Pregnant CityGirl - Pregnantcitygirl is a luxury family lifestyle blog. Picking the best of the best in travel, food, beauty, fashion, kids and home
  • Home
  • About Pregnant City Girl
  • Categories
    • Travel
    • Beauty
    • Hotel Review
    • Pregnancy
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • kids
    • brand watch – fashion
  • Gallery
  • Contact Me
Home
About Pregnant City Girl
Categories
    Travel
    Beauty
    Hotel Review
    Pregnancy
    Fashion
    Food
    kids
    brand watch - fashion
Gallery
Contact Me
Pregnant CityGirl - Pregnantcitygirl is a luxury family lifestyle blog. Picking the best of the best in travel, food, beauty, fashion, kids and home
  • Home
  • About Pregnant City Girl
  • Categories
    • Travel
    • Beauty
    • Hotel Review
    • Pregnancy
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • kids
    • brand watch – fashion
  • Gallery
  • Contact Me
Browsing Category
Travel
Travel

The Pier At Harwich – Gastronomic Boutique Hotel Essex

August 20, 2016 by admin
2016-07-26-1469524700-1314835-image.jpeg

So we’re back in Essex. One of my favourite gastronomic boutique hotel and restaurant groups – Milsom’s. The family owns and manages some gorgeous properties dotted throughout Essex and Suffolk. All are unique but each has one thing in common – high standards, outstanding food and tastefully-decorated, comfortable bedrooms.

We’re staying at The Pier in Harwich. Great not only for its seafood but for its proximity to lots to do and see – you can literally pick oysters up on the beach around the corner if you so desired or drive the twenty minutes to Frinton – a gorgeous, uncommercial beach with coloured beach huts dotted along the promenade – we luckily hit the hottest weekend of the year and even made it into the sea.

The Pier started life as a restaurant but then became much more. Having visited before alone, we returned en famille to see the refurb and eat far too much good food.

You might wonder why people even come to Harwich. It’s not exactly tourist central. In fact, many cruises go from the port which means call for luxurious accommodation for nights before is high.

The refit to the main building has given them a cool bar with massive outdoor seating area facing directly onto the water and harbour outside.

Now upstairs, no formal restaurant but a buzzy brasserie set over two floors, one part modern and slightly industrial and the lower carpeted, relaxed-chic, leading in to the piece de resistance – a balcony for dining al fresco and boy did we make use of it on this scorching weekend.

Our first night we dined inside. Having stopped en route from London at a factory outlet, we sat back and relaxed, feasting on fresh oysters and lobster. For the kids, a plain piece of fresh, grilled fish was not a problem for the baby and a duck and watermelon salad – winning combo- followed by a juicy burger kept Alexander happy. We didn’t drink much but the wine list is sophisticated yet not too pricey with great choice by the glass too. Desserts couldn’t be missed. The ice-cream and especially sorbet selection is impressive. I couldn’t say no!

We retired to the Mayflower Suite, their most luxurious room, easily big enough for the four of us with lots of space. Floor to ceiling windows overlooking the harbour make for the most spectacular view with our very own telescope to spot the boats. The Mayflower was as I remember it – all muted colours with some really great pieces of furniture – mirrored side tables a fave! Being directly on the water it’s also nice and quiet!

With the day starting promptly at 6.30 (that’s late for our nine month old!) , we head back across the road for breakfast. The bedrooms are cleverly situated in a separate building from the restaurant and bar. Directly across the road but away from the hustle and bustle. The hot food menu, including the usual favourites also had some more exotic combinations like avocado, coriander and lime on rye with a poached egg and huevos benedictos – chorizo, avocado and salsa. That’s the great thing about foodie hotels! Importantly, service was impeccable – bottles and dummies sterilised, food for the baby coming out first and nothing was too much.

We headed around the corner for a stroll to the local beach, not the prettiest but nevertheless a lovely walk. Plus my little one had a ball picking up stones and shells.

Just enough time to head back to the hotel and drive the 20 minutes to Le Talbooth. This, their flagship restaurant deep in chocolate box Constable country in the village a Dedham. Possibly the most scenic Sunday lunch you could imagine. Out under the awning, away from the searing heat, sitting by the river watching canoes go by and marvelling at the beautiful flowers.

This restaurant has a reputation of its own. Always full and serving seasonal British dishes in a fine dining environment. Not stuffy however and especially good for families if you can get a table outside. The children’s menu is a breath of fresh air. Real food for mini-adults. None of the usual bland and unexciting pasta or burgers. We whiled away the afternoon not wanting to leave but the little riverboat cruise offered by their jetty – a boat just big enough for our knowledgeable driver and us, was too much of a draw for our four-year old. In fact, once on board sailing through the tranquil greenery in the shade of the trees quickly made me want to book a narrowboat holiday!

We eventually leave and arrive back to a wonderful sunset. Forcing ourselves to dinner, sitting out on the balcony, this time, apart from the food, our waitress Jess was the star of the show. At least for my four-year old who fell instantly in love with her!

Our last day we set off to the beach at Frinton. Just twenty minutes away; golden sand and brightly coloured beach huts. No noisy pier or tacky rides. We walked into town, picked up some sandwiches and set up our tent for shelter. A gorgeous day, even the sea was warm! We lucked out big time this weekend in every way!
Continue Reading

Share:
Reading time: 4 min
Health•Travel

Suncare for the Family – Riemann P20

August 10, 2016 by admin

Having just come back from two trips to very sunny places – one where the temperature hit forty three degrees, I feel well qualified to give my humble opinion on keeping safe.

We are a family of fair skinned people – bar my husband – my eldest son of four is pale like me, burns easily and doesn’t tan and my ten month old has virgin baby skin that needs top Mitch protection. Continue Reading

Share:
Reading time: 1 min
Travel

Can Club Med Cut it?- Kids in Morroco , Marrakech Le Riad

July 13, 2016 by admin
2016-07-06-1467801423-9305773-image.jpeg


So, I finally made it to Club Med. during the most momentous week in recent British history we made our Brexit to Marrakech. I almost feel like I’ve made a joke in poor taste, such is the panic back at home.

Bags packed, legs summer-ready at home with the help of my lovely Perfect 10 mobile therapist. I love these guys; just book online and you have everything you need coming to you. They are also supremely professional and use top end products. Continue Reading

Share:
Reading time: 4 min
Hotel Review•Travel

Sardinia Hotels – Top Picks for this Summer

April 17, 2016 by admin
2016-04-18-1460969516-4969400-3_Lepre_spiaggiaRGB.jpg

As you may have gathered, I am a bit obsessed with Sardinia of late. This may have something to do with my choosing it last year as a holiday destination and then deciding to go back again this year with our new fourth family member – baby Gabriel (no angel, believe you me – he sleeps far too little for that!).

Sardinia has the stunning turquoise seas and white sandy beaches that you would expect to find more easily on a faraway caribbean island. Yet, it’s just a short plane journey away. With good connections from the UK, two main airports to arrive into and it’s a surprisingly family-friendly place. That doesn’t mean just because they have limitless, heavenly gelato, or ice-cream, to you and me either. The first time I went there I fell in love. It has an exoticism that makes it feel far from Italy. Maybe it’s the air, fragrant with herbs, or the gentle but constant humming of the fauna, singing of cicadas, the feeling of being far from the madding crowd, but I knew that I had to go back.

There’s also something very chic about Sardinia too. The Costa Smeralda, the Emerald Coast and Porto Cervo plays host to celebrities galore. I’m not after glamour though. Not this time although it’s comforting to know that it’s just a stones throw away at any time, especially in the peak summer months.
So, Which are my top picks and why? Continue Reading

Share:
Reading time: 3 min
Hotel Review•Travel

Don’t Ignore Galtuer – Family Skiing Austria

April 11, 2016 by admin

    In the Paznaun region of the Austrian Tirol, at the end of a very scenic valley, 10 minutes ski bus from its better-known neighbour Ischgl, lies a gem, hidden to almost all the skiing English except a few in the know. Galtuer, is one of the nicest resorts that I’ve visited in a long time and I’ve skied the best that Europe has to offer from Courchevel to St Moritz, over and over. Perfect for families and singles alike.   Continue Reading

Share:
Reading time: 5 min
Page 5 of 11« First...«4567»10...Last »

About Me

Image showing Pregnantcitygirl Indulging a passion for perfection. Researching and reviewing luxury, family lifestyle. Huffington Post blogger and freelance journalist.