Petit Fours
(7 April, 2026)
𧢠âTry a beer-focussed cycling trip - yes, reallyâ
Look what made it into the 18 Ideas For A French Mini-break This Spring in The Timesâ weekend #travel section⌠Alongside a gorgeous new hotel on its own island near Marseille, market shopping in the Languedoc, and a weekend jaunt in Nantes, â#Beer and #biking in the Ardennesâ appeared in the round-up at No. 11. As The Times itself says: âThese great trips are all about joie de vivre!â. But look a little closer at the online version, and you might also notice the caption: âTry a beer-focused cycling trip - yes, reallyâ! Itâs the second time this year The French Ardennes has made it into the travel pages of a national newspaper. In January, the new Grand Route walking trail, that will launch this Autumn, was the lead story in a round-up of Seven of the worldâs best new hikes in The i - focusing on the launch of a new Grand Route walking trail in The Ardennes this Autumn.
𧢠This weekâs âTop Pickâ @WeightmanPR: Morris, a Movement, and moreâŚ
The UK is set for and Arts & Crafts âfestâ later this year, with two major exhibitions focusing on William Morris scheduled to appear at The Whitworth in Manchester, and The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. William Morris: Common Paradise is the theme of the Manchester exhibition exploring the radical and enduring legacy of the 19th century designer, writer and activist between 12 December and 14 November 2027. A Call to Art: William Morris & the Pre-Raphaelites at The Fitzwilliam Museum, meanwhile, will explore the radical vision for the future that lies behind the pioneering decorative designs and romantic storytelling of Morris in an exhibition thatâs set to run from 23 October to 3 May 2027. While this exhibition will also be looking at âarts and crafts in Cambridge and focus on the workmen who painted the designsâ, just a short walk from The Fitzwilliam an unassuming terraced cottage in Cambridge will be gearing up to mark the 100th anniversary of the death in 1927 of art-workman David Parr. David and his grand-daughter Elsie played major roles in first creating, and then preserving, one of the finest examples of Arts and Crafts domestic dĂŠcor on a modest scale, that William Morris never saw, but would certainly have admired. David Parr House, which tells the story of the people who lived here, against a truly remarkable Arts & Crafts backdrop will also be loaning a facsimile of David Parrâs apprentice agreement for display in the upcoming exhibition at The Fitzwilliam.
𧢠Great Pottery Throw Down ceramics on display in Stoke-on-Trent
Ceramic pieces inspired by Stoke-on-Trentâs industrial heritage - and created in the latest series of The Great Pottery Throw Down - are now on display at Gladstone Pottery Museum. The display features work from series nine, episode seven, where the potters were challenged to create floral posies and vases inspired by a craft long associated with The Potteries. The exhibition will be available to visitors as part of standard admission until 5 July 2026. Alongside the Throw Down display, visitors can explore Gladstone Pottery Museum - the only complete Victorian pottery factory of its kind.
𧢠A flagship destination for sustainable tourism - and wellness
The French Ardennes has been described as âan extraordinary, abundant and preserved environmentâ. In essence, itâs a region of choice for sustainable , responsible tourism. Given the fact itâs one of the most naturally âgreenâ regions of France, The French Ardennes itself is increasingly committed to responsible travel. Because of its history, heritage, geography and geology, itâs easy for this region to focus on sustainability - helping its visitors and the travel media to better understand the subject. Emphasis is also given to outdoor activities such as walking and cycling; rail travel is encouraged; local produce is highlighted; and the Ardennes Ecotourism Club is now growing âorganicallyâ, and quickly. And while thatâs all well and good, The Great Outdoors of The French Ardennes also provides the perfect backdrop to relax, and step away from the stress of everyday life, to take care of yourself, to eat healthily, to listen to your body and live at your own pace⌠(To find out more, follow this link to find out more about wellbeing in the Ardennes).
