• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Pevensey
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Pevensey BN24 6QG

Velma said

I really like the historic Star Inn. It's a popular place and always busy.

There's an extensive menu at reasonable prices, as well as a carvery, with an excellent choice of meats and vegetables.

Chidren are made welcome, although no paper and crayons are supplied. They have the usual choice of dishes, although they can also have a small carvery meal. There's a good choice of ice creams for dessert.

The service is excellent and the staff always friendly.

There's plenty of tables inside, although it is advisable to book ahead.

The children will love the play area outside and there's plenty of tables outside if you prefer to eat alfresco.

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Maidenhead
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

Maidenhead SL6 1LB

Velma said

If you're out shopping in Maidenhead and in need of refreshments then the Cafe Giardino is ideally placed.

Situated right in the centre of the Nicholson Walk Shopping Centre, the cafe provides a wide variety of snacks, hot and cold drinks etc, all at reasonable prices. There's a good choice of sandwich fillings and these can be made to order.

The cafe is always busy, which is a good sign. You can sit and stare at the other shoppers walk by as you sip your coffee.

There's no toilets on site, but the shopping centre's toilets are just a short walk away.

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Brighton
• Category: Restaurants

Brighton BN1 1HJ
01273 775477

Velma said
Great value
Tucked away in the lanes of Brighton, Donatellos was recommended to me by my brother and is certainly worth a visit.

It's a large restaurant over several floors and can get very busy. The toilets are situated on the top floor, so expect a bit of a climb to use the loo!

Nonetheless, on the day we visited the service was excellent and we were warmly welcomed.

There's an extensive menu at reasonable prices. For even greater value you can choose the set meals of either two or three courses, although you are limited to a small number of dishes.

The quality and presentation of the meals were excellent and I would definitely recommend it.

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Reading
• Category: Restaurants

Reading RG1 1TG
0118 950 0592

Velma said

There's two Bella Italia restaurants in Reading, this one tucked away in the pedestrianised Queen Victoria Street and the other by the Riverside at the Oracle Shopping Centre.

We visited on a Sunday lunchtime and it wasn't very busy at all, however the service was rather slow, which got a bit irritating by the end of the meal.

However, the quality of the meals was excellent. The menu has an extensive choice to suit everyone and is reasonably priced, although the drinks tend to be on the expensive side.

I was looking forward to rounding off my meal with a cappuccino, but was told that the coffee machine was broken, so left a little disappointed.

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Maidenhead
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

Maidenhead SL6 8NP

Velma said

Riverside Gardens is a great place to take your children - there's a large playground, crazy golf, and large expanse of grass to play foortball etc. After all that activity you would welcome refreshments, for which Jenners Riverside Cafe is ideally placed, right by the entrance of the car park (small entrance fee).

The cafe offers a choice of snacks, hot meals, hot and cold drinks etc. There are tables inside and outside, and hot drinks can be taken away.

I've always found the cafe and toilets clean, which is always a good sign.

The River Thames is just across the road and Boulters Lock a short walk away, so all in all a good day out.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Windsor
• Category: Restaurants

Windsor SL4 1PR

Velma said
Excellent!
My first visit to a Bella Italia was in Windsor and I have to say that I was very impressed.

The service and food was excellent. There was a good choice of food from an Italian restaurant of this genre and all were reasonably priced. I did find that the drinks were quite expensive though, with the cheapest bottle of house wine around £12-13.

The children were made most welcome and provided with an activity sheet and crayons. They had their own menu, which had plenty of healthy options. They cleared their plates, which is always a good sign with them.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Windsor
• Category: Restaurants

Windsor SL4 2SH

Velma said
Great Location
The Bells Of Ouzeley is a great location, overlooking the River Thames at Old Windsor, where you can watch the boats go by as you eat your meal. There's plenty of tables outside if you would prefer to eat alfresco.

This is one of the busiest Harvesters I know, so at busy times be prepared to wait for a table. The service is excellent, with the staff friendly and attentive.

Like all Harvesters the menu is great value for money with a good choice of meals and salad bar too, so you don't have to break the bank feeding a family of four.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Windsor
• Category: Restaurants

Windsor SL4 5HQ

Velma said
Good value for money
You always know what you're going to get with the Harvester as the menu hardly changes, but nonetheless we mostly get a good meal and the children are keep busy with the paper and pencils provided.

We visit more out of convenience then as a special treat. We all like the salad bar and this is well presented and clean.

The service is always friendly and efficient, with the children made to feel welcome.

There's plenty to choose from on the menu and the children have smaller versions of the dishes instead of having a menu of their own, and of course there's ice cream for them for dessert as well.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Windsor
• Category: Sightseeing and Attractions

Windsor

Velma said
Fantastic Day Out!
Legoland is a fantastic day out for all the family.

We live nearby and have annual passes so visit often, and it's well worth it.

Yes, it can be very busy and you will have to queue up for rides during busy times. I've found that the best times to go is outside school holidays in the week in the Spring and Autumn, and sometimes you literally have the rides to yourselves.

I have noticed that this year the food prices have gone up quite a bit, so feeding the family can be quite expensive here. So if you are on a budget, it's best to bring a packed lunch.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Eastbourne
• Category: Restaurants

Eastbourne BN23 8AL

Velma said

I visited on a Sunday lunchtime and whilst arriving early and got seated straight away, the restaurant soon become very busy, so that when I went to queue for the carvery there was quite a few people in front of me.

However, the service was quick and I was soon served. There was a good selection of meats and vegetables, and all were well presented.

The waitress service was a little slow, but then the restaurant was busy. We ordered desserts and coffees and these took a little while to arrive. When they did we did not get all the coffees we asked for and was told that's what we ordered - which left us little disappointed.

By then the restaurant was heaving, with people waiting for tables and staring at you because it looked like your table will be free soon.

Eager to escape the throng, I had to find the waitress to pay the bill.

Convenient, reasonably priced, but hardly a relaxed meal.