The Chic Explorer, honest hotel and restaurant reviews for stylish travellers in the UK and beyond

The Chic Explorer, honest hotel and restaurant reviews for stylish travellers in the UK and beyond

Honest hotel reviews, restaurant picks, and a growing Sunday Roast List. Real photos, clear scores, booking tips. UK and abroad.

Hotel and dining reviews that actually help you choose well

Hotel and dining reviews that actually help you choose well

Welcome. I am Cheryl. I travel for work and for joy, sometimes around the corner, sometimes across an ocean, and I share practical reviews you can trust. Expect luxury when it earns the price, clever mid range finds that feel like a win, and small beautiful places you will want to gatekeep then immediately share. If a stay or meal is hosted, I say so. Editorial control stays with me. Now, where are we going first.

Hotel reviews that help you choose fast

If you like pretty hotels that remember they are for sleeping, start here. I cover boutique charm, serious luxury, and well chosen mid range stays in the UK and abroad. Each review scores sleep, service, design, breakfast, location, and value, then checks the extras people actually ask me about, dog friendly rooms, spa quality, parking, and gym. Expect booking tips that save time, which rooms are quiet, which wings to avoid on weekends, and when breakfast gets busy.

Restaurant reviews that favour flavour

Flavour first, drama optional. From tasting menus in big cities to neighbourhood gems that comfort the soul, I review restaurants with real photos and notes you will actually use. You will find portion sense, sauce confidence, relaxed service, and bills that feel fair. I include solo friendly tables, pre theatre timings, and whether they will bring more gravy without a fuss.

The Roast List, Sundays with standards

Roasts deserve their own spotlight. I score Sunday roasts by food, service, atmosphere, and value, then add the all important potato crisp factor and how the Yorkshire puddings behave under pressure. Search by city or county, plan your next Sunday, and hold me accountable if I ever praise a soggy spud. The list begins in the UK and grows as I travel.

New reviews and recent adventures

Explore recent posts from The Chic Explorer, a travel and restaurant blog.

A note from Cheryl

I design websites for a living and travel because it keeps life interesting. I work wherever there is decent coffee and Wi Fi, which means you will often find me in a lobby with a laptop, a flat white, and a quiet grin when the socket is in the right place. Friends kept asking where to stay, where to eat, and who does a roast that makes Sunday feel like a small holiday. This site is my answer, real stays, real meals, my own photos, and a clear scoring system that helps you choose fast. If a place is worth your time and money, you will find it here. If it is not, you will not.

Fresh from the road

New hotel and restaurant reviews from the UK and abroad, all tested in real life. Each tile shows a one line verdict and a score so you can scan quickly. Click through for the full review with pros and cons, booking tips, and a map. Six latest posts display here, three hotels and three restaurants. If you like to plan on Friday for a Saturday escape, this section is your shortcut.

Work from anywhere picks

Some trips include a laptop. I highlight hotels that make working on the road feel civilised. Think quiet rooms, proper desks and chairs, sockets in sensible places, and daylight that does not make you look like a vampire on Zoom. I test Wi Fi for calls, note early breakfast times for morning meetings, and flag lobbies or bars where a quick chat does not require shouting. These picks appear across destinations, from Paris to Barbados to the Cotswolds, and they save your back as much as your patience.

Dog friendly highlights

Dogs are welcome here, and by welcome I mean actually welcome. I check where dogs can go in reality, not just in a brochure. Expect notes on room types, access to outdoor space, nearby walks, fees that make sense, and staff attitude when a water bowl appears before you have to ask. If I would happily return with Ada, it makes the list. If not, the brochure can keep it.

How I review

I keep things clear so you can decide in minutes. Hotels are scored for sleep, service, design, breakfast, location, and value, with extra notes on dog friendly rooms, spa quality, parking, and gym. Restaurants are scored for food, service, atmosphere, and value, with roast specific notes when gravy is involved. I publish my own photos so you know what you are walking into. Most visits are self funded. When a stay or meal is hosted or on a press rate, I disclose it at the top. Partners do not edit reviews. I correct factual errors only. If I would spend my own money to return, I say so.

Why these reviews show up when you need them

I write for humans and lay out each page so search engines understand it without guesswork. That means one clear topic per review, descriptive headings, a quick verdict at the top, an FAQ that answers common questions, and internal links to related hotels, restaurants, and destination hubs. It also means images that load quickly and describe what you see, not mystery filters. The result is simple, useful reviews that readers save and search engines surface.

Invite a review

Hotels, restaurants, and tourism boards worldwide are welcome to invite a review. I accept hosted stays and press rates with full disclosure. I keep editorial control and shoot my own photography. If your property values warmth, comfort, and fair pricing, we will get along. Tell me the dates, the angle, and what makes it different. If it fits my readers, I will be in touch to plan the visit.

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FAQs

FAQs

Most trips are self-funded. Hosted visits are disclosed and never edited by partners.

Yes, with full editorial control.

Food, service, atmosphere, value, plus potato crisp factor and pudding notes.

Often. Dog friendly rooms are checked for real world practicality.

Use the contact form with dates, angle, and media assets link.