Now there aren’t that many truly traditional pubs left in the country. A bold statement, I know, but let me qualify it for a moment: by traditional I mean no Sky Sports, no jukebox – in fact, no telly or music at all. Just a quiet corner to pop into and enjoy a pint of proper ale with some civilised conversation.

Unless, of course, you are lucky enough to stumble across a Sam Smith’s pub. Still owned and operated independently by Humphrey Smith, the Tadcaster based brewery takes a pride in offering something completely different and a wee bit special. Oh – and as of recently, there are no mobile phones to interrupt your relaxing mug of ale either. Or any other electronic devices for that matter, due to a brewery ban on them. It’s taking a little while to get through despite the best efforts of the managers and staff (we popped into a few where punters are still not cottoning on), but by and large they’re getting there. And it’s oh so peaceful. Bliss, actually.

One of the finest Sam Smith’s pubs we’ve come across is the Victoria Hotel in Cleveleys, Lancashire, beautifully run by landlords Marcus Howard and Jackie Hole. It’s a bit like stepping back in time, but in every way that’s good. The perfectly kept beers and lagers are own brand, and very cheap compared to much of the competition; a decent pint of lager will set you back a mere £1.40 (yes, you read that right) and a cask ale just £2.

The Vic (as it’s affectionately known to locals) is one of those rare establishments that seems to be operated for the benefit of the patrons. Marcus and Jackie run a tight ship, and it shows in the superb levels of service as well as in how clean and welcoming the place is. The whole team are a credit to them, and on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays you can sample Jackie’s fabulous cuisine – the delicious meals won’t set you back a fortune either.

What’s really great about this pub (apart from the fact that it’s a wonderful old building and full of character) is that you can see the love and care lavished upon it. There is a real sense of pride, and I congratulate the management on a job superbly done.

So if you ever happen to be in the area and fancy a real treat, give the Vic a try. We’d like to say – for all the right reasons – that it’s probably one of the best pubs in the world. Congratulations guys.

The Victoria Hotel
183 Victoria Road West
Cleveleys
Lancashire
FY5 3PZ
United Kingdom

Telephone: 01253 853306

Nige Burton explains how his wondrous continental rail journeys always start with a trusty Eurostar trip from London’s St Pancras

I looked up at the destinations board abstractedly as I shouldered my way across the concourse of Paris’s Gare du Nord, a smirk of delight spreading across my countenance. Zurich, Cologne, Charleroi, Amsterdam… these were places that I used to think of – and I now really don’t know why – as only being feasibly reachable by flying.

In fact, flying had always been my transport of choice, even for a short hop from Manchester to London. I thought it was quicker. I’d never really had a fear of flying, but I also can’t say that I particularly enjoyed it either; it was always a means to an end, a necessary part of travel.

And then came the three dodgy flights, all in a row like so many spiteful buses, to shake my confidence in aeronautics for life. Having never really given it much heed aside from the boredom, I was suddenly and indubitably aware that hurtling through the sky at over 500 miles an hour six miles up, with nothing but a rinkydink aluminium tube, a seatbelt and a laminated safety card for protection, was no longer so de rigueur after all. Sure – the statistics tell us the chances of anything happening are slimmer than slim, and all the ancient Sages advise that ‘if it’s your time to go, it’s your time to go’, but – what if it’s the pilot’s time to go?

Travel to cities such as Maastricht is surprisingly easy by train, and affords a closer exploration of some of the hidden gems of Europe

Anyway, notwithstanding any of this, and from a pure enjoyment-of-the-journey point of view, I had taken the decision to explore alternatives, and thus found myself all aglow with exultation on the Parisienne terminus. In theory, I could get anywhere by train! Well, nearly anywhere. And it was a revelation.

I have since come to call this little adventure my Pan European Odyssey: in short, my exploration of no less than eight European cities – each in a different country – over a two-and-a-half-week period. I had plenty of time in each one, beginning my adventure in London, from where I gained Paris, Zurich, Vienna, Budapest, Bucharest, Bratislava and finally Munich before returning to the United Kingdom.

Chill in laid back Leuven, Belgium’s oldest university seat

All this was undertaken on trains various, each leg revelling in the ever-changing landscape incumbent upon it to be presented with mawkish pride; arriving in the stately Austrian capital with its fine architecture and grandeur; watching the Hungarian countryside melt into the deep blue of the night before settling down in my compact but comfortable sleeper car; slowly sipping a glass of wine whilst dining on the rolling stage of a sunset behind the Transylvanian Alps – all these exquisite moments sparkle in the memory of this behemoth expedition. There was something very special indeed about looking out of window and seeing more than a carpet of clouds whilst holding my breath at every bump or thump, despite the fact that most all of these sounds are perfectly ‘normal’. On a train, I don’t have to look at the flight attendant’s face to see how ‘normal’ the sound was to them; on my dodgy flights, I realised that fear is pretty much fear, and can stare out of the most well-trained and professional visage just as much as the meagre passenger one.

It was at this point I made my decision that, wherever possible, I was going to travel without wings. So many exciting destinations were available to me without my once having to set foot inside an airport terminal – I would just have to plan things a little more carefully.

Time is undoubtedly the biggest single factor you need on your side if you’re going to adopt a similar principle, and it certainly helps that my working life allows me the freedom to operate from most anywhere on the planet. But I still have cats to feed at home, and whilst friends and family will step into the breach and dish out a regular daily bowl of kibbles, for Irma and Gomez that’s no substitute for the first hand company of their Dad. And so I set about experimenting with places and time-scales that would not present a too chronologically challenging undertaking to the vast majority of holidayers who are subject to the vagaries of a more restricted working practice – the 96% of the working population of Great Britain.

The Hague is one of Holland’s best kept secrets and makes for a superb romantic retreat by train

I have since, apart from my eight country extravaganza, taken many wonderful jaunts by train, including a beach holiday in Menorca by rail and ferry. The total trip was completed in exactly two weeks, although just one week was spent on the island. The trick here is to make the journey as much a part of the experience as the destination itself; there was a great satisfaction in hurtling through a vista that slowly, but very perceptibly, changed from the bustling skyline of metropolitan Paris through to the lush, verdant pastures of southern France, and on into the drier, equally impressive Spanish plains. And sailing into Mao harbour at a little before eight on a sunny September Saturday morning is nothing short of sublime, and without a single butterfly in my stomach save for those more welcome ones anticipating the excitement of the week to come. I have also explored those cities which most of us hear of but would never dream of visiting, and I’d surely have been a lesser person without the experiences; the romance of The Hague, the ancient charm of Leuven or the majestic beauty of Maastricht to name but a handful. Oh, and for a true summer break without even the need for a ferry, I became deliciously acquainted with the lazy, hazy, long-shadowed, sun-baked walled city of Avignon; now there is a little corner of perfection.

But, residing on one of our great British islands still seems to present a barrier to some fellow journeymen, psychologically informing thoughts which in turn entertain the notion that one must fly to escape to climes more exotic and meaningful. To these uninitiated creatures, I utter one word of encouragement and hope: Eurostar. That magical conveyance has whisked me tout de suit to either Lille, Paris or Brussels on so many occasions now that I have genuinely lost count. And it is from these three wonderful cities – all worthy of thorough and regular exploration in themselves – that so much more adventure beckons.

Avignon proves that a sun-baked summer holiday doesn’t need a coastline and can still be easily reached from the UK by train

Services are quick and easily undertaken, with journey times shorter than those of many domestic rail trips, Lille being a mere hour and twenty minutes from London’s state-of-the-art international hub of St Pancras, and Paris a very little over two hours away. With eleven daily services from Brussels Midi to St Pancras, and journey times often as swift as a minute over two hours for fares from €88 return, flying seems to make less and less sense. Onward travel is a divine piece of cake, with connections and timetables making planning pretty much as easy as any UK rail journey, allowing the intrepid sojourner a freedom only bound by the limits of his own imagination. But for me, one of the true great advantages of travelling by Eurostar in particular is the generous baggage allowance; each passenger can take on board two suitcases and a single item of hand luggage – after the limitations imposed by airlines, this is extremely liberating.

So, as I plot my next expedition with an eagerness that can be known only to those who have already joined the fold, those fortunate individuals who know that flying is not the only passport to foreign adventure, I oftentimes prepare to simply stick the proverbial pin in the map. I think of the true promise of adventure, and I feel the words building inside me. I can’t stop them, or tell you why I say them, but as I trace imaginary lines across the page, entertaining thoughts of wonder and bliss, these words come to me in a whisper; I say them as prayer, as thanks, as praise; I say… Eurostar… Eurostar…

Tickets are available from eurostar.com or 08432 186 186.

Main image courtesy of Eurostar

Article images by Nige Burton

With 2015 now being upon us, many holiday go-ers and traveller fanatics are looking forward to booking their next trip away. But where are the hottest locations to live it up this year? Here are 10 great examples of where to head:

Chile

Heralded as the driest desert in the world, Chile’s Atacama plains are a great place to go and take in some natural wonders. The land is plotted with salt flats and geysers, and even gets the occasional downfall of snow!

Iceland

If you are a fan of the outdoors and adventure, then look no further than Iceland. Offering activities for all of the seasons, you can take a trip snorkelling in the country’s clear lakes in the summer or enjoy the snowy conditions from the warmth of a hot tub.

(Main article image: rural church in south-west Iceland)

Morocco

With the country’s tourism industry booming in recent years, Morocco has become a hotspot for travellers. Visitors can enjoy the sandy beaches of the coastline or take a trip around the famed Marrakesh markets and get yourself a classic Moroccan fez!

Cuba

Offering culture and fantastic beaches, Cuba has something to keep everybody happy. The country has an ‘old partnered with new’ attitude, so you can take a trip through the country’s history by visiting the buildings from by-gone eras.

Serbia

A bustling street in Belgrade, the Serbian capital

You may not think Serbia is the best location to enjoy a trip away, but you would be very wrong. Belgrade is renowned for one of the hidden gems of Europe and is highly underrated for its culture and character.

Macau

Over recent years, Macau has become one of the World’s main destinations for entertainment and culture. The country has seen a huge boom in tourism thanks to its casino industry attracting people who play online casino at sites such as iPhoneCasino.ca, but it also has a much more tranquil side, with temples and ancient ruins on offer to visitors as well.

Britain

Eilean Donan Castle in the stunning Scottish Highlands

Although it doesn’t have the most tropical of climates, there is plenty happening for tourists to get involved with in Britain this year. Scotland are celebrating the Highland Games’ 200th birthday this year and 2015 marks the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta being sealed, with both throwing events to mark the occasions.

New Zealand

New Zealand’s tourism trade has always been popular, with travellers visit the country to take in some of the most picturesque pieces of scenery in the world. To get more involved in the inner city vibe, the likes of Auckland and Wellington are also popular with tourists.

Turkey

2014 saw Turkey named as one of the most popular tourist destination and the country hopes this will continue on into the New Year. Turkey offers the best of both worlds – the sunny beaches and hotel resorts and the bustling markets of Istanbul.

Singapore

Singapore is celebrating 50 years of independence from Malaysia in 2015, so expect there to be a lot of partying! The country is to host the South East Asian games in June, before they celebrate their national day with parades throughout August.

These days, the fact that there are so many low-cost airlines serving French airports from up and down the UK makes air travel to the continent something of a no-brainer. That is, until you start to iron out the actual specifics of each transport option at your disposal.

Ask any sample group of Brits what makes more sense and chances are very few will take the corner of the classic ferry crossing – even the faithful Channel Tunnel takes a backseat to air travel. Why? Well, primarily for the simple reason that planes tend to shoot across the water at a much faster speed than the average ferry. Top this off with agreeable fairs and you have what appears to be the only sensible way to travel, but as is the case with so many things in life, it’s not quite as black-and-white as it appears.

False Economy

In the first instance, it’s sensible to take a look at the real costs associated with both options. For example, when you pay to take a car over to the continent you pay a single fare for the car, its occupants and literally as much luggage as you want to take. By contrast, head over on the plane and you have to pay per person, add on the luggage fees and then pay to get to the airport in the first place. Assuming you’ll also be needing transport on the other end, car rental fees and general public transport costs can add up to a bill way in excess of the flight itself… certainly more than the ferry would have cost.

Quality Time

But, some may argue, going by plane saves you a ton of time on which a price cannot be put… or so you’d think. Admittedly, it takes a plane a couple of minutes at the very most to cross the channel, but how about the two hours you need to spend at the airport checking in, passing through security and hanging around? And the transport to the airport in the first place? And waiting for your bags on the other side? A ferry crossing may take around an hour if rounded-up, but this doesn’t come close to the three, four or five hours you’re realistically looking at to take a flight to France.

Freedom of Choice

If you want to leave things until the last minute or find you need to change your itinerary late on, chances are with an airline you’ll be looking at either a massive surcharge or an outright brick wall. With ferry and train crossings however things are much more flexible and prices don’t tend to rocket through the stratosphere in the days and weeks prior to each service departing. And as we all know how plans can change at the drop of a hat where families are concerned, locking into an airline booking doesn’t instil a great deal of peace of mind.

A Better Way to France… especially for families!

For families in the UK, holidays in France are an ideal place to take the children and enjoy everything on offer in France. The cross channel ferry provides a very attractive way to travel, especially for families as this graphic created by Brittany Ferries clearly shows.

Image source: Brittany Ferries – Ferry VS Plane to France

And the Winner Is?

Every mode of transport has its pros and cons, but when travelling the few miles from the UK to mainland Europe, there’s really not a great deal to gain by making things even more complicated and long-winded than they need to be. Or in other words, that classic ferry crossing or train service really does have more to offer than many would give credit for.

You can pretty much guarantee that London will give you a good time, no matter who you are.

Whether you’re a tourist visiting the bright lights of England’s capital for the first time, or a hardened Londoner who chews on jellied eels, bellows Knees up Mother Brown at passers-by and understands why taxi drivers don’t go “sath of tha riva”, there are always new discoveries to be made in this sprawling city.

Of course, other guides might try to fob you off by recommending the staples – Buckingham Palace, Westminster, the National Gallery. But we’ve put together something a little different, the places that it might not occur to you to visit.

If you’re travelling from Gatwick Airport, drop your car off at the Gatwick Meet and Greet, make your way into the city and get ready for a good time.

Have your Great Expectations met at the Charles Dickens Museum.

Charles Dickens – writer of Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol and countless others – used London as the canvas for almost all his tales. Famously, the esteemed writer would wander around the most impoverished areas of the capital at night, using the squalor as inspiration.

The Charles Dickens Museum is the home to this legend’s canon, and features a slew of facts, relics and manuscripts from the writer’s life. Situated in the house where Dickens once lived, it’s a truly unique experience that almost lets you breathe the same air as one of Victorian England’s true greats.

The finest grub in Chinatown

Chinatown is one of the finest places to eat in all of London – that is, if you’re a fan of Chinese food.

To start with, try out the modestly priced Four Seasons, a restaurant famed for its Cantonese-style roast duck. If you’re heading down Wardour Street, you’ll find it easy to spot – it’s the one with the barbecued meats displayed in the window.

If you’re looking for a more authentic look to your dining, try out Longji on Charing Cross Road. Kitted out just like a Hong Kong fast food joint, it’ll give you the flavour of Asia in both sight and taste.

A laugh of an evening

The Comedy Store has become a mecca for stand-up comedy in the UK, priding itself on presenting the best in up and coming comics.

Originally making its name during the alternative comedy scene of the 80s, it played host to figures like Alexei Sayle, Rik Mayall, Paul Merton, Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French, among others.

Now, it’s where comics come to make a name for themselves and, if you’re up for a laugh, it’s the perfect end to your night.

There is a deep desire inherent in all of us to find some kind of retreat, an almost meditative state where we can align ourselves with our Universe; where all will be well with us and our World. Finding somewhere in which to achieve this most blissful of conditions can be another matter. We have all pondered on that secluded retreat; somewhere we can go and sit in a field and look at a tree, and feel the pleasant warmth of enlightenment play over our very being.

In reality, of course, this rarely happens. It is, however, important to at least reach a halfway measure; to repair to a little corner of this earth where we can forget our cares and woes, and recharge our batteries in order that we may then attack our normal daily routine with renewed vigour of both body and soul. Such a place, for me, is the sleepy town of Whitstable, nestling unassumingly on the north Kent coast.

And if you want to take the visceral element of such a restorative sojourn even closer to the bone, you could repair to one of the seafront fishermen’s huts, and gain that exclusive quietude of which we are all so desirous at times.

To awaken in one’s tiny apartment hearing nothing but the tap and clang of a vessel’s rigging against a backdrop of lapping waves is exquisite beyond compare. Once up and about, you can break your fast at the nearby hotel, or take a morning promenade along the beach, fetching up at the seafront café shack for a half dozen fresh oysters for brunch, or delicious fish and chips if the clock has more neared your lunch hour.

Whitstable offers such staples for replenishing the soul so as to make leaving it a wrench. Take a moment to gaze across the water from Cushing’s View, enjoy a cream tea at one of the many cafeterias, or a refreshing mug of ale at any one of the fine, traditional public houses. To wander around this unhurried, delightful town is to truly reconnect with oneself, and once you have managed to leave it behind, you cannot help but dream of one day returning.

If the romantic, literary moiety of your soul needs an infusion of traditional English indulgence, you could do a lot worse than repair to the East Yorkshire seaside town of Whitby.

With the ancient peaks and haunted heights of its ruined abbey having played home to England’s first poet, Caedmon, and later shelter to that evilest of vampires, Dracula, in Bram Stoker’s nineteenth century gothic novel of the same name, and its maritime memorials to Captain Cook and William Scoresby, this phantasmagorically beautiful fishing hamlet fires both the imagination and the spirit in spades.

The abbey is a ruined Benedictine specimen, disestablished in Henry VIII’s famous Dissolution and, now a Grade 1 Listed Building overlooking the bleak North Sea of the town’s East Cliff, it is one of Yorkshire’s greatest ruins.

As you take the 199 steps down toward the harbour, stunning views and quixotic vistas present themselves at every turn, until you make your final descent into twisty weinds and shaded alleys lined with bric-a-brac and curio shops, cafés, restaurants, tearooms and inns.

And, of course, those famous fish and chip shops. Whatever the style of your sojourn to this picturesque retreat, you must at some point sample Whitby fish ’n’ chips. Whether eaten out in the fresh air as nature intended, or ingested enthusiastically in one of the many excellent eateries, this North Yorkshire delicacy is to be savoured with relish.

Then, replete and with your evening rounded nicely with a mug of the finest Yorkshire ale, you can turn your gaze once again abbeywards, heaving a sigh of melancholy satisfaction before bending your steps homewards, wherever you may have chosen to lay your weary head for the night.

I have repaired to many chain hotels during my lifetime of travel, and more than once to the ubiquitous brand of Premier Inn. I have, I believe, always found those particular establishments to offer a good reliable standard of comfortable, spacious rooms, coupled with a pleasing range of food and drink; in short, one can usually depend upon a Premier Inn to deliver well and readily.

On a precious few occasions, however, in that big blue moon of travel, one can stumble across something quite unique, an establishment that sets itself apart from the daily run of things. Such was my experience of the Kidderminster Premier Inn.

Beset by a handful of retail giants, glitteringly holding hands around a busy, late autumn car park, it takes a few moments and closer inspection for the first marvel of this establishment to strike its target, namely, that the hotel has made its home in the impressively and lovingly restored Slingfield Mill. The second note of excitement sounds in the fact that the reception, adjacent to the establishment’s eatery and bar, is located all topsy-turvy on the top floor; moreover, in the loft!

This cannot fail to put a smile onto the face of any weary traveller, but this is immediately enhanced by a dedicated team – and this includes every last one we had the pleasure to meet – who positively bubble over with enthusiasm to serve you as well as you might possibly be served, always willing to hold discourse with you over pretty much any subject you might want to bring up, and at all times with a warm and genuine smile. Presided over by the very amiable and capable Ross, the whole experience of this delightful hostelry is a happy and welcoming one – it actually feels as though it were privately owned and run by a big, warm, loving family who want you to have the best of times while staying with them; great fun but always tip-top and professional.

‘The Kitchen’ – the name attributed to the excellent loft eatery – is something quite apart from any other chain restaurant I have sampled. The food is simple and delicious, served fresh and with aplomb, and the environment in which it is consumed convivial, chic and relaxing. A perfect combination tied beautifully together by the vivacious team of which mention has already been made.

Add to this propitious brew comfortable, clean rooms and the most convenient of locations, and it occurs to me that many a large and reputable hotel chain, and indeed all the other goodly Premier Inns, could do well to take this shining example as their guide and business model.

Visit www.premierinn.com/kidderminster

Premier Inn Kidderminster
Slingfield Mill
Weavers Wharf
Kidderminster
DY10 1AA
England

Tel.: 0044 (0)871 527 9350

When I first repaired to the stunning Kentish seaside town of Whitstable, I had little idea that it would be so dedicated and devoted to one of my childhood heroes, the much loved English actor Peter Cushing.

That this fine working actor was one of the town’s favourite residents is evident in many tributes, but none more poignant than the local J D Wetherspoon pub, aptly and simply named The Peter Cushing.

Once the Oxford cinema, the chain took over the building in 2011, transforming it into an Art Deco style palace, while retaining the essence and dignity of its former incarnation. The foyer is beautifully preserved, bedecked with posters and stills from classic films of the fifties and sixties, while the main hall itself is a splendidly magnificent auditorium, majestically presided over at the bar end by a huge, wall sized black and white print of Cushing and Robert Urquhart in Hammer’s 1957 production of The Curse of Frankenstein. Some of the star’s original paintings also grace the walls, celebrating the multiple talents of this true English gentleman.

The provender on offer is the usual fantastic bill of fare we’ve become used to from the Wetherspoon stable, representing first class quality and exceptional value for money. There’s an equally impressive selection of ales and lagers, complemented by superb wines, spirits and cocktails, all at extremely reasonable prices.

This superbly run establishment is an absolute pleasure to patronise, and is indeed the perfect homage to one of the true British greats of cinema.

Visit www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-peter-cushing

16 – 18 Oxford Street
Whitstable
Kent
CT5 1DD
England

Tel.: 0044 (0)1227 284100

Part – some would say all – of the excitement of exploring a new city is rooted in the thrill of surprise.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of discovery, of treading streets which are familiar to countless previous visitors and inhabitants, but which feel completely new to you. And if you find yourself wandering up Nottingham’s Victoria Street, you’ll find yourself astonished in all the right ways when you encounter the Pit and Pendulum, lowering mischievously behind a suitably brooding facade.

Part of the Eerie Pubs group – which has spread its cadaverous fingers across the UK, from Aberdeen to London – the Pit and Pendulum is the kind of easygoing rock-Goth-grunge bar you like to think you’d have gone to when you were an angsty teen. The guitar-music backdrop is loud enough to enjoy, but won’t drown out a conversation. The “spooky castle” decor (complete with grotesques, chandeliers and alchemy apparatus) treads a fine line between moody drama and knowing, nudge-wink camp throughout this sprawling venue. And it’s dark enough to be atmospheric without making you fall down the stairs.

Fundamentally, though, the Pit and Pendulum is a damn fine eating and drinking establishment. There’s an excellent choice of bottled beers and cask ales, not to mention all the spirits and cocktails you’d care to mention. Meanwhile, a surprisingly extensive food menu runs the gamut from light snacks to full meals, making this a hostelry catering for all appetites.

It’s tasteful, it’s tasty, and it’s absolutely brimming over with character. Whether you’re fortunate enough to be able to visit regularly, or only have chance for a single swift pint (if the Titanic Porter’s on draught, it comes highly recommended), the Pit and Pendulum is the kind of pub you feel a whole lot richer for having visited.

And besides, any alehouse that hides its toilets behind a false wall in the library has got to be worth a look, hasn’t it?

Visit www.eerie-pubs.co.uk/pit-pendulum

The Pit and Pendulum
17 Victoria Street
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG1 2EW
England

Tel.: 0044 (0)115 950 6383