runway for store growth. Its digital leadership strengthens customer loyalty and operational efficiency. And menu and value innovation keep the brand relevant and affordable across markets.
That’s why, even after two decades of outperformance, Domino’s story may just be getting started. Investors should keep the company on their radar.
In “The Paper,” the much anticipated mockumentary spinoff to “The Office,” Alex Edelman plays intrepid accountant/reporter Adam Cooper, part of the team tasked with reviving local newspaper “The Toledo Truth-Teller.” Edelman was also a writer and consulting producer for the show, which premieres on Peacock on Sept. 4 with all 10 episodes, and says the project gave him “the thing that is rarest in Los Angeles”: routine.
“It was a really wonderful routine,” he adds.
In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.
Of course, routines must end and new routines must be created. Edelman, who won an Obie and a Special Tony for his stand-up show “Just For Us,” about attending a meeting of Nazis as an Orthodox Jew (it became the HBO original comedy special “Alex Edelman: Just For Us,” for which he won an Emmy), is back on the road and adding new dates for his current show, “What Are You Going to Do.” In his spare time, he’s working on a nonfiction book, “I Don’t Belong Here.”
The perfect Sunday, for Edelman, is always a little bit different, with currents of consistency woven through. (He calls himself a “recommendation machine,” which feels accurate.) There’s always a hike. There are always friends involved. There’s always food. There are plenty of laughs. But for all the tried-and-true recs, novelty is important too. “I guess my headline is, Sunday’s the day to try new things,” he says.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for length and clarity.
7 a.m.: Wake up and go on a coffee walk On the weekends, I like to walk. The only thing left to do on planet Earth apparently is to get coffee. Do you know that our whole lives revolve around a series of silly little coffees? I only drink espresso drinks, which is a fact about me, which is very boring. I might walk between coffee stations, like a man journeying between oases. I’ll walk down and I’ll get to All Time and be like, do I want a coffee here or can I make it to Maru? And when I get to Maru, do I get a coffee here? Or can I make it to Camel? And then I’ll make it to Camel, which apparently is now called Handles? And I’m like, do I get a coffee here or do I go to Dinosaur? And then, do I do a coffee here or do I go to Tartine or LaLo in Silver Lake or Lamill, which is also in Silver Lake. It feels like a long time, but that’s only about an hour walk.
I might get some breakfast too. I like Telegrama or Friends and Family — a favorite there is the olive oil eggs. I spend a lot of my money at All Time. I like to get the thing they call “the B.O.A.T.” I don’t know exactly what it is, but it’s really good.
8 a.m.: Get in a bit of writing I like to park myself at Telegrama or Maru; you can find a little corner and really groove.
10 a.m.: Hike and have an adventure I’m a keen weekend hiker. And I have hiking buddies. My friend [TV writer] Jenji [Kohan] and I started to do a thing in the pandemic where every weekend we would go hike somewhere and eat somewhere. I’ll hike with Jenji or my friend Rebecca or my friend Morgan. We’ll get after it. You hike with someone, you complain. It’s a lot of fun.
There are some really, really gorgeous hikes around Los Angeles. I use AllTrails to keep track of them. If we’re doing a hike out of town, we’ll go up to Santa Barbara or down into Orange County for one of the heavy beach hikes. Or any hikes with the word “Punchbowl” in them. And we’ll go to Charlie Brown Farms right afterwards.
We hike and eat and there’s always an adventure in there. We use the Atlas Obscura and go check out things, like, I heard there’s this weird store where this guy who makes things out of pop tabs or whatever it is. One of my favorite things is just getting to look at a little midcentury modern house I’ll never be able to afford. If there’s a house by Lautner or Neutra or Frank Lloyd Wright, sometimes we’ll take a schlep just for the house, to even just see from the street. One of the hikes in Malibu, Solstice, has an old Paul Williams house. It’s like a ruin.
1 p.m.: Lunchtime We like going into the San Gabriel Valley and eating at Chengdu Taste in Alhambra or Bistro Na’s. I can’t eat pork or shellfish, so whatever falls within the electric fence, my lapsing Judaism. Whenever we drive south for a hike, we like to go to Pho 79 in the Anaheim area, or Garden Grove maybe. And I get something vegetarian or chicken or something like that.
2:30 p.m.: Thrifting and a snack The thrift stores in Pasadena, those places are so good. Downtown, we always stop at the old mochi spot, Fugetsu-Do. They’ve been around for 117 years, even longer. I think they opened in 1903. On Sundays, sometimes the line can be long, but it’s worth waiting in. I like the regular rainbow-colored, strawberry-stained stuff. A thousand percent fruity or candy and no gelatin because of my Judaism.
4 p.m.: Catching up on books Since we’re downtown, I’ll stop by the Last Bookstore. I also really love Skylight. And I love a used bookstore. I love a browse.
I like reading and listening to music on a Sunday. For a while, I was rationing out my friend Taffy Akner’s last book, “Long Island Compromise.” I’d read a couple of chunks every Sunday until I ran out. I just bought a couple of plays by Kimberly Bellflower and Noah Haidle. And I am reading Carrie Courogen’s “Miss May Does Not Exist” about Elaine May, who I worship and actually met once at a friend’s house.
7 p.m.: Pizza and movie night at Phil’s I have a friend, Phil, who sometimes makes Sunday his movie night. His house has a little pizza oven. Phil will have pizza made in the style of the pizza from Mozza, which he loves. And we’ll watch movies on a projector. I watched “A New Leaf” there and enjoyed it very much, speaking of Elaine May.
11 p.m.: Late-night meal I’m out late, especially for Los Angeles. And there’s nowhere to eat very late at night in Los Angeles, unless you’re going to venture into Koreatown, where there’s Dan Sung Sa. I love to eat late and hey, we’re four meals deep, but that’s fine. Or Canter’s is open until 11:30 on Sunday. And Same Same Thai on Sunset is open until 11. They do something called khao soi, which is really hard to find in a lot of places. So I’ll sometimes get a really late night khao soi.
12 a.m.: Scrolling, reading, maybe a phone call or two I’m up for a bit. I watch, I’ll scroll. I’ll scroll until I drift off, which I shouldn’t. Or I’ll call friends in London who are just waking up, stand-up comics. My friend Josie Long was in Glasgow, and sometimes I’ll call her, or I’ll catch my friend Isobel, who’s a composer, who’s in Europe all the time. But in my ideal situation, I’m asleep by 1. I’ll read this book by Lizzy Goodman called “Meet Me in the Bathroom,” or I’ll listen to this podcast called “Search Engine” by PJ Vogt, and sort of drift off.
It’s been below its previous high for longer than investors would have liked.
On Dec. 31, 2021, shares of Domino’s Pizza(DPZ 2.08%) closed at an all-time high of $564.33 per share. And investors were undoubtedly thrilled. After all, anyone who invested $10,000 just five years earlier had seen the value climb to over $35,000 during this time.
Unfortunately, Domino’s Pizza stock hasn’t performed as well for investors since that all-time high on the final day of 2021. Since then, shares have dropped by about 20% — not something one wishes to see after patiently holding for about 3.5 years.
Image source: Getty Images.
Domino’s has only grown at a modest pace in recent years, which is certainly contributing to its underwhelming stock performance. Revenue in 2024 was only 8% higher from revenue in 2021. And its earnings per share (EPS) of $16.69 in 2024 was only up 23% from EPS of $13.54 in 2021.
Companies that only post single-digit growth numbers often fail to outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. And that’s what’s happened with Domino’s Pizza stock, considering the S&P 500 is up more than 30% since Domino’s hit its all-time high.
Can Domino’s stock do better from here?
Domino’s Pizza needs better growth for its stock to perform better. And being the largest pizza chain in the world already, this could be challenging. Management only expects single-digit top-line growth for the foreseeable future. But with share repurchases, it could push its EPS growth to about 10% annually.
This still might not be enough growth on the bottom line to outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. That said, it could be enough growth to allow the stock to rise in coming years, albeit at a modest pace.
Therefore, while it may not be a market beater, investors can be encouraged that Domino’s Pizza could reach a new all-time high within the next few years.
Jon Quast has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Domino’s Pizza. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The feel of an Italian festa in Altadena, the South Bay’s “time capsule” Japanese food scene, delivery drones, a tasting menu hidden in a parking lot, more downtown L.A. closures, a Basque restaurant’s last days. Plus, recycle or reuse? And a bar that celebrates burlesque and red Solo cups. I’m Laurie Ochoa, general manager of L.A. Times Food, with this week’s Tasting Notes.
Good food, good wine, good neighbors
The happy, chaotic scene outside Good Neighbor Bar and West Altadena Wine + Spirits with families enjoying Triple Beam Pizza, one of the rotating vendors appearing during the shop and bar’s summer pop-up series.
(Laurie Ochoa / Los Angeles Times)
When I first started going to Italy for summer vacations with my late husband, Jonathan Gold, and the extended friends and family of chef Nancy Silverton, we’d get to know different areas of Umbria and Tuscany through festas or sagras, local gatherings centered around a specific regional dish or ingredient — maybe cinghiale (wild boar), porcini mushrooms, summer truffles or various pastas such as strozzapreti (which is being celebrated this week in the Umbrian town of Paciano). These are kid-friendly, come-as-you-are parties, typically on a soccer field or town square with long tables, local wine poured into plastic cups and food often served by volunteer cooks pitching in to help raise money for a good cause.
Until recently, the closest I’d come to experiencing that sagra spirit in Los Angeles was the run of summer movie nights that Leo Bulgarini used to host outside his Altadena gelateria and restaurant Bulgarini Gelato Vino Cucina. He and his crew piled plates with pasta and salad before sunset signaled the start of the movie, often an Italian comedy or melodrama, projected onto an outdoor wall or a large, jerry-rigged screen. People would bring their kids and dogs, meet up with neighbors and settle into camping chairs or benches with their wine or cups of gelato once the movie began.
Bulgarini’s restaurant, which escaped the flames of the Eaton fire in January, has yet to reopen because of smoke damage and the loss of so much of the neighborhood around his shop — not to mention the fact that he, his wife and their son lost their home in the blaze.
But two other Altadena business owners have joined forces with local restaurants to create one of the most welcoming neighborhood gatherings with the soul of an Italian sagra.
As senior food editor Danielle Dorsey wrote in the guide she and Stephanie Breijo put together on the 21 best new bars in Los Angeles, a summer pop-up series has emerged outside Good Neighbor, “the first cocktail bar to open in Altadena in 40 years,” and West Altadena Wine + Spirits, both opened last year by Randy Clement and April Langford, the couple behind Everson Royce Bar in the Arts District, Silverlake Wine and the former Pasadena wine shop Everson Royce.
On Tuesday nights, Brisa Lopez Salazar’s Casa pop-up serves tacos with a different handmade tortilla each week — maybe white heirloom corn with beet juice or masa infused with turmeric or activated charcoal. On Thursdays, Triple Beam Pizza shows up; Fridays there are oysters, poke bowls and lobster rolls from Shucks Oyster Co.; Saturdays you can get smash burgers from For the Win and, new to the line-up, Altadena’s recently reopened Miya Thai restaurant is serving on Sundays.
Triple Beam’s heirloom tomato pizza served at the summer outdoor pop-up series hosted by Good Neighbor Bar and West Altadena Wine + Spirits.
(Laurie Ochoa / Los Angeles Times)
Two weeks ago, an Instagram post from Triple Beam about its newest heirloom tomato pizza drew me to the outdoor space just outside the Altadena burn zone. I found the patio packed, sagra-style, with groups of families and friends from the neighborhood and beyond. Kids chased each other in and around a wood-chip-bedded play area fitted with reclaimed tree stumps; more freshly sawed stumps were repurposed as stools and tables around the outdoor space. Dogs sat on laps or at customers’ feet. A roving Good Neighbor barkeep took cocktail orders at the picnic tables. And on the side of the building, at a takeout-style window, a West Altadena Wine merchant was selling glasses and flights of wine.
Almost as soon as I arrived, I reconnected with a friend I hadn’t seen in years as well as a family from my daughter’s old high school. The San Gabriel mountains in the near distance turned pink and purple during sunset, framed by a U-Haul sign as we ate our pizza, which arrived with all colors and shapes of tomato. With it, we sipped Sébastien Bobinet and Émeline Calvez’s Piak blanc de noir from clear plastic cups. It was a perfect summer evening, made poignant with a stop on the way out at the wall-sized map created by Highland Park production designer Noel McCarthy marking the more than 9,000 homes and businesses destroyed or damaged in the fire, and the places where people died. The map, as writer Marah Eakin reported in April, has helped people visualize the shocking extent of the fire’s devastation, even as Good Neighbor’s summer gatherings have brought people together, a reminder of why so many want to rebuild this community.
The map Noel McCarthy made displaying the extent of damage in Altadena from the Eaton fire. It is installed outside the parking lot and patio area of the Good Neighbor Bar and West Altadena Wine + Spirits.
(Marcus Ubungen / For The Times)
Japanese food ‘made the Japanese way’
The D-Combo at Fukagawa in Gardena.
(Rob Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Food’s summer intern Lauren Ng is headed back to school soon, but before she left to resume her studies at New York University, the Torrance native finished a project examining the “time capsule” nature of Japanese food in the South Bay. The area is “home to the biggest suburban Japanese community in the United States,” thanks in no small part to three of Japan’s biggest automakers — Toyota, Honda and Nissan — establishing their U.S. headquarters in the region during the 1960s. The car companies are now gone, but many of the restaurants remain, with a new generation of South Bay places opened in recent years. Ng visited many of them and wrote a guide to 18 of the best Japanese restaurants and food producers in the South Bay.
A loss for Chinatown
Yue Wa Market owner Amy Tran holds up dragon fruit and cherimoya at her Chinatown market in 2019.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
In 2019, when former Times columnist Frank Shyong reported on the changes in Chinatown that contributed to the closure of Ai Hoa Market and G and G Market, he wrote that one of the few places left to buy affordable fruits and vegetables in the neighborhood was Amy Tran’s Yue Wa Market. Now, as columnist Jenn Harris wrote this week, Tran and her family will close Yue Wa next month after 18 years serving Chinatown. A spate of robberies, slow pandemic recovery, ICE raids and the forces of gentrification contributed to the family’s decision.
“I don’t feel ready to let go of the store, but there’s not much I can do to bring more people in,” Tran told Harris. “Business was booming and a lot of people used to come around, but now there is no foot traffic and a lot of people have moved away from Chinatown.”
More downtown losses: It was only a couple of weeks ago that I was at downtown L.A.’s Tokyo Fried Chicken, where, I must admit, the dining room was sparsely populated but four-wheeled robot carts were kept busy with takeout deliveries. Yet as Karla Marie Sanford reported this week, after owners Elaine and Kouji Yamanashi announced they were closing the restaurant Aug. 10, customers suddenly showed up and waited in an hours-long line for one last chance to eat the chicken known for its super-crisp skin and soy sauce-ginger marinade. It was a brief return to the restaurant’s days in its original Monterey Park location where lines for a table were constant.
The downtown location had the bad luck to open just before the pandemic and never had a chance to reach its full potential. Elaine Yamanashi told Sanford that she and her chef husband hope at some point to find a new location for Tokyo Fried Chicken. “We’re taking this time, not off,” she said, “but to reflect.”
Angel City Brewery.
(Sam Samders)
Meanwhile, Angel City Brewery, founded in 1997 by Michael Bowe then acquired in 2012 by Boston Beer — a year after the company established its downtown brewpub location notable for its distinctive neon signage that acted as a welcome to the Arts District — announced that it will close next April when the building’s lease is up.
“The brand no longer lines up with our long-term growth strategy,” said a Boston Beer spokesperson, adding that the company plans to focus on its “core national brands,” which include Samuel Adams.
And LA Cha Cha Chá in the Arts District, with its lush, tropical rooftop, is also set to close sometime this fall according to co-owner Alejandro Marín.
End of the Basque road
In addition to prime rib at the Glendora Continental, which is being put up for sale, French Basque dishes like slow-braised lamb in a Burgundy demi-glace, pickled tongue and escargots à la bourguignonne are on the menu, along with crab cakes and salads.
(Catherine Dzilenski / For The Times)
There wasn’t an empty seat at Glendora Continental when contributor Jean Trinh stopped into the 45-year-old restaurant on Route 66, “a reminder,” she writes, “of fading connections to the Basque diaspora in California.” Now that the owners have put the restaurant up for sale, its days are numbered so regular customers have been showing up for live music and the Continental’s “mix of Basque, French and American food,” including lamb shank, prime rib, pickled tongue and escargots à la bourguignonne. “I would say it’s Basque with a sprinkle of American,” co-owner Antoinette Sabarots told Trinh, “or vice versa.”
Yes, restaurants are still opening
Oy Bar chef-owner Jeff Strauss, left, with sous chef Esteban Palacios at Vey, the tandem outdoor bar.
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
Despite all the closure news, as Stephanie Breijo reports, good restaurants keep opening in Los Angeles, including Baby Bistro from chef Miles Thompson and his sommelier business partner, Andy Schwartz. They call it an “Angeleno bistro,” with inspiration from Japanese, Korean, Italian, Mexican, French and more cuisines. “I think the food is really defined by the cultures of Los Angeles,” Thompson told Breijo. “If you already eat at any of the regional or international restaurants in this city, you’ll find inspiring foods that go into this menu.”
And chef Jeff Strauss, of the Highland Park deli Jeff’s Table and OyBar in Studio City, has set up a weekend-only six-course tasting menu spot called Vey in the back parking lot of OyBar. As Strauss described it to Breijo, he thinks of it as “a casual, rolling omakase.”
Another hidden spot is Evan Funke’s new Bar Avoja (slang for “hell yeah”), a Hollywood cocktail lounge accessed through the dining room of the chef’s Mother Wolf restaurant. In addition to drinks, Roman street food is on the menu. Meanwhile, the chef’s namesake Beverly Hills restaurant, Funke, is temporarily closed due to a fire in the kitchen’s exhaust system on Tuesday. As Breijo reported, no one was hurt and there was minimal damage.
Also, Hong Kong’s Hi Bake chain has opened a pet-friendly branch in Beverly Hills serving “banana rolls, thousand-layer cakes, meat floss rolls and egg tarts. And San Francisco’s Boichik Bagels, which opened in Los Feliz earlier this year, is now serving at downtown L.A.’s landmark Bradbury Building.
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Burlesque and red Solo cups
Uncle Ollie’s Penthouse owner Brian Houck in the “backvan” at his downtown Los Angeles bar.
(Roger Kisby / For The Times)
Former L.A. Weekly nightlife columnist and Los Angeles magazine editor Lena Lecaro writes about Uncle Ollie’s Penthouse, a new downtown L.A. bar with “wild, color-saturated decor, potent cocktails served in red Solo cups and a soundtrack that inspires stomping the floor with pals or singing along with strangers.”
”I can’t remember the last time I felt so connected to my hometown as an L.A. native,” musician Taleen Kali told Lecaro. “I also love that you get to keep your own party cup all night — it’s a total vibe, plus it’s less wasteful and more sustainable.”
Noodles easier to make than you think
Mei Lin, chef and proprietor of 88 Club chef in Beverly Hills, right, makes mung bean noodles in the Times Test Kitchen. Left, the finished spicy mung bean noodles.
(Mark Potts / Los Angeles Times)
When Mei Lin, chef and proprietor of 88 Club in Beverly Hills and former “Top Chef” and “Tournament of Champions” winner, demonstrated her spicy mung bean noodle recipe in the Times Test Kitchen for our “Chef That!” video series, we all wanted to try making the noodles. It’s a lot easier and fun to do than most of us thought. You start with a startchy base that thickens into jelly in a bowl. After you unmold the gelatinous blob, you scrape a grater over the mound, forming the noodles. Then it’s just a matter of seasoning the noodles with chile, peanuts and herbs.
Mark the dates
The Times’ Food Bowl Night Market, this year presented by Square, is taking place Oct. 10 and 11 at City Market Social House downtown. Among the participating restaurants announced so far are Holbox, Baroo, the Brothers Sushi, OyBar,Heritage Barbecue, Crudo e Nudo, Hummingbird Ceviche House, Rossoblu, Perilla LA, Evil Cooks and Holy Basil. VIP tickets that allow early entry always go fast. Check lafoodbowl.com for tickets and info.
And at this year’s LA Chef Conference on Oct. 6, an all-day event taking place at Redbird and Vibiana in downtown L.A., I’ll be on a panel with Roy Choi, Nancy Silverton, Ludo Lefebvre and Evan Kleiman talking about the legacy of Jonathan Gold. Find information on tickets and other events at the conference here.
Also …
(Los Angeles Times photo illustration; Photo by Nick Agro/For The Times)
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Johnny Seifert, 32, from Borehamwood, has spent years perfecting the art of sunbathing and has shared his top unwritten rules for bagging the best poolside spot
Layla Nicholson Senior Features Writer and Sarah Tulloch Senior Lifestyle and Features Reporter
06:00, 26 Jul 2025
The ‘King of sunbeds’ has perfected the art of sunbathing(Image: Johnny Seifert / SWNS)
The self-proclaimed ‘King of sunbeds’ has spilled the beans on how to secure a prime poolside spot this summer, revealing his top holiday sunbathing secrets.
Johnny Seifert, 32, a veteran holidaymaker from Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, has gathered a treasure trove of tactics to maximise his time soaking up the rays.
The showbiz journalist and content creator has built quite a name for himself with his clever guidance on bagging the best sun lounger.
Now, he’s revealing everything about becoming the ideal sunbather – without causing any upset.
Johnny Seifert, 32, is a well-seasoned holidaymaker and has gathered all the tricks to make the most of sunbathing time.(Image: Johnny Seifert / SWNS)
Should all the sunbeds be reserved by towels yet remain empty, Johnny recommends waiting an hour before moving the towels aside, reports the Daily Star.
He also maintains that demolishing a full-sized pizza – or any food requiring cutlery – whilst lounging is an absolute no-no.
For families or large groups, he recommends claiming clusters of sunbeds rather than a row, to reduce disturbance to fellow guests.
Johnny explained: “I’d keep an eye on the clock for an hour, and if nobody shows up, sorry – it’s my sunbed now. You can always play innocent and say you didn’t realise it was taken.”
“As for food, I’ve got no issue with you munching on breadsticks, or perhaps a slice of pizza. But a whole pizza, anything pungent, or if you’re scoffing a salad with mayo dribbling down your chin, do us a favour and find a table.
“Anything that needs a knife and fork, keep it away from the pool. Drinks, on the other hand, are absolutely fine!
“And for groups, take a circle, not a row – so you’re not shouting down a line. It’s just about finding ways not to disturb everyone else.”
Johnny is a veteran holidaymaker(Image: Johnny Seifert / SWNS)
Johnny suggested that brief calls around the pool using headphones are acceptable. However, anything on loudspeaker, such as music, is strictly prohibited, and video calls are a definite no-go. He advised to listen to music or conduct long phone calls in a private place away from your fellow sunbathers.
Johnny also quipped that he doesn’t want to hear someone’s ‘life story’ while they’re on a deckchair. While others might want to listen to music, Johnny said that most people want some peace and quiet.
He recommended that at hotels with multiple pools, parents should ensure their children stay within the designated children’s pool area and avoid venturing into the adult section.
Even adults who opt for a swim in the adult pool should refrain from causing any disturbance or splashing.
Johnny says there should be no splashing(Image: Johnny Seifert / SWNS)
Johnny stated: “I want peace and quiet – when I’m ready for kids, I’ll sit by the kids pool. And no matter which pool, if you can see people lay down with books, don’t splash around too much.”
He also advised careful use of umbrellas to ensure they only shade the user and not others.
His final rule, which he stressed should never be broken, is against wearing skimpy speedo swimming briefs around the pool. While he acknowledges their appropriateness for sporting activities, he maintains they’re unsuitable for relaxing beside the hotel swimming area.
He stated: “No men should be wearing those. We don’t need to see everything! Especially when they bend over to pick up their flip flops. On holiday, by a hotel pool, there’s no need for that.”
Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Marlee Matlin always looked forward to Sundays.
It was her father’s only day off, so her family made a weekly tradition of meeting up with close friends for breakfast at a local deli. Afterward, she and her family of five would do a season-friendly activity — apple picking in the fall or a Chicago Cubs game during the summer, perhaps — before wrapping up with a finale event they called “takeout Sundays.”
In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.
“Sundays were always my favorite day because I knew that we’d all be together,” says Matlin, who became the first deaf actor to win an Oscar in 1987 at the tender age of 21. During our Zoom call, she communicated via an interpreter.
Throughout her career, the “Coda” star has been vocal about her battles with addiction and sexual abuse, but fans are getting an even more intimate look into her life via her latest project, “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore,” which is showing in select theaters nationwide and will be available on demand on August 22. When she was approached to do a documentary, Matlin says it was a no-brainer for her to have her longtime friend and fellow deaf actor, Shoshannah Stern, direct it.
“What better way to have two deaf women who have similar shared life experiences to tell my story?” Matlin says. In the 1980s, she convinced lawmakers to add closed captioning to television programming.
The veteran actor and activist has been a self proclaimed “California girl” for nearly 40 years, but says that she will always be a “Chicago girl at heart.” (The skyline of the neighborhood she grew up in, Morton Grove, is proudly tattooed on her forearm.) These days, she’s enjoying empty-nester life with her husband Kevin Grandalski. Her ideal Sunday in L.A. involves visiting the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, getting her steps in at the Rose Bowl, having a slice of pizza in Eagle Rock and spending quality time with her 14-month-old granddaughter.
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
6 a.m.: Take care of my pets
If I had the choice, I would probably wake up at 8 a.m., but because I have a cat, it’s 6 a.m. I also have a dog who needs to be taken out on a walk. Like a fool, he barks at every other dog that we encounter, and I have apologize to each dog owner.
Then I have to have to have breakfast. I’m a breakfast person. I don’t skip it. I love my oatmeal with a little bit of brown sugar and blueberries. If I’m in the mood, I’ll make some turkey bacon and make sure it’s extra crispy, and I drink my Red Bull sugar free. I know I’m going to get a lot of flack because I drink a Red Bull in the morning, but that’s what I drink. I like my drink, and it’s as simple as that. I don’t drink coffee. I wish I did, but I don’t like the taste.
After I’ve gotten breakfast out of the way, I have to make my bed. I can’t even leave the house with an unmade bed. I have to make the bed immediately, and my husband knows that very well.
10 a.m.: Go shopping for new threads
I might go to Rose Bowl either for the flea market, which is open once a month, or for a walk. Before I had foot surgery, I would always go and walk around the Rose Bowl at least twice for a total of six miles. I love power walking.
Afterward, I would go to a couple of boutiques that I like. I’m a big supporter of small local businesses, so I would stop by Tuck in Pasadena and Everson Clare in La Cañada Flintridge. They are both female-owned, and they care about their customers a great deal. Both of them are very good friends of mine. They both work so hard to get their stores opened. I watched them from their inception to where they are today. They have different clothing styles that seem to fit me well. Then there are some stores that I’ll go to in Studio City. You can find me at Sephora, Nordstrom or HomeGoods.
2 p.m.: Pick a favorite L.A. activity
If we’re in the mood to be active, we’ll go to Descanso Gardens or to a Dodgers game. We recently went to Shot of Art, and it’s so fun. It’s similar to paintball. You create art on a canvas as it spins. I just got reelected as the governor of the Academy Museum, so I’ll make sure to go there. Being governor and a member of the Academy, they have been nothing but so supportive of my community and many other underrepresented communities as well. Everyone who has a love for film or history [and] how films are made should go to the museum. Even if you [do] not, you’ll be surprised.
4 p.m.: Quality time with my granddaughter
Then I’ll come back home to spend time with my granddaughter, who is 14 months old. We’ll have playtime at the house. She’s always exploring. She loves the cat. She runs after her, and I’m always the one having to run after the baby. So there’s the three of us running around: cat, baby, then me. I’ll take her to the park, which is down the street. Just being with her is the most important thing. We are just in awe of watching her grow, exploring the world and watching what she learns. That’s the perfect Sunday for me.
6 p.m.: Enjoy an early dinner
I love to cook on Sundays and have an early dinner. I have a whole raft of cookbooks and recipes that I’ve printed out. I’ll just take that big stack and search through it. I’m not somebody who does a whole lot of research. I just pick one and then go for it. I love to barbecue, and I love to bake desserts. I have a sweet tooth. I set up a candy bar — like a bar for candy — in my house. It’s dangerous to have a candy bar. Wait until my granddaughter grows old enough to realize what the candy bar is actually about.
But if I don’t feel like cooking, we might go to Casa Bianca. It’s a pizza shop in Eagle Rock. The pizzas, the mozarella sticks and the salads are fantastic. The chicken piccata is great, and the people who own it are just wonderful people and so welcoming.
8 p.m.: Backgammon before bed
I’ll spend time with my husband after dinner, and we’ll clean up. Then I’d check my phone to see what’s coming up for the week. Depending on what’s going on, I’ll get in touch with the kids and play backgammon on my phone — just spend time winding the day down. And I’ll take an evening walk. Before I close shop, I have to take the dog out once more. I go to bed early. I’m usually in bed by 9:30 p.m.
Pizza is one of Britain’s most popular takeaways, but ordering from fast food chains can be expensive – so one man flew all the way to Italy to find a cheaper alternative
A man went all the way to Italy just for pizza for the price of a Domino’s medium (stock photo)(Image: leighcol via Getty Images)
Domino’s has become the go-to pizza choice for many Brits, but like most takeaways, regular orders can seriously dent your bank balance.
So when travel content creator Muscab Salad discovered that a medium original cheese and tomato pizza from Domino’s would set him back just under £20, he hatched an ambitious plan to see whether he could actually fly to Italy and grab an authentic pizza, all for less than the price he’d pay for his takeaway. In his viral TikTok clip, Muscab said: “Is it possible to fly to Italy and get a pizza for cheaper than the price of a Domino’s in the UK?
“Currently, to get a margherita pizza from the Domino’s website, it costs £19.99.
“I think we can fly to Italy and get a pizza for just cheaper than that, so I immediately opened Skyscanner and booked the cheapest flight to Italy – which was just £9.”
The adventurous foodie secured a Ryanair ticket to Trieste, the capital of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region in northeast Italy.
He headed to the airport and boarded the plane, hoping that once he arrived, he’d find tasty – and reasonably priced – pizza waiting for him.
He shared: “I’m getting ready to board but I’ve got no bag, like it feels kinda wrong. I’m going on a plane with no luggage, [a] simple day trip.”
Despite his flight running slightly behind schedule, Muscab eventually touched down in Trieste.
After arriving at the airport, he had to figure out how he could reach the city centre without completely exhausting what remained of his £20 budget.
Luckily, the savvy traveller snagged a train ticket for the bargain price of just €4.76 (£4.10), leaving him with £7 (€8) to spend on his meal.
Muscab was confident that what he had left was “more than enough” as he searched for the nearest pizzeria.
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He stumbled upon a margherita priced at €8 and, as it arrived on his table, he asked: “The moment of truth. Is it worth it? Is this whole trip worth the amount of time that I spent?”
After taking a bite, he enthusiastically gave it the thumbs up, proclaiming “it was worth it” and awarding the adventure a 10 out of 10.
His TikTok video documenting the experience has gone viral, amassing a whopping 4.2million views, 316,600 likes, and more 1,600 comments, at the time of writing.
The low cost of his flight left many viewers astounded, with one asking: “I’m sorry???? 9 pounds for a flight to another country???”
Another chimed in: “Flying to another country for £9 is insane and Euros have the audacity to say Americans ‘never travel’, I can’t fly to another STATE for less than like $400.”
A third viewer remarked: “Not the flight being cheaper than a Domino’s pizza??”
The publication Time Out invited its market chefs to compile a list of the top three culinary capitals. Without hesitation they chose a southern Italian city as their number one.
Views across the sprawling city of Naples(Image: Francesco Riccardo Iacomino via Getty Images)
One of the delights of globetrotting is the opportunity to sample diverse cuisines and immerse oneself in various cultures. Europe, with its rich culinary traditions, never fails to astonish and delight. The ingenuity and creativity of European chefs have rightfully positioned Europe as a top destination for food enthusiasts worldwide.
A particular European city has recently been spotlighted by professional gastronomes for its exceptional culinary offerings. Time Out magazine invited its market chefs to rank the top three gastronomic capitals. Without a moment’s hesitation, they selected a southern Italian city, once home to one of the world’s most renowned footballers, as their top choice.
Naples, known for its splendid churches, world-class museums, and of course, its cuisine, took the crown, reports the Express. Perhaps the most iconic dish associated with this city is pizza – a creation that originated in Naples in the 19th century as a quick, inexpensive meal for the working class.
Traditional pizzerias, primarily located around Via dei Tribunali, continue to satiate the appetites of Neapolitans today. Pizza remains the most affordable snack in Naples, with a fold-and-go slice costing approximately €1 each.
The Cuoppo Napoletano is another local favourite and is as integral to the city’s identity as the legendary Neapolitan Pizza. The traditional variant is known for a delicious assortment of seafood, which may include petite fishes, prawns, squid, anchovies, with the occasional inclusion of octopus.
Art Nuoveau style buildings in the Chiaia district of Naples(Image: Marco Bottigelli via Getty Images)
It’s typically accompanied by a selection of vegetables, such as courgette blossoms, aubergine, and potato croquettes. Another local delicacy is charmingly called “mozzarella in carrozza”, translating to “mozzarella in a carriage”.
This tempting dish starts with two slices of bread packed full of mozzarella cheese; they’re then dunked in egg, encrusted with breadcrumbs, and deep-fried until achieving a sumptuous golden-brown crust while the mozzarella inside turns into an irresistibly stretchy delight.
Despite these culinary attractions, the city unfortunately bears a reputation for criminal activity and is associated with the Camorra, the infamous regional mafia.
In the global crime index hosted by numbeo.com, Naples finds itself ranked as the fourth most perilous European city. It’s perceived to be riskier than London but not quite as hazardous as Marseille, Coventry or Birmingham.
PIZZA Hut is rolling out new digital ordering screens across all 136 of its dine-in restaurants, a move that could make over 100 staff members redundant.
The pizza chain, which employs 3,000 staff, is set to cut 120 front-end roles as part of the shake-up.
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Other chains such as Wetherspoons and Nando’s have already installed similar screens or offer QR code ordering from the tableCredit: Getty
The new terminals at the front of restaurants will make it quicker for customers to order.
A letter to staff at risk of redundancy said: “Over the coming months we are introducing new customer-facing technologies across our restaurants, including digital ordering through QR codes and the installation of in-store kiosks.
“These changes are designed to enhance the customer experience and allow guests to be more self-sufficient when dining with us.”
Other chains such as Wetherspoons and Nando’s have already installed similar screens or offer QR code ordering from the table.
Emily Curtis from DC London Pie, which owns Pizza Hut UK’s dine-in restaurants, explained that the decision to cut jobs is due to more than 60% of in-store orders now being placed digitally.
She said the company has invested heavily in new technologies to keep up with changing customer preferences.
“As part of this journey, we are adapting our staffing model, particularly in our front-of-house teams,” she added.
“While these decisions are never easy, they are necessary to ensure we continue meeting customer expectations and stay competitive in an increasingly digital marketplace.
“We are committed to supporting affected team members and will work closely with those impacted to help them find new opportunities within the wider Pizza Hut network.”
The dine-in arm of the restaurant was rescued by private equity firm Directional Capital, which created DC London Pie Ltd to take over the franchise.
Major UK pub chain announces sweeping closures & job losses
It saved 3,000 jobs and saw the closure of one restaurant.
It is separate to the delivery side of the chain, which is owned by Yum! Brands, the US firm that owns KFC.
Pizza Hut first arrived in the UK in 1973 and quickly became a favourite with diners.
At its height, the chain operated over 260 restaurants nationwide, employing 10,000 staff and welcoming three million customers each month.
Some of its most notable creations include the introduction of the pan pizza in 1980, the stuffed crust in 1995, and the re-launch of the pan pizza as the grand pan in 1998.
Pan pizzas are baked in a deep, oil-coated dish, giving the crust a deliciously crispy, golden edge and a lightly fried texture on the bottom.
To manage its financial difficulties, the company entered into a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) – a deal with lenders to cut costs and stay afloat.
At the time, Pizza Hut had over 240 locations across the UK but was forced to close 29 branches as part of the restructuring plan.
What are my rights if I’m made redundant?
YOU are entitled to statutory redundancy pay if you have worked for your employer for two years or more.
The statutory rate is based on your age, weekly pay and number of years in the job.
You will get:
Half a week’s pay for each full year you worked aged under 22
One week’s pay for each full year you worked aged 22 or older, but under 41
One and half week’s pay for each full year you worked while aged 41 or older.
You cannot be paid less than the statutory amount.
If you were made redundant on or after April 6 2025, your weekly pay is capped at £719 and the maximum statutory redundancy pay you can get is £21,570.
You may get more than this statutory amount if your employer has a redundancy scheme.
HOSPITALITY WOES
The hospitality sector has struggled to bounce back after the pandemic, facing challenges including soaring energy bills, inflation and staff shortages.
Per 100g: calories, 308 fat, 10.2g sugar, 4g salt 1.09g
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Aldi’s pizza cooked in 12 minutes
It cooked nicely in 12 minutes and was big enough to feed four people.
The base was deliciously crispy and the cheese and tomato topping tasted authentically Italian.
I haven’t tried this flavour from Aldi before, but absolutely will in the future – my winner – and less than half the price of Pizza Express, that’s dinner sorted.
Taste: 10/10 Value: 10/10 Overall rating: 10/10 Out of 30: 30
Per 100g: calories, 238 fat, 7.7g sugar, 3.9g salt 1.09g
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Asda’a pizza offered good value for money
It cooked well in just over 12 minutes and the generous size means it would satisfy four people, especially if you add a couple of sides.
The topping was plentiful and the fact that you’re getting a lot of pizza for your money means that this is a good staple for a family if you’re unsure what to serve up for dinner.
Taste: 9/10 Value: 7/10 Overall rating: 8/10 Out of 30: 24
Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe in Florida has opened its doors – with five new worlds to explore within – so naturally I went along to sample the magical delights
Alison Graves Lifestyle and Features Editor
05:15, 01 Jun 2025Updated 12:39, 01 Jun 2025
Enjoy the thrills and spills in Orlando’s newest theme park with adventure around every corner(Image: PR HANDOUT)
Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park, Epic Universe, has changed the face of the landscape and what it means to enjoy a holiday full of thrills and spills.
The £7 billion theme park is an immersive, multisensory experience with storytelling at its core. The resort’s fourth theme park and the first to open in 25 years, it invites guests to “explore vibrant worlds filled with extraordinary adventures that go beyond their wildest imaginations” – and it really is magical.
With 50 awe-inspiring attractions,entertainment, dining and shopping experiences in its new park, the Universal parks make up a 700-acre resort space.
But it’s not just the stunning scenery, experiences and rides that blew me away – my entire group were wowed by the culinary experiences inside the park. Forget burgers, hotdogs and popcorn – although readily available if you fancy – I dined on exquisite seafood from scallops to King Oysters at Atlantic and freshly made Dim Sum and Ramen noodles at The Blue Dragon, both in Celestial Park.
I also found the best purple pizza called Pizza Lunare in Pizza Moon, complete with an Ube crust – the chunks of roasted garlic were to die for – and melt-in-the-mouth beef brisket at The Oak & Star Tavern.
Let’s explore the worlds a little closer for when you plan your first visit…
You’ll find five worlds ahead of you to explore once you step through the stunning Chronos(Image: PR HANDOUT)
Celestial Park
Step through the Chronos – the impressive first portal tower and entrance to the park that when ‘powered’ will align to open up five magical portals for visitors to explore.
I first enjoyed Celestial Park – the cosmic heart of Epic Universe and so much more than just a starting point. Local ‘Celestians’ who inhabit here tend to the lush, tree-lined walkways and I found myself whisked into a whimsical world of greenery, tropical flowers, fountains and ponds.
Everything here is connected heavily to astrology, from the first sight of Luna, goddess of the moon, who oversees the night’s luminescence by her Neptune Pools, to the far side of the park where Apollo, god of the sun, rests. Even the rides are well themed – I enjoyed a gentle sway on the Constellation Carousel and zipped at 62mph on Stardust Racers, a dual racing rollercoaster across 5,000ft of track, which is the park’s top thrill ride for speed and height.
Celestial Park interweaves the other worlds and acts as a calming decompression from the extremities of themes and music in each world. Grab a cocktail at Bar Zenith, watch the fountain show and marvel in the sheer beauty.
MUST DO Visit North Star Wintry Wonders, an all-year Christmas store where it really snows outside – even under the hot Florida sun.
Dark Universe
The storytelling continues as you move through this spooky portal and into monstrous Darkmoor Village. It makes sense – Universal is the pioneer of horror, after all.
Dr Victoria Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein’s great great-granddaughter, is the proud owner of this world’s central focus – Frankenstein Manor – and she has captured all the monsters but she’s having some trouble with Dracula. Ride Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment as you navigate the catacombs of the manor to “help” Victoria (you won’t help – but you will scream).
Can you escape the terrifying catacombs at Dr Victoria Frankenstein’s Manor? I did…. just!(Image: PR HANDOUT)
The ride’s technology is phenomenal and the animatronics are creative masterpieces. Fear not, it’s suitable for all ages.
Take time to explore the details. Look out for a little girl statue of Maria (a character from the 1931 Frankenstein film, who accidentally drowns), listen to sounds from beneath the vampire well and head to the Blazing Blade Tavern for a fiery sight to behold.
MUST DO Grab a bite to eat at Das Stakehouse. The theming is almost better than the food – and the food is delicious.
Super Nintendo World
Everything moves, spins, jumps and wobbles in Super Nintendo World. It’s a gaming world for everyone – even the big kids who are young at heart.
Providing one of the coolest portals (the walkway into each world), I entered via a Super Mario Warp Pipe and arrived inside Princess Peach’s Castle before exiting into a world of jaw-dropping colour and musical joy. Glistening golden coins, stomping Koombas, sliding 1-Up mushrooms and snapping Piranha Plants were everywhere as I looked across to Bowser’s Castle.
This is where I gave Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge a go and my dismal points were made up for by the fun and laughter I had hurtling turtle shells and banana peels at my friends (virtually, of course – the race car game, where we’re up against all the usual Super Mario bad guys, is played via a headset).
The character meet and greets here are sweet for youngsters – Toad is a rotund delight for toddlers, Mario and Luigi are cool for pre-teens and even the too-cool-for-school teenagers won’t be able to resist Donkey Kong.
Don’t miss the fabulous rollercoaster Minecart Madness – it’s a bumpy ride but the jumps over “missing” sections of the track are thrilling.
Prepare for a sensory sensation in Super Nintendo World – all ages will love it here
MUST DO Buy a $45 Power-Up wristband. It’s vital for playing the in-world mini games, collecting coins and banking some exclusive park stamps and badges, which connects to an app on your mobile phone and creates family friendly competition.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic
This world makes the Wizarding Worlds at Universal Orlando Resort a trio – also made up of Diagon Alley in Universal Studios and Hogsmeade in Islands Of Adventure.
Step inside the magical streets of 1920s Paris, where the likes of Newt Scamander hangs out. Known as Place Cachée, this world is a fan delight, merging the magic of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them in Paris, with the wonders of Harry Potter.
I hopped on the Métro-Floo to the British Ministry Of Magic for Dolores Umbridge’s trial for her crimes against magic on the mesmerising dark ride, Battle At The Ministry. Expect magical creatures and spells galore – and make time for the show, Le Cirque Arcanus. The puppetry will leave you speechless.
MUST DO Try a Gigglewater in Le Gobelet Noir – a bar owned by Nicolas Flamel, the alchemist who created the Philosopher’s Stone.
How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk
The largest of all the worlds at Epic Universe,the Viking village of Berk is breathtaking. On entry, I was faced with two 40ft carved wooden statues, guarding the village. This world is set after the second film, where there’s peace and harmony between man and dragon.
Look out for The Untrainable Dragon live show, which has the most beautiful score, with singers and actors akin to the talent of a West End show. And be sure to try the mac and cheese cone at Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel – it’s the novelty dish I never knew I needed.
MUST DO Look to the skies. Here you’ll find actual flying dragons – drones to us adults (don’t tell the kids), but they are very realistic.
HOW TO BOOK
Universal Orlando Resort
All Parks tickets are available through British Airways Holidays from £439 per person.
British Airways Holidays offers seven nights at Universal Stella Nova Resort from £829 per person, travelling on selected dates in January 2026. Book by 9 June. For reservations visit britishairways.com/en-gb/destinations/orlando/holidays-inorlando
YOU have probably heard of Sutton Hoo, the Suffolk site where a huge Anglo-Saxon ship was discovered under ancient grassy mounds.
Excitement around the medieval treasure trove grew in 2021 when Carey Mulligan starred in a Netflix movie about the discovery, The Dig.
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Enjoy Woodbridge harbour with its sail boatsCredit: Alamy
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Double rooms at The Crown at Woodbridge are from £115per nightCredit: Supplied
But it’s not just ancient artefacts, old textiles and traditional silverware that make this area so special.
The site sits close to Woodbridge, an off-grid market town on the banks of the River Deben that was recently crowned the UK’s happiest place to live by Rightmove.
Having spent a weekend soaking up its moreish cocktail of history, gorgeous views and cracking food — including one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had — I’m inclined to agree.
It was a short trip for me and my partner across the Essex/Suffolk border, where we checked into one of Woodbridge’s best-known hotels, The Crown.
The charming inn features ten comfortable boutique rooms, with enormous beds and grand panelled bathtubs.
The property’s position, smack bang on the thoroughfare of the town, is perfect for soaking up the best Woodbridge has to offer, within walking distance of a high street scattered with independent shops.
Swing by The W Gallery if you get a chance.
We were captivated by a huge canvas of an avenue of neon orange trees by artist Samuel Thomas.
A few doors down, at Bois Jolie, the owner explained how he went from market researcher to owning his own woodcraft business.
Now, rather than staring at spreadsheets and pie charts, he spends his time creating interesting coffee tables and beautifully grained yew lamp stands, topped by his wife’s colourful handmade shades.
If we weren’t convinced before, we certainly were after that: Woodbridge really is a town of happy people — and they love to chat.
We had made sure we were well fuelled for our first day of adventure with a huge brekkie of juicy local sausages and perfectly poached eggs at the hotel.
Make sure you book in here for dinner one night, too.
The Crown’s restaurant and bar are buzzing with locals on a Saturday night.
If you ever tire of the hotel’s jam-packed burgers, fish and chips and flavoursome salads, you won’t need to venture far for a decent meal in Woodbridge.
I recommend The Woodyard Ltd, where the air was thick with the lip-smacking scent of smoke and garlic.
Its wood-fired pizzas are something special and we were grateful for our cold beers after devouring a Vesuvio — all charred dough, spicy nduja sausage and fiery salami.
The queue for tables stretched out of the door and, after eating, it was easy to see why.
The Anchor proved the perfect spot for a relaxed Sunday roast.
My plate came piled high with pork, doused in a stock-rich gravy that was so good I would have happily drunk it from a mug.
Once we were finished feasting, we walked it off along Woodbridge’s River Deben and the marina, where hundreds of colourful boats are moored.
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The Crown serves cracking foodCredit: Supplied
Take a peek at the tide mill on your wander.
The Grade I listed mill is one of the few remaining in the country and has a history stretching back 800 years.
We then made our way towards Kyson Hill, where the sun-drenched river is framed by salt marshes and ancient woodland.
This National Trust area is full of wildlife and we spotted a heron motionless at the water’s edge while, in the distance, deer darted between the trees.
While we didn’t get the chance to visit the mounds of Sutton Hoo itself on the other side of the river, its connection to the town is deepening.
It’s thought the ship and its treasure were hauled three miles up to the burial site from Woodbridge in the 7th Century, and now a community-led project is rebuilding the ancient craft in all its 90ft glory.
The locals are brilliantly enthusiastic about the mission, and you can take a look at the impressive work in progress in The Longshed.
After a weekend of eating, walking and soaking up the charm of this riverside town and all its history, I reckon Woodbridge is quite possibly the happiest place to live in the UK.
And it’s just as great to visit.
It may even feature frequently on my property searches . . .
La Super-Rica is a California original, a culinary mecca in a taco shack setting devoted to chile, cheese, charred meat and masa. It’s true that there are other Santa Barbara taquerias with more inventive salsas (pistachio at Mony’s) or adventurous cuts of meat (beef head, cheek or lip tacos at Lilly’s, with eye and tripas on weekends). And, yes, you will be standing in the fast-moving line with other out-of-towners who may have read about the long-ago accolades from Julia Child or spotted a replica of the white-and-aqua stand in Katy Perry’s “This Is How We Do” video. Yet as an Angeleno with hometown access to some of the world’s best tacos from nearly every Mexican region, I rarely pass the Milpas Street exit off the 101 without joining the crowd. My late husband and this paper’s former restaurant critic, Jonathan Gold, was a Super-Rica partisan, and both of my now-grown children remain loyal to the restaurant founded in 1980 by Isidoro Gonzalez. But it’s not nostalgia that brings me back. I’m here for the tacos de rajas, strips of pasilla chiles, onions and cheese melded onto tortillas constantly being patted and pressed from the snow drift of masa behind Gonzalez as he takes your order; for the crisp-edged marinated pork adobado, either in a taco or in the Super-Rica Especial with pasillas and cheese; for the chorizo, sliced and crumbled into a bowl of queso; or for the tri-tip alambre with sauteed bell peppers, onion and bacon. It’s never easy to decide, especially with Gonzalez’s board of specials. But I never leave without Super-Rica’s soupy, smoky pinto beans with charred bits of chorizo, bacon and chile.
