Bella Italia, Brighton

 

I was in  Brighton for four days in September. Bella Italia was one of the restaurants I visited for dinner. Pleasant meal - caesar salad followed by cheesecake. 

Tyneside Cinema

 

We have picked up a habit of making regular visits to the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle. It is run by a charity and shows many of the classic films of the past. We were there a week ago to watch a double horror bill - The Fly and American Werewolf in London.

The bar cafe here is popular and busy but our order for food (see burger below) was prepared quickly. We didn't try the cocktail bar, Vicolo, but perhaps that's something for another day.

Oli and Joe's Italian Restaurant

 

Oli and Joe's is a chain of Italian restaurants on Tyneside, North East England. We recently visited the outlet in Sunniside, Gateshead. It was noticeable that most of the customers were local - always a good sign. Watch out for the offer on cocktails.

Portofino

 

Take a trip to Moseley Street, Newcastle upon Tyne. It's worth if necessary going out of your way just to see the inside of Portofino, an Italian restaurant in the city which has retained the origonal decor of an Edwardian bank. And it's worth going for the food as well.

Bustronome

 

Want to see the landmarks of central London in a luxury bus while consuming a 6 course meal in the evening? Try Bustronome. We filmed this on 15th September 2026. If you want to splash out, try this out.

The blue whale model - full scale

 

There is a full scale model of a blue whale the size of a jet plane in the large mammal gallery in the Natural History Museum in London. Take a look. It's enormous!

Hope, the blue whale

 

As you go into the entrance hall of the Natural History Museum in London, you are met by the skeleton of a blue whale. It has been named Hope to reflect the recovery in blue whale numbers after being overhunted by commercial whalers.