pub

THERE are thousands of pubs around the UK – but if you want to enjoy a pint and bite to eat in the very best, head to Eccles.

The Queens Arms, which is also the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway pub, has just been declared the top boozer in the country.

The accolade comes from the Good Food Guide which created the ranking from 20,000 reader nominations.

While The Queens Arms might look like a traditional British pub from the outside, don’t expect any pie and mash here.

Instead, it has a Japanese izakaya-style menu serving up katsu, noodle bowls, eel and wagyu burgers.

It was praised by Good Food Guide for its ‘unexpected’ blend of culture and that proves to be popular with visitors too.

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On Tripadvisor, one punter called it an ‘old fashioned relaxed traditional pub with a Japanese twist’.

Others called it a ‘gem of a place’ – lots praised the food too, especially ‘light and crispy’ tempura battered prawns and crab.

Despite its Japanese menu, the Grade-II listed pub still retains lots of its original features like fireplaces, bar fittings and booth seats.

For anyone who still wants a more traditional experience, there’s also a drinking den which has a dartboard and draught beers.

Historically, the pub was named The Patricroft Tavern – it opened in 1828 aligning with the launch of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway.

According to history, Eccles cakes and beer were even sold to passengers, but this had to stop eventually because it was delaying the trains.

It was a busy hub for passengers for years and it’s rumoured that Queen Victoria even stepped inside a few times.

This was reportedly the reason as to why the pub was renamed The Queens Arms later on.

As for where you’ll find, it the boozer is in Eccles, Greater Manchester

The town shares its name with the well-known Eccles cake, a flaky pastry filled with currants and mixed spices.

These were first sold in Eccles back in 1796 and consequently, the cakes were named after the town.

So one must-do for any visitor is to pop into one of its cafes to try one of the baked goodies.

Lots of the independent cafes are found on Monton Road including Playfoots Cafe and Bar, Oats & Honey, and Monton Village Bakery.

Another popular activity in Eccles is a stroll or cycle along the waterfront.

The Bridgewater Canal which connects Runcorn, Manchester and Leigh runs through the town of Eccles and there are lots of trails beside it.

The nearest train stop to The Queens Arms is Patricroft, which is also just 17-minutes away from Manchester Piccadilly.

If you’re planning heading to the city, check out the best hidden gems according to locals from even more shops to family-friendly attractions.

IF my algorithm is anything to go by, Gen Z love nothing more than a bit of #selfcare because #selfcareisntselfish and #metime matters.

And as a semi-perennial singleton (and geriatric millennial), I don’t really have much say in the matter.

So it came to pass that, after booking a last-minute week off work, I went on my first ever romantic mini break for two — the “two” being me and my miniature Dachshund, Dora.

After scouring Instagram for options, my non-negotiables — as Gen Z like to say — were: Dog-friendly, remote, not a hotel and, ideally, with an outdoor roll-top bath.

The plan was also to have a digital detox after my screen time had crept up to an abhorrent ten hours a day.

Enter HappenOak Treehouse. Yep, an actual treehouse in rural Cambridgeshire.

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If I couldn’t shut off the world from a giant oak tree in the middle of nowhere, there really was no hope for me.

On a quiet Wednesday afternoon, I made the drive to the pretty village of Balsham for my unique stay for the next 48 hours.

It took two and a half minutes of strolling through beautiful, signposted woodland for Dora and me to spot our arboreal home-from-home.

Tucked away in the delightful Le Creuset-stocked kitchen was a huge loaf and some homemade banana bread. A nice touch.

The highlight, though, was the location. I quickly decided to ditch my iPhone and go for a sunset stroll.

As a tractor ploughed its patch, and birds tweeted, I felt my shoulders drop.

That evening I did some yoga on the decking, and then ran a piping hot bath. It’s hard to explain just how magical this bath felt.

But soaking in bubbles, as fairy lights twinkled and the branches swayed above, I could have stayed in there forever. Well, an hour or so.

Instead, draping myself in one of the fluffy white robes provided, I opted for the outdoor, Finnish-style sauna, managing to last about six minutes before, dripping in sweat, I came out again to cool down.

It is the kind of treat I steadfastly ignore at my gym, insisting I never have time. Here, however, I had all the time.

After, Dora and I decided the best move was to cuddle up in the giant swing chair, watching the world (and the hard-working farmer still on his tractor) go by. No phones, no TikTok, no WhatsApp, no Spotify, no nothing. It was bliss.

That night, I slept like a well-rested baby, waking beneath two skylights showing gently falling leaves.

After breakfasting on homemade muesli provided by the owners — supplies like coffee, milk, olive oil, free-range eggs and seasoning are all included, and there is a farm shop a few miles away for anything else — it was time for a hike.

A gorgeous 12km round trip took me via gastropub The Black Bull, where we nipped in for a replenishing pint and a bowl of water.

Then it was off to the local shop for some pasta and cheese for an easy dinner.

I’d been so bowled over by my stay that by the evening I found myself hunting for homes in rural Cambridgeshire online, with grand visions of handing in my notice and starting a new life off-grid, in a tree.

My sleep on the second night was slightly restless, which I put down to slightly “flat” pillows. Literally my only complaint of the entire stay.

Otherwise, HappenOak is the perfect getaway for those who need to, well, get away.

In a world that runs at 100mph, it is a place to simply switch off. Who knew? #selfcare isn’t actually selfish.

GOBBLING up sandy scraps of seaweed from the beach floor certainly isn’t the norm for me on a coastal stroll.

But it was for the residents of Guernsey between the 12th and 16th Centuries. And it’s a tradition that’s now coming back into fashion.

Nutrient-packed seaweed, abounding all over Guernsey, is free for the picking and just one of the many ways the island benefits from being surrounded by super-clean waters in the Channel.

I joined Guernsey Seaweed on one of its foraging tours of Havelet Bay and learned the marine plants here are in big demand at the island’s fanciest restaurants.

The slippery green stuff features heavily on a sophisticated menu at Michelin-starred Vraic, woven into cocktails and also adding a punch to rich broths.

After feasting on some pepper dulse, dubbed the truffle of the sea, I can completely see why chefs love it so much. There’s nothing of the fishy taste you would expect.

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Instead, I’m hit with a garlicky umami flavour.

The earthy and delicious taste, I’m told, is down to the warm temperature of the sea around the island, just 27 miles off France’s Normandy coast.

The Gulf Stream ensures the water here rarely dips below 8C in winter — which is why you’ll spot locals swimming year round.

Admittedly, even 13C felt like too much of a chill for me. But if you plan your trip well, you can ensure you combine a swim with a post-dip sauna session to warm up.

There are two mobile saunas on the island, Hot Haus and Rock Box, which can be booked online and are just a stone’s throw from the sea.

Rock Box, a converted, eucalyptus-infused horsebox, overlooks the Cobo Slipway in summer and features a huge window allowing those inside to soak up soothing coastal views while they sweat.

And sweat, I sure did. Conveniently, there are several watering cans, filled with icy water, positioned by the sauna door for guests to use in between ten to 15-minute stints in the heat.

The sauna was a treat that my limbs most definitely appreciated after a strenuous Pilates class earlier that morning.

Pilates instructor Lydia Cherry runs both Reformer and mat sessions at the Forme studio in St Andrews, for locals and holidaymakers alike.

Despite the moves seeming gentle, my abs were quivering within a matter of seconds as I was put through my paces.

If you prefer something a little more gentle, though, beachfront or paddleboard yoga are both popular choices for holidaymakers seeking a wellness fix.

That’s if you have enough strength left after tackling the island’s scenic coastal paths, though.

Guernsey is so small — around 24 square miles — that you can walk its coast in just a few days.

One of the more manageable treks — and beautiful — is the short 45-minute route from St Peter Port to Fermain Bay, combining fabulous coastal views with dense woodland that’s carpeted in bluebells during spring.

Reward your efforts afterwards with a tasty pint of local Rocquette cider — which uses some of that famed seaweed — at the Beach Cafe.

From my picnic table, perched just above the water, I could watch the foamy waves while listening to the birds overhead.

Make sure to order yourself a super-fresh crab sarnie, too, which comes loaded to the max and smothered in mayo. Delicious.

And that word can be used to describe the fare at many of the island’s restaurants.

Michelin-recommended Alba, in St Peter Port, in particular, strives to keep dishes local and serves up elegant sharing plates.

Its homemade tagliolini with Shetland mussels in a white wine and lemongrass sauce is an absolute steal at £15.

Wash it down with an Alba Tomatini, a classic martini with tomato twist (£11.50), and you’re in for a good night.

For a more casual bite, the Fleur du Jardin does classic pub grub, from fish-and-chips to bangers and mash.

It also has 14 boutique bedrooms upstairs that are as charming as the old-fashioned, stone-wall pub itself with its sea-themed decor.

The only thing that’s missing is a bit of seaweed.

I’LL admit it. I’m a scaredy cat. So it was rather out of character for me to be tip-toeing through a churchyard in the pitch black, led by a stone-faced monk and the Witchfinder general.

I was on a Ghostly and Macabre tour in the quiet Suffolk town of Bury St Edmunds.

Costumed guides John and Mike had been recalling gruelling stories of local murders and the paranormal before we made our way, squelching through soggy maple leaves, to the charnel house.

“This is usually when the owls join us” said Mike. Just then, an owl hooted back, right on-cue.

The house was built to store bones when graveyards became full. And what happened when the crypt piled up? Well, that’s where ‘bonfire’ comes from (bone-fire in old English).

“Usually, no one is allowed in here” whispered Mike. “But on tours with us, you can come in.” I gulp.

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Bats circle as John creaked open an iron gate.

I was starting to become convinced these animals were paid actors.
I’ll keep it secret what I saw inside. Just know that I darted back to my hotel room in a flash afterwards.

Luckily, the ivy-clad Angel Hotel, where Charles Dickens penned The Pickwick Papers, is nothing like the eerie building I’d been exploring.

My room had a free-standing copper bathtub and plump bed, while downstairs, the kitchen was cooking up hearty dishes such as braised-beef ‘Pickwick Pie’.

It was also perfectly positioned for exploring the rest of this quaint town and its quirky thrills.

That includes the 12th-century Moyse’s Hall Museum, which is set to open a new gallery named Crime And Superstition on Halloween this year.

The gallery explores Bury’s deep-rooted ties with witchcraft, including everything from 17th century voodoo poppets to hand-made wands.

The centrepiece is A Tryal Of Witches, the best-documented English witch trial, detailing a 1662 case in which two Suffolk women were found guilty of bewitching children.

It even influenced the infamous Salem witch trials in the States.

Slightly less spooky is the 1,000 year-old abbey ruins and gardens.

Visitors enter via a huge, 14th century Abbey Gate under an imposing portcullis into the remains of what was once one of Britain’s most powerful monasteries.

Opposite here, on Abbeygate Street, you will find a truly thriving high street with boutiques including chocolatiers, tailors and antique shops.

I was visiting on a Saturday, when the local market was in full swing and the independent cafes and restaurants were packed, including Italian spot PrimaVista, where the fresh tomato spaghetti easily rivalled dishes I’ve had in Italy.

Make sure to swing by The Nutshell, which claims to be the UK’s smallest pub, measuring just 15ft x 7ft.

It’s delightfully quirky, with a 400-year-old mummified cat displayed above the bar along with a mummified rat.

“It’s to tease the cat”, flat-capped local Chris smirked.

Bury locals are fiercely proud of their brilliantly bizarre town, and after my time here I admit, I’m under its spell, too.

THE festive wrapping paper is on sale, the family-size box of Quality Street is stacked in shops – Christmas is officially on its way.

If you’re a true fan of the season, you’ll obviously want to head to the UK’s biggest Christmas market.

And the largest is actually in Manchester which opens at the beginning of next month.

Returning on November 6, it will run for over six weeks – so there’s plenty of time to visit whether you’re a local or not.

It’s so enormous that there are 210 stalls across 10 locations spread about the city centre.

The stalls will sell everything from festive food and drink – think hot chocolate and mulled wine – to international street food, if you’re over the yorkshire pudding wraps.

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Handmade gifts and stocking fillers can be found there too, if you’re ready to start Christmas shopping.

Albert Square will be where most of the city’s festivities will be, including its 50-metre high Ferris wheel.

There will also be a pop-up ‘pub’ for the festive season as well as a giant Santa, a vintage Helter Skelter and a huge tree installation and life-sized selfie sleigh.

If you’re on the hunt for ice skating, you’ll find it at Cathedral Gardens along with some market stalls too.

Across the city will be live entertainment, and plenty of Christmas lights.

The Manchester Christmas Parade will be held again this year on December 6.

Kids will be able to spot Snow Queens, reindeers, Nutcrackers, toy soldiers and even Santa who will be travelling onboard the Elf Express.

Visitors will find the market spread across locations including; Albert Square, Lincoln Square, King Street, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange, Cathedral Gardens, and Market Street.

A recent study by Christmas Tree World also recently crowned Manchester Christmas Market as the UK’s best.

Factors were based on the number of Google searches, social media posts and videos, hotel prices, history, number of stalls, entry cost and closeness to public transport.

With much cheaper hotel prices than the like of New York city, the Manchester Christmas Market was also voted second best in the world.

The market will come to a close on December 22.

However, the Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens will remain open throughout the Christmas period until January 3, 2027.