Already, in our family, there lingers (mainly with the dads) a totally unjustified belief that Mother’s Day looms larger than Father’s Day. Whatever. We are, cannot emphasise this enough, dedicated to making dad’s day memorable any way we can!
Feature by Jean Hill
Before a person feels the need to resort to joke socks, perhaps there are other more exciting options. The adventurous dad might like to experience a parachute jump or a mini-break walking/climbing holiday. Too much excitement; perhaps there is a favourite restaurant he loves, that does gift cards or book a trip to the theatre or cinema or gig. We, at His & Hers were lucky enough to experience an Indian feast in the Hawarden Estate Walled Garden. It was a wonderful experience and there are summer events still to come.
The Hawarden Estate: The Good Life Society
This is for the dad who loves nature, the outdoor life and learning from experts in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.
The Good Life Society is running four long weekends in July. Summer Camp is a chance to reset and recharge. It is about slowing down, about meeting new people, about learning new things. Not just smelling the coffee; walking amongst the blossom and taking in the scent of roses.
These are small and intimate gatherings. The days will be spent in the company of world experts in nature and outdoor craft. Visitors can join workshops, go on expeditions and listen to inspiring talks.
Dinner every evening is included in the ticket price and is cooked for you by a team of exceptional chefs.
The evenings will be spent together in the Walled Garden where there will be light entertainment, a bar and campfires to gather around as the sun goes down.
This is a beautiful location. A river runs through it and there is Hawarden Castle as a back-drop. Sublime.
Mersey Ferries take the scenic route to Manchester
There are no cancelled trains or rush hour grid-locks on this canal round trip to Manchester.
The fascinating Manchester Ship Canal round-trip cruises sail from Liverpool and Wirral. It is an opportunity to cruise along the Manchester Ship Canal to the historic Latchford Locks and back. The views of Liverpool are stunning. There is a rich history of trade and commerce between two great cities. This is a chance to appreciate the beauty and the history.
World Martini Day and The Bottle Club
Whether you’re a fan of the classic dry Martini cocktail, or a more adventurous recipe incorporating other spirits and flavours, there are plenty of options for Martini lovers around the world to indulge in.
The team of drinks experts at The Bottle Club have put together some handy tips for throwing the perfect Father’s Day BBQ, as well as providing some delicious cocktail recipes to add a summer twist to your garden party.
Plan ahead. Clean the barbecue. Use a brush with wire bristles to scrub down the grill – remember, not all household cleaning products are suitable for cleaning the grill as they may be toxic. Baking soda and water is a great way to clean off any dirt and grit.
Ask guests to get involved. Hosting a BBQ can be expensive, especially with the cost of living crisis. Share the financial load by asking guests to get involved, whether that’s bringing one item of food, preparing a side dish, or bringing a bottle of their favourite tipple.
Prepare vegetarian/vegan options. To cater for vegetarian and vegan guests you can create tasty salads, vegetarian/vegan burger and sausage alternatives. It’s also important to create a ‘meat-free’ space on the BBQ – to avoid any contamination. You can do this by cooking vegetarian options on a smaller disposable BBQ to avoid cross-contamination.
As enjoyable as barbequing can be, it can take a while, especially if you are catering for a large number of people. You can cook certain foods and prepare any side dishes the night before to save time on the day. If you need to season or marinade any meats or veggies you can do this in advance.
Set up outdoor shelter (if you can) such as a gazebo or parasols, should the weather switch unexpectedly. This also provides shelter from the sun, should your guests need it.
Classic Dry Martini: Prep time: 2 minutes and serves one.
INGREDIENTS
70ml gin: 1 tbsp dry vermouth: 2 tbsp olive brine: 1 wedge of lemon and 1 green olive
METHOD
Pour the vodka, dry vermouth and olive brine into a shaker with ice and shake well.
Rim the martini glass with the wedge of lemon.
Strain into the glass and add the olive.
Off The Cuff Cocktail Club
OTC Cocktail Club, is delighted to announce Monin as its newest sponsor. London’s first off-menu cocktail club allows you to call the shots. This immersive experience is dedicated to bringing mixology enthusiasts together to learn, share, and experience the art of quality cocktail-making. Monin is a global leader in flavouring syrups with over 100 flavours, perfect for adding a little flair to your cocktails.
A date to remember on the event scene on July 8th, 2023, Off The Cuff offers a two-and-a-half-hour luxury experience whereby thirsty guests conceive their very own cocktail creations: no bar skills required!
Visitors simply enter a few details into an astute app, such as favourite spirit (low and zero alcohol options available), go-to drinks, and deal-breakers, then sit back as the experienced mixologists work on a truly bespoke creation.
Tickets are priced at £85 pp and include three extraordinary cocktails (additional drinks can be purchased), canapes, and live music.
Ocado’s Father’s Day: great beers to suit every type of dad
Father’s Day is fast approaching and searches for ‘personalised gift ideas’ are more popular with people trying to find something special for their dads.
There are tasty and unusual craft ales for the more adventurous dad, a range of delicious non-alcoholic options for the designated driver and perfect food pairings for the foodie father.
Easy to pair with different foods because of their subtle flavours and aromatic ingredients, wheat beers are ideal for the foodie fathers.
Ocado’s Beer and Cider Buyer, Richard Bunting explains: “They work well with an orange, coriander or lemon garnish to give the captivating flavours an extra personalised flavour boost.”
“A mixture of classic beers could be the best option. Include the sweet caramel flavours of Hobgoblin Ruby, the smooth and refreshing Firecatcher and the timeless Shipyard Pale Ale…
Adventurous fathers will love a range of mix and match IPAs to try on Father’s Day.
Rich says “From tropical IPAs, to easy drinking blondes, golden ales, malty amber beers and hoppy citrus beers…This mix and match gifting idea is ideal for dads that like to try something new….”
For more beers to choose on Father’s Day, visit: https://www.ocado.com/webshop/startWebshop.do
Sapporo Teppanyaki
For the fatherly figures in your life, what better way to celebrate than with a free refreshing pint of Asahi beer…
To take advantage of this offer, simply book a table with us for June 18th, 2023, and mention the Father’s Day promotion when you make your reservation. Our friendly staff will be happy to welcome you and your dad to our restaurant.
Valid at our Liverpool & Manchester sites on Sunday 19th March 2023. One pint of free Asahi for each Dad dining from or a la carte menu.
Transform Trade
“What do you want for Father’s Day?” “I don’t want anything, I have everything I need.”
This conversation happens every year, in families up and down the country. Every year for Father’s Day we try to find innovative, exciting and different presents to show dads just how much we care, and how grateful we are.
You could get him a gift that gives out to others. These gift cards are meaningful presents which help build a better world – perfect for those tricky to buy for father figures!
Some of the options for gift cards can be found on the Traidcraft-exchange web-site. These include buying coffee that means a better deal for farmers. There is a gift card to help combat climate change impact and the ‘not a pair of socks’ gift card that helps the campaign for fairer fashion.
Whatever you choose, have a brilliant Father’s Day, though it should not necessarily eclipse Mother’s Day.
https://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/products/traidcraft-exchange
https://www.merseyferries.co.uk/our-cruises/manchester-ship-canal-cruise/
https://www.facebook.com/TheBottleClub/?locale=en_GB
https://thegoodlifesociety.co.uk/
https://thegoodlifesociety.co.uk/events/summer-camp-2023
https://www.offthecuffclub.com/
OTC Club: London Art House, 2-18 Britannia Rd, London, N1 8PA
Images for The Bottle Club: Credit: @maralalia
Credit: @up.to.coffee
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