Tom Hallett

Craft beer, food and drink, pubs and restaurants, life in Hampshire and outdoor lifestyle

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How we spent a dog-friendly short break at Trevella Park, Crantock, Cornwall

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Find out what we got up to when we took our Border Terrier Tilly on a short break in a dog-friendly caravan at Trevella Park in Crantock near Newquay, Cornwall.

With its expansive sandy beaches, miles of coastal walks and plentiful supply of dog-friendly pubs and restaurants, the north Cornwall coast makes an ideal holiday destination for your canine companion.

Throw in the endless supply of pasties, cream teas (jam before cream), fish and chips, fudge, ice cream and cake and it’s a decent option for us humans too.… Read more

South Hants Hop Social meet up at Tap It Brewing Co, Southampton

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Find out how we got on visiting Southampton’s newest craft beer brewery, Tap It Brewing Co for beer tastings and a short brewery tour, on our first South Hants Hop Social meet up.

With only one small brewery until 2015, the explosion in new breweries in Hampshire in the late noughties and early 2010s seemed to pass by Southampton.

Now the city’s finally catching up with the rest of the county – five of Hampshire’s 30+ breweries are based here.… Read more

Six of the best places for Sunday breakfast and brunch in Winchester

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Discover six of the best venues in and around Winchester for Sunday brunch or breakfast and recommend your own favourite haunts in the comments below.

Winchester is the ideal place for a spot of Sunday brunch or a lazy breakfast.

Located on the western edge of the South Downs National Park, there are miles of footpaths radiating out of the city centre into the surrounding countryside.… Read more

Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK), Southampton – burger review

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Although fast food burger chains like McDonalds and Burger King have operated in the UK since the 70s and 80s, premium burger restaurant chains are a more recent phenomenon in these parts.

Most have opened in the last few years. One of the veteran chains of this type however is Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK), founded in 2001.

GBK recently opened at Southampton’s Guildhall Square.… Read more

Where to see the autumn colours in Hampshire

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Here are 12 places you can see the autumn colours in Hampshire, including many places you can visit for free in locations such as the New Forest, South Downs, Southampton and Winchester.

One of the things that makes the transition from long summer days to long winter nights more bearable is the burst of autumn colour we get to see in September, October and November.… Read more

Why we’re not making the most of craft keg beer

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Although overall UK beer sales have dropped in the last few years, there’s still evidence that the popularity of craft beer and real ale is still on the rise.

For instance, almost 3 in 5 small brewers expect their turnover to increase in 2017 and big beer companies like AB InBev and Carlsberg continue to buy smaller breweries to snatch back some of the market share craft beer has nicked from their big brands.… Read more