Working as a Sommelier in the early 1990s, I vividly recall oenophiles' desire to seek out and enjoy Cloudy Bay, Sauvignon Blanc. It almost seemed like a right of passage. The only issue was availability - it was nigh on impossible to get hold of. Was this what made it so sought after, or was it the tropical fruit bowl in a glass that was so different and new?
We took the Bentley on a tour of Dorset and Devon, stopping at The Eastbury Hotel in Sherborne and The Cary Arms in Babbacombe Bay on the English Riviera.
The GTC Speed is a two-door, four-seat Grand Tourer offering opulence and extreme supercar performance, albeit at a hefty price. Though it delivers amazing quality for value compared to similarly priced cars, particularly when you consider the fine craftsmanship and futuristic engineering that go into making this legendary cruiser.
Our welcome was personable and friendly, something the de Savary hotels do extremely well. After leaving the Bentley GTC in the free parking at the rear of the hotel, we were shown to the Rosemary Suite (all rooms are named after herbs they grow), a private bungalow at the bottom of the walled garden. The room was utterly delightful, an ivy-covered Victorian Garden Potting Shed, down a lovely path, just a stone’s throw from the spa.
The Bobber style of bikes was born In the ‘40s when bikers would strip back and cut down their bikes in the never-ending pursuit of more speed. Bikes were chopped and lightened to make them faster, inadvertently creating the Bobber style.
The drive to Bruichladdich on the isle of Islay is nothing short of beautiful. Twisty roads, stunning coastal views, and if you are lucky, fine weather. But I don’t recommend you drive, opt for a taxi instead from the town of Bowmore and enjoy what this exciting distillery has to offer - incredible whisky.
Honda’s CB1000R is possibly the best-looking naked bike on the road. That single-sided swingarm is gorgeous, the short seat and machined engine casings make it look industrial and the aggressive stance gives it a mischievous and reckless attitude.
Adventure beckons the moment you arrive at The Cary Arms in the positively tropical Babbacombe Bay. A gentle cruise along the cliff-top coast road in the new Bentley GTC brought us to a small single-lane track. So steep that you wonder if the car will make it. Of course, it's a Bentley so it's a breeze. Though anything without four-wheel drive will struggle.
You can’t pass up the privilege of being cooked for by a veteran Michelin-starred Masterchef and being served by a waitress whose father is China’s top international football goal scorer, scoring 41 times in 107 games. And coming on once as a substitute for Sheffield United in the FA Cup match against Colchester United. It is a unique and wonderful gourmet experience.
Kris Griffiths is a seasoned journalist and feature writer with bylines in The Telegraph, The Independent, Esquire, Rough Guides and BBC Online among others. He is well-versed in covering luxury travel, hotels and food & drink, and away from the writing desk enjoys drinking fine whiskies, playing chess and the guitar, and beating professional snooker players on pub pool tables.
I make no bones about the fact I’m a big fan of Suzuki’s GSX-S1000. It's a simple, brutish, modern muscle bike. The recipe is so simple; great chassis, fabulous engine, cool looks and great build quality. Put all that together and you get a 150 bhp, 999 cc 4 cylinder, fun machine.
