Liverpool has plenty to see and do so it can be hard to know where to start! Allow me to recommend my favourite touristy hangouts. To see the very best that Liverpool has to offer, head to these five memorable Liverpool locations.

Albert Dock

The White Lion bar in Bristol is in an enviable position overlooking the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Part of the Avon Gorge hotel, it has been recently refurbished after being bought by the Malmaison hotel group and recently I was invited to review the food.

My husband and I arrived on a Saturday afternoon to possibly the busiest bar I have ever seen in the daytime. There wasn't a free table anywhere and I was a little concerned about our reservation. I needn't have worried. We were greeted by an efficient waiter who found us a table, and who knew we were coming. A good sign!

We were given a menu and we sat and had a drink whilst discussing what we would have. The menu had a selection of pub classics like pizzas, burgers and ribs, but with a more upmarket feel. The ribs weren't any old ribs, they were Gloucester Old Spot ribs and the pizza choices included British artisan charcuterie pizza- so pub food with a side order of class.

Alex our assigned waiter then came over, introduced himself and took our order. He was very welcoming and although busy made an effort to chat to us, making us feel very welcome.

Mr W decided to have the tomato soup and one of the charcuterie pizzas and I decided to have the prawn cocktail and then the Normandy chicken.



Before our food came, we were given some tasty focaccia bread accompanied by olive oil, smoked butter and cashew nuts. The bread was delicious, with a smattering of salt and served with the olive oil and the smoked butter had a subtle smokey flavour and was an interesting choice. I didn't see the need for the chopped cashew nuts on the side but maybe that was just me. 

If I thought the prawn cocktail was large then I couldn't believe the size of the pizza, and neither could Mr W! This pizza was possibly the largest I have ever seen and that is no exaggeration. On the menu it does suggests you share but it could easily serve 4 people. Mr W was then cursing the fact that he had eaten the soup now!

The pizza base was relatively thin and the tomato sauce tasted authentic. The meat on the top was a selection of charcuterie meats, the type you would get in a deli, such as salami and other cured meats. I tried it too and we both thought that it was an excellent pizza.




I hadn't visited The White Lion bar before but I loved the modern decor which had a nod to tradition. White tiles were the backdrop to the well-stocked bar and long wooden tables are perfect for groups of friends to chat and share food as well as smaller tables suitable for couples. Copper light fittings added a stylish touch.

After our meal we took a little walk outside to the terrace and were pleasantly surprised by the fantastic view.  I can see why this pub is a perfect venue when the weather is sunny as friends can congregate on the terrace with drinks and also have splendid views of Clifton Suspension Bridge.






I thought the food was well presented and the portions were large. The pizza was really very good and although priced at £16.95 it would have been perfect to share with a group of friends. The magic question is - would we go back? I would certainly visit again if I was in Bristol. Alex, the waiter was excellent and couldn't do enough for us, the food was much better than the averagebar food and with the breathtaking view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, it is certainly a place to go when you are in the area. Recommended.

The White Lion Bar
Avon Gorge Hotel
Sion Hill
Bristol
BS8 4LD
Tel 0117 403 0210
http://theavongorgehotel.com/white-lion-bar/our-bar/

I wash and dry my hair every day, so it's important to me to have a really great hair dryer. When looking for a hair dryer it's also important to buy a brand I know and trust, so I was looking forward to reviewing the Lee Stafford Blow Dry & Go Hair Kit which was gifted to me for an honest review.

Lee Stafford is an award-winning celebrity hairdresser and personality. You may have seen him on the TV show Celebrity Scissorhands or on Secret Millionaire. He also has a great range of hair products under the Lee Stafford range at Boots.


The Blow Dry & Go Hair Kit comprises a 2200 watt hair dryer, a blow dry concentrator nozzle, a tail comb, a vent brush, some clips for sectioning your hair, hair grips and hair bands. All this comes in a handy carry case for keeping everything in one place, perfect if you are travelling around.

What I love about this hair dryer set is that it's unashamedly pink and girly. OK, maybe not for everyone but the hot pink colour is very cool. 

The quality of the hair dryer is good, the buttons make a satisfying click, it is not too big or small and it is easy to carry around. The hair dryer has three heat settings and two power settings with a handy cool button to set your hair whilst blow drying. When drying my hair I use a round brush to dry under the ends and always blast my hair with some cold air so a cool button is essential to me.



What is extra special about this hairdryer is that it has a keratin infused grill to impart shine, which is a great touch. I think my hair is looking lovely and shiny below as you can see and no shine sprays were added.




With a two year warranty and priced at £29.99 I think the Lee Stafford Blow Dry And Go Hair Kit is great value. 

Today on my blog you can win your very own Lee Stafford Blow Dry And Go Hair Kit. Entry is via the Gleam application below. While you are here don't forget to check out my other competitions too, including win SkinYoga body products. Good luck!

Let me know what do you look for in a hair dryer? Would you consider buying this one?



Win a Lee Stafford Blow Dry & Go Kit #2

Weird Fish is a company known for their relaxed weekend wear. From their inception 23 years ago, their mission has been to make well priced well made and distinctive clothes that will make you feel good wearing them.

I have become a fan of the brand over the years, and have bought their t-shirts for my son and previously reviewed a beautiful blue patterned tunic of theirs. Their clothes sum up the surfer look to me, cosy hoodies, bright print t-shirts, light-weight cotton shirts and shorts. Over time I think they have become slightly smarter, with gorgeous printed dresses being added to their repertoire. So when they approached me recently to review an item of clothing I was really pleased. As Weird Fish are known for their hoodies, such as their iconic Macaroni hoodie I thought I would look for a hoodie to review and that would keep me warm on an upcoming trip to Iceland.

So I picked their new Taloga print full zip hoodie.

When you come to choose a sofa there are a number of things to take into consideration. Budget, design, size, material, and lifestyle are all major considerations. In this blog post I will look at the factors to take into account when choosing a sofa.



Budget

Before choosing a sofa, be aware of your finances, and check your budget before you buy. If you have a strict budget some designs could be out of your price range, for example, leather sofas are generally more expensive than fabric sofas. Be realistic as to what you can afford. Buying second hand may be an option you could consider if money is tight.

There is something to be said for "you get what you pay for", and as a sofa often has major use I would say pay as much as you can afford for a quality sofa.

Design



Think about the style of the room you are buying the sofa for and your own personal design preference. Are you going for a modern sofa with clean lines, a retro style from the 50's or 60's or a traditional Chesterfield sofa with quilted leather and a button back? 

Consider the height of the back of the sofa, the depth of cushion and how comfortable it is to sit on. You really need to be testing out a sofa to see if it is the right one for you.

You may also want to consider a corner sofa or a sofa bed that can be useful when people come to stay.

Size



Think about the size of the room and the size of the sofa that is appropriate for the room. If you have a small room you don't want the sofa to take all the space, however, if you have a large family you may need a big sofa. Perhaps two smaller sofas or a small sofa and chair would be a better use of space, only you can decide. 

If you have a large room then your lounge can take a big sofa, such as a corner sofa and a small sofa may get lost in the area. You also need to take into consideration the length of the sofa for comfort if you like taking the odd afternoon nap.

Material


Are you going to choose a leather or a fabric sofa? Leather sofas are easy to wipe clean, useful if you have kids or pets, but can be cold to sit on whilst fabric sofas are warmer but may get dirty easily. An alternative could be a fabric sofa with stain guard protection. Leather sofas are generally more hardwearing than fabric sofas too, the material on a fabric sofa can wear and fray over time.

You also need to consider a plain or patterned material. A sofa in a plain colour or tone is less likely to date, and the most popular colour is black or brown as these tones go with most decor and are dark so marks don't show as well.

Add a splash of colour with cushions and throws to add interest if you get bored with the design. A throw can make a leather sofa warmer too. 

Lifestyle


As mentioned before if you have kids, pets or a large family it can all impact on the style, size and material of your sofa. Again if you are on your own or a couple you will have different needs.  If you have visitors on a regular basis you may want to consider a sofa bed. 



I hope this guide has been useful in how to choose a sofa. What designs and materials do you like?

*PR collaboration

Why the name SkinYoga? Like the Yoga discipline, SkinYoga's products are designed in accordance with the principles of harmony and balance. True skin care involves synergy with nature and SkinYoga is based on this principle.

The SkinYoga range contains 9 luxury products, which cover the body, the face and the feet.

My favourite products are below.


The SkinYoga tea tree foot scrub is made with tea tree oil that acts as a natural odour neutralizer, exfoliator and anti-fungicide whilst the sesame oil in its composition works hard to make your feet soft.
The SkinYoga green tea face mask is inspired by Japanese skincare regimes and is full of anti-ageing properties. It also helps control acne and removes toxins from the skin.


The SkinYoga fresh orange body mousse has vitamin C rich orange granules that melt on your skin. The sugar in the scrub works to exfoliate the skin whilst the black sesame oil nourishes and calms. 
Win SkinYoga Body Mousse