According to visitors, the ‘hidden gem’ is “pure magic” and has “stunning views”
The Minack Theatre, Cornwall(Image: Getty)
A “hidden gem” in the UK has been hailed as a “bucket list must-see” by visitors. Nestled in Porthcurno, Cornwall, the tranquil spot is celebrated for its ‘stunning views.’
The Minack Theatre, perched on the cliffs of South-West Cornwall, hosts live performances throughout the year, including plays, musicals, opera, music and children’s events. While the theatre may look as if it’s been here forever, it’s actually less than a hundred years old.
The theatre, built by Rowena Cade, has been labelled “pure magic” and “breathtaking” by visitors. While it’s a well-known treasure among locals, the Minack Theatre offers a serene escape for those from further afield.
The TikTok account @ukhiddengems posted a video highlighting the beauty of the theatre. The caption read: “Did you know about this place in England?”
In the clip, they said: “There’s a theatre in England built into the edge of a cliff and when the tide comes in, the ocean becomes the stage. It looks ancient like something the Romans might have left behind, but it was actually built less than a century ago, almost entirely by one woman.
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“In the 1930s Rowena Cade carved this open-air theatre into the granite cliffs with her own hands, hauling stone and sand from the beach below. Today, it’s one of the most spectacular performance spaces in the world; a full working theatre with the Atlantic Ocean as its backdrop.
“You can sit on stone seats cut from the rock, watch waves crash beneath the stage and see plays under open skies, with gulls flying overhead. At sunset, when the light turns gold across the sea, it’s pure magic.”
TripAdvisor reviewers have also been praising the theatre, which has racked up an impressive 4.7 star rating. Among them, one person said: “Wow what a place! Little gem hidden away in Cornwall. Well worth going to take a look and take in the views. There was also a performance from a band with instramental which we sat and watched for a while. The views are unbelievable here!!”
A second wrote: “Stunning views, gardens and hospitality and entrance fee good value. Loved the effort made to tell the story and it made my trip to Cornwall.” A third review read: “Utterly breathtaking. We went on March 20th as part of a bucket list and we were not disappointed. Reading the astonishing history of this special place was in itself incredible. Seeing it in real life was amazing, we have vowed to book tickets for a performance.”
Another said: “What a beautiful place to visit! The views are breathtaking and can make some beautiful photos. I love the history of this and learning a wonderful women and her gardeners built this beautiful place when it was just a patch of grass, it’s crazy as it looks like it could be built by the Romans!”
The praise continued, with one person writing: “A truly incredible and beautiful place. All the passion and hard work by Rowena Cade and all those who worked alongside her can really be felt here. One of the most breathtaking places I have ever had coffee and cake and entry fee not extortionately expensive either. Pre booking is essential though. A bucket list must see.”
The Minack Theatre is open until December 31 and booking is essential for anyone hoping to visit. Local residents go free, but there is an entry fee for anyone else. Tickets include free readmission to the theatre for 12 months from the date of first entry.
The theatre is open for visits from 10am. Last admission may vary, depending on performance schedule, so it is worth checking opening times before you visit. The site is steep and includes many steps. It is open to the elements and surfaces may be slippery in wet weather.
The Tudor Pass in Egham, Surrey, has been named the best fine dining restaurant in the UK – and it’s not hard to see why, with its stunning interiors and delicious food
The restaurant boasts one Michelin star(Image: Getty)
Topping the charts in its local area and making a splash on the UK’s fine dining scene, this intimate restaurant with its breathtaking interiors is a must-visit.
Nestled in Egham, a town brimming with stunning architecture in the Borough of Runnymede, The Tudor Pass is a gem tucked away in the Surrey countryside. Its exclusive ambience, offering just seven tables, provides a unique experience that celebrates the rich history of both the building and its surroundings.
Patrons can look forward to an extraordinary dining experience, complete with interactive service, all without the commotion of an open kitchen. The culinary magic is orchestrated by Chef Stefano Di Giosia, whose signature dishes are a fusion of classic flavours, seasonal ingredients, and a dash of personality.
With previous stints at renowned establishments like The Fat Duck and KOL, his passion for food is evident in every dish he creates. This dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed, earning the restaurant a coveted Michelin star for its exceptional cuisine, much to the delight of its customers.
One satisfied diner took to TripAdvisor to share their glowing review, describing it as “one of the top international dining experiences from a foodie”. They added: “Our experience at Tudor Pass implores me to provide a review placing this as one of the top restaurants you can visit, and it is at a very reasonable price point compared to all of the others.”, reports the Express.
One diner shared their experience, writing: “We’ve enjoyed tasting menus at a number of restaurants, including those with a Michelin star. You usually get one or two courses that miss the mark a bit – but our meal at The Tudor Pass was wonderful from start to finish.
“Every course was delicately presented and a delight to eat – every course made us smile!” Another satisfied customer praised their meal for its “real depth of flavour”.
The Travellers’ Choice Awards via TripAdvisor have celebrated the crème de la crème of UK dining, compiling an ultimate list of top-notch eateries across the country. Nestled at number 23 on the 25-restaurant-long list is the Tudor Pass, rubbing shoulders with famed establishments like The Witchery Restaurant in Edinburgh and Gouqi Restaurant in London.
A recent guest penned about their dining experience, stating: “The food was sublime; the tasting menu was exceptional (and we’ve had a good few worldwide).”
Another chimed in: “This was so much more than we were expecting, and a number of the dishes, as well as the extra touches such as the story cards behind the dishes, made this feel more like a two-star than a one-star restaurant.”
The Tudor Pass is nestled within the luxurious five-star Great Fosters hotel resort, boasting breathtaking gardens that guests can admire through the mediaeval-style windows. Whether you’re a guest at the resort or looking to elevate a special occasion, it’s evident why this Edham eatery has earned its place on such a prestigious list – and the premium pricing certainly reflects the quality of the experience.
Pricing
Lunch – Wednesday to Friday – 4-course tasting menu £95 and Signature tasting menu £125
Lunch – Saturday – 4-course tasting menu £125 and Signature tasting menu £155
Dinner – Wednesday and Thursday – 4-course tasting menu £125 and Signature tasting menu £155
Dinner – Friday and Saturday – Signature tasting menu £165
Kevin Sinfield, who was awarded a CBE for his services to the motor neurone disease community after his friend Burrow’s diagnosis inspired him to raise more than £10m to fund research and awareness, sent Moody a message of support and made a fresh vow to tackle the disease.
“I’m obviously very saddened by the news,” said Sinfield, who is the skills and kicking coach for the England national team. “I’d like to wish Lewis, and all his family and friends, the very best.
“I’ll support in any way I can. We have to keep fighting MND [motor neurone disease] together.”
Andrea Pinchen, CEO at Leicester Tigers where Moody made 223 appearances, winning seven English titles and two European crowns over 14 years, also paid tribute to Moody as a person, as well as a player.
“The figures, trophies and awards tell you what an incredible player Lewis was, but that is only half the story,” said Pinchen.
“One minute he’s parading around with the World Cup trophy and the following Friday he’d be in the ticket office where I worked, answering the phone to supporters if we were really busy and helping sell tickets.
“As an individual, his commitment to his club along with his warmth and passion shone through, which endeared him to team-mates, staff and supporters alike.
“Always looking to help others, Lewis together with his wife Annie have worked tirelessly through the Lewis Moody Foundation, supporting research into brain tumours and helping affected families.
“He absolutely threw himself in. It was very much lead by example. He would never ask somebody to do something he wouldn’t do himself. He is utterly fearless.”
One of California’s largest agricultural employers plans to close a Central Valley grape nursery by the end of the year after laying off hundreds of employees, including many supportive of a United Farm Workers effort to unionize the workforce.
Wonderful Co., owned by billionaires Stewart and Lynda Resnick, plans to shut down the majority of the nursery in Wasco, northwest of Bakersfield, and donate the farm to UC Davis, representatives for the company and the university confirmed this week.
The move comes as Wonderful Nurseries remains locked in a battle with the UFW after the union last year petitioned to represent workers growing grapevines, using a new state “card check” law that made it easier for organizers to sign up workers. Company officials said their decision was unrelated to that.
“The decision to wind down Wonderful Nurseries was purely a business decision and in no way, shape or form related to our ongoing litigation with the UFW or the fraud so many farm workers reported by the union,” Wonderful Co. spokesman Seth Oster said.
In February, Wonderful Nurseries President Rob C. Yraceburu said in an email to employees that the state’s agricultural industry has seen tens of thousands of orchard and vineyard acres abandoned or removed. The table and wine grape industry is in a major downturn, meaning nurseries such as theirs have seen “significantly decreased sales and record losses, with no expectation of a turnaround anytime soon.”
Yet some labor experts and Wonderful employees are questioning the timing of the layoffs, which started just five months after the UFW won a key legal victory in its effort to organize the workforce.
Victor Narro, a labor studies professor at UCLA, said the closure and donation to UC Davis should be scrutinized.
“The question is, what’s the reason they’re doing it?” he said. “Is it really, in the end, to avoid unionization of the workforce? Or is it really that they’re making a sound financial decision?”
The UFW has not directly accused the Resnicks of retaliating against workers supportive of the union by closing the farm. But it has raised questions about the timing of both the layoffs and this week’s confirmation the nursery would be closed.
The entrance to Wonderful Nurseries on March 25, 2024, in Wasco, Calif.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
At its seasonal peak, the 1,400-acre nursery employs about 600 workers who would have been part of the bargaining unit, but now only 20 still work at the facility, said Elizabeth Strater, director of strategic campaigns for the union. Overall, about 100 employees now work there, according to the company.
Yraceburu told employees there will be a phasedown in shutting the grape nursery. Workers, including those employed by farm labor contractors, will have an opportunity to apply for other Wonderful worksites, he said. A company spokesman said no other Wonderful farm is facing a similar reduction in workforce.
The nursery has been operating at a significant loss for several years, Oster said, but he did not say for how long or just how much it has lost.
It was not immediately clear whether UC Davis will recognize the farmworkers union once the university takes control of the nursery.
In a statement, UC Davis spokesperson Bill Kisliuk said the university is grateful for the gift, which includes the Wasco facility combined with a $5-million startup donation. The university will form an implementation committee to plan the use of the facility, Kisliuk said.
Although the university has a long history of respecting labor agreements, he said, the academic use of the site will be significantly different from the current commercial operation.
“This gift expands and builds upon one of the world’s leading agricultural research programs and will catalyze discovery and innovation,” he said. “We look forward to working with the Wonderful Company to successfully transfer the Wasco facilities and property to the University later this year.”
The Resnicks are big donors to state politicians and charities, but their philanthropy has been the target of recent union organizing efforts. In late July, UFW and other labor organizers gathered outside the Hammer Museum, the recipient of more than $30 million in donations from the Resnicks, who have a building named after them. The gathering came after the union released a video that appeared to show a Wonderful employee paying other workers to participate in an anti-union protest.
In the video, the worker, who has been a forefront anti-union advocate and has organized protests, is seen handing out $100 bills from the trunk of a car and encouraging workers to sign a sheet. In a separate video, she can be heard saying that she was directed to first feed everyone, hand out $100 and then they would receive an additional $50.
The unedited versions of the videos were shown during a hearing before an administrative law judge for the state Agricultural Labor Relations Board, where Wonderful Co. has challenged the UFW’s petition to represent the nursery employees. The board oversees collective bargaining for farmworkers in the state and also investigates charges of unfair labor practices.
Wonderful Nurseries in Wasco.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Now that Wonderful is closing its Wasco grape nursery, it is unclear what will happen in the proceedings, because there will soon be no workers to unionize. But the board could issue a ruling that would affect future disputes.
The UFW and Wonderful Co. have traded accusations over the last year: The company accused the union of using $600 in COVID-19 federal relief funds to trick farmworkers into signing the authorization cards. The company submitted nearly 150 signed declarations from nursery workers saying they had not understood that by signing the cards they were voting to unionize.
The UFW has rejected those accusations and, with the video, is suggesting that workers were paid to protest against the unionization effort at the height of the back-and-forth a year ago.
Rosa M. Silva, a Wonderful Nurseries worker for the last six years, said tensions have long been running high at the nursery, with some co-workers saying they don’t have a right to ask for raises or benefits. She said she believes that the company would rather shut down the nursery to avoid negotiating with them, a claim that Wonderful has forcefully rejected.
In July, Silva took a day off work and rallied outside the Hammer Museum. Protesters handed out fliers that read: “Tell Wonderful Company’s billionaire owners: Respect the farm workers. Stop spending money fighting the United Farm Workers.”
“This is my message to the Resnicks: if you can give millions to this art museum, which a majority of your workers will never visit, why can’t you also pay your workers something fair?” she said at the protest. “If you care so much about being respected by artists and lovers of art, why can’t you respect the people who plant, grow and harvest the products you sell?”
The UFW filed its petition with the labor board in February last year, asserting that a majority of the 600-plus farmworkers at Wonderful Nurseries in Wasco had signed the authorization cards and asking that the UFW be certified as their union representative.
At the time, it appeared to be the UFW’s third victorious unionization drive in a matter of months — following diminishing membership rates over the last several years.
Under the law, a union can organize farmworkers by inviting them to sign authorization cards at off-site meetings without notifying their employer. Under the old rules, farmworkers voted on union representation by secret ballot at a polling site designated by the state labor board, typically on employer property. The state law has since revitalized the union’s organizing efforts, and it has gone on to organize other farms.
Wonderful has sued the state to stop the card-check law. A ruling by a Kern County Superior Court judge that found the certification process under the card-check law as “likely unconstitutional” was superseded in October by an appellate court, which is still reviewing the case.
Ana Padilla, executive director of the UC Merced Community and Labor Center, said the Central Valley has been blanketed with anti-union messaging ever since the passage of the card-check law.
She also questioned the timing of shutting down the Wasco nursery. “Layoffs, store closures and offloading organized worksites are all part of the anti-unionism playbook,” she said.
This article is part of The Times’ equity reporting initiative,funded by the James Irvine Foundation, exploring the challenges facing low-income workers and the efforts being made to addressCalifornia’s economic divide.
