Month: September 2024

Tucked away behind the Cathedral are the Bishops Palace Gardens

 

Two thousand years ago the Romans built a wall for defensive purposes around the city which is still largely intact. The Cathedrals Historic Quarter lies in the south-west quadrant and the gardens date back to 1147.

Contained within the city walls with the inspiring backdrop of the Cathedral and its spire it offers both residents and visitors an opportunity to relax and unwind.

There is a 16th century gateway off South Street into Canon Lane which gives access to the Bishop’s Palace and gardens.

St Richard’s Walk leads off the Lane to the Cathedral with a view of the Deanery which was built in 1725. It replaced the original Deanery which was damaged in the English Civil War.

Vicars’ Close with the remaining four houses of twelve which once housed the vicars’ choral, leads to the Vicars’ Hall. Originally there was another row opposite, but these were turned into shops facing out into South Street in 1825.

[Edit] 23/03/22
More changes unfortunately. Billy’s is no longer the Surfers Cafe it was. It had a lick of paint during the Covid lockdown and it is now a looking a lot sleeker. Another chic seafood cafe. No longer that different and no Surfers Breakfast.

Different is something I have been looking for ever since Charlie Harper’s changed their menu, doing away with their Brunch Hash special.

A search which took me down to East Wittering for a breakfast at  Billys on the Beach.  I can’t remember when I last ordered kippers for an early morning breakfast and soon discovered that I have forgotten how to peel it away from the bones .

But I managed.

Keeping to different was the Surfers Breakfast which was a tomato, pepper base with cheese and I seem to remember chourizo. This topped with two fried eggs with chunks of bread.

It was different and Billy’s on the Beach is just one of a number of interesting restaurants and cafes to be found in East Wittering. Suspect it has got everything to do with there is a surfing community making it worth another look.

I used to do breakfast at Lakes Traditional English Cafe.

But they have sold and the shop is being refurbished. Stuck for choice, I eventually ended up in the other end of town, at Charlie Harpers.

I didn’t feel like a traditional breakfast and decided on the Black Pudding Hash.  Something I will do again as it was that good. They also offer Rooibos.

I got it all wrong.

Not dressed for what became a bitterly cold day. But that made an early breakfast at the Swan Inn in Midhurst all the more welcoming.

I understand that in this country breakfast is taken very seriously and I was fortunate to bump into the perfect breakfast sausage, quite by accident. Arriving in Midhurst a bit before time, I stopped outside the Swan Inn. It didn’t take long to decide to take them up on their offer of a full English breakfast and a bottomless pot of tea.

I didn’t have that many options. It was my only option.

The perfect sausage, the perfect breakfast in an English country hotel in the South Downs.

 Recommend a Local Service Provider

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All Saints Church, West Pallant, Chichester

There are three Thai restaurants to choose from in Chichester but don’t expect authentic, home cooked and independent. There is Niyom on Hayling Island and Thai Time in Arundel and one of the Thai restaurants in Bognor is supposed to be good. But it’s trip into Portsmouth for anything resembling Thai street food at Saros. There are a few more indepentently owned cafes in Southsea which I gaven’t tried as well as Na’s Bar & Galley on Kemps Quay in Southampton.