Gordon Fong: Food, drink, restaurants, reviews and life in general. #southbourne #bournemouth

Harrogate tea rooms, mmmmm Betty.

I do feel for the smaller independent businesses at times, so I will make mention of The Team Rooms in Harrogate, just in case any search engine picks up on this and can direct even one extra visitor to it, then it has done its piece.

Whilst visiting Harrogate on business, which is a lovely place up North, we meandered around the shops and side streets and ended up in a small shopping arcade that probably had less than 10 units and a few of those were empty. Up on the first floor there was a small cafe that was empty, OK it had gone 5pm on a Saturday. I enquired if they were open on the Sunday as I needed somewhere for a group of us to snack as my sister and her family were coming down to visit. Unfortunately that weekend he wasn't but I got chatting and he said that today was a bit of struggle and I sympathised on the location as it would be hard to get a high level of natural footfall, especially if many of the units are empty.

What I found nice was that he immediately recommended that I consider another two independent places, stressing on them being independent businesses. Even when small businesses compete, it is important to support each other as well.

I've had tea and cake at Betty's team rooms, but sitting downstairs wasn't much kop and felt like a bog standard department store anyway.

Well, the name check goes out to:

The Tea Room
Westminster Arcade
Parliament Street
Harrogate
HG1 2RN

Tel: 01423 506663

Say I sent you....

Dining at the Chef's Table at Flavours in Pokesdown

It was a friend's birthday and they booked the Chef's Table dining experience at Flavours in Pokesdown. Flavours is mainly a cookery school that caters for children and adults alike, with lessons during the day and occasionally in the evening. It is run by Des who is a very laid back, funny, engaging and very cool host.

Larder House Gin Night 2015

Gin Night at the Larder House

Spoiler alert, if you don't want to know the lengths that the Larder House goes to on its theme nights then don't read on. If you are undecided or want to know more, then do take a read.

If Carlsberg did birthday parties...

If Carlsberg did birthday parties they still would not be anywhere near as good as the one I had at The Larder House and Library of Liquor in Southbourne.

I might be a walking advert for the place at times but this isn't a review, it's just what happened. Totally love the place. If you do go because of the article, then please do mention my name when booking. Not that you will get any discount, but good to know people are reading this.

Normally I don't do birthday things. Don't even like receiving cards as such a grumpy old man in that respect. Too much hassle organising, booking numbers, taking deposits, food orders and the dreaded sharing the bill at the end. Who had drinks, who didn't and all the unfairness that can entail. I do sweat the small stuff at times.

This past year someone picked up in the fact that I never do anything. The excuse of being away was wearing thin, so I decided to do something this year. Seeing as I hadn't done anything since my 40th birthday, when it wasn't even me that had anything to do with that as Angela did it all, I thought I would try and do something a bit different. It could have been Days Restaurant so the bill was known and people go up and buy their own drinks!