An Afternoon at The Pipe and Glass Inn in Beverley

One of my favorite things about living in the UK is the plethora of country villages all within easy reach of London, each seemingly with a plethora of country pubs to choose from!  My sweetie recently surprised me with an afternoon drive and lunch at The Pipe and Glass Inn. The Pipe and Glass, in the market village Beverley, is the winner of the Michelin Pub of the Year 2012. I will admit I'm still unsure exactly where Beverley is other than to say "somewhere in East Yorkshire". However, I would highly recommend stopping by, or better yet, booking a night in one of their two boutique suites and making a romantic weekend of it. The pub was lovely and as rustic as you can imagine with comfy leather sofas and cozy snugs near big fireplaces. The perfect setting to imagine yourself a gentry land owner stopping by for a pint, or someone from EastEnders.

The backyard





The herb garden



Yes, apparently cows in East Yorkshire too!

If you'd like to be a pub explorer, check out http://www.pubs.com/

Dinner at the Montagu Arms

Admittedly, any chance I get to leave London I usually leave England. But this time we ventured approximately 2 hours south to the southern coast of England. The highlight was indulging in the tasting menu at the Michelin starred restaurant at The Montagu Arms. Highly recommended for a weekend mini-break a la Bridget Jones!

the most amazing duck I have ever had!

Weekend in Margate (Yes! Margate!)

The reaction I received from everyone when I said I was going to Margate for my birthday weekend was "Margate? Why?" A sleepy seaside town in Kent, Margate's hey day was about 100 years ago as a beach vacation destination. Margate is one of the many coastal towns  in the UK whose former Victorian glory has long since passed. It's more currently known as the birthplace of Tracy Emin and the new home to the Turner contemporary Collection opening April of this year.

However, I was not daunted by the naysayers, especially because we had booked into The Reading Rooms! By far, my absolute favorite place I have stayed just about anywhere in the world, and would highly recommended it (as alone it is a reason to go to Margate.) We stayed into Room 1, but I plan on staying again in Room 3. Owned by the lovely couple Louise and Liam, it's a three bedroom B&B situated in a renovated Georgian townhome on Hawley Square and within walking distance of everything you would want to see in Margate. Sumptious beds with overstuffed pillows, yummy linens and a cast iron tub underneath a whimsical chandelier with definitely enough room for two! And Ren bath products which = happiest place on Earth.

The Connaught Bar at the Connaught Hotel

Eric Lorincz, "best bartender in the world"

Considering this is my first official post here, I of course had to write about where I think you can find the best martini in London!

Sometimes, I just want to live in the past. Where men wear suits, women wear delicate hats with veils and furs, and indulge in romantic cocktails in even more romantic settings. So I was quite happy when I was introduced to The Connaught Bar last year by my socialite-friend-in-the-know Tina.