Author Archives: Ben Lawson

Toast the New Year in Style!

Chapel Down Wines

Chapel Down Wines Photo Credit: http://startups.co.uk/

Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting at Chapel Down Winery, Kent

Grab a fellow wine lover and treat your palates to some of the finest vintages and locally sourced produce the UK has to offer. Located in Tenterden, in the heart of the Kent countryside, Chapel Down Winery is an idyllic location for a scenic vineyard tour. They produce a world-class collection of sparkling and still wines, together with an award-winning range of ‘Curious Brew’ beers and ciders. The sparkling wines are created using the Traditional Method, the same as Champagne, from fruit sourced from the South-East of England and together you can sample the delicious end product.

 

You’re set to be educated and entertained by your knowledgeable guide who will take you out into the vineyards and then into the state-of-the-art winery. In the vineyards, you’ll discover the essential role of the unique micro-climate on the south-facing slopes of the North Downs. In the winery, you can see all of the grape-to-glass processes used to create superb wines. Highest levels of viticulture and winemaking practices are employed with whole-bunch pressed fruit undergoing wild yeast fermentation and extended barrel ageing. You can complete the tour in style with a tutored tasting of some of the acclaimed vintages.

Extend the Experience with Lunch

Once sampled, you can pick the wine of your choice to enjoy with a three-course lunch at Chapel Down’s very own The Swan restaurant. The rustic modern restaurant sits above the shop in the Chapel Down vineyard and boasts a cosy lounge and a lovely rooftop terrace with views over the vines, with two AA Rosettes awarded for the tasty cuisine made with only the best seasonal produce.

The History and Unique Location

Situated on one of the oldest agrarian landscapes in Britain, Kit’s Coty is named after the monuments to the first settlers of Britain’s earliest farming society who recognised the fertility of the land in the third millennium BC. Chapel Down acquired the land in 2007 and 95 acres are now planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Bacchus vines.

 

At Kit’s Coty vineyard the elements combine to produce wines of exceptional quality. It is sheltered by steep chalk hills that rise above it, keeping cool northerly winds at bay. The expansive southerly aspect ensures the vines capture the sunshine all year long while the warm, free-draining chalk soils provide the perfect ‘terroir’ for producing well-balanced vines and intensely flavoured fruit.

Awards and more Awards!

The vineyard has received an impressive array of international awards which include:

The prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards 2016

Chapel Down Kit’s Coty Chardonnay 2013

Best UK White Wine £15+ Trophy

Decanter World Wine Awards 2016

Chapel Down Three Graces 2010

Gold Award, International Wine & Spirits Competition 2016

Not surprisingly, therefore, the vineyard also has the support of leading chefs such as Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver and is the official supplier to Downing Street where Chapel Down and is served at official events replacing Champagne.

Visit with Britannia Coaches

Eager to try the wines and see how they are made? Join us on a tour in 2017. Enjoy the must-try English wine of great quality without worrying about getting in your car afterwards!

Canterbury Cathedral at Christmas Time

Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral at Christmas Time

There is little that evokes Christmas more than the glorious sound of carols soaring to the rafters of one of England’s spectacular cathedrals.  Canterbury Cathedral in Kent is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and will be wholeheartedly celebrating the Christmas season with services from 23rd December daily through to the 29th December.  For full details of their services visit Canterbury Cathedral’s website (click here).  One of the most atmospheric is the Christingle service on 28th December but any one of their services will be a wonderful, uplifting experience and you can admire the life-size crib designed and made by Cathedral staff.

The Christingle service has become increasingly popular over the years.  It originated in Germany in 1747 and features an orange with a candle at the top and a red ribbon around it.  Sometimes fruit, nuts or sweets are also skewered onto the orange.  Each element has a specific meaning:

The orange represents the world

The candle gives light in the darkness representing the love of God

The red ribbon around the “world” symbolises the blood of Jesus

The four skewers point in different directions symbolising North, South, East, and West, or the four seasons

The fruit or nuts on the end of the skewers represent the fruits of the earth

As for the name Christingle, the origin is not certain although it is most likely to be derived from Christkindl (meaning little Christ child). Christingles were made popular in England by The Children’s Society (one of the earliest children’s charities in the UK and it has strong connections with the Church of England). The first Christingle service held in the Church of England was in 1968.

Even for the non-religious, there is much to admire in the Cathedral.   Founded in 597, the cathedral was completely rebuilt from 1070 to 1077. When you stand in the centre of the building and take in the scale and intricacy of the design, all built painstakingly by hand tools and skilled craftsmen, it’s quite breathtaking. The east end was greatly enlarged at the beginning of the twelfth century and largely rebuilt in the Gothic style following a fire in 1174, with significant eastward extensions to accommodate the flow of pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas Becket, the archbishop who was murdered in the cathedral in 1170.  With such a gloriously long and rich past it’s not surprising that it forms part of a World Heritage Site.

To admire the Cathedral in all its glory join us on a tour in 2017.  Let us have the challenge of negotiating the narrow city streets and finding parking, leaving you free to just marvel and enjoy.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Twelve Days of Christmas

Twelve Days of Christmas

So let’s see, the traditional carol has your beloved receiving….

On the first day of Christmas, a partridge in a pear tree

On the second day of Christmas, two turtle doves

On the third day of Christmas three French hens

On the fourth day of Christmas four calling birds

On the fifth day of Christmas five gold rings

On the sixth day of Christmas six geese a-laying

On the seventh day of Christmas seven swans a-swimming

On the eighth day of Christmas eight maids a milking

On the ninth day of Christmas nine ladies dancing

On the tenth day of Christmas ten lords a leaping

On the eleventh day of Christmas eleven pipers piping

On the twelfth day of Christmas twelve drummers drumming

What rubbish gifts, right?!  I mean I’d love the five gold rings but what do you do with the rest?  And why are there so many birds in there – can’t even do a five bird roast with swans or the calling birds or the turtle doves..

So what will Britannia coaches offer this Christmas?  We can’t promise many of the above but some of these might be tempting, all gleaned from tours current and future:

Horses racing – we can take you to fab days at the races at Lingfield

Boats a-bobbing – plenty to see in the tranquil setting of Bosham and old fishing quarter of Hastings

Wine a-flowing – sample the lovely wines made by Chapel Down Vineyard on our Wine and Dine Castles and Vineyards Tour

Trains a-steaming – hop aboard the Kent and East Sussex Railway for a train ride through the lovely Kent countryside to Tenterden

Swans a-swimming (YES, not sure if there are seven though!) at aptly named Swanbourne Lake

Peacocks a-preening (in the best tradition of lots of birds!) at Groombridge House. Best to be avoided though, they don’t take kindly to being petted.

Dippers dipping – not birds this time but people inviting you to taste the apparently therapeutic waters of Chalybeate Spring Water

Antiques a-waiting – browse the wonderful antique shops at Tenterden.

Castles a-standing – well what else do castles do! We visit several – Dover, Arundel, Lympne – so they had to get a mention.

Sea waves a-lapping – relax in a deckchair after a stroll around the lovely gardens in Eastbourne.

Skaters a-skating, at the Winter Wonderland in London.

Dogs a-running, a fun evening out at Sittingbourne Races.

I hope you will agree that as gifts to your true love, some of these will be greeted with a bit more enthusiasm than the offerings in the traditional carol.  We hope the list might inspire you with some ideas for Christmas – one of our spring day trips to scenic places in Kent will be a lovely occasion to look forward to after the cold and dark of winter.  Details of our 2017 tours will be posted on our website so keep checking back with us!

Minimising the Packing Dilemma

It’s a few days before you’re about to set off on holiday.  With trepidation, you open the door to the spare room and cautiously peer around the door….

.. as you feared the scene that confronts you looks as if a deranged burglar has rifled through your drawers.  There are jumpers, tops, trousers, shirts, underwear strewn across the bed – and, dwarfed by the volume of clothes, stands open one standard size suitcase.  Yes, it’s the pre-holiday nightmare, otherwise known as PACKING.

It’s a well-known law in the travel world that the size of luggage you propose to take will always be about a third of the size required to take all that you’ve laid out to take.

Of course there is one obvious solution – buy a bigger case – simples!!! Not always an option, which leaves a second –  pack smart, culling that third from your clothing pile.  A friend of mine once lamented having to leave out her cream corduroy trousers – even when I pointed out she was taking the burgundy pair, the black pair and the pink pair (and was only going for a week).  Decisions are hard.  I feel your pain.  Can I live without that special, supersoft jumper that only goes with one pair of trousers which only go with one pair of shoes – you get the picture.

There are some ways to conjure, as if by magic, some extra space in your luggage. Rolling rather than folding your clothes really DOES work – here’s the proof……

Case Packed

packing

Some golden rules to ensure your luggage arrives holiday-ready!:

  • shoes at the bottom (stuffed with socks)
  • as many non-iron fabrics as possible
  • your best clothes laid (not rolled) on the top
  • and finally, ladies, sneak some clothes into his suitcase when he’s not looking

Happy packing!

Image courtesy of Girls Trips Tips http://www.girlstriptips.com/blog/how-to-pack-backpack-or-suitcase-light-pic)

What does your Luggage say about you?

Cast your eye around any busy coach or train station, or airport terminal and you’ll see luggage in all shapes, forms and sizes.   Have you also played the game of matching the luggage to the traveller? The guy nonchalantly shrugging a light backpack over his shoulder, the girl biting her nails as she anxiously watches the carousel before grabbing her monster suitcase?  What does your choice of luggage say about you?!

The Minimalist Traveller

You’re ready to go anywhere round the globe at a moment’s notice.  As long as you have a change of clothes, your toothbrush, phone and charger you’re good to go.  Oh, and a credit card, because you’ll need some clothes, won’t you?!

tote

The Everything but the Kitchen Sink Traveller

The polar opposite of the Minimalist Traveller, you can’t bear the thought of being away without your favourite…. well, everything!  For you, the tote bag above might just do service for the shoes you want to take, or the stack of books which, despite having Kindle, you must bring along.  So you have your carry-on bag and the largest suitcase you can find and rest confident in the knowledge that you’ll want for nothing on your trip.

suite-of-suitcases

The Seasoned Traveller

Your trusty rucksack has seen years of service and has the scars to prove it.  No fashion statement here, just pure practicality. Similar to the Minimalist Traveller but you like those extra pockets for maps and torch in case you venture off the beaten track.

rucksack

 

The Style over Substance Traveller

At the risk of sounding sexist, we don’t mind betting you’re the glamour girl who loves to match her luggage to her clothes. At the coach station or the airport terminal you’ll make heads turn.  No matter that the luggage may be flimsier than a cardboard box, it’s the look that counts!

pink-cases

 

The Practical Traveller

An update on the old travel trunks with compartments for everything, what could be better than a suitcase that transforms itself into a wardrobe. The ShelfPack has a series of stacked shelves that let you pre-organize your clothing and outfits as you pack them. It’s no larger than a regular-sized suitcase when sealed up, but when you get to your hotel room, a pair of telescoping supports can be extended that turn those shelves into a mobile dresser.  Once arrived at your destination, you can be down at the bar sipping your first holiday drink while others are still unpacking.

wardrobe-suitcase

The Latest Gadget kind of Traveller

Not so long ago, suitcases with wheels were considered innovative.  Now there’s a suitcase that moves by remote control.  Welcome to Hop, the suitcase that communicates with your smartphone and follows you around at a measured distance. If you have one of these you are someone who loves to keep ahead of the trends and this latest technology is right up your street, down the travelator, round the concourse – just don’t race ahead up the stairs….

Given the amount of electronic gadgetry packed inside this little number, be prepared to have to expose the contents for all to see at every security check.  Personally I can’t see it catching on…

 remote-controlled-suitcase

Wheels or Wings – The Benefits of Coach Travel

Wheels or Wings

The Rise of the ‘Staycation’

 

A new term has entered the British vocabulary – staycation.  For the uninitiated, the definition of the word is a “holiday spent in one’s home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions”.

 

“Staycations” have been steadily gaining popularity since the start of the year with a record-breaking 7.3 million people holidaying in England in the first quarter of 2016, a 10% rise compared to the same period in 2015, according to Visit England.

 

So what is prompting this rise?

 

Quite simply, the biggest factor influencing the rise of holidays taken in the UK is the escalation in price for holidays overseas in the wake of the Brexit vote.  According to TravelSupermarket figures, European holidays now cost the average family of four £245 more than they did before the vote, given that the value of the pound has dropped 10% against the Euro since June 23rd.

“The nearest benchmark we have is the financial crisis of 2008 when there was a boost in staycations. I anticipate the same thing happening [this time],” said Sandra Matthews-Marsh, chief executive of VisitKent. “We are beginning to see an uplift in people staying at home and putting off big spending decisions, including big holidays [abroad].”1

Another major concern is the fear of a potential terror attack. Egypt, Turkey, France and Belgium have all seen atrocious terrorist attacks and it’s made some people wary of travelling through congested air and train terminals.

 

Then there are those who prefer not to fly simply because they feel the environmental cost is too high and look to keep their carbon footprint lower.

 

It’s clear that, for the time being, and for several reasons, many people are opting out of air travel in favour of jaunts around the UK by car, train or coach, travelling by wheels rather than wings.

 

What are the preferred UK holiday destinations?

 

The answer, according to VisitBritain, is anywhere and everywhere!  Every region in the UK has seen an increase in the number of holiday-makers in their area.  Over the course of 2015 the West Midlands saw the highest rise (21.79%), and the North East the lowest (+4.01%) 2.  The UK has some beautiful scenery, wonderful places of interest and regional culinary specialities and many people are enjoying exploring the rich diversity of this wonderful island we call home.

 

To make the experience even more special, many holiday-makers are leaving the car at home in favour of coach travel.  Once thought of as the vehicle of choice only for the elderly, coach travel is experiencing growing popularity amongst people of all ages.  You may be surprised that the UK coach travel sector has over 8 million customers annually with a turnover of £2.5 billion.3  And with good reason!  Did you know, for instance, that a fully loaded coach consumes less fuel per passenger than a fully loaded car?

 

Gone are the days when travelling by coach was an ordeal with cramped seats and no relief from the sun beating through the window – coaches nowadays offer extra leg room, air conditioning, reclining seats, panoramic windows… the journey itself is now as much a part of the holiday and you will alight refreshed not frazzled!

 

Other people favour the coach over the car because, frankly, it’s a relief not to contend with traffic jams, trying to navigate and at the same time dodge other road users.  Many people have enough of that in their daily lives so letting an experienced professional driver take the strain is a real treat, and of course, they can enjoy seeing the view from the window rather than the tarmac in front.

 

With all these benefits will you join the merry band of staycationers, boarding a coach for a greener, more enjoyable holiday discovering the delights the UK has to offer?

 

 

  1. http://www.visitkent.co.uk/
  2. https://www.visitbritain.org/great-britain-tourism-survey-latest-monthly-overnight-data
  3. maturetimes.co.uk