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A Luxury Gift Guide

by Steph Fox 12th December 2020

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About Me

Stephanie Fox: Newcastle, Travel and Lifestyle

A North East blog run by a 30-something, social media manager and travel lover based in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Expect inspiration for days out, dog friendly adventures, UK breaks, European getaways and more. Passionate about good food, beautiful hotels and travel photography.

stephfoxblogs

📸 Sharing places to go, eat, drink & stay for adults & dogs
📍 Newcastle, Travel, UK stays, NUFC, Coast life
🖥 Blog👇🏼

New menu at the Mal! Newcastle @malmaisonhotels (

New menu at the Mal!

Newcastle @malmaisonhotels (ad) invited me to try their new menu last week, four courses including nibbles, starters, mains and desserts

I love a padron pepper, but the warm battered olives really did it for me before we even got started, they really shouldn’t be good but they just were 🫒

Tomato carpaccio and buffalo chicken wings were the choice of starters - wings had a good kick and the tomato was very fresh. A ‘springy’ choice 🍅

Steak mains were flat iron with fries and New York strip, served with a selection of sauces (truthfully these could have been a touch warmer) but they were catering for a lot of people, and long stem broccoli to go with it. I’d order both again but think the New York strip just edged it, cooked to a perfect pink 🥩

Im not usually a dessert person but that baked cookie dough had the entire table impressed, a solid 10 for that.

A menu with multiple choices I could choose from, and you can’t beat a quality meal with a view which you undoubtedly get from the Newcastle Mal restaurant

#malmaison #malmaisonnewcastle #springmenu #newcastle #newcastlequayside #newcastleupontyneuk #northeastfood #northeasteats #newcastleeats

I love when my Sunday mornings look like this…

I love when my Sunday mornings look like this…

☕️ 🌊 🌅 🐾

#tynemouth #tynemouthbeach #tynemouthlongsands #coastlife #northtyneside #sunday #sundaymorning #sunrise

An in the moment post for a change, Durham was bea

An in the moment post for a change, Durham was beaut today ☀️

#durham #visitdurham #durhamcathedral #durhamcity #countydurham #northeast #livingnorth #dji #djimini3pro #dronephotography

…they’re just too good 👌🏼 One of my fav

…they’re just too good 👌🏼

One of my favourite treats in Newcastle and I hadn’t been since they gave the warehouse a facelift it’s looking cute. I get so impatient waiting to get up to the window to see what’s in stock 😂

Aprils menu has some corkers, I always love the simple jam filled sugar, but this month they also have banana and hazelnut, vanilla custard and brownie fudge, and at weekends the Doughnut Bostock with blackcurrant jam and almond fragipane. Can confirm it was a solid 10.

Im not done, I also got ten of the doughnut holes dipped in cinnamon sugar and for such a small simple thing they were truly heaven in your mouth. I can’t stop thinking about them.

For anyone who doesn’t know @provengoodsco are at Hoults Yard open Thurs - Sun 10-3pm 🍩

See you in the queue!

#doughnuts #houltsyard #newcastle #newcastleupontyne #northeastfood #newcastlefood #newcastleeats #northeasteats #northeastfood #newcastlelife #newcastlefoodies

Cornish luxury at Cider Barn! This was my fabulou

Cornish luxury at Cider Barn!

This was my fabulous holiday cottage for the first half of my week in Cornwall with @aspects_holidays (ad)

It was absolutely ideal in so many ways especially for someone who hadn’t been to Cornwall before, and is exactly the sort of place I’d have chosen for myself and Arthur. Here’s why 👇🏼

🏠 an entire place full of character, the barn has been renovated to such a high standard but kept those high ceilings, wooden beams, cute exterior and ladder up to the loft bedroom
🖥️ high spec tech, wifi, tv, sonos speakers but all subtly hidden so if you want a switch off digital detox you could
🐾 dog friendly, with a little welcome hamper for arthur and the enclosed garden was ideal
🌳 the garden had seating area, bbq, washing line and was fully gated
🛁 I loved the peacock blue bathroom and that huge copper tub, all towels and robes provided
🛌 2 adults - the comfiest loft bedroom, accessible by a ladder
🔥 log burner for cosy nights in

🌊 it was just 5 miles from the nearest coastal town of Port Isaac, and even closer where little villages of Chapel Amble and St Kew
🍻 many of the reviews said there were pubs within walking distance but I was out exploring and had specific restaurants I wanted to try in Port Isaac so didn’t get to them this time

For my first ever visit to Cornwall I literally packed the kitchen sink and this place was just perfect to rock up to after a long journey to both relax and explore a new place. You have to take so much for a British staycation as god knows what weather you get and Cider Barn was a unique home away from home that still had that luxury unique and boutique element I always love 👌🏼

#cornwall #aspectsholidays #visitcornwall #cornishcoast #portisaac #luxurycottage #convertedbarn #boutiquestay #uktravel #ukstaycation #ukstays #dogfriendlytravel

NEW in Whitley Bay 🍸 The Library 📚🍻 - a

NEW in Whitley Bay 🍸

The Library 📚🍻 - a bar/pub at the top of South Parade serving local beers, cocktails, wine and Tynemouth coffee.

It has an outdoor space with seating - don’t worry they provide blankets for those chilly Whitley Bay breezy days, and lots of both bar and lounge style seating inside.

Dog friendly, and all the art work on the walls some of which is very locally focused is for sale 🖼️

Is South Parade finally making a comeback???? A lot of memories down that street 😂 and this is a canny new addition to that end of Whitley Bay.

📍 @thelibrarywb

#whitleybay #southparade #whitleybaylocal #newbar #cocktails #pub #beergarden #northtyneside #dogfriendly #yourcoast #coastallife #northeastcoast #northeastuk #livingnorth

Go on the lasses 💕 You might not like all of t

Go on the lasses 💕

You might not like all of them, but there’s something for everyone 🍸

#girlsnight #cocktailbars #newcastle #newcastleupontyne #newcastlebars #newcastlequayside #cocktails #bottomlessbrunch

IMO… @loborojoquay has been one of the best res

IMO…

@loborojoquay has been one of the best restaurants at the coast for ages and I was obsessed with their takeaways during lockdown.

I’m so pleased they’ve gone from strength to strength and opened more branches including the latest round the corner from me just off Park View in Whitley Bay @littlelobotaqueria

Their chorizo tacos are my absolute favourite 🤤🤤🤤 but those salted nachos were bloody good for an appetiser I’ve been thinking about them since.

🍸 margaritas 10
🌮 tacos 10
🇲🇽 service 10

🐾 dog friendly too

#mexicanfood #tacos #margaritas #whitleybay #whitleybayfood #northtyneside #newcastle #newcastlefood #northeastfood

Experience it differently this week 👇🏼 Ther

Experience it differently this week 👇🏼

There’s only really this week left where the famous cherry blossom at @alnwickgarden will be in full bloom, and now the schools are back it might be a bit quieter, but they’re also offering an after hours experience.

Enjoy the largest orchard of its kind in the evenings after closing time between 6:8:30pm on 18th, 20th or 21st April for £10. It included a glass of fizz to enjoy, and fewer guests.

I went at 9am so it wasn’t too busy but this sounds a lovely way to do it!

Note - it’s white not pink as some filtered photos/videos might have you thinking.

And it’s beautiful! 🌸🐝

#alnwick #alnwickgardens #alnwickgarden #taihaku #cherryblossom #spring #northumberland #visitnorthumberland #ournorthumberland

🏠 #newcastle #newcastleupontyne #newcastleupo

🏠

#newcastle #newcastleupontyne #newcastleupontyneuk #northeast #northeastuk #sunday #newcastlelife

Everywhere I ate in Cornwall 👇🏼 ☕️ Crep

Everywhere I ate in Cornwall 👇🏼

☕️ Crepe & coffee - @shesellsmeva Mevagissey
🦀 Crab sarnie - @themote_portisaac
🫔 Giant sausage roll - @st_agnes_bakery
🦞Lobster, fries and rosé - The Lobster Shed at @the_pig_hotels Harlyn Bay
🫕Tapas lunch - @scarlethotel
🫖Cornish pasties, scones for cream tea - @cornishbakery
🍕Pizza - The Angry Anchovy Port Isaac
🍻Cider, snacks and they do pizza - @schoonerscornwall
🍨 Ice cream and fish n chips - everywhere!

Diet starts tomorrow but it was all totally worth it!

#cornwall #cornwallfood #cornwallcoast #ukstaycations #ukstaycation #dogfriendly #cornwalluk #lobster #crabsandwich #portisaac #mevagissey #padstow #trevaunancecove #cornishpasty #stagnes #harlynbay

What a beautiful place 🌊 I really can see why

What a beautiful place 🌊

I really can see why people make the trip even from as far north as Newcastle if not further. My time in Cornwall is over but I’ll be sharing plenty more over the coming weeks

A big thank you to @aspects_holidays (ad) for providing me with two stunning bases to explore from, they were genuinely faultless 👌🏼

#cornwall #visitcornwall #cornwallcoast #cornwalluk #coastallife #uktravel #ukstaycation #ukstaycations #selfcatering #dogfriendly

📍 Port Isaac, Cornwall I loved this harbour t

📍 Port Isaac, Cornwall

I loved this harbour town and it was the first glimpse of Cornwall I got when I arrived on Monday. Here’s the basics:

- home of Doc Martin, walking tours available
- famous Cornish Cove tearoom
- Golden Lion is a great pub with a balcony over the sea
- The Mote on the harbour has an outside bar
- £20 for a crab sandwich
- everywhere very dog friendly
- Outlaws Fish Kitchen is Michelin star rated
- Squeezy belly alley is one of the smallest alleyways you’ll come across
- the Angry Anchovy do great pizzas

🚗 park at New Road car park PL29 3SB if you can, peak season I imagine you’ll be in the big overflow car park just outside the village

I stayed just ten minutes from here at Cider Barn with @aspects_holidays (ad) and it was a great first impression of Cornwall

#portisaac #portisaaccornwall #cornwall #visitcornwall #harbour #harbourtown #ukstaycation #ukstaycations #dogfriendly #uktravel

An eco spa on the Cornwall cliffs 🌊 Lunch wit

An eco spa on the Cornwall cliffs 🌊

Lunch with a sea view followed by an afternoon in the spa:

- heated indoor pool
- natural outdoor reed pool
- clifftop hot tubs, bookable as an experience for private use
- cedar wood sauna
- steam room
- relaxation area with loungers, love seats and suspended cocoon pods

I really needed something like this after my rib and back issues and this was perfect.

I couldn’t have a treatment so they were great at altering the day to accommodate for me, and I went for a bathing experience instead, a giant copper bathtub with bath salts, exfoliator scrubs and peace and quiet 🫧

The cliff top sea view from every point of the spa just took this quite literally up a level

📍 @scarlethotel Mawgan Porth, Cornwall

#ecospa #naturalspa #spaday #spaexperience #wellbeing #clifftopviews #cornwall #cornwallcoast #spadaycornwall #luxuryspa #uktravel #ukstaycation

I wasn’t going to post this but can you just loo

I wasn’t going to post this but can you just look how happy he is at the beach 🥹 chasing surfers, playing hide and seek in the rocks and testing how deep the water is. He could hide for no longer than approx 4 seconds 😂

I can’t cope 🩵

#trevaunancecove #stagnes #stagnescornwall #cornwall #cornwallcoast #cornwalluk #cornwallbeach #cornwalllife #dogfriendly #beachwalk

…this place blew me away 🐾 sometimes dog fr

…this place blew me away 🐾

sometimes dog friendly hotel rooms aren’t the best, which is why I tend to prefer self catered places with Arthur, but to break up our journey to Cornwall we stayed at @wildthymeandhoney in the Cotswolds.

This hotel was on my list since I visit a couple of years ago and it’s featured on many best places to stay lists including The Times.

Our room was gorgeous!

🐾 all ground floor rooms are dog friendly
🐾 there’s a stream and field just behind you can see from my window for exercise, you could get to it from a side door without needing to go through the full hotel which was so handy
🐾 bed, blanket, bowl and treats were provided
🐾 there were two dog bins on site
🐾 being a country inn dogs were allowed in all areas, by the fire, in the pub, outside seating areas, the courtyard it was fab
🐾 absolutely nothing compromised the luxury it was perfect

It’s an ideal spot for a Cotswold dog friendly stay and I’d definitely stay again, or as a stopping point for a longer journey. A few people have mentioned the journey to Cornwall holds them back from going but this was a really great way to do it.

I could probably have kept driving but it wasn’t fair on Arthur in the car that long and I’m so glad I booked it for a break mid journey - I spent the evening in that bath while he snored in his bed.

#cotswolds #thecotswolds #dogfriendly #luxurydogfriendly #dogfriendlyhotel #ukstaycation #countryinn #boutiquehotel #countryhotel #countryescape #dogfriendlystays

When you finally realise why everyone loves Cornwa

When you finally realise why everyone loves Cornwall 🌊

This morning in Padstow 🛥️☀️

In case you’ve not seen my stories I’m here this week with @aspects_holidays and will be staying in two different places to make the most of my time here. My accommodation is provided by them and those posts will be fully disclosed, but everything I’m doing here is paid for myself.

As someone who loves living by the sea, beaches on the doorstep and cute little coastal towns this is the dream.

Have you been before? Or is it somewhere on your list? It’s worth the drive! 🌊 🐚

#cornwall #cornwallcoast #padstow #padstowharbour #padstowcornwall #aspectsholidays #uktravel #ukstaycation #dogfriendlytravel

Daylesford Organic 💐🍉🍍🥕 Always worth

Daylesford Organic 💐🍉🍍🥕

Always worth a visit if you’re passing. I just love a mooch around I want EVERYTHING.

I did buy a couple of the bottled smoothies to take away, and I might have to order one of the candles online. When you connect to their wifi they email you a discount code 🍊

I love how it’s dog friendly in almost all areas too, Arthur fancied himself a dressing gown from the pet section!

#daylesford #daylesfordorganic #farmshop #cotswolds #thecotswolds #farmhousedecor #lifestyleshop #gloucestershire #roadtrip

Dobson & Parnell set menu & BYOB! ad| Known for t

Dobson & Parnell set menu & BYOB!

ad| Known for their fine dining menus, @dobsonandparnell also offer a seasonal set menu, and I recently tried this months with my friend Rachel @_bettertravelled

We began with a glass of prosecco, followed by two cocktails off the 2 for £15 selection - you don’t have to get the same so I had a Bramble and Rach had a Geordie Negroni.

Food wise for starters I had the chicken and ham hock terrine and Rach had the singapore chilli bisque - really enjoyed both of these and they were beautifully presented.

For mains I had the roast chicken and Rach had the fish, with the chargrilled broccoli side and garlic mash - big fan of the mash and the chicken was cooked in a lot of flavours it was really nice.

We both had the strawberry mouse for dessert, but being honest I wish I’d gone for the tiramisu or sorbet. It was nice but didn’t knock my socks off.

There’s a lot of unique choices on the set menu, which is available Thursday-Sat lunchtimes, Wednesday - Friday from 5-7pm, and Saturday lunchtimes with 2 courses starting at £23/£27 depending when you visit. If you’re visiting on a Wednesday you can also take your own bottle too for the BYOB night 🍷

*We received a three course set menu, but paid for our drinks and sides.

#dobsonandparnell #springmenu #byob #newcastle #newcastleupontyne #newcastlefood #newcastlequayside

Sunday night done right 🛁 🫧 #sunday #sunda

Sunday night done right 🛁 🫧

#sunday #sundaynight #bathsalts #bathtub #bathtubgoals #thecotswolds #cotswolds #luxuryhotel

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