In Royal Footsteps-southern England and the long way home.

[amaroo]

It's good to catch up on your TR. Over the past weeks I've been consumed with watching Vikings on netflix, so your Winchester visit is good timing.

 

[drron]

We heard of the vikings nearly everywhere.Certainly in Ireland and Scotland on the cruise.I learn't a lot of history.

But back to some more food.We had dinner in their restaurant that night.
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We both started with the Foie gras.
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Then mrsdrron had the lamb and I the beef.
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Mrsdron's was ordered medium/well mine medium/rare.Neither were that good.So we refrained from desserts.

You did get breakfast each morning and as usual I try the eggs Benedict.
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Again not the greatest.

 

[drron]

The next morning we headed up the road to the Bombay gin distillery.Intermittent showers all morning.We had time to walk around between showers before our tour left.
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[drron]

We started off in the Botanical room.
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The interesting thing was after everything was explained you were given a card and told to go around each item and punch your card if you enjoyed the particular aroma.When finished you gave your card to the guide who told you what gin drink/coughtail you would like.They were spot on even with mrsdrron who doesn't drink gin.The coughtail she got she loved.

 

[drron]

From that room there were lovely views outside.The River Test runs through the property.The buildings were used for a long time printing bank notes-The De La Rue company.Since Bombay has taken over they haveRestored the river to a more natural state.It is a chalk stream meaning very clear water.In the first pic the river covers all in the foreground.
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Lokk to the other side and this is the view.
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Now you do go through the still room for a closer look but wearing a gown and cameras etc left in a locker.
It is quite warm in the still room but they have put that to good use.
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Cheap heating for the glasshouses as well as looking impressive.

 

[drron]

In the glasshouses they do have flowers.
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Including this one.
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The flowers were there for a breeding program for endangered local buttflies.Sadly they all died..
But they did have examples of their botanicals.
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[drron]

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Sometimes a photo really gets you.This could have been a picture of my father.
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[drron]

They have a glass gallery.
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The India building with larger stills.
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[drron]

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We then went to have our free gin.The bar staff certainly are busy.
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And that ends our visit.I really enjoyed it.Mrsdrron was impressed they could tell her a gin coughtail was for here.A bit pricy but then so is everything in the UK.

Home Of Bombay Sapphire | Bombay Sapphire Distillery

Discover the artistry behind Bombay Sapphire gin at our iconic Gin Distillery in rural Hampshire, near Basingstoke and Winchester.

distillery.bombaysapphire.com

 

[drron]

After the distillery we continued down the same road to Andover but not much was obvious there.On the way back stopped at the village of Whichurch as a woollen shop there with an old waterwheel still in operation-to get the tourists in!
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The waterwheel and a Turkish barber.
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This is the River Test again.Lots of birdlife including this swan.Also a lot of trout-at least 9 large ones at the bridge.
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[drron]

Then we drove back to the hotel.The weather improved so we went for a stroll around the property.
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We then went to their walled garden.
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The glass house was full of rubbish.
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[drron]

Yet they are proud of their green outlook saying this.
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But also this.
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Well there was no produce in their very own kitchen garden.To us the whole attitude was saving money.On top of that they had a local medical conference on for the 2 days we were there so parking was at a premium.The liquid soap ran out whilst in the bath the second day and the shampoo dispenser was empty.
But it was a nice room.
Walking the grounds though we became more dubious on their green claims.Note the jerry can beside the fire.
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[drron]

It was though a nice wander about the grounds.
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[drron]

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The function centre being set up for a weekend wedding by the look of it.Sensibly a covered walkway from the main building.
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[drron]

For dinner a light meal in the bar.
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Mrsdrron had the pea and broadbean risotto which she felt was excellent.I had the smoked haddock which was very nice.
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And this was the malbec I had a couple of glasses of the night before and again this night.
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The next morning I had their version of a Full English.
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[drron]

We now were heading for Bray for what we hoped would be a highlight meal.seeing distances are not great we detoured via Swindon and went to the factory outlets there.They are in part of the Great western railways workshops.We have been here before and there is a good railway museum for those who love trains but not shopping.I went there last time we visited.
Unfortunately mrsdrron had an unsuccessful episode of retail therapy.But a couple of photos.
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We had a light lunch sharing a small pizza.We wanted to be hungry tonight.

 

[drron]

Our office for the next 2 nights was the Waterside Inn,Bray.
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And the view from a large shared balcony.
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[drron]

A lot of activity on the Thames.
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That pair of ducks with their surviving duckling stayed within an area no more than 5 metres in diameter.
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The party boat was quite noisy on the way back.
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In that greenery was this resident.
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[drron]

The real reason for staying here was to have dinner.The restaurant opened in 1972,gained it's first Michelin star in 1974,second in 1977 and since 1985 has had 3.
The menu.
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The setting is great on the banks of the Thames.We had a table towards the front of the restaurant but at the side with a view upriver.A mixed clientele with some older couples,thge young guns of london and 2 tables of Chinese guests.The older couple at the table next to us were regulars and the Maitre'd kept checking with them that things were right.About half way through the meal there was an amusing moment when a gentleman who was taking his granddaughter to dinner was being show to the table on the other side of the regulars.As he got close he stopped,grabbed the arm of the Maitre'd and gestured that he wanted a table at the back.
Now to the food.We had 2 amusee bouche dishes-
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Plus an extra fish appetiser not on the menu.
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All of these were great little teasers but the quality improved with the next 2 courses-devon crab and the foie gras.These were divine.
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[drron]

The next course was monkfish with a spiced sauce.As mrsdrron had said she doesn't like spicy food they asked her what things she liked so a prawn and mushrooms with her fish.Hers was better than mine although my monkfish was excellent.
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For mains mrsdrron had the lamb whilst I went with the pigeon which was beautiful.
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Alain Roux took over from his father in 2002 and is known for his desserts.they didn't disappoint.A sorbet though before they came out.
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The souffle was sublime.
And to finish off petit fours.
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A truly enjoyable night with fine food and brilliant tastes.Thoroughly recommended.
To finish off Alain Roux was standing at the back and we had a good chat.he knew that we were unusual as staying 2 nights instead of the usual one night and dinner.