Author: Paul Johnson

Few places manage to balance history and hospitality quite like The Swan at Tarporley. With more than 400 years of experience, this former coaching inn knows a thing or two about welcoming weary travellers. Nestled in one of Cheshire’s most picturesque villages, and today part of the Bear Inns group of quality pubs with rooms, The Swan is more than just a place to rest your head — it’s steeped in character, comfort and community spirit.

The welcome

Arriving early at a hotel can often be met with a sigh and a politely rehearsed, “Your room isn’t quite ready.” Not so at The Swan. The staff greeted us with genuine warmth, happily accommodating our early arrival and ensuring we were settled in with minimal fuss by walking us to our room. That first impression — gracious, flexible and keen to please — set the tone for our entire

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Imagine a place where time slows and the only sense of it passing is the movement of light and shadow over the emerald green landscape – a place where luxury intertwines seamlessly with nature. Welcome to Apes Hill Barbados, a resort and community etched into the lush hills of a Caribbean paradise.

Perched high above Barbados’ western coastline, Apes Hill combines sophistication with wild beauty. It’s where manicured golf greens meet untamed jungle, where the horizon dances between the cerulean blue of the Atlantic Ocean and the turquoise tranquillity of the Caribbean Sea. This duality is the beating heart of Apes Hill — a sanctuary where opposites harmonise to create something utterly unique.

To call Apes Hill a golfer’s paradise is to understate its allure. Designed with an eco-conscious philosophy, the 18-hole championship golf course is as much a journey through nature as it is a test of

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Every March, as the UK starts to enjoy more Spring-like weather, a special kind of magic begins to stir in the heart of the Cotswolds – The Cheltenham Festival. Steeped in history and synonymous with prestige, this isn’t just a sporting event but a grand spectacle – a theatre of tradition where the thunder of hooves meets the rustle of heritage tweed, and where the finest racehorses in the world share the stage with the sartorially elite. Here, fashion is not an afterthought – it is part of the performance – and Holland Cooper takes centre stage as the racecourse’s official fashion partner.

For those who seek more than just another race meeting, the Cheltenham Festival is an immersion into British luxury. Here are just some items from the Holland Cooper range that will ensure that you remain as timeless

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Nestled In the heart of the crystal clear, warm, and extremely inviting blue waters of the South Pacific, with golden sandy beaches and palm trees swaying in the gentle, warm tropical breeze, the adults-only luxury Tokoriki Island Resort is without doubt, the perfect dream getaway for unparalleled relaxation.  

Consistently recognised as one of the top resorts globally and in the Pacific, Tokoriki Island Resort offers the perfect quintessential idyllic island escape for those seeking both relaxation and romance, in what is unquestionably the perfect South Pacific island dream setting.

Tokoriki Island Resort is located in the heart of Fiji’s idyllic Mamanuca archipelago, the perfectly idyllic setting, and with only 36 freestanding beachfront villas and bures, Tokoriki ensures an exclusive luxury experience and privacy for a maximum of only 72 guests, and with its contemporary design combined with traditional Fijian architecture at its heart, the villas, called bures in Fiji, also enjoying air-conditioned

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Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and is the perfect opportunity to show your loved one just how much you care. And if they happen to travel, our guide will give you some great ideas for your next trip away.  Can’t decide what to buy your partner to mark the occasion? Read on for some luxurious inspiration…

Jet off in style this Valentine’s Day with the ultimate symbol of love and luxury – Holland Cooper‘s Travel Make-up Bag. This croc-embossed leather companion will keep her beauty must-haves elegantly organised, ensuring she’s always date-night ready, whether you’re in Paris or the Maldives. Inside the bag, there’s a sleek divider and mirror, perfect for mid-flight touch-ups. The signature gold hardware and HC branding add a final flourish of sophistication.

Effortlessly elegant and eternally chic, these best-selling Chanel butterfly sunglasses are more than

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When you think of Innsbruck, the image of pristine slopes and skiers and snowboarders carving through powder comes to mind. But this Alpine gem has so much more to offer, with a treasure trove of experiences that go beyond the ordinary. Here are nine unforgettable ways to discover Innsbruck’s magic – with no skis or snowboards required.

Take a private tour of the city

Start your adventure with a private tour of Innsbruck’s historic streets and bring the city’s storied past to life, with insights and anecdotes about the opulent Hofburg Palace, the shimmering Golden Roof and the gothic St. Jacob’s Cathedral. As you stroll through the charming Old Town, where Baroque and Renaissance architecture collide, you’ll learn so much more if you have a knowledgeable guide accompanying you. Read our review here.

Wine tasting at Weinhaus Tyrol

Known more to locals than it

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The culinary scene in Innsbruck offers a taste of Tyrol that is as varied as the mountain peaks surrounding it. Whether you’re seeking a sumptuous brunch with a view or a cosy haven for wine lovers, the city has something to tantalise every palate. Here are eight fabulous places to eat in or near the city, each offering a unique flavour of Alpine dining.

For Champagne brunch: Bergisel Sky, Innsbruck

Located high above Innsbruck, Bergisel Sky offers more than just breakfast — it serves up an experience. The Champagne brunch here, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Nordkette mountain range, just has to be experienced. From freshly baked pastries to smoked salmon to waffles… there’s something for everyone. And why not add a touch of glamour with a glass of fizz for a morning so decadent it could rival a ski champion’s victory toast? Read

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In a city surrounded by towering Alpine peaks and with its culinary traditions steeped in hearty meat and cheese, Das Blum stands out as a refreshing alternative. This vegetarian restaurant in Innsbruck showcases the humble vegetable as a star performer. With a modern philosophy rooted in sustainability, locality and creativity, read on to discover why we recommend a visit to Das Blum to discover what vegetarian dining can be.

The food

The menu is all in German but thanks to a combination of our waitress having a degree in English, and using Google Gemini to aid with translation, we were able to make informed choices.

We opted for the sharing menu and began proceedings with some bread and a lovely chutney but I can’t for the life of me remember what was in it… aubergine, maybe? All I do remember was that it was extremely tasty!

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Perched on the top floor of the bustling RathausGalerien shopping centre, Lichtblick is a café by day and a restaurant by night. With panoramic views of Innsbruck’s rooftops and the surrounding Alps, this seventh-floor haven is aptly named: a “ray of light” illuminating the city’s dining scene.

The food

Lichtblick’s cuisine combines Austrian tradition with Mediterranean charm and a hint of Asian intrigue, and had moved to a new menu the night before our visit. In fact, diners can select from three thoughtfully curated menus where each course is designed to complement one another, but you may substitute courses from other menus if you wish (as you’ll see we did with the dessert from menu 1).

We primarily opted for menus 2 and 3, and I’m going to let the pictures doing the talking here…

Menu 1

Poached wild-caught prawns with sweet potatoes, baby chard,

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Nestled amidst the postcard-perfect scenery of the Tyrolean Alps, Igls is more than just an escape for nature lovers — it’s also a haven for adrenaline junkies. At Heilgwasserwiese 1, at the foot of the Patscherkofel mountain and the home of Innsbruck’s Olympic bobsleigh track, a new experience awaits us – bob rafting!

Think of it as bobsleigh for beginners with absolutely no prior experience required; you sit in a padded ‘raft’ and are pushed down the 1,270 metre downhill ice track – the same one the bobsleighs use. It was constructed for the 1976 Winter Olympics and is the only artificial ice bobsleigh run in Austria.

Our experience began at building K14, conveniently located near the bobsleigh car park, where there’s also a café. Here we checked in and were provided with lightweight balaclavas to wear under our helmets. A little nervous laughter filled the air as

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