Tag: England

The Pearl of Prestwich

by CharlRose, posted in Lifestyle

Dan and I booked a date night at The Pearl in Prestwich. My brother and his partner told us great things of their food and drinks. I love discovering new places to spend our weekends and it’s also super convenient because it is pretty much right on our doorstep.

On arrival, we were greeted with a warm “Hi guys, table for Dan?” which I thought added a lovely personal touch, to show they were expecting our arrival. The interior reminded me of a French brasserie, small but cosy and the drapes in the window added a sense of privacy and elegance. The whole aesthetic completely took me out of Prestwich and felt very cosmopolitan.

So, let’s begin with the cocktails, we ordered spicy margaritas to start our evening and my god they were good! The perfect amount of tequila and spice. For me personally, you can just tell when a cocktail has been made with care and precision and that’s the impression I was given.

The menu is split into 4 courses, snacks, starters, mains and deserts. As a snack, Dan and I shared the warms breads with whey fat butter and The Pearl chips, which were filled with ox cheek, mustard and dill pickle. Both were equally delicious.

As a starter, I ordered the gin cured salmon and Dan order the Isle of White tomatoes with burrata. Dan is someone who doesn’t usually like fish, however he tried my salmon and said it was incredible. Top tier compliment.

For main, I went for the wild sea bass and Dan ordered the BBQ beef. I asked for a wine pairing with my main and I was advised to order the Chardonnay. I don’t normally drink Chardonnay but as recommended, it was beautiful and light, perfect with the fish.

We ended our meal with a tarte tatin. You need to tell the serving staff early if this something you’re interested in because it takes a while to bake. In my opinion, it was the highlight of the meal. It’s the kind of desert I would fantasise about on a cold autumn evening. Not too filling but enough to leave you feeling warm and content, if not wanting more.

The Pearl Website – Book a table here

Follow The Pearl on Instagram

Weekend in Wales

by CharlRose, posted in Places, Travel

To celebrate Dan’s birthday, we decided to take a trip to Wales and stay in the area of Ruthin in a geopod. This was something that both Dan and I had never done. The pictures on the website looked lovely and it seemed like the perfect getaway for a weekend. The accommodation was called Ty Famau Geo Lodges. We had our very own fire pit and fire heated hot tub.

The pods had no wifi or television which was a lovely change and allowed us to have a bit of a digital detox. The hot tub took around 7 hours to heat up on a wintery, January evening. However, we managed to get the hot tub to around 22 degrees, which was warm and bearable.

The next morning we went to Bala Lake, it was an hour and a half drive from the lodges. We got wrapped up and went for a stroll along the lakeside it was quiet and peaceful. The only people around the lake were locals, kayaking.

We then drove to beautiful Betws-Y-Coed, the views on the way there were amazing. Huge pillow-like hills and winding roads.

We were hoping to find an old traditional welsh pub for some food but sadly due to COVID the places that were open were very limited. After a lot of searching we found an old family ran pub which was heavenly to look at but sadly the food was disappointing to say the least.

Betws-Y-Coed was quaint little village, the beautiful forest views in the background were giving me Decode by Paramore vibes. I loved the dark, creepy atmosphere and the misty hills made it perfect for some dark aesthetic photography.

Back at the lodge, we had a dip in the hot tub with a red wine and a night of trivia quizzes and music.

The next day we wanted some late breakfast or some lunch locally, but again the search was strenuous. We ended up at a strange little ‘pub’ at the bottom of mount snowdon. I say ‘pub’ but it was actually a mans home. He kindly offered Dan and I a spot in-front of his fire with a delightful cup of coffee. He recommended a pub in Caernarfon called ‘The Black Boy Inn‘. A very questionable name for a pub but nevertheless the food was amazing! It was exactly what we had been looking for.

We had a wonderful weekend and I would highly recommend the lodges and all of the places I have mentioned in this blog post. To follow my new instagram page click the following link earlgrey_aesthetics.

Birthday Trip to Cambridge

by CharlRose, posted in Lifestyle, Places, Travel

This blog post is highly overdue, considering my birthday was in August. However, since our trip to Cambridge, a lot has happened. I went back to work, my partner and I decided to move in together, and then I caught COVID. So a very busy/hectic few months.

I am so happy to finally get the chance to sit down and write about our trip. It was a lovely surprise to find out that we were going to Cambridge because I have always wanted to go. Dan booked a room for us at Fellows House, which is part of the Curio Collection by The Hilton. The building itself was gorgeous and the interiors were very plush with stylish marbled floors and an exquisite bar and lounge area.

Punting

The highlight of the trip for me had to be our romantic punting along the River Cam. Dan used a company called Rutherford’s Punting which he booked in advance. We chose the ‘romantic experience’ which included a little bottle of champagne. It was such a relaxing experience, floating along the calm waters, taking in all of the beautiful architecture and history. It was a great opportunity to take in the cities heritage and monumental university buildings, I felt like a young Sylvia Plath (literacy/poetry nerd reference).

Food

On the first night, we went to a restaurant called The Old Bicycle Shop. It was a quirky little place with a lovely, relaxed dinner vibe. I have included a picture of the menu below for a sneak peek of what delicious food they have to offer.

The next day, we went to The Giggling Squid, which we didn’t realise at the time was part of a chain. The food they served was Asian cuisine but what was even more impressive was the building. I felt entranced by its fabulous glass dome and botanical interior.

On the last evening, after our punting on the river we went to a fantastic restaurant on the water called The River Bar Steakhouse. We had a stunning view of the river from our table and the service and staff were fantastic.

Exploring the city

I loved exploring the beautiful city of Cambridge, it was a little bit like stepping back in time as a student, although I can only wish I went to the University of Cambridge.

It was a wonderful trip, with lots to see and do. Hopefully this blog post encourages you to visit and experience the magic of Cambridge.

Cosy Cotswolds Pt 2

by CharlRose, posted in Travel

After a delicious cream tea at Lucy’s Tearoom, we decided to head back to the hotel to get showered and ready for a lovely tea at Bourton-On-The-Water. We asked the hotel for a taxi number to get there and back however they quite candidly handed us a piece of paper with two numbers on it for two specific drivers that they use rather than a particular taxi rank. The first driver was out walking his dog and said the wait could be an hour which I found quite amusing and the second driver said he was finishing his tea and would then pick us up. I found this concept so different to back at home in Manchester but made the whole experience a little bit more personal and cute.

When arriving at Bourton-On-the-Water, I was astounded by how busy it was. Families sat waterside enjoying a picnic and groups of friends sharing a bottle of wine enjoying the warm summer evening. The village was beautiful, and it was lovely to see so many people filling the streets again and scattering themselves across the green – even children were enjoying in a splash in the water.

We enjoyed a lovely meal at one of the many restaurants along the waterside and a few/many tipples of wine.

The next day, we surprisingly felt rather fresh and decided to go back into Bourton to have a wander around the shops. There were so many gorgeous hidden gems, I particularly loved this little bookshop we found.

We grabbed some food from The Bakery on the Water, there was quite a queue outside but it was definitely worth the wait. There were so many delicious options and the smell in the bakery was dreamy. Dan had a quiche and I settled for a goats cheese and tomato toasty. At the back of the bakery there is a small terrace next to a stream, perfect location for a coffee and bite to eat.

Later that day, we found an ideal spot for a Sunday Lunch, it was called The Mousetrap Inn . We parked our car down one of the country roads due to how busy the surrounding area was. I’m glad we did park a little distance from the restaurant because the walk was beautiful. The service in the Mousetrap Inn was quick and the staff were friendly and welcoming. The Sunday dinner was fresh tasting and the beef melted in our mouths. Definitely a place you must visit if you’re in the Bourton area.

I was very sad to be leaving the Cotswolds and heading back to the city but I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and would recommend it to anyone who desires a country getaway. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love all things cosy and quaint and the Cotswolds filled me to the brim with both of those things. A truly wholesome trip.

Getting it together

by CharlRose, posted in Lifestyle
Inhale and exhale.
Starting a fresh isn’t as easy as it sounds. In my opinion progression is gradual and so is success, diving in head first isn’t always the answer and usually puts more pressure on yourself than needed.
Trying to hold it together all the time is draining and can be stressful. Slip ups are bound to happen. I want this to be the year of “a little goes a long way”. Its the little changes, stepping an inch further out of my comfort zone and aiming just a little bit higher. That way there is no pressure and I can allow myself to do it at my own pace. I’m designing the lifestyle I want to live.
Ive started working out more and it has got me feeling inspired and motivated. I’m not the type to be fretting over a number on the scales to see progression, I think seeing a physical difference is the driving force. Putting a little more time into meal prep and cutting back on saturated fats and sugars has been the game changer. After Christmas, it took me a while to get out of to anti-climatic lull of January. However, I’m happy to say I came out the other end and I’m in a really good place.
Onwards and upwards hunnies!

Cosy Homeware Haul

by CharlRose, posted in Homeware, Lifestyle
The festive season is upon us! I love the winter season for its dark nights lit with candle light, cuddly throws and warm woolies. It is no secret that I love Christmas and all the bells and bows to go with it. I thought I would do a haul of a few homeware bits that I have picked up to get me ready for the wintery months ahead, which will be spent predominantly indoors.
Firstly I picked up this cute wooden star decoration from Paperchase. I love anything that is handcrafted or recycled-up into home decor. This Sparkly star decoration is rustic,  quirky and sprinkled in glitter, perfect piece for the season.

 

winter-star

I picked up three beautiful decorative pillows, one from Marks and Spencer and the other from ASDA (yes ASDA!). The first one is a winter wonderland pillow, with a cute reindeer on it and snowflakes falling from the sky. I amazingly later discovered that it also lights up! The second pillow has a  stunning robin red breast on it, simple yet effective. The Last, was a cute little red pillow with a big ‘C’ embossed on the front.

cushions

The next homeware piece is more of a present from me to me. I have wanted one of these for quite a while now and when I saw this particular one on the Urban Outfitters website I had to snatch it up
Its a Record Player!
The moment it arrived in the post, I quickly set it up,  grabbed a bunch of my dads 80s records and got to listening. Undoubtedly the sound isn’t as clear as a CD but I think that a what gives it so much character and makes it an authentic sound.

record-player

The final piece I picked up was this Scandinavian style, rose gold candle holder. I love the simplicity of Scandinavian design and wanted to try and incorporate some of this into my home. This is again a piece homeware that is so minimalistic but so effective. I picked this beauty up from a local coffee house/ gift shop called Nonsense.

candle-holder

Road Trip to Lyme Park

by CharlRose, posted in Travel
I am personally not the most confident of girls to drive afar. I tend to stick to familiar routes or drive locally. However for a while now I have been plumping up the courage to drive out of my comfort zone.
My Australian friend Casey is over in the UK for two years and is determined to see all the beautiful places Britain has to offer. I suppose she somewhat gave me the push to jump in my car and take a little road trip. I had heard of  Lyme Park through my parents, they sold me on its beautiful gardens and enchanting forests that are usually roamed by wild deer. I thought for my first road trip it would be ideal as it would only take an hour to get there by car.
We picked the perfect day for it! It was the hottest day of the year so far! So we hopped in my little Aygo and we was on our way.
Car
We arrived safely, a few Satnav confusions along the way but we made it!
The first thing we wanted to do was go deer spotting, but there were ‘no entry’ signs surrounding the ‘Deer Sanctuary’. We respected the boundaries and decided to walk around the Sanctuary instead of going through it, but I don’t think either of us were prepared for what we was about to find!

Forestno entryCaseyDeer 2Deer

A whole heard of them! At first we both froze with fear, but after a few deep breaths we managed to creep a little closer to take a cheeky picture or two. They were just basking in the sunshine, enjoying the weather just like ourselves.
To get to the Deer Sanctuary we had to climb a huuuuuge hill, and on top of the hill was a building called ‘The Cage’. The views from The Cage were amazing, the wind from the top on the other hand was brutal!

 

The CageView

We then headed to the Lyme Mansion which over the centuries has been a popular setting for hunting parties, plotting and royal visits.  It was so beautiful, surrounded by stunning gardens and a picturesque lake.

Lyme

Overall our trip to Lyme Park was fabulous! I would recommend anyone to take a trip there! I have always admired the National Trust and all the work they do to look after our natural environment.
Visit Lyme Park – National TrustÂ