Baileys Cheesecake
The Cornerhouse

The Cornerhouse

15 New Street, Lancaster, United Kingdom, LA1 1EG

Kebab • Cafés • Steak • Pizza


"I stayed here during my 2023 John O'Groats to Lands End ride, when I was accompanied by my wife and 13 year old son, who were acting as support crew. The Sun Hotel is a quirky boutique hotel housed in an historic building with extensive accommodation located above the pub and accessed via a unique flight of stairs and a labyrinth of intriguing corridors set out on different floors. Indeed, as you wander through, you are able to learn much about its character and history from many informative notes displayed on the walls. We shared a snug family room with a camp bed for our son but we were very comfortable. Our ensuite bathroom was clean and bright with a bath, shower and toiletries provided. The usual kettle, tea and coffee were provided but with limited alternative options. Make sure you turn off the provided digital alarm clock before slumbers unless you need an early start! There are truly are some larks out there. The room was a little noisy overnight where it was overlooking the street at the front – a combination of late night revellers and morning deliveries – but this is to be expected when you stay in the heart of a city. Lancaster was literally right on our doorstep. The staff were incredibly welcoming and approachable even before our stay responding promptly to any queries we had. We enjoyed dinner in the pub on the ground floor which was not overly noisy with a good atmosphere and attentive staff. The food was good and inexpensive, especially if you share a platter. Having booked direct with the hotel, our stay included breakfast from a set menu, served in the bar area downstairs. This was extensive ranging from the traditional cooked full English breakfast to many plant based and fruit alternatives, including pancakes, acai smoothie and granola jar. It is advisable to pre book this the night before to reduce waiting times in the morning if you are in a rush. Tea, coffee and fruit juice freely available The hotel is found on a complicated one way system with heavy traffic but well handled by Google. The cycle route approaches on quiet canal path but I did push up a one way street to the hotel rather than cycle a circuitous route around the one way. The only drawback is that there is no onsite parking not a problem if you only have a bike. At the time of our stay, there was paid street parking outside the hotel on the road for up to 1 hr or free overnight from 6 pm until 8 am. We would advise checking Google for parking locations beforehand to find alternatives, especially if the recommended nearby multi storey parking is not suitable because of a roof box, etc. My bike was locked away in a cellar inside, down a steep flight of stairs and only accessible by staff."

The Fox and Hounds

The Fox and Hounds

Walton Street Walton on the Hill KT20 7RU, Surrey Hills, United Kingdom

Pubs • Seafood • British • Vegetarian


"We thought you might like to know that The Fox and Hounds was awarded 5 stars on gastrohub. Here is our review from the site. Another day, another new pub, at least for me, Dad has been here before at some point in the past. This beautiful pub in the small village of Funtington, just wants you to come inside. Especially on a dreary Winter's day, when the drizzle is falling on you from a grey and solemn sky, it beckons you through its doors, in to the warmth, where you can forget about the grip of Winter and enjoy a few drinks and some hot food. The pub is much larger than it first appears, with an additional restaurant area behind the bar. Despite its size, the pub was warm, a fundamental area in pub hospitality. We examined the menu, including the specials board, and were mightily impressed. This was certainly one of the better menu's we have come across, showing a distinct flare and imagination. I had half expected the prices to reflect the ingredients and dishes on offer, perhaps rocketing in to the unacceptable bracket, but we were pleasantly surprised. Main meals averaged at £12 £14, what we would consider about right for a good pub serving high quality food. I chose piri piri chicken with spiced sweet potato and spinach, Dad picked from the specials board, putting his faith in the pulled steak inside a bubble and squeak cake. We soaked up the warm and friendly atmosphere as we waited for the food, noting the Goldilocks levels of both temperature and appropriate music. Before long our meals arrived, and it was immediately obvious that the chef has a wonderful eye for presentation. Both our plates looked stunning, so we quickly tucked in to see if it tasted as good as it looked. It did. The chicken was juicy, the sweet potato lightly spiced and tasty, and the spinach was buttery and luxuriant. Dad's bubble and squeak cake was equally perfect, leaving him unable to make any criticism. If we were to find a single fault, and I realise this is objective, we did find the portions a little small. Being the pub geeks that we are, we discussed this at some length. We decided that as a publican, there is a fine line between leaving your customers feeling short changed, and leaving them with room for a desert, thus collecting a few more penny's. We decided that they fell down just on the right side of that line, and to prove our point, we then ordered a desert. I had white chocolate and orange bread and butter pudding, Dad had an individual lemon meringue pie with blueberry compote. These were both also delicious. This is without doubt a very fine pub indeed. They have well and truly ticked all the basic boxes. The staff are efficient and friendly, and they haven't succumb to the overpricing policy which is so prevalent in many gastro pubs. There's a fine chef in the kitchen, and most importantly of all, the food is excellent. We always ask ourselves after each pub visit if we would return with friends and family. The answer in this case is a resounding yes."

Camellia South Lodge

Camellia South Lodge

Brighton Road, RH13 6PS, Horsham, United Kingdom

Pizza • Sushi • Seafood • European


"My mother and I had been following the Masterchef Pro comp ' last year and were really keen to sample some of the winner, Tom Hamblet 's, food. We travelled a 4 hour round trip for the experience. We don 't eat at fine dining restaurants often but we are foodies. Firstly, the setting of the restaurant is very lavish and comfortable with warm low lighting. That said, the dinner experience was a little too dark for my mother so that 's something to think about if you struggle with eyesight and low lighting. The service was friendly, attentive and speedy/efficient. The food: I 'll start with the dessert because that was a real pleasure for us. We both loved the flavours of Tom 's end of series winning dessert so the meal ended on a high (we ordered the Olive Oil sponge with lemon curd). I recommend not ruining your palette with the overly sweet petit four that are placed in front of you following dessert unfortunately ours were more sugar flavoured than any other identifiable flavour. Our starters and mains were very VERY underwhelming. They arrived looking beautiful, neat and tidy but failed to deliver on taste. I had wanted the celeriac themed starter but the waiting staff told me the vegan/veggie starters and mains were created by their head chef and not Tom. That was disappointing as his 3 month residency was the reason we 'd visited the restaurant. We ended up both having the lobster starters after the waiting staff recommended it highly as either a starter or an additional dish to share. The claw meat was minimal and tough and the foam mousse took centre stage on the plate. Whilst the plate had lots of textures to it, we felt it was unbalanced and generally with no 'wow ' to it. We enjoyed the coffee and rye bread with butter and pollen/fennel that came prior to this thought. I ordered the Guinea Fowl as a main after the waiter described it as a gamey, dark and tender meat. I feel like a better description to someone that hasn 't had guinea fowl before would be 'it 's like a chicken breast with a different flavour '. This is what arrived in front of me and I actually found it was quite dry and not dark at all! I would never have ordered anything that resembled chicken breast anyway so I felt ill informed about my choice. I also thought the girolles were overwhelmingly tart. I didn 't enjoy my main. Mum 's Hogget was nice but average for her too. Last comment I 've never in my life paid £6.50 for less than 1.5ltrs mineral water beware! I don 't care how much money you have it 's water!!!"