What's Good To Do Magazine - November 2014 to March 2015

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Nov 2014 to Mar 2015

Covering the areas of: BEDFORDSHIRE TRAFFORD/SALFORD

www.whatsgoodtodo.com [email protected] Tel: 0161 787 8550

We hope that you are all wrapped up for the chilly weather.Welcome to the Autumn/Winter edition of the What’s GoodTo Do Magazine! In this edition you will find combinedarticles covering the Salford/Trafford area as well asBedfordshire and surrounding areas! This free magazine ispublished three times a year and is packed full of places togo, things to do, handy hints and ideas as well as a forumfor our local businesses to advertise themselves!Christmas will soon be with us, so we hope this issue givesyou some inspiration to fill some of those snowy days x

Best wishesDebbie, David and MichelleWhat’s Good To Do

Contact us for advertising and editorial enquiries on:email: [email protected]: 0161 787 8550www.whatsgoodtodo.com

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Dear Readers...

All information in this publication is accurate at the time of print. We wouldalways recommend that you check with the venue before visiting to checktimes, prices etc... While we do endeavour to make sure that all publishedinformation is correct, we cannot be held responsible for mistakes or omissions. The inclusion of articles and letters etc... does not necessarilyindicate that the editor is in agreement or sympathy with what is written. Clientssubmitting content to us for publication are confirming that they have a legalright to do so, and agree to neither knowingly nor unknowingly submit contentwhich they have no right to publish. The client accepts that he/she isresponsible for ensuring that they have publication rights of use for all materialprovided, and agree to indemnify any losses incurred as a result of us, thepublisher using content supplied by them. We acknowledge that any logos,photographs, images and trademarks remain the property of their respectiveowners. For full terms and conditions please see our website.

Head Office: 69 Ashcroft Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU2 9AXwhatsgoodtodo.com is the trading name of Toys and Clothes Ltd,which is a company registered in England and Wales withcompany number 04638670.

Disclosure Policy: Our company is not paid to write reviews, but our reviewersreceive free products or a free/comped to a certain value venue review inorder that they can write a review. Our reviews are honest and impartial.

Page 4 – Madame Tussauds,Blackpool Pleasure Beach ArenaPage 5 – Camp Bestival 2014Page 6 – Great Hotels of the World -L’Abbaye de Tallories, FrancePage 7 – Trip to Europe by RailPage 9 - Barbie House, Spin MasterGamesPage 10 - Larmer Tree, Beverley FolkFestival and Burton Agnes Festival Page 12 - Marbel Run, KnexPage 13 - WWE, GoldieBlox, Rivetts and Zelf’sPage 14 – Disney Frozen, My First JCB, Tyrannosaurus, Sofia the FirstPage 15 - The Happy’s Bentley, Lip BalmLab, Monkey Bowling, The Gruffalo My First PuzzlesPage 16-17 - Whittlebury Hall SpaPage 18 - Little Live Pets,ButterflyMasks, Therizinosaurus, Crystal Growing StudioPage 19 Britain’s Next BestsellerPage 20 - Zippy Suit, LegoPage 22 - Legoland Discovery Centre,SEALIFE ManchesterPage 23 - Land of PlayPage 24 - What’s OnPage 25 - Almanack Restaurant, TheEmbankment RestaurantPage 26 - Brookmans Restaurant, Rose &Crown RestaurantPage 28 - The Complaining CowPage 30 - CompetitionsPage 31 - Drifters Canal Trip

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What’s Good To Do ... your local what’s on guide 4

I don’t know who was more excited as we boarded thevery crowded train for London on Saturday morning. Mydaughter, my 11 year old granddaughter and myselfwere off to visit Madame Tussauds London.

International superstars and celebrity power couple,Victoria and David Beckham, were honoured with newwax figures at the world famous Madame TussaudsLondon ahead of their 15th wedding anniversary on 4thJuly. It was fantastic in there, the decor very ‘rich’, we‘met’ loads of stars, some I recognised, some I didn’t,but my daughter quickly put me right. We needn’t haveworried though as there was always a sign close by to say who everyone was. My granddaughter quickly learnedto nip in quick to have her photograph taken, The Beckhams, Julia Roberts, Shrek, Steven Spielberg………

All too soon we were through the gift shop and outside, back in the London sunshine. We had really enjoyed ourvisit to Madame Tussauds, London and would recommend it to others, but perhaps not those with small childrenif they were not prepared to carry them.

Tickets cost from £12.90 if booked online (saving up to 50%). For more information, latest ticket prices or tomake a booking visit www.madametussauds.com/London.

Madame Tussauds London

Reviewed by Dorothy Whitewww.madametussauds.com

www.whatsgoodtodo.com [email protected] Tel: 0161 787 8550 35

This year we returned to the gorgeous county of Dorset to review Camp Bestival2014. This year it promised to be bigger and better than ever and themed as thefabulous circus – a graphic which conjures up all fabulous fancy dress outfits forthe Saturday as well as fun filled circus activities for both parents and old,including a moustache and beard competition for the daddies, a fancy dresscompetition for the whole family and circus tricks for the children to learn!

Saturday started with torrential rain :-( By late morning the sky started to clearand the festival goers ventured out again in Glastonbury attire – sun dresses andwellies!!

Our first stop was back to the Science Tent as my daughter wanted to learn howto make soap and then straight from there we caught the last hour of the MuppetsMost Wanted Show at the Big Top venue. We then ventured into a different areacalled the ‘lower kids garden’ which featured a travelling circus (very popular lastyear) along with a new addition featuring the new movie ‘Planes 2′, which had a real fire engine that kids couldsit inside and watch the film trailer. In addition to this a number of computer console games could be played, setup under a marque for the children’s entertainment. The sun at this point of the day was getting very hot and wehad been out for hours, so we decided to head back to camp for some much need rest and showers!

Sunday was the last day of the event and the sun was shining again! It seems to have gone so fast yet again.

We set off on the walk to the events field – our first stop was theinflatable church… Inside we found a cool hip DJ working somedecks and everyone who entered doing some funky dancing! Itwas so cool!

We moved from here to the area behind the castle, The UpperKids Garden. This area was so lively! There were circus activesscattered all over the grass where you could try your hand atjuggling, balancing etc… The kids loved it! There was a huge tentwhere we created elephant artwork and lots of other craft

activities.. And later on in the day they rolled in reels of stickers used in manufacturing plants for food. Peoplecrowded around these sheets of stickers ripping parts off it and then sat in the sun creating – well, all sorts!!! 3dflowers, hats, wands and we even saw a giraffe sculpture – such a stress reliever.

We grabbed something to eat and waited with anticipation as more and more people arrived with glow in thedark bands, bubbles and torches. The music and lighting on the stage also changed pace and we were singingalong to the likes of Basement Jaxx (one of my favourites). In complete darkness, at 10pm the firework showstarted – and it didn’t disappoint! Set to the music of Queen, people were singing in the audience as we watchedfire flares and amazing fireworks, all in time to the music. What a fabulous way to finish an amazing event!

There’s so much to do at Camp Bestival for all ages. If you have never been before I really recommend that yougive it a try next year. The event seems to get bigger and better year on year.

To find out more about Camp Bestival, have a look at their website. Follow them on Facebook for news of ticketsales and next year’s line up! There’s information on already for next year’s festival! We love Camp Bestival! Putit on next year’s list to experience… You won’t be disappointed!

Camp Bestival 2015 takes place from 30 July to 2 August 2015. For more information or to book tickets visitwww.campbestival.net.

Camp Bestival 2014www.campbestival.net Reviewed by Michelle Wright

L’Abbaye de TalloiresL’Abbaye de TalloiresFranceFrance


www.ghotw.com Reviewed by Christine Charlesworth

Abbaye de Talloires has the kind of magic that will call you back to stay time and again. Certainly there was acouple whose 33rd visit corresponded with our stay and I can understand why they enjoy re-visiting every year.

Set alongside the remnants of a Roman road, beside the peaceful banks of Lake Annecy, known as one of themost breathtakingly beautiful lakes in the Alps, L’Abbaye de Talloires emanates an air of peace and tranquillity.Converted into a hotel in the 17th century, the Abbaye is steeped in history and, as such, is a listed building ofoutstanding historical interest with many of its original features carefully preserved.

As soon as we parked the car we were met by the porter who carriedour bags and showed us into the main reception area, set in the originalcloisters, which look into the central courtyard of the hotel.

Once we were welcomed and checked in by the very helpful staff atreception, we were taken up the wide stone staircase to our suite onthe second floor. Our room overlooked the sparkling waters of the lakeat the front of the hotel and another window gave a view over therooftops of the small village of Talloires. We had a small sitting roomwith sofa, chair, table and TV together with two small dressing rooms,a separate toilet and a large bathroom with Jacuzzi bath, bidet, walk inshower and twin washbasins. There were towelling robes and slippers for our use and a selection of good qualitytoiletries. The bedroom was large, with excellent furnishings, a marble fireplace and extra large bed.

Setting out for an early evening stroll we walked out of the front of the hotel, down the main steps and passinglarge conical shaped yews, we walked under a roof of pollarded plain trees, which offered a beautiful naturalcanopy for the candle-lit tables set for evening drinks overlooking theprivate pontoon beside the lake. It was amagical evening.

We were served dinner that evening in the restaurant ‘Aux JardinsDelices’ situated on the ground floor of l’Abbaye. Head Chef OlivierDescotes has been running the kitchens at l’Abbaye for a number ofyears and always insists on selecting his herbs and vegetables fromthe brick-paved garden, a heritage from the monks, approached through wisteria-clad arches at the side of thehotel. I really enjoyed the Courgette flower stuffed with Pelardon goat cheese. My second course choice wasduck breast fillets served with plums from the garden. We chose to select from the A La Carte menu, but therewas also a L’Instant Du Chef menu for 70 Euros, which comprised 4 signature dishes according to the seasonor L’Instant Gourmand menu for 48 Euros which changes according to the Chef’s market basket. The hotel hasa wine list which boasts over 850 types of wine.

The hotel is a wonderful venue for weddings and has a large marquee and gravel area leading into the gardensbeside the hotel for wedding receptions. A number of the 33 bedrooms have been converted from the originalmonks’ cells. Some have balconies, others have lake views. Suites are situated on the second floor and high upin the eaves on the top floor there is a wellness centre with Jacuzzi and sauna for use by the guests, wherespecial treatments can be booked, including massage, body wraps and face care.

Great Hotels of the World offers an unrivalled collection of the best 4 and 5 star luxury hotels and resorts. Eachhotel is selected for its dedication to the highest standards of luxury, unique sophistication, surroundings andinnovative facilities. For more information visit www.ghotw.com.Abbaye de Talloires is a member of the Great Hotels of the World Luxury Collection. Double rooms start from£112. Visit www.ghotw.com/hotel/home/abbaye-talloires.htm or call 020 7380 3658.


www.ghotw.com Reviewed by Christine Charlesworth

Trip to Europe by RailTrip to Europe by Railreviewed by Debbie Talbotreviewed by Debbie Talbot

This summer we decided to take our holiday in theapartment I own, near Moraira in Spain. There were 5 of ustraveling.

Our route was in 3 stages:Stage 1: London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord,Stage 2: Paris Gare de Lyon to Barcelona SantsStage 3: Barcelona Sants to Alicante.

The staff at Voyages-sncf.com were fantastic. Theyhelped me select journey times which allowed for anovernight stay in Barcelona on the outward trip and one in Parison the return trip. I then phoned a very helpful staff member at Eurostar andpurchased discounted train tickets between Leagrave in Bedfordshire and London StPancras.

We were all very excited and spent the next few weeks in eager anticipation of our trip.

When we arrived at the Eurostar terminal a helpful member of staff informed us that although we were a bit earlyfor check in, because we had young children with us she would let us through to the departure lounge. We waitedon comfortable seating for our train. The toilet facilities were spacious and well looked after. Although we hadbought our own snacks with us, had we wanted to buy snacks there were coffee shops and a retailer on hand.

Upon arrival at Gare du Nord, we quickly found the taxi rank. We opted for a taxi because of having just under2 hours between trains. After a 15 minute pleasant taxi journey, we arrived at Gare du Lyon. This part of thejourney was the longest on our route, lasting over 6 hours.Finally we arrived at our destination in Barcelona.

The Barcelona to Alicante part of the trip was great. The train had several TV’s in each carriage and staff handedout earphones. The trip lasted between 4 and 5 hours. As on the other train journeys, there was a buffet caravailable with a selection of food and drink items. After a pleasant journey we arrived at our destination in Alicante.

We spent a lovely 6 days at our apartment, relaxing on our living area terrace, in the communal gardens or pool.We even booked a return taxi trip to Moraira and enjoyed a day at the beach.

We were very sad when the following Saturday morning came and we had to leave on our return trip. This timewe had booked a taxi transfer through www.morairataxi.com. This was because we didn’t want to rely on thefirst train of the day from Teulada to Alicante or have to rush between stations Alicante end. This time we stoppedovernight in Paris and stayed at The Angleterre Hotel, a 5 minute walk from Gare du Nordwww.booking.com/hotel/fr/angleterre-paris.en-gb.html.

Overall I would say that travelling by train to Europe was a very exciting experience for every single one of us.Whilst it was a long journey, the overnight stays were perfect to split up the journey. We loved the fact that notonly did we get, 6 fantastic days at our apartment, we got to see both Paris and Barcelona. I would not hesitateto book with www.voyages-sncf.com again or use the www.tramalicante.es train system as the journey wasso pleasant and every single member of staff we came across, so lovely.

www.voyages-sncf.com – fares from London to Alicante start at £235 standard class return. All fares are perperson and subject to availability. For bookings visit www.voyages-sncf.com or call 0844 848 5848. Personalcallers are welcome at the Voyages-sncf Travel Centre, 193 Piccadily, London W1J 9EU.

www.booking.com is the world’s #1 accommodation site with no booking fees and the best price alwaysguaranteed.


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Barbie Malibu Housewww.mattel.comReviewed by Rachael Farndell

We were very lucky to be giventhe Barbie Malibu House toreview much to my (almost)four year olds delight.

The house itself is quite big, not cumbersome, but for afamily with a small living space it is. It was fairly easy toassemble the house, it is mostly made of plastic with afew cardboard backings, it seems sturdy and theinstructions were very easy to follow. My daughter hadgreat fun sticking the stickers on things and loved the‘fish tank’ stairs.

The included accessories are great (although there isno doll included), they require minimal assembly.

Inside the house there are 6 ‘rooms’; a kitchen withtable and chairs, the entrance hall, a sitting area withtable and chairs, the spiral staircase, a TV roomcomplete with smart phone holder TV(!), a bedroom anda bathroom. And it should last well for the years tocome! RRP: £99.99

Hedbanz Act Up!www.spinmastergames.comReviewed by Claire Giles

The basic concept of the game is abit like charades but with a funtwist. Each player wears a band

around their head and picks a card from the pile. Onthe card is written a thing, person or place. Each playerthen slips this card into the band on their head facedforward so the other players can see what it says butthey can’t. Another player / or players has to then “actup” the word on the card without speaking, makingnoises, using props or spelling out words using yourhands. Players can make a motion, point or do anythingphysical when “acting up”. This sounds easy but tryingto “act up” some of the cards seems almost impossibleat first and this is where the fun starts. Watching familymembers running around the room trying to “act up” thecards was hilarious and had us laughing out loud whilstthe guesser attempts to figure out the word on the card.

This game was great family fun to play for all and wouldbe great for family gatherings. Hedbanz Act Up is family fun for 2-6 players, age 8+.RRP: £17.99

Moustache Smash!www.spinmastergames.comReviewed by Claire Turner

Wow! What a great gameMoustache Smash is! I played

this game with my husband and 2 stepchildren who are15 and 17 and we had so much fun.

You each pick a moustache and then it’s like snap! Youhold your moustaches up to your face (like you’rewearing a moustache) and the dealer turns the top cardover, if the colour or shape of the moustache on thecard matches the moustache you are ‘wearing’ you‘smash’ your moustache down onto the card, a littlesuction cup attaches to that card – so you’ve got to bequick! If you’ve correctly matched the colour or shapethen you keep the card but if you’re wrong your forfeita card back to the dealers pile!

It is a fast moving game and we were all suitablyentertained. I thoroughly recommend this game andgive it 5 out 5! We are looking forward to a re-match!Great family fun.

Moustache Smash is family fun for 3-6 players, age 7+.

RRP: £14.99

Shark Maniawww.spinmastergames.comReviewed by Debbie Talbot

Shark Mania is a great game for2-4 players aged 6 years + and Imust admit that I enjoyed playing

it with my 9 year old daughter.

My daughter was keen to start playing but first we hadto assemble the game, once assembled it is over 3 feet(1 metre) long.

The object of the game is to reach the island and collectas many of the gold coins as possible along the way,but watch out for the shark that is racing towards theisland on the track, if he catches you you’re out of thegame. The winner is the player that has safely reachedthe island and has the highest value of coins (each coinwhen turned over has a number between 1 and 3).

Overall we found Shark Mania to be fun andentertaining. Easy to understand and play and is quitefast paced so children will not lose interest. With theamount of pieces in the box and entertainment value itis definitely worth the £19.99 price tag and will keepchildren and their friends entertained for a long time tocome.RRP: £19.99


Larmer Tree Festival | 16-20 July 2014www.larmertreefestival.co.uk | reviewed by Amanda Hayes

What a fabulous time we had at Larmer Tree Festival, which was held at Larmer Tree Gardens, around15 minutes south west of Salisbury. We have been to a few festivals in our time and generally they can

be a bit disorganised but this is definitely not the case with Larmer Tree.

There are eight different zones in the festival, The Main Lawn, which has the main stage, The Big Top, which hasa large selection of different bands throughout the festival, The Arc, which has new bands and comedy acts, ThePavillion, showing films and talks, The Social for an eclectic mix of music, Youth Zone, Larmer Parler for 0-10 yearolds and the Lostwood and Water Garden for chilling out. The Pavilion showed some classic films such as BugsyMalone and American Graffiti which was a fun way to take it easy for a couple of hours. The Social stays openreally late, with DJ’s starting around 1.00am after the bands finish so you can party hard if you want, to be honestit was a bit loud for me, which is showing my age I know!

It was disappointing that due to work commitments we could not make it Wednesday night to see Tom Jones andhad to leave Sunday before Tom Odell, but we still had a fabulous time. Everything was so clean including thetoilets, and really well organised. If you are intending to visit next year, which I highly recommend, don’t forget thatSaturday is dress up day so bring your wackiest outfits as everyone is wearing something weird or cool or acombination of both.

Larmer Tree is definitely the best festival we have attended as a family and I really hope we can make it back nextyear. It will be their 25th anniversary and they are promising something extra special so don’t miss out. For moreinformation or to book SUPER EARLY BIRD TICKETS for next year (15-19 July 2015) visitwww.larmertreefestival.co.uk.

Beverley Folk Festival20-22 June 2014www.beverleyfestival.com

Reviewed by Kirsty Moorhouse

We handed the kids into my sister’s care and headedoff with a 2 man tent to Beverley Racecourse to enjoya weekend of music. As soon as we arrived you couldtell it was going to be a well organised affair.

The festival area itself was compact but had plenty ofroom for the people milling around and all thetents/areas were clearly posted (we had also beengiven a plan of the festival which was beautifully clearas well). The few areas of wet ground and mainwalkways were covered by solid plastic so for onceyou didn’t have to wade through mud, a greatimprovement on some festivals we have attended.

Tickets were sold separately for acts as well as dayand weekend tickets. Also entrance to the festival areawas free, but the band tents were only able to beaccessed by paying festival goers. A great festivalcatering for all ages. We’ll definitely be going again!

For more information visitwww.beverleyfestival.com.

Burton Agnes 2014Jazz and Blues Festival27-29 June 2014www.burtonagnes.comReviewed by Debbie Tasker

The festival was held over three days, 27-29 June, andthis was its 8th year. Performing are the hottest Jazz andBlues bands from around the UK. There is a main stageon the lawn which is very professional with a goodsound system. You can clearly see from any point youchoose to sit/stand. When darkness falls the fun movesto the bar tent for the late night sessions. I didn’t feelthere was enough seating here. If the weather was goodthen it wouldn’t be a problem to set up your own chairsjust outside the tent but with the rain coming down prettyhard on the Friday night it was a little uncomfy sat underan umbrella. During the day there are also acousticperformances in the Great Hall and also some courtyardsessions.

Overall this is a brilliant festival. The friendly laid backatmosphere, fantastic live music and stunning settingsmake it a must for families/couple/groups of friendslooking for a good value weekend away. For moreinformation on the 2015 Burton Agnes Jazz and BluesFestival (3-5 July 2015) visit www.burtonagnes.com.


Have you ever noticedhow you can spend hourspicking out the perfect giftfor your cherished littleone, only to have themplay more with the box itcame in!

Let their imaginations runwild with the award-winning Imaginabox fromHalilit. It takes cardboardcreativity to a whole new

level with a selection of sets that change any oldcardboard box into a wonderful toy, such as a Car,Plane, Train, Oven or Cradle, with just a few momentswork.

They’re easy to assemble, with moving plastic partsand stickers. Additional sticker packs and straps arealso available.

Suitable for ages 3 and over.Available at £9.99 fromwww.amazon.co.uk and allgood toy stores. For further information visitwww.halilit.co.uk

Lets go Loomy!

You would have to beliving on Mars to havemissed this summer’splayground (and

everywhere else) sensation – the Loom Twister!

Looming has been the hobby of the year for boys andgirls alike making friendship bands and bangles fromrubber bands on a specially created loom. Someenterprising loomers have even made dresses! HGL’sLOOM TWISTER is easy to use and comes in variouskit sizes including starter ‘tester’ packs. This CreativeCase has easy to store compartments for ‘at a glance’colour matching. The Creative Cases are available invarious sizes this is the 2000 band case with an extra500 bands included. The kit also includes everythingyou need to create yourown unique designs.

Available from all goodtoy stores and online ataround £12 and with lotsof ‘how to’ videos todownload fromwww.loomtwister.com


Marble Run Superwww.amazon.co.uk | reviewed by Louise Platt

The set comes in a neat box with a plastic carry handle and a picture of theproduct set up on the front, which is very useful as all the pieces can be easilystored in the box when not in use.

The set is made up of lots of interlocking chutes, bridges, and spinning wheelsall in different colours which provide lots of scope for different designs as youbecome more confident with the essential pieces and where they need to be inthe Run. The marbles themselves are plastic and brightly coloured and runthrough the system easily.

One thing we did find was that there are no instructions with the set so thepicture on the front was very useful as a guide. My five year old son could notbuild it himself and needed the help of an adult but having said that my husband

enjoyed putting it together and once assembled my son was very happy to play with it and make smalladjustments himself.

This is a toy which is great for creative play and is also very educational. It challenges children who are interestedin construction and has a long shelf life as older children will enjoy building new structures while the youngerones are happy to push the marbles through time and time again.

I would definitely recommend the Migoga Mable Run. As a starter Marble Run it’s reasonably sturdy, its lots offun and the bright colours will definitely appeal to the younger age range.Suitable for ages 4-10 years | RRP: £24.99

K’Nex 4 Wheel DriveTruck Building Setwww.knex.co.uk | reviewed by Jane Hopkins MBE

The product description of the K’Nex 4 Wheel Drive Truck Building Set suggests it’llgive children hours of fun, this sounded like magic to me.

It was so refreshing to see my son and his cousin sharing the experience of buildingthis, rather than bombing around the Super Mario virtual race track. It took maybe an hour to finish it, and in thattime they were both fully engrossed, my son would delight in running over to show me step-by-step his progress,much to the annoyance of his cousin! Since finishing it, on his own my 9 year old has enjoyed taking it apart andrebuilding it, he’s also started to ‘customise’ it with some old K’Nex kit he had passed down. That’s what is greatabout K’Nex – it’s all interchangeable so you could potentially build a beast of a machine!

The product is excellent quality and hugely educational. It is an innovative design and is challenging enough tomake the kids feel proud when they’re done, and being a 4×4 really does give the young builder an insight intothe way such a vehicle is put together; showing the 4-wheel steering and suspension system.

I would give it a 4/5, losing one point because although it is sturdy, when playing with the 4×4 as a regular toyafterwards, pieces would fall off easily. It would be absolutely perfect if it was play proof for post-construction play.However one might argue that’s the part of the fun too…

We loved this and have already got more in the range firmly down on Santa’s list.

Suitable age: 7 years +

RRP: £19.99


WWE StackdownTrain & RumblePlayset with 2Figureswww.flairplc.co.uk

Reviewed by Kirsty Moorhouse

My two boys (aged 8 and 11) as both are wrestlingmad and have a lot of other WWE merchandise so Iwas delighted when I was asked to review this playset.

The set comes with easy step by step buildinginstructions (which is good as there are so manypieces I wouldn’t have known where to start) and mychildren managed to build it on their own.

On the whole a great play set for any WWE fan, justbe aware that younger children may find it a bit fiddly.I will be buying one for my Nephew for Christmas!Suitable age: 6 years +

RRP: £24.99

Rivetz Stealth Fighterwww.interplayuk.com

Reviewed by Lisa Lambert

When we first looked at the box we thought oh no notanother build it yourself this is going to be interesting,however we were pleasantly surprised by how easyit was to follow the instructions and put it together. Theset comes with a full set of instructions and plasticrivet gun and rivets which can be used to constructand deconstruct the stealth fighter which I thoughtwas really good as it allows him to take it apart andstore and rebuild at a later point should he wish.

The instructions are very easy to follow and eachpiece is identified using letters and number and youjust follow the steps and numbers in the instructionsfolding the pieces and fastening together with the rivetgun as you go.

The guidelines from the instructions advise for ages8+. A great family activity if you wanted to dosomething together.

RRP: £14.99

The Zelfs Series 2Medium Zelf: Catsby Cat Zelfwww.character-online.com

Reviewed by Rachael Osborne

Catsby is good quality and despite being pulled aboutand played with lots it’s still in perfect condition, eventhe hair. Catsby is painted in bright colours and isincredibly cute. It has moveable limbs so can be satdown at a tea party or stood up! It comes with a hairbrush and bands to create different hair styles.

I would definitely recommend this toy as I feel it’s veryversatile and worth the £5.99. My daughters haveshown that it can be used with anything provided youhave an imagination. So far Catsby has been to visit

Fairy Land, Princess Castleand the world of theDinosaurs! I would give this4/5 due the hair bands.

Suitable for age 5 years +

RRP: £5.99

Goldie Blox and the Spinning Machinewww.interplayuk.com | reviewed by Natasha Kolb

‘Goldie Blox and the Spinning Machine’ intrigued my7 year old daughter simply on seeing the box.

Everything about this product is high quality, includingthe box and the well thought out design for how it’s allpackaged allowing for everything to packed neatlyaway in between being played with.

On opening the box, we searched for the instructionsbut only found the accompanying story book sostarted on that first and it’s a good job we did! Verycleverly, the instruction book IS the story book,beautifully woven into a creative tale.

Even once the story is finished, sketches at the backof the book show a range of fun ideas of what to buildwith the pieces whilst still leaving plenty of imaginativebuilding to be done! Even though my children are thatlittle bit older, they both happily sit building a range ofdifferent designs and spinningthe characters in as manydifferent ways as they can!

Suitable ages: 4-9 yearsRRP: £24.99


Disney Frozen3D Puzzlewww.ravensburger.co.ukReviewed by Jenny Seymour

This jigsaw is made so well andthe instructions so easy to follow

that it was a very good activity for him to sit throughand complete on his own. It was with great pride thathe ran up to me to show me the completed globe.

Each piece is made of a hard-wearing, quality,clickable plastic, so no glue is needed to stick thisglobe together. The finished product is very sturdy andthe jigsaw comes with a round mount that you can useto show off your globe once completed, so that it canbe used as a nice ornament in your child’s room.

The instructions inside show (in pictures) how to puttogether this jigsaw and were really easy to follow. Iexplained to my little boy how to lay out the numberedpieces and then after a quick explanation, I was ableto leave him alone to complete the puzzle.

Overall: a great educational and well-made activity forany Disney Frozen fan! RRP: £9.99

Tyrannosaurus Rex Walkingwww.schleich-s.comReviewed by Becky Speller

This is a really great quality toy andvery true to life (not that I have been up close andpersonal with a T-Rex!). It is solid and very well made.It is quite heavy but would be easy for a child to holddue to the shape of it. The jaw opens and closesdisplaying the teeth and tongue etc…

My son is probably a bit old for this now as once hehad looked at it and moved the jaw up and down hesoon lost interest. He was very impressed with howlife like it was though, and would have loved it whenhe was a bit younger.

I would say if you have smaller children it would beperfect, and also for anyone who collects models ofdinosaurs. It would really get children’s imaginationgoing, and due to the quality of the toy I think it wouldlast and be very hard-wearing.

Definitely a great value product and if you want a hardwearing toy for a dinosaur fan this item is perfect!!!!RRP: £14.99

Disney Sofia the First Braceletwww.flairplc.co.ukReviewed by Shelley Owens

As a huge fan of Disney’s youngestprincess Sofia the First, my 3 year old

daughter was delighted with this enchanting bracelet!

This lovely bracelet comes in simple, attractivepackaging and would make an excellent birthday partygift or stocking filler with 3 delightful designs to choosefrom featuring either a Carriage, Teacup or a Pillow withTiara. Each one opens up to reveal a tiny Sofia figureand was a big hit with my little girl!

Each bracelet features Princess Sofia in a differentoutfit and these dolls are interchangeable, poppingsecurely into place with a plastic peg hidden within theCarriage, Teacup or Pillow and the top of each designpops open to reveal each doll inside!

We give the Sofia the First bracelet a 4/5 based on theslight sizing issue. At £8.99 it is slightly more than whatwe would term a pocket money toy around the £5 markbut it is a genuine Disney branded product, lovelyquality and excellent portable entertainment!

Suitable for age 3 years + | RRP: £6.99

My First JCBBig Wheelers Joey JCBwww.goldenbeartoys.comReviewed by Brian Grehan

The My First JCB Big Wheeleris a super-sized JCB digger thatchildren from 12 months will

absolutely love. It measures approx. 25cm long, 17cmhigh and 17cm wide so is great for young children topush along encouraging co-ordination skills. With itshuge wheels and 2 lifting buckets any child with love it.You can pull the rear digger bucket or push the exhaustto lift the front scoop.

Overall this happy looking JCB (has eyes on the front)is a bit hit in our house so may have to get them DougDumptruck (the other vehicle in he My First JCB BigWheelers range) for Christmas.

A good sized, durable toy that will encourageimaginative play. At £9.99 it is good value for moneydue to its size and the fact that it hasn’t broken 5minutes after getting it out on the box.

Suitable for age 12 months + | RRP: £9.99


The Happy’s PetsBentleywww.flairplc.co.ukReviewed by David Savage

The Happy’s Pets are electronicpets that run around the room

making noise and perform tricks when it gets a signalfrom the special treat.

The treat comes already supplied with the batteriesinstalled but Bentley needs his own batteries.

Placing the dog on the floor I pressed the button on hisback near his tail, this is the explore mode, and hestarted to run around barking and making other sounds.When the button on the bone (treat) is pressed andcatches Bentley’s eye it will follow the infrared beamand when close enough perform his trick, in Bentley’scase he spins around chasing his tail.

There are 4 pets to collect in the range with a retail priceof £19.99 each.

Suitable age is 4 years + | RRP: £19.99

Lip Balm Labwww.interplayuk.comReviewed by Debbie Talbot

With a 9 year old daughter that loveslip balm we were excited to receive

the Wild Science Lip Balm Lab – a science and craft kitall rolled into one.

While this kit is suitable for children from age 8 yearsupwards, adult supervision is required due to the factthat hot water is required either from a boiling kettle orusing the microwave.

Following the instructions within 5 minutes we hadcreated out first batch of basic lip balm. Now we knewwhat to do I let me daughter make the next few batchesthis time mixing in flavouring, colour and effects.

Overall this is a great little kit. It is educational learninghow the different ingredients mix together and create alip balm and is fun experimenting with them to createvariations of lip balm.

Suitable age: 8 years + | RRP: £12.99

The GruffaloMy First Puzzleswww.ravensburger.co.ukReviewed by Jenny Bennett

This is just a lovely set of jigsawpuzzles and perfect for my two year old. They are in asmall cardboard box which is nice and sturdy –essential for toddlers that like to stand on things! It’s acolourful box with the four illustrations of the puzzles onthe front.

There are four puzzles in total made up of 2 pieces(Gruffalo), 3 pieces (Snake), 4 pieces (Mouse) and 5pieces (Snake) and is suggested for age range 18months and up. I’m so grateful that there is a 2 piecepuzzle in there as my little one is just getting the hangof puzzles and the 2 piece really helped her understoodwhat she was aiming to do.

It’s a great puzzle and I know it will be perfect forwinding down time at the end of the day before we goto bed and actually read the Gruffalo!

I think its great value and I’d give it 5 out of 5.

Suitable age: 18 months + | RRP: £5.99

Monkey Bowlingwww.greatgizmos.co.ukReviewed by Sally Ellis

Plan Toys Monkey Bowling isan adorable set of woodencarved bowling pins and ball.It consists of a set of 5 pins,

3 smaller monkeys and 2 larger ones, each with threecoloured stripes across the middle. This added to thegame-play, with my son aiming for each colour in turnand celebrating when he knocked-down the bluemonkey or the yellow monkey etc…

The ball also has a monkey face etched on it, whichmade it much funnier according to my son, throwing amonkey ball at other monkeys is just plain silly!

Great Gizmos selling it at £25.95 with free delivery. Aquality product and such an original design, I wouldhighly recommend this set, particularly as it is a classictoy with so many opportunities for improving motorskills, imaginative play, taking turns with other childrenetc… In a word, perfect.

Price: £25.95


Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa BreakWhittlebury Hall is an impressive hotel and spa in Whittlebury, Northamptonshire set in acres of beautiful groundsand a golf course. It opened in 1999.

The excitement when I when I was asked to review Whittlebury Hall in Northamptonshire was amazing. For somepeople a spa break is a regular bit of relaxation, for me and my husband it was an escape from 4 children, ourown business and he works 50+ hours a week.

My review was for a Escape and Spa Stay (from £99pp) which included a hot lunch use of the spa, a backmassage, dinner, bed and breakfast (and the gym if we wanted to, but we forgot our trainers!!).

We arrived a little later than their suggested time but it wasn’t aproblem and we were accommodated well. We checked in at thespa which is sumptuous and beautifully decorated. The receptionstaff were extremely helpful and after a few essential healthforms we were given our itinerary for the day and a tour by thespa manager. As we were staying in the hotel she suggested wechecked our bags in at reception so we weren’t doing a dash tothe car in our bath robes. A great little detail – which we found iswhat Whittlebury is all about – the small detail and little extras.Our plan of action was to try EVERYTHING!!

We had our lunch at 1 so decided to start in the pool area which has 2 saunas a steam room and hot tub. Thepool is separate and within the leisure club. The facilities are clean and well-kept and the pool is the warmestpool I’ve ever been in. The highlight of the break for my husband was sharing the hot tub with 10 women!! I thinkafter the hot tub we had finally relaxed and let go.

We dried off in the sauna and went for lunch. A room full of people in towels and bath robes – the odd personwho did get dressed looked out of place. Purely for research purposes (honestly) we tried a little of everythingfrom the hot and cold buffet!

There was vegetable soup, jacket potatoes, a selection of salads, cooked meats and fish including poachedsalmon and mackerel fillets. From the hot selection was a delicious lasagne, pasta a vegetarian dish and acourgette and mushroom side dish. The food is of a very high standard and not at all “buffet” like. It is hot, freshand tasty with something for every taste or diet.

After lunch it was time for our treatment. With our package we could choose a 25 minute back massage or minifacial.

We had a little time to kill so visited the whisper area. There are big comfy swing chairs, bean bags and a fewheated water beds. This was one of my favourite experiences. Just snoozing on a warm bed where your body isso relaxed. I think this is the point where I completely switched off.

We had our choice of back massage in a double room together. Thisis the bit that was a busman’s holiday for me. I’ve worked in thebeauty industry since 1992 and own a salon so I’m a really fussycustomer! Our therapists were confident and friendly. The room wasclean and the treatment couches were large with freshbedding/towels. We were asked to choose a relaxing or revitalisingoil. I asked for a firm massage as I can’t stand a wishy washymassage. My massage with Roxanne was really good, she had reallygood technique and was very competent. My husband was a littledisappointed as he asked for a firm massage and said it was almost

www.whittleburyhall.co.uk Reviewed by Julia Allen


Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa Breakwww.whittleburyhall.co.uk Reviewed by Julia Allen

a tickle. From experience I would say it ismore down to matching the staff to the client,to do a good massage on a man you need tobe more experienced, stronger andconfident. The down side of treatments inspas and health farms is that it is pot luckwith who you have do your treatment on theday.

We then checked Into our room which wasbrilliant. There were the usual things you wouldexpect like tea and coffee tray but I was impressed with the little extras likean iron and ironing board, fridge, his and hers sink and an impressive room service menu if youneeded it. After a quick cuppa we went back for the final part of our relaxation – the hydrotherapy spa and heatand ice experience.

As we left this until the end of the day we had it almost to ourselves. The hydrotherapy pool is amazing. Thereare a selection of high powered water jets and underwater bubbles which target the whole body giving a water“massage”. It was relaxing and invigorating all at once. The heat and ice area is all different hot and coldexperiences including traditional sauna and steam room, salt steam room, caldarium, different plunge showersand an ice cave (not exactly a cave more an ice machine in the wall but fun anyway. You are meant to combinethe heat and ice to invigorate the body.

This was our favourite part of the day and we wish we had spent more time there. It is open until 8pm. Anothernice little extra in the changing rooms was cleanser and toner with cotton pads. The therapist in me was freakingout after all that heat and open pores – I was a little over excited when I realised I could cleanse and tone myface.

Finally after going back to our room and getting ready it was time for a few drinks then dinner. We went to thesports bar and enjoyed a few drinks. It is a little pricey with a glass of wine and a pint of larger costing £11.50.But you don’t mind when it’s a treat in lovely surroundings.

Our meal was in Astons restaurant. The menu is a mix of classic and contemporary food with a Mediterraneaninfluence. We had a 3 course meal and drinks. Even though it is really big and seats lots of people the serviceand food was that of a small restaurant. There were tables of couples, small groups and big groups of 15+.

Our starter was served quickly and the waitress was very attentive. We both had the Mediterranean meat platter.For mains I had a chicken dish and my husband a lamb dish. Our choice of pudding was apple pie and Eatonmess.

Overall the meal was delicious. A little posher than the type of restaurant that most of us go to but not snooty!

We had a great night’s sleep – it was quite hot and another lovely detail was a fan which we needed.

The best bit when you stay away is a big breakfast and someone else cooks and cleans up after. A fantasticselection of continental and full English breakfast with free flowing tea or coffee and fresh juice. The food washot and fresh and tasty.

Our overall impression of Whittlebury Hall is it is luxurious and indulgent but not at all pretentious or stuffy.Everyone was treated equally and none of the staff gave the impression they were better than you or lookingdown on you.For more information or to book online visit www.whittleburyhall.co.uk or call 0845 400 0002.


Crystal Growing Studiowww.interplayuk.comReviewed by Joanne Watson

My son is really in to rocks andcrystals and I knew that he wouldreally enjoy the idea of making hisown.

The box suggests that the product is suitable forchildren aged 8 and above, and I think this is spot on.

My son was extremely excited to get started and weopened the box to investigate the contents. The kit haseverything you need inside, with the exception of a cup.We found the instructions clear and easy to follow.There are written instructions with pictures alongside soless able readers can still participate.

The crystal growing kits comes with a plastic displaycase, which he will use to display his finished crystal.

I would definitely buy another kit that made a differenttype of crystal as it was great to do something creativelike this with my son. RRP: £12.99 | 8 years +

Little Live Pets Bird CageBeauty Bellawww.character-online.comReviewed by Louisa Nashir

Bella is a very attractive toy and a joyto look at, her body is purple, herbeak is yellow and pink and she haspink, yellow and blue wings.

Bella comes with her own cage which is baby blueand white with a seed and water tray and a swingingperch.

Bella has several functions…Talkback – Bella will repeat a short messagecontaining whatever you say to her.

Petting – Bella has a touch sensor on her back andwill tweet when stroked.

Sleeping – Bella shuts off after 30 minutes whichmeans no waking up the household during the night.

A beautiful little toy which will have your little onetransfixed in seconds! RRP: £19.99 | 5 years +

Therizinosauruswww.schleich-s.comReviewed by Lee Anderson

What a beautifully detailed modeldinosaur. My 11 year old buddingpalaeontologist recognised the type

of dinosaur immediately and was impressed that thefeathers on the back of the dinosaur had also beenincluded. The colours and shading on the model arevery precise and detailed even down to the tiny pupilson the eye as well as very impressive claws.

The model is heavy enough to stand on carpet withoutkeep falling over but light enough for even a 3 year oldto play with happily. My son was really happy that thismodel had some moving parts (arms and jaw) but wouldhave been happier if the head moved as its moulded toone side as if he’s looking to the side which doesn’talways work in ‘let’s pretend play”.

On the whole though my son, who has been collectingdinosaurs for nearly 10 years and is very particularabout the details, was very impressed with this modeland loved it!

RRP: £14.99

Butterfly Maskswww.greatgizmos.co.ukReviewed by Laura Bown

The butterfly masks come in a bright andcolourful box which contains: 3 butterflymask templates, I tube of glitter glue, 3

plastic holders, 1 set of paints and a paint brush. Eachbutterfly mask is approx. 25cm and of a different design.

The kit is quite simple, your child can paint thetemplates, apply glitter and then attach it to one of theholder so it can be used as a mask. One of the things Ireally liked about this kit is that it all seems to be greatquality. The paints are nice and thick, the templates areprinted on nice card stock, and the paint brush is quitea good one.

My daughter loved making her butterfly mask. To paintone mask did not take long, maybe 10-15 minutes butas there are 3 templates the activity could last muchlonger.

Overall I would recommend this kit, perfect for keepinga little girl amused on a rainy day.RRP: £9.95


Zippy Suitwww.zippysuit.com | reviewed by Kerri Chard | rrp: £19.00

I absolutely adore the Zippy Suit by British babywear brand Zippy. Why no one has thoughtof this before I don’t know but any parent with a new born will understand why a zip makesfar more sense than poppers when it comes to the constant changing in and out of babygrows. Say goodbye to matching up pairs of poppers every few hours, the Zippy suit babygrows feature a single zip along the front reducing the time and stress of every change.

Zippy Suits are made of 100% rib cotton that has been woven to a very high specification toensure a snug, soft feel against babies’ skin. The softness of the baby grow is apparent upon first touch, and I wasreally impressed that quality was not compromised during the design process of these novelty garments. A highquality YKK zip really simplifies the task of changing a wriggling baby and I was glad to see that a zip guard isincorporated to protect baby’s skin and to stop babies playing with the zip. This was my biggest concern when Ifirst discovered the Zippy suit, but my mind is well and truly at rest after seeing the Zippy suit myself.

The Zippy baby grows also have elasticated ankles which is a welcome attention to detail. This is designed to keepbabies feet in the foot area. The suits also have ribbed cuffs which keep arms warm and really drive home theundeniable quality of the garment.

Zippy Suits are available with matching beanie hats and bandana bibs to make a perfect outfit and present.Available for babies aged 0 to 18 months – Anti-slip dots feature on sizes 6-12 and 12-18 months for when babiesare ready to tackle crawling and walking.I highly recommend the Zippy Suit for parents with little babies or foranyone looking to buy a unique and special gift for a new born baby.For more information or to purchase a Zippy Suit visit www.zippysuit.com.READER OFFER: What’s Good To Do readers can get 20% off by entering WGTD at checkout.

LEGO Ultra Agents Toxikita’s Toxic Meltdownwww.LEGO.com/UltraAgents | reviewed by Brian Grehan

When I was younger LEGO sets although excellent were a bit nondescript. Thesedays LEGO sets are a completely different prospect altogether! This Ultra AgentsToxikita’s Toxic Meltdown set is fantastic and it comes with a massive 429 pieces!

This helicopter set is amazing and requires a lot of concentration to successfullyput it together. For me the instructions are key to getting the helicopter to look in

anyway close to looking like it’s meant to on the box!

Another modern aspect of LEGO in the 21st century is the free app that accompanies the set. This is a far cryfrom the sets that this 40 something remembers from his childhood. The young person who helped me put thistogether was already starting to put it together as I was still trying to successfully open the box!

It was great fun putting the set together and the sense of achievement when it actually came together and lookedlike it was supposed to had me running round the room celebrating with arms aloft like I had scored a cup finalwinning goal!

Even with the online app it was good to actually play a game or putsomething together in the real world and not play on a games consoleor some other electronic device. LEGO Ultra Agents highlyrecommended!

Suitable age: 8-14 years

RRP: £34.99

Kids Go FreeThis voucher entitles one child aged 11 and under to enter free of charge when accompanied by a full paying adult. Visitors under 3 years of age enter free of charge. This Voucher is non-transferable, cannot be sold and no cash alternative will be offered. The exchange price of this Voucher is £0.0001. This Voucher cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher, offer, any discounted or concessionary rates, annual or family passes, inclusive travel packages, online, pre-booked or timed tickets. Amended, defaced or photocopied vouchers will not be accepted. This voucher is valid until 31/12/2014. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to refuse entry and to close and/or alter all or any part of the facilities including closure of rides and/or attractions for technical, operational, health and safety or other reasons including over capacity. Size height and age restrictions and medical warnings apply to certain rides and attractions.

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This voucher entitles one child aged 11 or under to enter SEA LIFE Manchester free of charge when accompanied by a full paying adult. Visitors under 3 years of age enter free of charge. This Voucher is non-transferable, cannot be sold and no cash alternative will be offered. The exchange price of this Voucher is £0.0001. This Voucher cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher, offer, any discounted or concessionary rates, annual or family passes, inclusive travel packages, online, pre-booked or timed tickets. Amended, defaced or photocopied vouchers will not be accepted. This voucher is valid until 31/12/2014. SEA LIFE Manchester reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to refuse entry and to close and/or alter all or any part of the facilities for technical, operational, health and safety or other reasons including over capacity. Size height and age restrictions and medical warnings apply to certain attractions.

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Kids Go Free

SEALIFE.CO.UK/MANCHESTER

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4-8 NovemberJeeves and Wooster In Perfect NonsenseThe Lowry www.thelowry.com

29 November - Francis House Christmas FairHeatons Sports Club www.francishouse.ork.uk

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What’s on and where...dates for your diaries Bedfordshire

14 November - Thank You For the MusicGrove Theatre, Dunstable www.grovetheatre.co.uk

10 December - Toddler’s ChristmasNational Trust Chiltern Gateway Centre, Dunstablewww.nationaltrust.org.uk

12 December to 4 January - Robin Hood and theBabes in the WoodGrove Theatre, Dunstable www.grovetheatre.co.uk

20 January - Philharmonia Orchestra:All-Russian Fireworks Bedford Corn Exchangewww.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk

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The Almanackwww.thealmanack-kenilworth.co.uk | reviewed by Debbie Tasker

The Almanack Pub/Restaurant is situated in Kenilworth, Warwickshireand serves British cuisine. Myself and a friend visited Friday night (11thJuly) and enjoyed a very pleasant evening here.

The dining area is at the rear of the establishment. It is well lit, spaciousand the tables are set out so as you are not on top of each other.

I opted for the Salt and Pepper Cornish Squid with Lemon Mayonnaise and my guest had the small Beef Saladfor starters. Both came quickly and were well presented. I can honestly say that it was the best squid I have everhad (and I have had plenty). The baby squids were coated in a light batter and were not chewy at all. The beefsalad came with the meat red, it was mentioned beforehand and Kelly my friend said it would be fine. I am not alover of beef served like this but Kelly said it was delicious. We also ordered some onion rings and they againwere perfect. Hot, crispy full of big slices of ‘proper’ onion and not greasy at all.

For our mains we went for the 10oz Sirloins off the specials board served with garlic mushroom sauce andDauphinoise potatoes. I felt the plate was a little small for such a large piece of meat and the portion of chips wasa little on the small side but it all tasted divine. We both agreed the sauce was to die for and the steak was cookedto perfection and succulent. The 28 day matured steaks are supplied by award winning butcher Aubrey’s. Wecleared our plates it was so moreish and thoroughly enjoyed every morsel.

The Almanack is clean and well kept. Toilets were acceptable as was the dining area and bar. There is backgroundmusic playing a nice touch and plenty of sofas to chill out on. We had a fantastic night with excellent food anddelicious cocktails. For more information, to view menus or to book a table visit www.thealmanack-kenilworth.co.uk or call 01926 353637.

The Embankment, Bedfordwww.embankmentbedford.co.uk | reviewed by Suzi Butler

The Embankment in Bedford is very scenic as it sits next to the River Ouse.

Upon entering the building, we were warmly greeted by the host who seated us.It was a very welcoming atmosphere as well. The waitress quickly brought us overdrinks and spent time going through the special board with us. I liked the personal

touch – most restaurants just leave you to read it yourself, but she took the time to explain it all to us. She wasquick and attentive to take our order, and the starters came out in good time.

Soon after finishing our starters, the main course arrived. I had ordered a ribeye steak with chips and peppercornsauce. My steak was tender, perfectly cooked and really tasty. My fiancé had a pork sirloin which he really enjoyed.The triple cooked chips which were served with his were so delicious I kept stealing them off his plate.

For desserts, I had the strawberry pavlova with vanilla ice cream and strawberries. I was pretty full at this point butit was so yummy I ate it all. It was very well presented and the strawberries and sauce complimented the pavlovareally well. My fiancé had three scoops of double chocolate ice cream in a waffle cone. The ice cream was reallycreamy, with chocolate pieces in and it was really nice to have it in a waffle cone.

The service was very good, the staff were smart, friendly, attentive and helpful. The food is quality fresh food at areasonable price. The restaurant is characteristic, clean, and modern.

We would highly recommend the restaurant to other people, and we would return again.

For more information, to view menus or to make a booking visit www.embankmentbedford.co.uk or call 01234 261332.

Brookmans in Brookmans Park is a friendly gastro pub in the south of Hertfordshire.Brookmans is part of the community and this is reflected in the regular events such asmonthly quiz nights, live music and occasional party nights, as well as the client base:a good mix of locals and commuters.

Brookmans is one of a number of Peach Pubs in England, where the focus is on thequality of the food and the enjoyment of the customer. The thinking behind Brookmansis simple and effective: they want people to feel welcome and eat fresh, good quality,seasonal ingredients combined to make tasty meals. All their meat is British, the chickenis free-range and the fish is native where possible.

We were received by friendly staff and were seated promptly in the main restaurant area. The pub is divided in twoby an island bar, so people can come for just a drink or two or enjoy a full three-course meal, as we did, in therestaurant area (it also has a separate room with a private bar that can be hired for functions).

For starters, I chose the sesame-crusted halloumi, apricot and chargrilled courgette salad. This dish worked reallywell, with the tangy sweetness of the apricots complementing the rich saltiness of the cheese. My husband chosethe pea, broad bean and courgette carnaroli risotto which was ‘creamy and flavoursome – the texture of the freshvegetables really came through.’

For mains, there was a wide choice, including a number of specials that looked tempting. I chose chilli and limespiked fishcakes with red pepper salsa and a side order of chips. The waiting staff promptly and politely found outthe type of fish in the fishcake for me, and assured me the chilli in the fishcake wouldn’t be too hot (the fishcake isalso served with a refreshing portion of crème fraîche and baby leaves). My husband was more limited in his choicesas he is vegetarian, but was impressed with how well cooked his main was: roasted red pepper, aubergine andspinach gratin. One small point for improvement would be to indicate clearly on the menu which meals are suitablefor vegetarians.

Overall, Brookmans was a fantastic dining experience and I would fully recommend it to others.

For more information, to view menus or to book a table visit www.brookmanspub.co.uk or call 01707 664144.

For more information, to view menus or to make a booking click here or call01926 411117.


Brookmanswww.brookmanspub.co.uk reviewed by alissa mcdonald

Rose & Crownwww.roseandcrownwarwick.co.uk reviewed by Victoria Moore

The Rose & Crown is about a five minute taxi ride from either of Warwick’sstations.

The varied menu is styled to a high class / experimental / experiencedpalate all delivered to a high tasty standard. Well chosen daily specialsadded to celebrate the seasons expand the varied and sophisticatedmenu.

Our starters were well presented. Nice bonus of the special chicken wings being accompanied by a selection ofsauces and a lemon hand dip bowl to assist even the messiest of ‘winger’s. The risotto cooked to just the rightdensity, and very tasty.

The homemade burger hit the spot although the presentation on a wooden board divided opinion. The aim andpresentation goals were clear and achieved and I personally felt the homemade ethos was enhanced with the rusticchic serving style. You can tell that the food is all homemade.

For more information, to view menus or to make a booking visit www.roseandcrownwarwick.co.uk or call 01926411117.

For more information, to view menus or to make a booking click here or call01926 411117.

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Your consumer rights when shopping this Christmas

In the second of our series of consumer rights with Helen Dewdney, The Complaining Cow,we find out about your rights this Christmas.

When you buy something for a gift, try and get a gift receipt where possible so that if the item is faulty the receiverof the item can take it back to the shop. Remember that if you have given something like a jumper and thereceiver simply does not like it, or it is the wrong size, the store does not have to take the item back or evenchange it, although most of the larger stores will. So you should ask the company’s policy on exchanges if youthink it is possible that the receiver will want to change the item.

Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (amended to the Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994) and The Supply ofGoods and Services Act 1982 items should be of satisfactory quality, be fit for purpose, be as described and lasta reasonable length of time. If the item breaches any of these things then you are entitled to a full refund, repairor exchange. However, after a few weeks you are deemed as having accepted the goods and the seller can thenoffer just the repair or refund. So if you don’t want to take the risk on say an electrical item, buy nearer toChristmas. Although most stores, particularly the larger ones will accept that the item has not been accepted atpoint of purchase when a Christmas present. Again, check policy at time of purchase.

However, if you keep asserting your legal rights you will usually come through with a satisfactory response. Helenhas helped many a person gain a full refund in the new year for an electrical item that was bought months beforeas a gift despite the company’s policy.

Keep the receipt if the store doesn’t give gift receipts, although remember that you only need a proof of purchaseto return an item which could be a credit card bill for example.

If you bought anything online your rights remain the same as above. Under the Consumer Contracts (Information,Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 which came into force June 2014 you now have 14 daysin which to change your mind so you can send an item back in this time. If it is a breach of the Sale and Supplyof Goods Act 1994 then you do not have to pay postage whatever the company’s policy may say! However, if itis just a change of mind then you may have to pay return costs depending on the company’s policy.

Helen Dewdney is a consumer rights blogger. She has appeared on BBC Breakfast, Rip Off Britain, national andlocal radio and national and local papers. See her entertaining and useful website atwww.thecomplainingcow.co.uk full of tips, advice and stories. You can also get more tips and see her mediaappearances on her YouTube channel, Helen Dewdney. She has now written a book, How To Complain: TheEssential Consumer Guide to Getting Refunds, Redress and Results!, which is available on her website,Amazon and eBay. See our review of it at http://whatsgoodtodo.co.uk/how-to-complain-by-helen-dewdney-aka-the-complaining-cow-review/.

You can also find her on Twitter @complainingcow and Facebook www.facebook.com/thecomplainingcow


How to Complain:The Essential Consumer Guide to Getting Refunds, Redress and Results!by Helen Dewdney

RRP: £15 from www.thecomplainingcow.co.uk


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Terms and Conditions:Only one member of each household may entereach competition in any given month.By entering any of our competitions you agree thatyour first name and town will be posted on ourwebsite in the event that you are a winner.Your personal details are only used for the purposesof sending out any prize(s) you may win. Wereserve the right to refuse any entry. The judgesdecision is final. Only entries via our entry form will be accepted.No cash alternatives are offered.

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All packed and ready to go our first day begins with the drivedown to Shropshire’s Union Canal, our starting point beingBrewood. Prior to our start we received a DVD, boater’shandbook and a couple of canal maps to help navigate usalong the way. It’s a good idea to study both the DVD and

handbook as it gives information on getting started, the basics such asoperating locks of different types, controlling the boat, mooring up, safety, rules and

good boat behaviour. It’s not essential to become an overnight seaman as you are given a goodexplanation from the staff at Countrywide Cruisers (part of the Drifters Waterway Holidays consortium) as wellas general holiday makers and regular boaters along the way are always willing to lend a helping hand.

Arriving at Brewood, my family and I (my wife Lisa and two daughters Holly, 9 andMegan, 7) were greeted by Nadia who was very friendly and helpful showing us whereto unload our car and park as well as helping the children wear the lifejackets theyprovided. The adults are offered one but we decided we would be ok without. Cliffwould be our guide around the boat who goes over the health and safety of the boatincluding taking care of the boats maintenance, checking the water and oil daily,topping up the water tank etc… Nothing too taxing and fairly straightforwardprocedures most people will be a custom to using their own car. Onboard the boatwas lovely, well kept, clean to a high standard, everything you would expect and morefrom the usual fridge/freezer, oven/hob kitchen facilities. Toilet and bathroom aremodern and clean. Plenty of fresh towels and even fresh fruit were waiting for ourarrival. Cliff came with us initially along the way for a couple of miles to make sure allwas ok and any additional questions were answered. Should you forget any of theprocedures then a log book is available onboard to quickly recap. Before long wewere on our own sailing down the picturesque Shropshire canal route on our veryown 40ft barge! A little daunting at first but soon you get the idea and control of theboat. As cliff says you can’t just do little turns with the tiller (steering beam) and youdo move the tiller left to go right and vice versa so steady as she goes is the order ofthe first day until you get comfy enough to pass on the reigns long enough to trust the other half whilst you dartfor the loo or grab a drink. After a few miles and the first lock we were relaxed and started to enjoy a greatexperience that you wouldn’t get with any “regular” holiday. The girls were very excited and can help out tyingthe ropes on and off and moving the lock gates as well as obviously playing pirates ha!

Our route is a simple one, great for newbie’s such as us, not many locks and tunnels to negotiate. We decidedour first stop would be Wheaton Aston, once a farming village that now consists of mostly houses and your typicalvillage amenities such as post office and convenience store.

To conclude the holiday surpassed us all we had a great time and the girls seemed to get on better than evermaybe due to the calming atmosphere and general kindness that’s offered here. Talking to some of the boatersyou can see why the choose this as a way of living and surely gives you food for thought heading back to housethat we work long hard hours to keep certainly makes you think twice that maybe there’s another way of living tolook at! We will definitely be re booking and heading out again this was a holiday but also a lifestyle change ifonly for a short time. One holiday where you get back and actually feel like you have had a break, a relaxingtime and yes you have to do a bit of exercise on the locks and mooring but how else do you expect to work offall that food and drink! Everyone must add this to their “bucket list” as one thing to try if only once.

The Wilson family holidayed with Countrywide Cruisers, part of the Drifters Waterway Holidays consortium, whichoffers over 500 canal boats for hire from 35 bases. 2014 prices start at £415 for a short break (three or fournights) on a boat for four people, weekly hire from £575.

For more information visit www.drifters.co.uk or call 0844 984 0322.

Drifters Waterway Holidayswww.drifters.co.ukReviewed by The Wilson Family

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Documents

What's Good To Do Magazine - November 2014 to March 2015