Author: Mhairi

New Fine Dining Experience at Celtic Manor

Mhairi

Celtic Manor have rebranded their fine dining restaurant; offering a fresh experience but with the same award-winning Head Chef, Tim McDougall.

Formerly The Crown at Celtic Manor, the restaurant is now named Terry M and the hotel insists that the same exceptional standards will be delivered, worthy of the coveted 3 AA Rosettes awarded previously.

An a la carte menu will be available for lunch and dinner as well as an express one-hour lunch menu for busy diners.  In the evening, a six course tasting menu is available for groups of diners and offers a fantastic opportunity to sample many of the delights available.

 

 

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Two Fat Ladies at the Buttery

Mhairi

As one of Glasgow’s longest standing restaurants, it is wonderful to learn that Two Fat Ladies at the Buttery, located on busy Argyle Street, still offers a fantastic dining experience.

Over 23 years the restaurant has built up a solid reputation as “the place to go” for seafood lovers.  Des Mullan, Operations Director of Two Fat Ladies, describes why the restaurant remains a success,

“I think we are pretty accessible and there is nothing we do or sell that could be described as ‘overly foodie’, we don’t put words on the menu that nobody knows what they mean.  We try to keep things as simple and clean as we can”.

So there you have it, the key to a fantastically successful restaurant is to give your customers what they want – excellent food without the fuss.

They work with only one supplier to ensure that their fare is 100% fresh and feel that this approach appeals to diners looking for local produce.  It clearly works as in 2010 the restaurant was named “Best Posh Nosh” in the Glasgow Restaurant awards.

With a cozy atmosphere and the option of a private dining room with a glass wall so that you can see into the kitchen, diners can get a real overview of how confident Two Fat Ladies are in what they serve up.  To give you an idea of what is on the menu, how about flash fried west coast scallops with Stornoway black pudding and smokie cream, cress salad for starters?; followed by fillets of sea bream and Indian spiced mussel and savoy cabbage cream?  If seafood is not your thing, don’t worry, you can choose from various meat dishes ranging from the trusty fillet mignon to warm smoked duck salad in a pomegranate vinaigrette.

Be sure to book a table next time you are dining out in Glasgow– you won’t be disappointed.

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Crackpots, Kinsale

Mhairi

A recent trip to Southern Ireland allowed me a short stay in Kinsale, Co.Cork.  I opted to dine at Crackpots on Cork Street and wanted to tell you a bit about it.

It is a small, but incredibly warm and inviting restaurant with a twist…it is also a working pottery with many fine ceramics and paintings for sale on site.  The restaurant offers an ever-changing menu which flows with the seasons meaning produce is always fresh and caters for all predilections.

Many of PerryGolf’s clients who are traveling to South West Ireland opt to play Old Head Golf Links, and with less than a 30 minute drive to Crackpots, I thoroughly recommend you consider finishing off your day with dinner there.

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Driving in the UK and Ireland

Mhairi

For many of our clients travelling to the UK and Ireland for their golf vacation, the most suitable transport option will be a rental vehicle.  Driving on the other side of the road can be a daunting thought, but to help put your mind at ease, please read on for some pointers.

In the UK and Ireland you drive on the left-hand side of the road and should follow the Speed Limits as described below (in the UK mph and in Ireland kmh):

Built-up area – 30mph/50kmh

Outskirts of a built-up area – 40mph/80kmh

Main road – 60mph/100kmh

Motorway – 70mph/1020kmh

Do always be aware of signs as the speed limits may be lower in some places.

At most junctions there will be a sign for Stop or Give Way.  There may also be markings on the road (white dotted lines and a triangle).  You must obey these signs at all times.

At roundabouts you must give way to traffic coming from the right.  You should drive round in a clockwise direction and signal left as you approach your exit.

Laws to be aware of:

Seat Belts – drivers and all passengers must wear seatbelts both in the front and back of the vehicle.

Mobile Phone – It is against the law to use a handheld mobile phone while you are driving.

Drinking and Driving – it is against the law to drive under the influence of alcohol.

Motorway Driving – When driving on the motorway and dual carriageways, keep left unless you are overtaking.  The hard shoulder should only be used in an emergency.        

For US and Canadian citizens, your normal driving license, issued by your country of residence is required by all drivers who wish to operate the rental vehicle at any point during your stay.  Importantly, if you are unaccustomed to driving on the left-hand side, you should be particularly careful when turning right as this may place your vehicle in the path of other traffic.

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Fairmont St Andrews Signature Spa

Mhairi

If you happen to be staying in St. Andrews this year, and particularly at the Fairmont Hotel located just 2 miles out from the town, make sure you arrange a spa treatment at the hotels Signature Spa. 

I have been able to experience the Spa on various occasions and each time have opted to have a different treatment…just to be able to fairly judge the different options on offer of course! 

A few of my favorites:

North Sea Salt and Seaweed Exfoliation – using a mixture of seaweed, Celtic salts and eucalyptus, this lovely scrub left skin soft and glowing for days. 

Stress Relief Massage – focuses on the head, neck, shoulders and back for maximum tension release.  Ideal for someone sitting at a desk for long periods!  According to my friend who is a keen golfer, also effective after a round of golf at easing tired muscles.

Naturally Tan – with the not-so-sunny clime ever present in Scotland, it’s always nice to have a glow.  This treatment starts with exfoliation then the tan is applied leaving skin with a golden hint and no residual odor from the product.

This is just a sample of the treatments on offer – take a look for yourself by clicking here.

I would always recommend speaking to your agent about booking treatments in advance as the Fairmont’s Spa can book up pretty quickly.  We’d be delighted to make any bookings on your behalf.

 

 

 

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