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Articles by Daphne Colthard

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About Daphne Colthard

After graduating at RADA but finding no roles Daphne went into magazine journalism with Good Housekeeping. Widely recognised as one of the country's leading restaurant and hotel reviewers, particularly by herself, Daphne is the author of "Bedded and Breakfasted", a light hearted chick novel and Grand Hotels DC: the Daffers Dictionary. Daphne lives in West London and is married to an investment banker Oliver. They have 2 boys Humphrey and Tarquin. More Posts

A la Colthard/Sir Christopher Wren Windsor

A few years ago I was a regular visitor to both the Sir Christopher Wren hotel and Windsor. The hotel got tattier and tattier. One day on the outdoor terrace I saw a spritely Indian businessman directing affairs. He turned out to be the owner of Sarova hotels. Sarova have now taken over the hotel. [...]

July 27, 2021 // 0 Comments

A la Colthard / The Ram Inn Firle

I have reviewed the Ram at Firle favourably before and after a pleasant lunch yesterday continue to do so. We have a regular conflab there with the Rust web designer and another colleague. This now has become more of a social with our web designer initially informing us that he has passed certain [...]

June 17, 2021 // 0 Comments

A la Colthard: Hotel du Vin/Wimbledon

I had last stayed at this hotel when it was the Cannizzaro, a Palladian house in the style of Kenwood with equally magnificent grounds. However the hotel – especially the service – disappointed. Now under the management of Hotel du Vin they have upped their game. On arrival I was stuck [...]

June 9, 2021 // 0 Comments

The Grand Eastbourne

A few years ago I was a naughty, very naughty girl. I was reviewing an up-market trattoria in Chelsea. I had arrived late and was the only diner left. The manager Federico offered me a complimentary grappa and one became three. My marriage was going through a difficult time and as I told my [...]

May 23, 2021 // 0 Comments

A la Colthard/Olivo and the Ivy

With restaurants opening indoors and outdoors I visited two regulars of mine. I have been patronising Olivo in Victoria for 30 years. It was started by Mauro, a quiet Sardinian, and majoring on regional cuisine from his native isle. Italian restaurants before then were more showbiz with photos of [...]

May 20, 2021 // 0 Comments

A la Colthard/The post opening challenge

I have been to three restaurants since April 12th with varying degrees of enjoyment. There are two main problems: expectation level post-lockdown is unrealistically high and secondly it’s bloody cold. It reminds me of my dating when you wondered for weeks what the first night would be like [...]

April 28, 2021 // 0 Comments

A la Colthard – Claridges & Hush but first the hairdresser

Like so many people my first port of call yesterday was the hairdresser. It had been over 3 months since my last visit and my “ barnet’ was a mass of unruly curly and ends.  Yet it in an odd way I felt more youthful too. My hairdresser had coped with the lockdown well – in some ways its [...]

April 14, 2021 // 0 Comments

A la Colthard/restaurants – what will be the new normal?

Next month outdoor dining returns – and the following total dining, subject to restrictions in both. I have already booked for the terrace of Hush in Lancaster Court off Bond Street and my beloved English’s in Brighton and cannot wait. Till then the Colthard household will continue to [...]

March 25, 2021 // 0 Comments

A la Colthard/Rick Stein

Many years ago when Daffers was in “I-like-a-bit-of-rough” mode I knew an ex-boxer in Rock, Cornwall who sold his night club to a certain Rick Stein. He opened the Seafood Restaurant there and the rest is history. You could sit quayside and enjoy fresh fish caught that day and divine apple [...]

February 13, 2021 // 0 Comments

A la Colthard/the Chinese Takeaway

Yesterday I threw a wobbly about preparing and cooking yet another meal. It stemmed from the sheer monotonous routine of it all and my frustration at not visiting – let alone reviewing – any restaurants. Bless him my husband Ollie reacted sympathetically. He said he is taking over the [...]

January 9, 2021 // 0 Comments

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