Hostelbookers Competition

I’ve covered Hostelbookers.com on the blog before, but you might be interested to know that a recent survey conducted by Reed Business Insight indicates that, on average, hostelbookers.com’s room rates are 8% lower than their competitors. To put their money where their mouth is, they are offering double the difference in discount if you find […]

Belfast Castle

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Nearing the end of my current trip to Northern Ireland I took in another new location today, Belfast Castle, just north of the City Centre and perched up on the mountainside with a commanding view over Belfast Lough. It’s rather diminutive but very charming, built in a rather ostentatious Scottish baronial style by the Donegall […]

The Ulster Museum, And Some Tropical Plants…

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I’ve visited Belfast’s Botanical Gardens, situated in the grounds of Queen’s University, before but I’ve not been inside the Ulster Museum which sits on one side of the grounds. This is Belfast’s principle museum and occupies an old Georgian building which has been extended into a modernist space at the rear, not unlike the Sainsbury’s […]

Belfast Zoo

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I’m a bit conflicted when it comes to zoos – I know that unfortunately one of these days they’ll be the only remaining habitat for some of our rarer species, but I don’t like to see animals that are usually able to roam for miles and miles to be confined to spaces that are only […]

J20 White Blend & Dinner In The Sky!

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I think I need to get used to heights given that I was up on the London Eye yesterday and what happened earlier this afternoon… Today sees the launch of J2O’s new ‘White Blend’ drinks which are based around grapes so they’re a lot less heavy and sweet than their existing range and, instead, are […]

Natalie Merchant @ The Hammersmith Apollo

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Over the weekend I was lucky enough to see Natalie Merchant at the HMV Apollo as part of her first UK tour in many, many years. She was over in the UK to perform her new album, “Leave Your Sleep”, the first for seven years. It’s a remarkable piece of work, where she sets to […]