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Brockhurst Corner, Uxbridge Road, London HA3 6DL
travelnwork
last updated on 19-04-2009:
This was an excellent choice for a fine family meal, although I would necessarily call it a family restaurant.
There are two sections, both a pub (with outdoor seating as well) and a restaurant. We’ll focus on the restaurant because that is what we enjoyed.
We arrived at about 5:30 on a Wednesday…not exactly peak time, however it took about 5 minutes before any of the staff even acknowledged our arrival. Eventually we were guided to a seating area which was well suited for us. It was in corner out of the way and the cushioned chairs had full sides so the children couldn’t slide off. Even though there is quite a lot of seating capacity in the restaurant it is well laid out so that there are lots of smaller groupings of tables divided into alcoves, raised platforms and open areas.
The service continued to be quite slow as we got going in placing our orders. We asked for a spoon and it seemed to be forgotten. The server’s mind seemed quite distant from where we were so we tried to win her over with kindness (lots of please’s and thankyou’s) and in the end mostly succeeded by the time we left.
The food was EXCELLENT. We started off with a plate of nachos and toppings that was just enough to get our mouths watering. My wife and I ordered the 12 oz. portion of sirloin steak (one well done and the other medium) and it was cooked to perfection. The side vegetables -- mushrooms, greens and a unique onion roll-- were all quite tasty. Our two little ones shared a plate of pasta and sauce, but were most impressed by sharing some of our chips. We were all to filled to fancy a dessert.
The children were well behaved which made it a delight, especially since there were no activities-- crayons, etc.--provided to entertain them with.
In the end the service was questionable, the food and atmosphere were both excellent. Overall, we felt it was good value for money.
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2 people thought this review was helpful
London HA7 4NL
travelnwork
last updated on 09-04-2009:
In our quest to continue investigating all the various parks and in the area we live we gave Stanmore Country Park a walk-through. This park is not as well developed as Stanmore Commons, with young woods spotted with aged trees from era when the land was more grassy than now. That being said, it is an excellent pedestrian route between Stanmore Tube Station (Jubilee Line) and Dennis / Wood Lane.
The Bridgnorth District Council suggests that the terrain is good for “pushchairs and wheelchairs alike.” It is possible there are other areas we did not cover, but having entered from the Kerry Avenue Entrance on the south and exited out an unmarked exit half-way up Dennis Lane we would not recommend this for any other than the able bodied. While the terrain is certainly not challenging -- mainly gentle slopes; the pathways can sometimes be muddy, bumpy grassy knolls or bridges crossing streams.
The trails are not marked well. I had looked on a map prior to our start, however we meandered on some of the smaller trails and never fully regained our place. The park is a nice size at 35 hectares, however manageable if you get off track. There were a few markers on post that identified the “London Loop ”, but it didn’t help since I didn’t know what that was. A little investigation reveals this is a nearly complete pedestrian route around the outer edged of London. The signs we saw linked the London Loop with Stanmore Station. The maps available suggest that maybe signage and more clear maps would benefit this initiative
The sound of traffic from nearby roads was still audible in most parts of the park. Particularly as one walks further north in the park, the constant hum from the M1 became more distinct. That being said, the beautiful tunes being shared by a variety of birds is more the theme. The only other wildlife we saw on this family walk were a few bumblebees enjoying the just blossoming flowers. The colours were just beginning to erupt from the landscape with the first green shoots sprouting from the trees. Wildflowers spotted the grassy patches and a few trees had new flowers.
Lest we be without a little history in part of England, this site was also previously occupied by the RAF, similarly to Bentley Priory. This site served as an RAF training base during WWII and continued to be used by the RAF Bridgnorth until 1964.
Overall, those who have made this park possible have done an appreciable job. However I can’t help the feeling that I was in the woods behind someone’s home rather than in a park. Thus far I would rather frequent Bentley Priory or Stanmore Commons as they seem to have stronger air about them as quality outdoor spaces.
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3 people thought this review was helpful
Warren Lane, London
travelnwork
last updated on 09-04-2009:
I’ve driven past the edge of Stanmore Common on the way from Stanmore to Watford many times, but on the warm bright and sunny weekend I finally took the initiative to take the family for walk. It was a winner from the start.
The terrain is mildly hilly with a variety of trails depending upon your level of adventure. With three young children we kept mostly to the main paths with a few side diversions. The girls enjoyed chasing after a peacock butterfly, with its fabulous colour display. It seemed to glide across the grasses growing up to soak in the sun.
Wearing our sneakers, we were able to avoid most of the mud. However, considering it hadn’t rained in some time and still some areas were quite damp, a good pair of boots would certainly be appropriate. There are several small streams that run through the woods and heath with beautiful stone pebbles rounded through time.
On one large open grass area we let the children just run and play. What a joy it is to see them picking blades of grass, imagining and even talking to a bumblebee! Then in the distance we spotted a well located and still strong tree swing. We all gave it a go and laughed at ourselves.
If you are looking for a day out with the family and the opportunity to relax closer to nature without venturing too far from the city, consider Stanmore Common. We spent about 1 1/2 hours slowly walking the trails. Next time we may bring our lunch and spread a picnic over a grassy area.
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3 people thought this review was helpful
Unit 1 North Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1TR
travelnwork
last updated on 07-01-2009:
We were looking for lunch and our little girls were asking for pizza. The pizza hut on Cockburn Street and Pizza Paradise on North Bridge were both closed on the Sunday after Christmas, so our options were limited. It worked to our advantage. Located at the intersection with High Street about halfway between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace, it is an excellent stopping point if you are making a day of walking the 'Royal Mile’
Our family of 5 was taken in immediately and given a seating area where there was space for our pram as well as a high chair. The children were given place mats to color on and do activities.
Two of the girls shared the pizza meal off the children’s menu. This came with vanilla ice cream and when they served it each child received a full portion. They were elated and took all the time they needed to finish it off.
My wife and I shared a Bruschetta and then a vegetarian pizza with all the fixings. The glass of Pinot Griggio washed it all down very nicely. Our window seats gave us the opportunity to people watch in between tending to the children.
I really enjoyed the way the server did not rush us. He gave us the time we needed to get through each stage of our meal. With three young children we tend to move at a different pace. The one down side is the location of the toilet rooms-located 1 1/2 stories down. It makes it a bit difficult with small children, especially babies.
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2 people thought this review was helpful
Leaplish Waterside Park, Hexham, Northumberland
travelnwork
last updated on 06-01-2009:
We were driving through Kielder Water and Forest Park at the end of December and the place is quiet; ie. few tourists. This made it difficult to find a place to eat lunch, as many places were closed. Then we stumbled upon Leaplish Waterside Park, a resort in the middle of seemingly nowhere, except surrounded by beautiful scenery.
We headed straight for the restaurant, The Boat Inn, where to our surprise there was still a little buzz even in the offseason. We were able to sit in the premium seats with views out over Kielder Water. The restaurant/pub itself is of moderate standard. Meals are ordered and paid for at the bar and then served to your table.
There were two highchairs available to us which worked out well for us. Chicken, chips and peas off the children’s menu was just the ticket. I went for one of the lighter sandwiches and my wife enjoyed a toasted panini with cheese. The half pint of ale made it all slide down easily.
Overall, while the establishment itself is nothing of particular note, its location is wonderful and it is buzzing all year round. While we were there in winter they offered, snowtubing, ice-skating. During the rest of the year they offer a children’s play garden, mini-golf, birds of prey centre, fishing, boat hire, and much more.
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2 people thought this review was helpful
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