The Great British Pub - a visitor's guide

British Pubs Explained

The British Pub is an age old British institution that has stood the test of time and now it's centuries old. Medieval water was not safe to drink on account of all and sundry dispatching their trash, garbage and even excrement into the rivers and streams with all the abandonment of the modern day teenager slinging McDonalds wrappers under their car before they roar away in a souped up VW. Yes, the 'if I can't see it then it doesn't exist' mentality is not a new phenomena. Beer was invented as during the manufacturing process the water would be intensely boiled and, by doing so, kill off all the nasty bugs lurking within so, and you can use this, it was safer to drink beer than it was the water.



It became pretty obvious, very quickly, that two pints of this stuff they call beer made us very chatty and sociable, so it seemed logical to have a venue where upon we could drink said beer, talk, discuss and debate..... Then, after several more beers, we could continue to punch any person that disagreed with our given point of view while talking and debating and drinking. It was decided that this should be a public place, a house, a Public House! HOORAY!! But let us please now shorten this to Pub on account of the British being very, very lazy with language.



These places became very popular, workers would meet after the days toil to 'chew the cud' or, if in Ireland have 'a craic'. As the proliferation of these establishments grew rapidly the need to identify one Pub from the next spawned the Pub name. In the beginning they took the lead from their patrons or surrounding area, such as The Coach and Horses which, as the name suggests was a refuelling station for Horses and their occupants, that hauled people, mail or produce from one town to the next. The Coopers Arms would have been frequented by barrel makers and The Kings Head was a Royal sycophant and so on and so forth. The Red Dragon was by far the most popular name for a pub but landlords, again appreciating their clientele, got clever, for instance a pub near the financial district of London calls itself  'Shaws Booksellers' so when a suspicious boss asked what you did in your lunch break you didn't have to tell too many lies and could leave the boss to assume you were studying. My personal favourite name for a pub called The Dog House. The pub is born!



Every Hamlet, Village, Town and City had a pub or more than one pub. They did great business, admittedly these gaffs were mainly frequented by the working class but Winston Churchill loved the Pub, Prince William was often seen in Catherine's local pub in Bucklebury during their courting years and Madonna even owed a Mayfair drinking hole while married to Guy Ritchie. A Pub gives you and your area identity, you always met your mates in the pub, you probably met your spouse while in the pub, you've been offered dodgy cigarettes and stolen goods in a pub. It all happened in the Pub. The Pub has changed dramatically over the last 20 - 25 years, the death of UK manufacturing has meant that shipyards and coal mines no longer spew out thirsty workers 'when the whistle blows' which has seen a decline in the Pub trade with around 30.000 establishments closing in the past 10 or so years. The survivors have had to adapt and cater to a more family market. Nearly all Pubs now serve food and redefine themselves as Gastro Pubs or even Restaurants and, to be fair, a lot of them do an excellent job though it would be wise to take a large pinch of salt to claims of 'Home Made' and 'Best Fish and Chips'.


You must visit a pub on any visit to the UK and I am here to assist you.

Ordering

Do not be put off by stories of 'warm, dark beer' - try the beer, agreed, it isn't ice cold like your American lager/blonde glass of gas but it has a thing I am sure you are going to enjoy called flavour. Beer is served not warm but at room temperature, it isn't gassy or fizzy but neither is it flat. You will order a pint (it used to be a half pint for the ladies but girls are not having that these days so get them a pint too). It should be poured with the glass tilted to the pump at around 45 degrees and, when the liquid has 'settled' have no more than an inch of frothy white stuff at the top of your glass then you drink through the froth. Politely ask to have your pint 'topped off' if different, you paid for a pint so you are entitled to a pint.



Don't make that North American mistake of asking to taste the different selection of beers on offer, it is a legitimate request but, trust me, irritates the server no end as well as the guy behind you who, on this rare hot day in England, is 'spitting feathers' (desperate fro a drink). Ask which is the local beer and stick to that; London Pride in London, Newcastle Exhibition in Newcastle and Boddingtons in Manchester - each region will have its own brewery supplying locally produced beer so get on side with the locals and flatter them in joining them.



Ordering food in a pub is simple but perhaps different to what you are used to. Firstly, Pubs normally have an explanation as to what is expected of you on a blackboard sign as you enter the building. For example;
Find a table,
Note the Table number,
Order and pay for food at the bar.


Top Tip - while at the bar, ordering your food, purchase your drinks. These can be enjoyed in the 30 minutes it takes them to get your food to the table. In this scenario tipping is not really done here but it is always good to 'round up' if paying prior to the meal being delivered. In the event that you get table service with payment at the end of the meal then do as you normally do in a restaurant or see my last Blog 'Tipping in the UK'.

Good to know.

Old Tam's Chair. Mainly found, though not exclusively, in country pubs this is the best seat in the house but set aside for the exclusive use of an old, loyal and eccentric customer who always sits there. The locals all know it is Old Tam's chair and even though the old git isn't even in the pub at that particular moment, you cannot sit there just in case he turns up. Better to tell you now diplomatically than have Old Tam bark at you on his arrival.



The Round. In the pub it is customary, when meeting friends and family or indeed any gathering of people, to 'get your round in'. For instance, if there was 5 people in your party then you will purchase 5 drinks, this is known as 'your round' then on completion of these drinks the second person, then third person and so on will WITHOUT PROMPTING get their round in. If you do have to prompt then keep it civilised to start with by saying to the gathering 'whose shout is it?' That should be enough to shame the next one up to the bar. It is a heinous crime to join 'a round' then leave before you have honoured your commitment. It can be seen as a sign of weakness if you declare that you do not want to join 'a round' unless you happen to be struggling financially or the wife is ovulating and you might get called back.



One in the Wood. This is a description for a pint being left for you at the bar. Lets say your friend, Dave, has agreed to meet you in the Red Dragon at 7pm, you are late but, no worries, he orders a pint of Bishops Finger to enjoy while he waits. Then he gets a call from his wife to say that she is ovulating and he has to get home now and he had better be sober. When you eventually reach the pub you ask the landlord (this is before cell phones) 'where did Dave go' and he will pass on Dave's apologise but also hand you a pint, bought and paid for by Dave, with the words 'he left one in the wood for you'.



Last Orders Is called loudly and verbally along with a ringing of a bell to let the whole boozer know that they have one last opportunity to buy a drink, (usually around 10.30pm). Unwritten rule and landlords discretion says you then have between 5-10 minutes to get up to the bar and order before...



Time Gentleman Please is called, to politely ask you to go home. Ladies please do not be offended by the call being to gentleman and not ladies, this is a throwback to when the only customers in a pub were men. Traditionally the only ladies that frequented such dens of iniquity were either prostitutes or collecting for the Salvation Army. None of you are excluded, the landlord/lady would now like all of you, regardless of gender, to 'Drink up' with the question 'no homes to go to?'.

LEAVE!

Tipping in the UK - info for visitors

The unanswerable question I get a lot from visitors to the UK is 'how much do I leave as a tip? '

 

As talking cash in the Former European Country of Great Britain is still considered terribly rude to most of us and simply not the done thing dear boy, I am here to give you some answers. 

The culture of leaving or receiving a gratuity is still very alien to us Brit's so the perennial problem for any fair minded North Americans heading this way (and knowing you will tip), how much you should leave can become as complex to you guys as 'how many times do I apologise for Donald Trump?' When the first question when here is actually 'should I tip?'...you should always apologise for Trump. 

 

The first and most important thing you need to know is that 'WE ONLY REWARD GOOD SERVICE'

 

Whereas in the US it seems that it is an (unwritten) part of the Constitution to leave a tip, you do need to reset that thinking when calling in on us here in the UK. For, brace yourself, a tip here is NEVER expected but ALWAYS gratefully received. To explain, most of us (I'll come back to that) are happy to reward good service but can as easily register our disapproval of bad service by 1) NOT tipping before 2) 'tut tutting' our disapproval loudly while shuffling out of the restaurant. 

 

Traditionally, rule of thumb says that, we leave a gratuity of between 10-15%, my wife gives 10%, me 15%. But then it gets a bit more complicated...

 

I'll Keep it Simple..

 

Restaurants

 

Scenario 1

A £100 check - with ok service and you all getting the correct burger, leave £110.

 

Scenario 2

A £100 check - the service was good, lots of smiles and directions to Abbey Road, leave £115 - £120 

However, you'd be no less thought of in sticking to the £110 tip, as in Scenario 1, as long you back it up with a pleasant 'thank you' to your server as you depart. 

 

Scenario 3

A £100 check - the service was exceptional, burger cooked to how you, not the chef, like it, leave £130......you are now more popular than a Downtown Abbey Christmas Special and should have the restaurant door held open and next Royal baby named after you. 

 

Simple Eh? Hmm, buckle up.

 

Most restaurants now automatically, and somewhat sneakily, add a thing they call 'Service Charge' to your final bill, which we Brit's do not consider to be Cricket.

 

For example purposes, and sticking with the £100 bill, a 'typical' service charge added would read:

 

Total.                    £100.00

Service charge.    £12.50

Total.                    £112.50

 

The British do not like Service Charge as it is the management telling us that we are happy with the experience, before we have had the experience, we do not like being told what to do (A little German fellow tried similar bully boy tactics back in the 1940's so we took the cane from atop the cupboard and administered a damn, sound thrashing) . Restaurants do this because should the meal turn out to be a bad experience most of us, being British, will never ask for the check to be adjusted (we consider public confrontation unacceptable unless up against the French).  Restaurant management guilt you by saying that the Service Charge is introduced to ensure all waiting staff received a gratuity (nessacery because of the terrible wages they pay them!! ) Very worthy.... except remember? 'WE ONLY REWARD GOOD SERVICE!!!!'

 

Back to our £100 check.. 

 

Scenario 1. Pay the Service Charge but DO NOT ADD A FURTHER GRATUITY!!

 

Scenario 2. Pay the Service Charge then add £5 - £10 cash tip directly into the servers hand.

 

Scenario 3. Pay the Service Charge and add extra cash to server of around £20.

 

Poor Service. 

If you have had poor - terrible service then be brave, you are not going to like this next bit, but ask for the service charge to be removed from your check AND DO NOT TIP. They won't argue but simply return an amended check with you paying for only the food/ drinks you've consumed. Service Charge is NOT a law or an official tax (unless it is clearly brought to your attention, usually on the menu, prior to you ordering) and is, ultimately, them deciding what gratuity you should pay. A few years ago it was exposed that a lot of restaurants, not all, were charging you the service charge then NOT passing it onto their staff. Scandalous!!!

 

Here's what I do.

Assuming I first want to leave a tip, when the bill arrives I, quietly, ask the server if they actually benefit from the service charge. You will be shocked at how many of them give you a discreet shake of the head.

So, I insist the service charge be removed from the check then pass the cash tip (pertinent to Scenario's 1, 2 or 3) directly to the waiter/waitress. The restaurant will not/cannot complain as that money was going to the server anyway, RIGHT??. If the server tells me that the management are fair and that they split the gratuity then I would keep it official  ensuring all, waiter to chef and dishwasher, benefit. 

 

Remember,  if *Service Charge is going to be added then the restaurant should inform you of that on their menu before you order.

 

Transport.

My particular field of expertise and should I ever have the pleasure of driving you please don't forget to add your tip for these tips to my driving tip. You have several options with ground transportation so I'll break it down again as you'll get away with paying less to some than others.

 

London Black Cab 

With over 6000 'Cabbies' swarming the city they count many fantastic, polite and knowledgeable drivers on their ranks. 

For a Heathrow to City Centre a £70 fare can be rewarded with a £7 - £10 tip

Journeys across city. If the meter reads £17.20p give £20 and a 'keep the change' victory speech, if it is bang on £20 give £2. If you have no change for that, just say so, pay the £20 and leave ' as a tip is never expected but gratef..... yeah, you get it.

 

Good to know: 

All, but all London Taxi's have a credit card machine but you wouldn't believe the amount of times the machine is faulty or lost Wi-Fi.  Reflect that in your gratuity. Also, conversations best avoided are Uber, Brexit and 'which soccer team they follow?'

 

Black Car/Chauffeur Service

Heathrow to City Centre, Tip  £10 - £15

Journeys across City - all depends on service, vehicle and competence (as ever) but if making single journey £5 is good. If making several journeys then always wait until after last drop off and give £20 - £40.

 

Uber

Heathrow to City Centre £10.

Journeys across City: £3 - £5 

Always much more appreciated in cash and not on the app, as they have to wait for. (and declare) that. 

 

Hotels

5* 

Concierge/Door man - give him/her £20 as soon as you arrive.

Luggage Delivery £5

Taxi hail - £2

Hotel restaurant - see Scenario 3 in Restaurant section.

 

4*

Concierge/Door man - give him/her £20 as soon as you arrive.

Luggage Delivery £2

Taxi hail:  £1 - £2

Hotel restaurant - see Scenario 2 in Restaurant section.

 

3*

Concierge/Door man - you'll open your own door 

Luggage Delivery: lifts are over to your left

Taxi hail - you will hail your own taxi 

Hotel restaurant - do not eat in a 3* hotel restaurant, you deserve better.  

 

Good to know: while at the airport money change load up with £5 notes and £2 coins, very useful.

 

Private Tour Guides 

A tip should be between £40 - £100 depending on length of day and enjoyment of tour. 

 

Good to know: 

Please do not proffer cash towards your guide while in the hotel foyer, especially towards a lady, Other guests will witness this and could jump to the wrong conclusion on the type of service she has provided. On the flip side the same applies if you have enjoyed a 'lady of the night' as other guests might, again, jump to the wrong concussion and begin testing her Henry Vlll knowledge when all she wants to do is go home and sleep.

 

In summary :

A tip is never expected but always gratefully received.

 

'WE ONLY REWARD GOOD SERVICE'

 

Service Charge is still at your discretion* and not compulsory to pay.

 

Lastly, believe it or not, some people in the UK never, ever leave a tip, some will even ask for the service charge to be removed then still not tip the waiter even when the experience has been excellent!

 

So, believe me, you leaving any form of appreciation will be appreciated.

 

Enjoy your visit to the UK

 

I am Kevin Willis and I Travel for...My clients.

Chirton Grange Ltd. Award winning Chauffeur Company

 

www.chirtongrange.co.uk

www.twitter.com/chirtongrange  Follow us on twitter!

 

+44 7725 467263

Become a London Gentleman with Chirton Grange

A London Gentleman has long been held as the pinnacle of style and swagger. Ever since time began, the men in the Gentlemen's Clubs of London have been the yardstick of sophistication for men across the globe.
Now, thanks to Chirton Grange, you have the chance to step into their shoes for one day and leave the capital with everything you need to continue as a London Gentleman.
Beginning at your hotel, your chauffeur will collect and take you for a traditional wet shave at one of London's top barbershops. Whether it's a traditional shave at Trumper's, something more modern at Ruffians or a celebrity cut at Joe and Co, you'll be looking sharp as we head to our next stop.

At Floris, you'll be taken for a "scent consultation" before spending some time with an aftershave specialist to mix your own scent - unique to you and complimenting your natural musk - which you'll then take with you in your monogrammed bottle to the suit fitting.
Paul Smith is a British designer who opened his first store in Nottingham in 1970. Ever since then, he's been designing suits and clothing for the gentlemen of Britain and you'll follow in their footsteps at a personal fitting before being presented with some choices.
After ordering your suit, we'll take you on to Dukes Bar in Mayfair - home of the Martini - to enjoy James Bond's favourite drink, safe in the knowledge you're now a London Bloke.

A Standard British Summer

Summer is coming to the UK (slowly) and before it all arrives, we thought we'd fill you in on some of the events taking place around the capital and the rest of the country. These are the standard annual events in a British summer but are, nonetheless, must see ahead of our quirkier preview of summer.

CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

The tents and marquees have already begun springing up in the Royal Chelsea Hospital grounds overlooking the River Thames. By Tuesday 23rd May, it'll all be ready to go. Hundreds of gardeners, both professional and amateur will be exhibiting the fruits of their last 12 months labour for London and the World to see. The show runs from the Tuesday until the Saturday so book now before it sells out!

WIMBLEDON

In July, the cream of World tennis descends on SW17 to compete for one of the most prestigious trophies in the LTA calendar. Along with the talented competitors, the cream and strawberries, champagne and Pimms also descends on this decadent tournament. Starting on 3rd July and running until the 16th, this tournament runs for two weeks and although tickets have long since sold out, a select number are also available in another British classic each morning, "The Queue".

FA CUP FINAL

This year Arsenal take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final in May. The game, at Wembley Stadium, is the first all London tie in the Final since the same two teams competed in the 2002 final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. Again, tickets are selling fast but hospitality is still available for the day as are chauffeur cars to get you there

ROYAL ASCOT

The jewel in the horse racing calendar, Royal Ascot takes place between Tuesday 20th June and Saturday 24th June. The 5 day event brings together Royalty with race fans in all their finery to cheer on the finest that British Horse Racing has to offer. A day's hire for Ascot are available by car, coach and even helicopter.

A Magical Tour

At Chirton Grange we’re one of the few Muggles who have the knowledge of the magical world and we’ve used it to bring you the complete Harry Potter tour. The day in London will involve traveling in a mystical Mercedes around the various sites before heading up to the Warner Brothers Studio Tour to get the complete immersive Potter experience.

After being collected from your hotel in the morning, we’ll whisk you down to the Ministry of Magic and show you the entrances – sorry, you can’t go in – before a quick spin around Gringotts Bank with a stop for photos. We’ll then head to Diagon Alley and see the Leaky Cauldron as well as showing you the bridge tragically destroyed by the Death Eaters (miraculously still standing).

Once the selfie tour of Potter sites in London is complete, we’ll apparate off to North London and the Harry Potter Studio tour. This really is the best way to immerse yourself in the world created by JK Rowling, you’ll get to ride a broom, see more of Diagon Alley, visit the Great Hall at Hogwarts as well as learning spells and incantations.

And after all that, we’ll whisk you back to your hotel where you’ll be able to fall under a heavy sleeping spell and recharge for the rest of your break. NOTE – Please ensure you bring wands, you never know what Fantastic Beasts we’ll encounter

A Tour of Cornwall

Well, Devon, Cornwall and Avon to be really precise... Recently we were asked by a client to put together a tour for the area for them and some friends. Naturally, we were only too happy to piece together our favourite parts of the area and the client - so please with our work - has naturally booked the tour already... In case you're wondering, it goes as follows

Day One 

Arrive to London airport (time to be confirmed)

Depart airport for Stonehenge (driving time 2 hours)

A World Heritage Site, Stonehenge has stood for around 4500 years, probably a place of worship and/or sacrifice, with no one truly knowing the answer as to why it was built and why in this spot.

Spend 1.5 hours then depart for:

Thomas Hardy Cottage (driving time 1hr 15)

Few authors have such strong associations with the natural and cultural heritage of their local area as Thomas Hardy. This cottage, where Hardy was borne in 1840, was built of cob and thatch by his grandfather and has been little altered since the family left.

Spend 1.5 hours then depart for;

West Bay, Bridport

The picturesque town of West Bay better known to viewers as ‘Broadchurch’ in the hit TV show

Overnight stay in Bridport/West Bay.

Day Two

After breakfast we depart Devon into Cornwall

Heading over Dartmoor National Park and stopping for coffee at the infamous Jamaica Inn. Built in 1750 as a coaching inn for long horse drawn journeys from London and Bristol into Cornwall, the pub inspired Daphne Du Maurier’s book of the same title after she and a friend became lost in fog while out riding, the horses leading them to the inn and safety. Said to be one of the most haunted buildings in England.

Onto Bodmin and Wenford Steam Railway

11.15am board a restored steam train for a 15 minute journey through the English countryside, disembark and meet your driver at Boscarne Junction. Highly recommend pre-ordering your first (but not last) Cornish pasty to sustain you through the journey. Like champagne, the Cornish pasty is recognised as unique to the area and pasties made anywhere else but in Cornwall cannot carry the Cornish title.

As time dictates and at your leisure we explore the beautiful fishing villages of Looe, Polperro, Fowey (a must) before booking into your hotel in and around the town of St Austell

Day Three

After breakfast we visit the Eden Project

In the afternoon we will down to the hidden but beautiful fishing village of Cadgewick where you can take a pub lunch or buy fresh seafood, caught that morning, from the little shop. Onto the Lizard Point which sees you stand at the most Southerly point in the UK.

A quick look at Portleven before check in to your hotel near Redruth for 3 nights

Day Four

Depart for the Minack theatre

The idea for the theatre was born when Rowena Cade, who lived in Minack House at the top of the cliff, decided to create a place for local drama enthusiasts to perform Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Over the winter of 1931 and into 1932 Rowena and her gardener, Billy Rawlings, moved endless granite boulders and earth, creating the stage and the lower terraces of the theatre, in the same place as you see them today. The first performance was in August 1932.

PLEASE NOTE: this has to be a morning visit as they have a Matinee Production.

Stop off at the lovely coastal village of Mousehole en route to:

St Michael’s Mount, Marazion. A stunning castle set on its own island which has been in the same family, Lord and Lady Aubyrn since the 17^th century. A working island that employs 30 people and their families

You can walk over via the cobbled causeway at low tide and either walk back before high tide or, if more time is needed, then the boat back to the mainland.

Day Five

Starting at Lands End, famously the most South West Point of the UK, it is a must to have a photograph taken alongside the signpost that reads NEW YORK….SYDNEY….etc. We then head up the northern coastal path, passing through Sennen Cove, Levant Mine towards St Ives, home of surfers and the Tate Modern Gallery. Finishing at St Agnes before heading back to the hotel.

Day Six

Check out of the hotel and, after breakfast head to the north of Cornwall taking in Padstow, a lively fishing harbour that boasts three restaurants of the acclaimed chef Rick Stein, Fish and Chips are a must here. Along the coast to Tintagel Castle home of the fabled King Arthur, the first King of England before we spend the afternoon, after about an hour drive, at the unique village of Clovelly.

Drive to the Historic city of Bath and stay overnight.

Day Seven

Visit the historic city of Bath before departing for the airport check in

1hr 45 minute drive to Heathrow or 2hr 15 minute drive to Gatwick

For this tour, and more like it, visit www.chirtongrange.co.uk or email us contact@chirtongrange.co.uk

 

A Little Story

A gentleman of 81 years approached us recently and asked us to build a tour programme for his next visit to the UK. The problem was that while we had worked with him last year we where booked through a concierge company. Even though we now, for others reasons, there was a conflict of interest and we had to politely refuse the enquiry.

The customer said, "I've been coming to the UK, mainly London, for more than 60 years and requested, if not begged, them to show me something new, different and exciting.......so they booked me the Tower of London, Changing the Guard and the London bloody Eye".

We really couldn't/wouldn't be able to help this guy but can help many others.

Chauffeuring is our core business but we have developed or own unique brand of tours. Combining our knowledge with the very best Blue Badge Guides we, your clients, implore you to find Find The Gap, Go off Piste and THINK DIFFERENTLY!!!

London Bridge

Londinium (later becoming London) translates as "the settlement on the wide river" and is where the Roman's stopped marching and killing to begin work on establishing their new Capital City (cheekily ignoring Colchester, Essex on the grounds that it didn't have any Premier League football teams)

And so to work, beginning, as any self respecting Sim City builder would do, by building a bridge. 

Today's London Bridge is, in my opinion, the most disappointing of all the bridges that span the Thames. Chauffeuring around many tourists as we sight-see our way across this great city I'm yet to meet anyone who isn't underwhelmed by London Bridge, admittedly there are a lot who believe Tower Bridge to be London Bridge but, that explained, not one person has extolled the simple concrete structure to be anything more than that, a simple concrete structure. 

The best fact I know about the current pontoon is that it is hollow and the warm air from the Tube is pushed through meaning that while all other bridges will freeze over in a snow storm, London Bridge won't. Hmm.

This hasn't always been the case though. London Bridge has a proud and magnificent history with the area carrying many great spans over the centuries. My favourite was a time when the bridge, carried not just people and traffic, but houses, shops and even a two storey church, a la Pontevecchio, in Florence. 

 

 

To get a glimpse into that time I head to the north side of the Thames, St Magnus the Martyr Church to see a 4 metre model depicting the Bridge as it would have appeared in around the 1400. It is an amazing peice of work and the detail of around 900 people crowding the bridge shows King Henry V riding in from Southwark with the Mayor of London waiting to greet him. There's even a deliberate planting of a 20th century character which I didn't find (apparently it is a policeman) 

The claustrophobic hustle and bustle show London as crowded then as now and why the congestion on the Bridge forced a decision that if crossing from North to South then you stayed to the left, as you did if coming from Southwark to the City of London. We still to this day drive on the left or 'correct' side of the road.

The small exhibition also has pictures and facts about the Bridge history, like the last transition saw an American businessman relocate, stone by stone, the outgoing bridge to give a focal point to his new housing development in Lake Havasu, Arizona. My favourite picture is the one of two, new and old, Bridges along side each other. 

London Bridge has, of all the Bridges, the greatest history. It is where the decapitated heads of 'traitors' where gruesomely mounted on a spike to deter any of the like-minded. Where Watt Tyler crossed with his revolting peasants, though he had to wait until the bridge opened as it used to closed at 9pm.

The exhibition is small, free (donations excepted) and walking distance from the Tower of London. 

Your Very Own Brexit

Brexit has certainly made a few headlines across the World and it seems to be the only thing anyone can discuss at the moment across the UK. Whatever the implications for the UK itself, the economy and foreign policy, there’s one immediate benefit to people across Europe and the World… With the pound dropping against the Euro and the Dollar, there’s never been a better time to holiday in the UK.

The 38 year low of the pound on Friday had the hidden benefit of making your Dollar and Euro go much further than it ever has! Where $500 on Thursday night would have given you £333.21, today you’ll get £379.41 for it. That’s a massive £46.21 extra which could be spent in the following ways…

·        Family tickets to the Tower of london

·        two adult tickets on the london eye

·        ten pints of lager

·        two tickets to an English Premier League match

Not only will currency be cheaper to exchange, but the relative cost for hotels, flights, food and drink will all drop against the previous cost of a UK holiday. Airfares from the US have dropped to below $500 for a round trip which should be incentive enough to visit the UK.

But it’s not just the price of flying that should entice you to the UK, connections on to Europe won’t always be as easy as they currently are. Right now, when you arrive in London and clear immigration you then don’t need to again if you decide to carry on to Europe afterwards. Although we love a queue in Britain, the rest of the World isn’t so keen so to avoid those long queues the next two years is when you need to be visiting the UK.

Luckily, if you’re connecting through the UK rather than staying, there’s a number of options if you have a few hours to spare. For a much cheaper price than ever before (cheers Brexit), you can take a Chirton Grange car and spend the day in Windsor – like the Queen would – or even head into London for a few hours. The car will, of course, have you back at Heathrow in enough time for your onwards flight.

Obviously, we’d rather you stayed and toured the City with us. The popular Chirton Grange Spy Tour which reveals the gruesome World that lurks beneath the surface in London will no doubt have some more stories added to it over the coming years and the family fun of the Football Tour will now give you a chance to see more English talent than ever before thanks to immigration laws changing.

So although there’s a lot to frown about with Brexit, maybe there’ll never be a better time to visit the UK…

Making it happen, whatever...

One of the greatest sights you will ever behold is that of the London Marathon. Thousands of runners, from top athletes through to people dressed as chickens, pound their way past the many familiar landmarks on route to completing many months of training.

It isn't so welcome in the chauffeur world though but only for the practical, obvious reason of all the roads being closed. So it is the one day in the calendar that we at Chirton Grange don't go looking for work in the Capital. That said, we do not ignore any client request but certainly look out for other companies wanting to generously pass on to us that 09:00 Greenwich to London City airport transfer.

Some client requests are helpful in that their route doesn't cross that of the Marathons so, in fact, they are easy jobs as most motorists refuse to drive in London on Marathon Sunday....not so simple this year though.

Our mission, should we choose to accept it, comes from one of our largest clients. To get 12 of their valued Travel Agents from Heathrow airport to the Cheval Three Quays Hotel at around 1pm on Sunday.....Marathon Day. The hotel sits beautifully on the River Thames practically underneath Tower Bridge and will be hemmed in by over 30000 runners, the route crosses past Tower Bridge twice, with roads closed from 0600-2000. The last thing anyone needs after an 8 hour flight is a further 8 hours sitting in Starbucks

At Chirton Grange we always look for solutions not problems, say yes then work out how, and here is how we are going to do it. 

First we pick up the group in 2 x Mercedes People carriers we would normally use a coach for 12 people but we might need to 'weave' the back streets and this will be quicker. Then, after some investigation we know we can get to the London Eye before meeting any road closure. The cars finish here and we  now escort our guests to the London Clipper Boat service placed right under the Eye. In around 20, uninterrupted, minutes we will step off at the Tower Pier not 50 metres from the hotel door.

The added bonus is that our guests will get an amazing view of the runners as they head down the Embankment and all this for only an extra £7 per head when using their pre-purchased Oyster cards. Our escort will assist with check in before jumping back on the Clipper and return to the waiting car. Tom Cruise eat your heart out.

Soccer Tours

We refer to it as 'Day 3 Syndrome'

Most parents reading this who have brought their family to tour the UK will know exactly what we are talking about. Day 3 is when the younger members hit the wall and are done with Henry VIII and Stonehenge. Well, we have the solution.

First, let's start as we mean to go on as in dear old Blighty we call the worlds must popular game 'football' and, while a huge chunk of the rest of the planet refer to it as 'soccer', we are going to pull rank on this because, well, we invented the sport so it's our ball and you don't get to play unless you agree.

The English Premier League is arguably the greatest football league in the world and, without question, the richest. England also has the oldest professional team (Notts County) and we are the only country to have 4 professional, full time leagues. In short, we live football.

On their visit to the UK it is on most sports fans 'tick list' is to watch a game of football. With the majority going on to break the bank by committing to the Holy Temples of the football powerhouses and the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

While we totally understand that, and you should do this if you can, we want to introduce you and your family to a football experience that aims to blow away the jet-lag and burn some energy off those who are now twitching for their iPad again.

Every week is different and dependant on the fixtures etc but it should go something like this:

Eat breakfast like a professional and meet us in the hotel lobby for a private chauffeur transfer to the:

Wembley Stadium Tour- the home of football

Don't be fooled by the state of the art stadium you'll see today; this place is haunted by the only England World Cup win and over a century of Glorious FA Finals, internationals and concerts. With time for photos by the pitch and in the dressing rooms, this really is football heaven.

Then onto

Foot Golf 

Always had a problem getting the golf club to do as you tell it? Well now let your feet do the talking, as the name suggests,  you are going to play a round of golf by kicking a  football around the fairway and into the hole. A fantastic and fun day part of our day but who will get the boasting rights and come out on top?

Next up, it's lunch. This is always flexible and dependant on time but you call the shots. Let us know what you fancy and we will book it in advance so we are not late for the BIG 3pm kick off.

Gillingham, Brentford, Leyton Orient are teams we would be very surprised you'd heard of but that is where we are heading next to watch professional football at a high level if not the exactly the top level. Stopping briefly at the club shop (not compulsory) for a memento of your new found passion it's then into the ground to watch the match.

There is a wealth of quality football (subject to alteration) being played every weekend away from the big wages and high ticket priced top teams. Football watched by 'ordinary' people, in places the corporate giants shy away from sponsoring, where you can still stand on the terraces and drink your Bovril* watching tackles fly in that 'they wouldn't get away with in the Premier league. Football player as we all watched growing up here in the UK.

After the match, you will of course then be whisked back to your hotel to get the kids into bed and enjoy a few glasses of wine!

You will need suitable clothing, footwear and a sense of fun. The love of soccer (we'll give you that one) is helpful but not the determining factor in the whole family enjoying the day together.

Email is to find out more contact@chirtongrange.co.uk and pleased do so in advance of your traveling so we can work out the best day/game possible to make it a day to remember. 

 

*Other meat flavoured drinks are available... Actually I don't think they are, but alcohol is...

Beat the January Blues with Chirton Grange

So Christmas has been and gone. New Year came and went. I guess now you're all back to the grind and but not quite with it enough to be writing 2016 when you write the date? Thought so.

It's an odd time of year this, people are all getting over Christmas and that seems like an excuse for many not to get out and do things ("Oh I would, but you know, it's January..."). Well fear not because Chirton Grange has a comprehensive list of January and February goings on around the capital that we're sure will get you out there.

London Art Fair - Business Design Centre, Islington
This one probably ticks that New Year's Resolution box to be more cultured. The event takes place at the Business Design Centre in Islington from 20th January until the 24th January. The even better news is that with Time Out London, you can get 40% off a ticket...

London International Mime Festival
The mime festival takes place from 9th January until 6th February at various venues and in various events over the time period. There is a full list available here but as mime isn't really our cup of tea, we haven't got a lot else to say about it........

Henry IV - Barbican
Again, if you're after filling your culture commitments, January in London can help you out. The RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) returns to the Barbican for parts one and two of the Henry IV between 14th January and 23rd January. We understand that Richard II will be making an appearance later in the year. Probably best to book a car for this one and enjoy with a lovely evening meal. You can contact Chirton Grange about these bookings...

Lumiere London
This is fantastic, this. 30 artists have been asked to fill London with light between the 14th and 17th January. There's anything from neon dogs to light up stick men climbing buildings going on. There's a full list of 30 attractions here, alternatively, you can book an evening tour with Chirton Grange and we'll show you them all!

Chinese New Year
So you thought New Year was over, right? Well it isn't. Relive the celebrations with the Chinese New Year parade in London on 14th February with the morning parade through Charing Cross Road and Shaftesbury Avenue. You can follow this up with an evening in Chinatown for the celebrations. Why not treat that special someone since this year Chinese New Year coincides with Valentine's Day.

Imagine Children's Festival
The Southbank Centre will once again put children in charge as it celebrates the annual children's festival. This year there's a Roald Dahl theme to proceedings and various readings by other authors, as well as Music, Film and comedy for appropriate ages. This runs from 10th Feb until the 21st so check out the website for more information

Grimaldi Service
This is a must see, it really is. You won't think so when I tell you what it is, but it's a must see... On 7th Feb, clowns will gather at the All Saint's Church in Haggerston to honour the king of clowning, Joseph Grimaldi. Obviously. Well worth a look, you can book a car for the occasion with Chirton Grange

Craft Beer Rising
Definitely book a car for this one, you won't want to be driving or negotiating public transport... The Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane will be hosting 150 exhibitors of finest ale, craft beer and lager with over 380 beers to be sampled. Although there's no token system anymore, the beers are still much cheaper than you'll get them for in pubs across the country so get down to take advantage. This festival runs over the last weekend in February, 26th-28th.

So there you have it, try and get out and do just a few of them and I'm sure the January/February blues won't strike this year. It'll also get 2015, sorry I mean 2016 off to a cracking start and tick a few of those resolution boxes.

Of course, better than trying one or two is to contact Chirton Grange and incorporate them into a London tour with a dedicated car and driver for the day, meaning you can concentrate on just enjoying yourself

Christmas Skating Rinks in London

Christmas is a time when people tend to eat and drink a bit more than they should. They also splash out on gifts that they'd never normally purchase. They also, for some reason, combine this with taking up an Olympic sport. As you can probably tell already, I'm not a big skater myself but many people in the UK and the capital are. I'm not down on skating personally, I can see the attraction and romance in it, I just can't do it... So with that in mind, please understand this list of skating rinks in London is graded by the whole experience, not the quality of the skate!

Eye Skate - London Eye

This rink is situated directly underneath the London Eye making it a really rather magical experience. In the dark evenings when the Eye is lit up and the Christmas lights around the rink come on, you couldn't wish for a nicer setting to fall and break your ankle... I mean skate! You can combine with a flight on the London Eye for a small break in the price or just solo skate. Prices are £9.45 for adults and children go free (except on the weekend).

Hampton Court Palace

This has been going on for some years but is a reasonably well kept secret... The magnificent palace of Henry VIII sets the backdrop for one of London's more spectacular skates. Luckily, it's separate from the maze - could you imagine getting out of there on skates? What's more, this year the palace celebrates 500 years of existence so combine it with a look round the palace, it's well worth it! Not to mention of course, the Ice Bar and Café for refreshments. Tickets are £11.50 for adults and £8.00 for children.

Wembley Park

Imagine skating around with a Christmas fair, food market and vintage fairground rides in the background. Now add in the spectacular archway of the home of English football and you've got skating heaven... The designer outlet at Wembley is to thank and for just £12 (adults) or £10.50 (kids) you can be a part of it!

Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum, designed by Alfred Waterhouse, is a pretty spectacular sight most of the time. However, now there's a skating rink and Christmas fairy lights adorning the imposing building, it's worth of its own adjective. They've even been considerate enough to add a smaller children's rink so the little ones can practice before they take the plunge on the main rink. Tickets are £15.40 for adults and £10.45 for children.

Skate at Somerset House

There's a Fortnum's Lodge selling champagne and afternoon tea. Do you need another reason? Ok, this is traditionally the most well known of London's winter skate rinks but with the rise of the rink, it's been creative to stay ahead. This year there will also be club nights provided by Ministry of Sound and Island Records. I can't believe you want more reason than that? Prices are £14.60 for adults and £10.10 for children.

Tower of London

The rink, creatively is in the dry moat. In my head this is harping back to a great tradition of when the moats froze over and the poor people were invited to skate on it at Christmas. That probably isn't it at all but it's a nice romantic image to end on... Just don't misbehave here, they've got ready made cells!

Well that's our favourite rinks in London. An honourable mention goes to the one at Canary Wharf that just didn't make the cut. Purely on the fact that you'd have to be hanging around all those finance people... Do you want that at Christmas?