Rick Stein takes over Cornwall pub

Rick and Jill Stein have taken over their local pub!

The Cornish Arms in St Merryn near Padstow is a proper Cornish pub, and Rick and Jill Stein will no doubt be making this THE pub in the area in which to enjoy a pint of proper Cornish ale or a decent pub meal.

>>> More info

>>> Visit simplydevonandcornwall.com - the insider's guide to Devon and Cornwall

>>> Hotels in the Padstow area

BBC Antiques Roadshow to visit Morwellham Quay

BBC One's ever popular Sunday evening programme ANTIQUES ROADSHOW will be filming for its 32nd series at Morwellham Quay, near Tavistock on Thursday 25th June. The doors open at 9.30 am and close at 4.30pm. Some of Britain’s leading antiques and fine arts specialists will be on hand to offer free advice and valuations to visitors, who are invited to raid their attics and bring along their family heirlooms, household treasures and car boot bargains for inspection by the experts.

People with large pieces of furniture or other big items can send details and photographs of their objects to: antiques.roadshow@bbc.co.uk. It may be possible to arrange to look at the item in advance and organise transportation to the venue.

>>> More info on Morwellham Quay near Tavistock

>>> Visit simplydevonandcornwall.com - the insider's guide to Devon and Cornwall

>>> Hotels in the Tavistock area

New airlink from London City Airport

Air Southwest, Devon and Cornwall's own airline, has announced a brand new air link direct from London City Airport in the heart of the capital to both Plymouth (Devon) and Newquay (Cornwall).

The new flights start on 20 April, and will fly twice daily on weekdays, once on Sunday, cutting hours off road and rail journey times. And fares start from £29 way (including all the taxes, charges and baggage).

>>> More info

>>> Visit simplydevonandcornwall.com - the insider's guide to Devon and Cornwall

Traditional hospitality in Falmouth

Enjoyed a very comfortable stay at the Falmouth Hotel (in Falmouth!). It's a large, traditional place, enjoying a simply spectacular location overlooking Falmouth's Gyllynvase Beach and the open sea beyond. Our bedroom was huge - high ceilings, grand proportions and original features all round - and the best bit was the amazing sea view. Downstairs there is a nice bar/lounge and restaurant, and a decent leisure centre Altogether a warm, welcoming, comfortable and relaxing place to stay. And great value - especially out of season, when rooms start from as little as £50 for a double including breakfast.

>>> More info and bookings for the Falmouth Hotel

Christmas hotel deals

Maybe it's because of the "credit crunch", but there are some great hotel deals in Devon and Cornwall this Christmas. We've hand-picked a few especially good deals for you below (and the prices shown are for Christmas Eve/Christmas Day, for two people):

Browns Hotel in Tavistock (lovely townhouse hotel in the centre of the award-winning market town of Tavistock) - £100 per room - click here

Jurys Inn in Plymouth (modern city-centre hotel, close to the historic Barbican area of Plymouth) - £45 per room - click here

Imperial Hotel in Torquay (large resort-style hotel, perched on a headland overlooking the sea on the outskirts of the "English Riviera" town of Torquay) - £93 per room - click here

Porth Veor Manor hotel in Newquay (small hotel on the outskirts of Newquay, with easy access to the wonderful sandy beach at Porth) - £59 per room - click here

This is just a small selection of some of the great deals available at Devon and Cornwall hotels this Christmas. For a much wider choice - click here

http://www.simplydevonandcornwall.com/ - the insiders' guide to Devon and Cornwall

Cheap flight deals to/from Cornwall

Devon and Cornwall's own airline, Air Southwest, has launched an amazing deal on flights to and from Newquay Airport. Every seat on every flight (apart from the Grenoble route) is just £29 - and that includes all the taxes, baggage etc etc! It's for flights in January, and bookings have to be made by 28/12/08.

Book at www.airsouthwest.com

Best Sunday lunch in Cornwall??

In search of a bit of Sunday lunch in South East Cornwall, we tried the Smugglers Cott Restaurant in Looe. A delightful, cozy restaurant - warm and welcoming. Sunday lunch was one of the best carvery meals we've ever had. A choice of four meats (turkey, beef, lamb, pork) and a counter full of scrummy veg including delicious cauliflower cheese and lashings of hot gravy. All for about eight quid. After you've stuffed yourself, you can always take a bracing walk on Looe beach just up the road. Enjoy! (No website, but for reservations telephone 01503 262397)