How Kent came of age as a top wine-producing region June 11, 2021 It’s all happening in Kent. Ahead of National English Wine week, a well-established Kent winemaker has announced the release of its latest wine and, in the same county, another vineyard has launched its first bottles. Balfour Winery has launched its first Blanc de Noirs using Pinot Noir and Meunier from the excellent 2018 vintage and [...]
EU approves restriction-free travel for vaccinated citizens but UK left out over Delta variant fears June 11, 2021 EU countries have today agreed a plan to relax travel restrictions over the summer months, with fully vaccinated tourists not required to take tests or quarantine. However, due to concerns over the spread of the so-called Delta variant of Covid-19, the UK will not initially be included on a list of extra countries the rules [...]
Drinking around the world: Discover this fine gin from Gibraltar June 7, 2021 A former Devon-based golf pro living on an island without a golf course has created his own gin and vodka halfway between London and the tropics. Peter and Stella Millhouse run The Rock Distillery on the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, producing The Spirit of Rock gin and Moon Lizard vodka. “We met in the [...]
UK holidaymakers scrambling for flights home face exorbitant prices to beat quarantine deadline June 4, 2021 British tourists and holidaymakers scrambling for flights home from Portugal before new quarantine requirements come into force are being charged hundreds of pounds. People arriving in the UK from Portugal after 4am on Tuesday will need to self-isolate at home for 10 days after the Government moved it from the green list to the amber [...]
Why the winelands of Wales are set to be a UK holiday hotspot June 4, 2021 Holidaying abroad this year is tricky and a staycation may be on the cards, but before you book a long trek to Cornwall or the Highlands, why not consider the wine-country of Wales? No, this is not a joke. Despite being relatively small on a global scale, Welsh wines won six awards at the recent [...]
Travel bosses fume as Portugal axed and no new countries added to UK’s travel ‘green list’ June 3, 2021 Travel bosses fume as Portugal axed and no new countries added to UK's travel 'green list'
Portugal under threat as ministers set to update travel ‘green list’ June 3, 2021 Ministers will today meet to sign off on changes to the UK’s travel “green list”, with reports that popular holiday destination Portugal could be switched to “amber” after a surge in cases. Speaking about the update yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that the government would not hesitate to suspend quarantine-free travel if necessary. “You’ve [...]
Richmond and Hampton are perfect for a London ‘micro-break’ June 2, 2021 Horror story images of eight hour queues at Heathrow – a perfect storm of Corona restrictions, Brexit chaos and pent-up demand – are enough to put anyone off going abroad for their summer holidays. When you’re likely to spend longer standing in line at immigration than waiting to see the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, [...]
France to make UK travellers self-isolate over variant fears May 26, 2021 People entering France from the UK will be forced to isolate over fears of spreading the so-called Indian Covid-19 variant. The French government spokesman confirmed that all passengers crossing the Channel would have to self-isolate. “France will set up compulsory isolation for people coming from the UK,” Gabriel Attal said, with more details to follow in the [...]
Drinking around the world: The rise and rise of Thai wine May 24, 2021 Producing over a million bottles a year, Thailand is a little known but increasingly adept wine producing region. Vines have been planted there since the 1960s despite the humid tropical climate and the Thai portfolio is now considered by many as the ultimate in “New Latitude wines”. Thailand’s dominant grape variety known as the Malaga [...]