Visit one of the sandiest UK beaches just over an hour from London or visit countryside sights and harbours, all closer than you might think, this 2012.

With road and rail improvements over the course of 2011, namely the Hindhead tunnel on the A3 and increased train speed times from London Victoria rail station and London Bridge, getting out of London to the south coast is now an every weekend practicality.

One of our favourite destinations is Chichester, West Sussex, which is famous for West Wittering beach, one of the sandiest beaches in the UK. The beach is fantastic all year round for walks but the in spot during the summer. Chichester is also a great spot for independent retailers, quirky restaurants and boutique hotels in Chichester.

Getting to Chichester is easy. Jump on the frequent trains from London Victoria, departing every 30 minutes to Portsmouth and then alight at Chichester rail station. Places to stay include hotels and bed and breakfasts both in the city centre, and others conveniently accessed for the countryside, beach, harbours and a short ride to the city centre. Try the Crouchers Country hotel www.croucherscountryhotel.com

With December around the corner and the year behind us, it may be time for a well earned break. With the Euro crisis, fluctuating currencies and the December snow risks, planning a flight away may not seem the best option especially with so much to do and see in the UK. In this edition we look at how Londoners can escape the rat race for a day, two days or even more, to return feeling rejuvenated and ready to “mind the gap” again.

With recent rail and road improvements, getting down to the sea and nearest coastal retreat is now easier for most London vacationers, especially those with easy access to Victoria Station, London Bridge or if driving,  easy access to the A3. The new Hindhead tunnel now makes a car journey to Brighton or Chichester just under an hour and a half, in most cases a lot less. So hire a car and escape…

One of our favourite places to escape to from London is Chichester in West Sussex which strikes a balance between city and countryside, with lots to do and see. Shopping in Chichester is well known for variety and a lot of the high street chains are in Chichester, but so to are unique independent stores. The Chichester Cathedral is always one to see and a great talking point. The Roman walls surrounding the centre of Chichester offer a great walk along the top, all the way around the city – the Great Wall of China can wait until another time!

Chichester City Centre, South Street

The most precious thing about Chichester is the unique coastal position, opposite the Isle of Wight. One of the UK’s best Blue Flag beaches, West Wittering beach is located in Chichester, just 6 miles from the city centre, as are other beaches in the Witterings. For December, walks on the beach and cycle rides on the Salterns Way cycle route which runs from Chichester centre to East Head, deliver a sense of appreciation for the environment and real fresh air – whatever the weather.

Places to eat in Chichester, Crouchers Restaurant

There are fantastic places to stay and eat in Chichester, including chain hotels, but to enjoy an out of London experience a boutique hotel is the way to go. One of our favourite boutique hotels in chichester is the Crouchers Country Hotel, a 26 bedroom hotel, each room amazingly decorated and offering luxury accommodation at great value prices. The Crouchers Restaurant, is also one of our best value restaurants in Chichester, offering great 3 course meals and wines from around the World.

Getting out of London this December is a great option, even if for just a day or two. For soul, body and mind…discover, meet, relax, eat and drink in Chichester, West Sussex.

For booking at the Crouchers Country Hotel call +44 (0)1243 784995or book online at www.croucherscountryhotel.com

Chichester, West Sussex. A local event in Chichester, West Sussex has been gaining popularity since it started a few years ago. The regular wine tasting and dining events are held at one of the favorite boutique hotels in Chichester, The Crouchers Country Hotel and restaurant, the events are for anyone’s diary who loves great International wines and a unique British food experience.

Wine tasting events in Chichester, West Sussex

The next Crouchers Hotel, Restaurant and bar – Wine tasting evening, will be held on 18th November, 7pm

Join the Crouchers Country Hotel team in the bar lounge for a glass of sparkling at 7.00pm. Then head into the restaurant for a three course meal with some excellent wines selected for each dish. Your hosts, Carlo ( Restaurant Manager) and Laura ( a local wine expert) will be offering tasting notes and some interesting anecdotes about the wines and vineyards.

Here is what you will enjoy as a VIP guest, for only £39.00 per person including starters, mains and deserts, with wines to compliment each dish.

THE FOOD

Starters
Smoked Salmon and Crab Roulade, cucumber spaghetti and Gazpacho dressing
Or
Confit of Duck and Foie Gras Terrine with port jelly, spiced fig puree and brioche

Mains
Ballontine of Chicken with a tarragon mousse with wild mushroom risotto and cep foam
Or
Medallions of Monkfish rolled in Parma ham with a ragout of garlic mussels

Dessert
Trio of Puddings
Or
A Selection of French and English cheeses with quince jelly and black grapes

A complimentary basket of bread will be served before your starters.

Aperitif

Cava Brut, Pares Balta, Spain (organic)

Fantastic wine by the glass tasting included

Starter

2009 Mácon Davayé, La Croix Senaillet (organic)

2009 Rosado de Pacs, Spain (organic)

Mains

2009 Releaf Cabernet/Merlot, South Africa (organic)

2009 Maison Blanche, St Emilion, Bordeaux (organic)

Dessert

Vat 5 Botrytis Semillon

For all enquiries or to book your place, please contact The Crouchers Country Hotel: 01243 784995, crouchers@btconnect.com

Know anyone else who may be interested to join? Sign up to the newsletter on the homepage at www.CrouchersCountryHotel.com

Ends

If you are reading this, then you are cordially invited to a viewing of paintings by John Hamper at the Crouchers Country Hotel, Thursday 29th September between 6 and 8pm.

There will be original works on show, and all available to purchase on the evening.

Our Chichester restaurant and bar will be open as usual.

Acclaimed Artist

John Hamper lives and works in West Wittering, Sussex.
Inspiration for his stunning work is drawn from this beautiful area of Southern Britain.

John has worked in the art world for many years, initially as publicity art director of a major UK National Newspaper Group and then as a founder of several design companies and practices with major clients throughout the UK and abroad.

After a period of lecturing at the famous “Red & Yellow School” in Cape Town, South Africa he is now working on private commisions in Seascapes, Landscape and Portraiture.

Much of his work is in Oils, although he does undertake drawings in most mediums.

His early work has recently been listed at Christies Auction house in London.

Book a table in the restaurant

Contact us if you would like to book a table in the restaurant and for Chichester Hotel room bokings on +44 (0)1243 784995

We look forward to enjoying the viewing with you.

The Crouchers Country Hotel

www.CrouchersCountryHotel.com

Goodwood, Chichester will see for three days this September as every year, the historic Goodwood circuit stage a race meeting for the kind of cars and motorcycles that would have competed at Goodwood during 1948-1966. This year the event runs 16 – 18 September 2011.

Goodwood Revival Chichester

Many of these important historic racing cars at the Goodwood Revival are driven by famous faces from motor sport past and present. Sir Stirling Moss, John Surtees, Sir Jack Brabham, Phil Hill, Derek Bell, David Coulthard, Damon Hill, Gerhard Berger, Johnny Herbert, Wayne Gardner, Giacomo Agostini and the late, great Barry Sheene have all taken part at the Revival.

The show is a motor sport and enthusiasts dream event with hundreds of cars on show.

Goodwood Racetrack Chichester

Ford will revive a strong presence at the Revival with the largest-ever vehicle cavalcade at the historic West Sussex circuit, in celebration of Fords UK centenary and signalling the end of the Ford of Britain Centenary Tour. The line-up includes the famous Ford Anglia 105E used in the film “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”; the 1966 Le Mans 24-hour race-winning Ford GT Mk II; the 1970 London to Mexico World Cup rally-winning Ford Escort Mk I; and the 1912 all-Ford-race winner at Brooklands: the 1911 UK-built Ford Model T – “The Golden Ford.”

Tickets for the Goodwood Revival Friday 16th September and Sunday 18th September 2011 are at time of writing still currently still available. However all 2011 Saturday and Weekend Pass tickets are now sold out due to popular demand.

Don’t forget that entry is by advance ticket only. It is not possible to buy ticket(s) on the day, and there will be no admission without a ticket.

With so much to see and do at the Goodwood Revival that many visitors make a weekend of it, so they don’t miss out on any of the exhilarating action or exciting attractions.

If you are thinking about extending your visit beyond one day, be sure to book your overnight Chichester Hotel accommodation when you book your tickets, as many hotels, b&b’s and campsites in the surrounding area get booked up many months before the event itself.

Getting to Chichester, West Sussex  and it’s beaches such as West Wittering Beach from London is now made much easier with the opening of the Hindhead Tunnel. The southbound tunnel has opened exactly one year away from the 2012 Olympic games, boosting ease of access to and from the south coast of England, and it’s amazing beaches, and London. The northbound stretch, from just north of Liphook, will be opened before end of July 2011.

Work will then start immediately to dig up the old, winding A3 around the Punchbowl before it eventually becomes part of the heathland again in several years’ time. Paul Arnold, who has masterminded the building of the road for the past five years, said: ‘This is a marvellous day which the people of the Portsmouth area have been waiting for for a generation.’

Hindhead tunnel

Residents of Hindhead will also be delighted that at long last they won’t have to endure all that traffic trundling through their village. The bottleneck at the notorious Hindhead traffic lights has been known to add up to 50 minutes to trips to the south coast and up to London at the busiest times.

The tunnel is the longest road tunnel under land in the UK. It comprises two, separate tubes, one northbound, the other southbound. Both are dual carriageways and motorists will be able to drive at 70mph through them enforced by speed cameras at either end.

It is calculated that thanks to the new road and the tunnel that more than 2,000 accidents will be avoided over the next 60 years.

West Wittering just over an hour now from London

The journey time from London by car to popular tourist beaches such as West Wittering Beach will be cut by almost half an hour, possibly more, making the average journey time from an area such as Wimbledon probably just over 1 hour. White beaches are now a lot more accessible to London!

Local Chichester businesses such as Chichester Hotel accommodation like The Crouchers Country Hotel, a very popular hotel in the Chichester area for its ease of access to the city and the Chichester beaches and for its great value accommodation, will benefit from the increasing numbers of Londoners to the area that the new road changes are expected to bring.

This years Goodwood Festival of Speed is yet another opportunity to spot the world’s greatest living motor sport museum in action. From Hot Rods to Le Mans winners to Vintage and Formula One racers, they will all be there.

Goodwood Racing

Admire the Supercar Run and the greatest collections of some of the most advanced cars and get to see them in high speed action as they go around the Goodwood circuit and hill climb.

The Concours d’elegance allows you to see perfectly maintained and looked after classic and rare cars, so many gathered into one place.

Car manufacturers will present their latest models and technology, normally with contrasting displays of traditional and original classics from the same mark.

Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Goodwood Festival of speed is not only about cars, enjoy overhead air displays with fighter jets, the Red Arrows and modern aviation.

Check out classic motorcycles and the latest designs on two wheels too.

Goodwood Festival of Speed, 30 June to 3 July 2011

On visiting the area, stay in a Chichester Hotel located close to Goodwood Chichester, West Sussex – The Crouchers Country Hotel. Also stop in to their Chichester Restaurant on a drive down or back to West Wittering beach.

Chichester is well known as a tourist destination and growing shopping centre. What Chichester is less know for, however becoming more so,  is the great range of Chichester restaurants available.

Chichester Restaurant at The Crouchers

The Crouchers Restaurant as an example located at the Crouchers Country Hotel has been growing in reputation over the years as a favourite Chichester restaurant. The recent updating and modernisation of the restaurant and bar has created a fantastic atmosphere in which to relax.

A typical menu on at the Crouchers Restaurant may look like this:

Starters £5.50

Curried parsnip soup with chive creme fraiche

Caramelised onion and goats cheese crisp tart with a basil pesto and tomato dressing

Warm salad of mackerel with toasted pine nuts, sun-blushed tomatoes and garlic butter

Mains  £11.50

Slow braised beef and ale pie served with braised spiced red cabbage

Confit of Gressingham duck galzed with honey, served with chunky chips and an orange and thyme reduction

Seafood and saffron risotto served with parsnip crisps, capers and lemon

Dessert  £4.50

Warm dark chocolate tart with yogurt sobert

Sticky toffee pudding with vanilla bean ice cream

Strawberry mousse with cocoa sorbet

Coffee & mince pies – £2.50

Call the Crouchers Restaurant in Chichester on Tel: +44 (0)1243 784995. Please ask about their special offers.

A few helpful ideas from the Chichester Wedding Planner

Many couples now days have to pay for their own wedding and have a very strict budget but still want to have that Big Day.

West Sussex wedding venue

A good way of saving money is to make your own Wedding Invitations, you can colour co-ordinate them with your colour scheme and you can buy many lovely accessories on the internet to make them  extremely  special.   Another good way to keep your budget down is to make your own favours,  how about making personal crackers for each of your guests and you could put little gifts inside which is relevant to each person.

Have you heard that 2011 is the year for glamour,  glamorous flower centrepieces  that make your guests “wow” when they walk into the room is just one idea.   The wedding planner at the Crouchers Country Hotel, Chichester wedding venue, would be happy to recommend a florist.

Tel: +44 (0)1243 784995. Please ask about our special wedding planning offers .