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Ely Cathedral - simply stunning

A wedding of a close friend in the historic city of Ely (The Old Hall) not only provided me with some wonderful memories of a beautiful and special day, but it also offered me a chance to find out more about the historic cathedral city.

So I decided to drive up a day before the celebration, and spend an afternoon exploring the area settled in the fen countryside.

Ely was once an island surrounded by marshland that contained many eels. The sheer volume of the slippery creatures gave weight to the name the city is known by today.

The Eel Trail celebrates the city's past and present offering a fascinating blend of a rich heritage and architectures with contemporary artworks depicting Ely's association with the eel.

Eels were historically part of the local staple diet as well as a valuable source of income. Jellied eels were popular until recent times and clients would come from London such was the reputation of Ely's eels.

Eels are still caught in the Great River Ouse although only one commercial catcher remains. Smoked eels, now considered a delicacy, can be purchased on Ely's award winning Farmer's Market and dishes such as eel stew and eel pie can be found regularly on the restaurant menus in the areas.

So, to use the 'Eel Trail' for exploring the city full of charm and beauty is the perfect guide. Here, you can visit some of the unique and impressive structures of the city, as well as investigating the more modern developments.

I was lucky as the day brought intense sunshine, blue skies, and smiling faces all around the city. Here are some of the must-sees that can give you a real flavour of the Cambridgeshire city.

Oliver Cromwell's house offers an insight into the leader's life

Oliver Cromwell's House

Doubling up as Ely's Tourist Information Centre, the house itself pre-dates Cromwell by about four centuries as parts of it have 13th century origins. Its most famous resident was of course Cromwell, who inherited the house along with the title 'Farmer of the Tithes' which today would be termed as the local tax collector.

Oliver Cromwell reading something to his family...

Former Lord Protector of England Cromwell lived in Ely with his family for just over 10 years between 1636-1647. It is the only remaining residence , other than Hampton Court in London.

The house is full of history and atmosphere, and gives a real feeling as to the kind of man Cromwell was. Still to this day the man divides opinion – hero or villain? From being a strong military leader and protecting people from despot kingly rule, to overseeing terribly tyranny's in Ireland, that essay is for another blog!

The structure inside the cathedral is inspiring

The famous Octagon Tower looks even better in sunlight

Ely Cathedral

In my opinion, one of the most magnificent, striking and spectacular cathedrals in the land. With its unique Octagon Tower, the city has developed round the magnificent structure.

The Cathedral you can see today originates from the 11th century and is a place to enjoy at your own pace with the benefit of a guided tour.

Inside, you can read how a Saxon Princess, who ran away from her husband, became a Saint and founder of Ely. Reading how the cathedral, built on the Cambridgeshire Fens, came to be the only UK building recognised as one of the seven Medieval Wonders of the World gives you a real perspective of the marvel in front of your eyes.

The perfect place for a moment of reflection

The art is simply breathtaking in Ely Cathedral

The Octagon Tower is known as a wonder of medieval engineering, nothing short of a masterpiece. The guided tour will take you back to the time of King Edward III and inside his Master Carpenter's oak Lantern Tower.

The West Tower dominated the Fenland landscape and if time permits is well worth the walk up to see the spectacular view from the top.

The Stained Glass Windows in the cathedral

The Lady Chapel is an excellent place to feel refreshed and revitalised, radiating the sunlight through the many panes of glass. Completed in 1349, the Lady Chapel is the largest of its kind in the UK, and its architectural beauty is recognised all over the world.

For more information on the cathedral, including admission prices and opening times, click here.

Stained Glass Museum

The Stained Glass Museum is situated in the South Triforium of the cathedral, and houses a wonderful collection.
The experience is enhanced by a highly-acclaimed audio-guided tour which tells the history of the stained glass through the ages. The main gallery contains displayed of stained glass windows ranging over eight centuries in specially illuminated cases.

Ely Museum

Located in Ely's old gaol, this site provides the perfect opportunity to delve through the city's history with informative and colourful displays.

The museum tells how prisoners were dealt with in the 13th century

It has also been a tavern, a house and a registry office. Learning how criminals were dealt with back in the 13th century is especially interesting, plus you get to meet some of the characters face-front!

The Riverside Walk

You cannot fail to feel at peace when walking from the waterside, past the Babylon Gallery and onto the The Maltings. As well as moored barges there are numerous pubs and restaurants that can make you delighted to while away your evening on the riverfront.

The waterside area has become a haven for food lovers with a wide variety of venues including The Cutter Inn, and the award-winning Peacocks Tea Rooms and the newly-opened Grand Central American Grill.

A beautiful, scenic walk on the riverside

However, I would recommend a visit to 'ta bouche' – a funky cocktail bar and restaurant with an excellent outdoor seating area. The food and drink are reasonably priced, but a real bonus is the exceptional and attentive service from waiting staff, ensuring all you have to do is relax and enjoy the view.

If you want a charming city that is easily negotiable on foot, one that has it's own very unique history and superbly-maintained architecture, as well as a vibrant center, then Ely is well worth a visit. And make sure Oliver Cromwell's House is your first stop where you will be met with a smile, a map and some of the city's best kept secrets.

A well-deserved beer after a busy afternoon

Accommodation in Ely:

Poets House

The Nyton Guesthouse

The Riverside Inn

Peacocks B&B

Ely Travelodge

A selection of eateries:

The Grand Central

The Lamb

The Prince Albert

The Cutter Inn

Ta bouche

CORE blimey! London's hottest new venue has raised the bar

The calm before the storm - dancefloor beware!

To find a chic, relaxing, stylish joint in the throngs of the City scene in London, contrary to popular opinion, is not so easy.

Sure, there are numerous bars and pubs that profess to provide a funky, after-work vibe that can extend into the late evening, but how many can provide a relaxing and attentive feel while at the same time feeling like party central?.

Well, London's hottest new venue, Core (Aldermary House 10-15 Queen Street, City of London, EC4N 1TX) is the place to head to. Open Monday-Friday to the general public (Saturdays and Sundays can be hired out), Core offers an extensive drinks menu, as well as a cultured and classy lunch and evening dining menu.

The bar was formerly called Apt, but for past regulars, the new establishment will open your eyes to a more modern and relaxed way of socialising.

Our first impressions on approaching the venue was 'thank goodness the outside area had been maintained.' This can provide a perfect al fresco dining experience which is perfectly suited to the approaching summer.

A warm welcome will greet you at the entrance, provided you are dressed smart/casual and of the legal drinking age! The first level consists of bright, modern decor, an easily accessible bar and a buzz as much provided by the customers as those working too.

Downstairs is more geared towards mood lighting, and then the offshoot from the bar and dining area is where the party gets started in the evening with a dancefloor and bar.

We visited on an evening after being recommended the quality of the food on offer. And now we are in a position to recommend! My dining partner and I both opted for the aged rib-eye steak, that comes with fluffy seasoned chips and a side salad.

The bright atmosphere will be matched by your mood at Core

But there are always those places for a more intimate evening

If you are demanding to eat off the finest china and a big emphasis on presentation then you may be disappointed. If you are expecting to taste one of the juiciest, tenderest (is that even a word) practically rind-free cuts of prime steak, you are in the right place.

And surely that's what it should be about anyway, right?!

Coupled with a large class of crisp and refreshing Argentinean Malbec-Merlot Paso, it was the perfect start to the evening. However, as well as the delectable foods, the service and attentiveness of staff is somewhat surprising for the birth of a new venue. It's clear the training began a long time before the bar opened, which is pleasing for the customer.

The drinks menu is classy, yet concise

After a couple of glasses of Moet and a cheeky cocktail (there is an extensive range), we decided to join in and see how the night takes off. Core has already grasped how to provide a relaxed, easy-going party atmosphere. The staff are fully focused on not only providing speedy and efficient service, but also how to engage with their customer and not act as aloof as other venues perhaps do.

For the record, I recommend a Fizzazzle cocktail. Finlandia vodka, passion fruit puree, peach puree, mixed with champagne and topped with a peach slice will give you that extra buzz to take to the dancefloor!

It really does tick the boxes - whether you are wanting to wind down the hours after a long day at work, or whether your night has been planned for this trendy and lively nightspot. If you're looking for an amiable venue where the customer is the central focus, where the food menu is exciting yet concise, and where the drinks are varied and detailed, get yourself down to Core for a truly warm and memorable experience.

To view the Core food menu, click here

To view the Core drinks menu, click here

To make a booking at the venue, for dining or a party, click here

The outside area is perfect for the summer months

 

All hail the ale! Nicholson's pubs launch their Spring Beer Festival

Spring is finally here and to celebrate Nicholson’s Pubs will showcase a beer extravaganza of 50 delicious cask ales and ciders during its Spring Beer festival (March 24 - April 19).

Proudly serving the finest choices from across the UK tantalise your taste buds with fruity and zesty flavours across a range of blonde, IPAs, speciality, traditional and dark brews available nationwide across the 77 pub estate during the four week period.

We were greeted at Ye Olde Watling, on Watling Street, London (map here) by manager Toby Shelley who enthusiastically guided us through what his pub is doing for the festival.

Ye Olde Watling was the perfect setting to indulge in some spring ales

The pub itself is a real artistic gem - said to be built from old ships' timbers by Sir Christopher Wren, Ye Olde Watling has a remarkable heritage dating to 1668. The building encapsulates what Nicholson's is all about - traditionalist, taste and authenticity.

One claim to fame is that the upstairs rooms were used as a drawing office during the building of St Paul's Cathedral. The pub also catered for Wren's workmen after the Great Fire.

After being seated, we were told how we were going to be guided through nine of their ales on sale. Toby's selection was supreme - from citrus red ale to bitter stout, it mirrored the fabulous selection of products the company has for not only the experienced but for those who are new to ale-drinking.

It did start at halves....promise!

My favourite, which surprised me somewhat, was the 3.5% St Austell Dartmoor. The slightly bitter, malty finish is just what I look for in an ale, and one that can be a perfect accompaniment to a meal. My colleague's top tipple was the World Top, Marmelade Porter, 5%. Again a nice, warm dark finish, he commented on how the subtle orange tones compliment the coffee essence perfectly. We again, both agreed, it could be perfect as a stand-alone drink or with a meal.

It was a real pleasure meeting Toby - his knowledge and passion for the brand as well as his ales is entirely refreshing, while at the same time knowing what the customer expects. If you want a warm welcome as well as a knowledgeable and likeable host, Ye Old Watling is the place to be.

In addition to promoting brewers who push the boundaries in taste and creativity, exclusive highlights during the festival will include a beer launch by British writer, author and presenter Danny Wallace, four beer writer collaborations with Brains Brewery and the launch of a new beer created by the brand’s very own senior cask masters.

Danny Wallace is known to champion the good, old British pub

Working with Danny Wallace – a champion of the traditional British pub - to celebrate the forthcoming launch of his book Who Is Tom Ditto? by Ebury publishing on April 24, Nicholson’s and Truman’s brewery has created Tom Ditto IPA (5% ABV) which will be available exclusively throughout the Nicholson’s Pubs estate, where coincidently two of the pubs – The Bear and Staff and the Dog and Duck – are featured within the book.

The American IPA combines the best of British and US hops including Challenger, Centennial and an experimental hop called ‘Wallex’ to mirror the dual settings of London and New York in the book.  The secondary character in the book - Pia (an anagram of IPA) resulted in a classic pale gold IPA brew, offering hoppy aromas of citrus zest and fresh red fruits.  Full of juicy hoppy flavours it has a refreshing seam of bitterness to balance the malt sweetness.

A nice bit of history

Dedicated to serving great quality ales, Nicholson’s very own team of Senior Cask Masters were challenged to brew their own beer to showcase during the festival. In collaboration with Acorn Brewery in Barnsley they created the flavoursome Dead Good (4.5% ABV) - a Spring blonde ale with a zesty tropical taste, created with a touch of Caramalt for a creamy malt base and well hopped with American Cascade and Crystal hops for a fruity marmalade aroma and a citrusy taste.  Definitely one to try.

As well as proudly serving brewing greats such as St. Austell, Liberation and Ikley, Nicholson’s has pulled together a special showcase of four beer writer collaborations with Brains brewery.  These four beers best highlight the creativity and enthusiasm to deliver interesting and diverse flavours in beer – plus they’re lip-smackingly good. These include:

Boilermaker (6.5% ABV) -  Crowned the ‘Ultimate IPA’ in Brains’ inaugural annual collaboration brew challenge, ‘Thinking Drinkers’ Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham worked with the brewery to produce a Welsh whisky IPA, matured with Penderyn whisky infused oak chips in casks from the distillery, resulting in a complex and fruity beer, with a warming whisky buzz.

Rye Catcher (5.0% ABV) - Winner of the annual Continental Beer Challenge this American rye beer was brewed in collaboration with Glenn Payne.  Using Rye and Rye Crystal malts to provide a spicy malt base and a vibrant copper colour to this beer, it is powerfully hopped with Apollo, Columbus, Amarillo and Citra hops from the USA, producing an assertive bitterness with robust flavours of citrus and grapefruit.

The Solution (6.0% ABV) - Award-winning beer writer Pete Brown collaborated with Brains to produce The Solution – an abbey-style Belgian dubbel traditionally brewed by the Trappist monks of Belgium. Using Munich and Dark Crystal malts, Saaz and Styrian Golding hops and a traditional Trappist Ale Yeast, this dark, full bodied and complex beer is full of rich, fruity plum flavours with a sweet raisin aroma and spicy, warming finish.
 
Three C’son (5.0% ABV) - Beer writer Adrian Tierney-Jones collaborated with Brains for the Continental Beer Challenge to produce Three-C’Son – a traditional farmhouse Saison with an added twist of three American hops – Centennial, Columbus, Citra – giving the name Three-C’Son.  The sweet nose of ripe peach and citrus, a green apple snappiness on the palate and a hint of white pepper combines with an earthy spice from the use of a traditional Saison yeast that is followed by a firm, refreshingly dry finish.

So get yourself down to a Nicholson's where you will find 50 ales and ciders to choose from. And remember to share your thoughts and love for the ale. Tag on Instagram NICHOLSONSPUBS which pubs and ales deserve a thumbs up. #HailTheAle

Tweet @NICHOLSONSPUBS and let the company know which of the Spring Beer Festival ales are delighting your taste buds #NichsBeerFest

Find them on Facebook if you just want to talk beer. Nicholson's would love to hear what you've got to say.