Hampshire &amp; Isle of Wight


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-masterchef-champ-to-head-up-the-kitchen-at-winchester-s-lainston-house">Masterchef champ to head up the kitchen at Winchester’s Lainston House</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2560" height="1707" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Tom-Hamblet-_-Lainston-3-scaled.jpeg" alt="Tom Hamblet Lainston House Season Cookery School Winchester Hampshire Masterchef The Professionals winner The Avenue restaurant" class="wp-image-35752" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Tom-Hamblet-_-Lainston-3-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Tom-Hamblet-_-Lainston-3-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Tom-Hamblet-_-Lainston-3-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Tom-Hamblet-_-Lainston-3-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Tom-Hamblet-_-Lainston-3-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Tom-Hamblet-_-Lainston-3-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></figure>



<p>After a sell-out residency in 2024, <em>Masterchef: The Professionals </em>winner Tom Hamblet has been confirmed as Head Chef at the newly refurbished <a href="https://www.exclusive.co.uk/the-avenue">The Avenue</a> at Lainston House. Close to the city in Sparsholt, the fine dining restaurant at Winchester’s luxe country house hotel is set to reopen on Wednesday 27 November. </p>



<p>Foodies and fans of the show can also pull on an apron and get cooking with Tom with a Masterclass cooking session on select dates at Lainston’s <a href="https://www.exclusive.co.uk/cookery-school/classes/masterclass/">Season Cookery School</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ryan-gosling-films-new-sci-fi-movie-in-portsmouth">Ryan Gosling films new Sci Fi movie in Portsmouth</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="922" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Ryan-Gosling-Southsea-1000x922.jpg" alt="Ryan Gosling Project Hail Mary Southsea Parade Pier Portsmouth Hampshire" class="wp-image-35753" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Ryan-Gosling-Southsea-1000x922.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Ryan-Gosling-Southsea-800x737.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Ryan-Gosling-Southsea-768x708.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Ryan-Gosling-Southsea.jpg 1305w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pic: Tik Tok / <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@kendomeme?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@kendomeme</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>Hands up who spotted Ryan Gosling in Southsea last month? Standing out in a bright yellow mac, the Hollywood hottie waved to delighted fans lying in wait on South Parade Pier. Rumour also reaches Superflash that Gosling shot scenes at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, too. </p>



<p>Due to be released in 2026, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Hail_Mary_(film)">the upcoming movie</a> is based on the sci-fi book <em>Project Hail Mary</em> by Andy Weir. In it, Gosling&#8217;s character wakes up from a coma with amnesia. He slowly remembers he was sent on a mission to reverse a solar dimming event that could result in the extinction of humanity. (No pressure then). Other locations used by the UK film crew include the Durdle Door in Dorset and Cambridge’s Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-muddy-award-winning-hotel-gets-new-name-and-owners">Muddy Award winning hotel gets new name and owners</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="523" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Orange-Grove-Hotel-1000x523.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-35754" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Orange-Grove-Hotel-1000x523.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Orange-Grove-Hotel-800x418.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Orange-Grove-Hotel-768x401.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Orange-Grove-Hotel.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Crowned Best Event Venue in this year&#8217;s Muddy Awards, The Mansion at Coldeast at Sarisbury Green near Warsash has been renamed as <a href="https://www.orangegrovehotel.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Orange Grove Hotel &amp; Gardens</a>, inspired by estate’s former use as a fruit farm. Ex Petersham Nurseries director Annaliese Hughes and her business partner Louise Martin acquired the 30-bed hotel near the Hamble River, close to Fareham and Southampton, earlier this year. Future plans include a herb garden to grow produce for the hotel’s restaurant and new wellness facilities. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-level-fine-dining-in-your-kitchen">Next-level fine dining &#8211; in your kitchen</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="850" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/03/AO-restaurant-food-2.jpg" alt="Restaurant AO fine dining Hampshire Daniel Rogan Michelin" class="wp-image-30357" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/03/AO-restaurant-food-2.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/03/AO-restaurant-food-2-800x680.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/03/AO-restaurant-food-2-768x653.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/03/AO-restaurant-food-2-618x525.jpg 618w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Want to really wow friends and family this festive season? Ditch the apron and dress to impress: While his Michelin-guide rated restaurant&#8217;s new premises get ready for a grand reopening in late Winter 2025, top chef Daniel Rogan is taking the full Restaurant AO experience to guest&#8217;s own home. Groups of six or more in the Hampshire area can enjoy <a href="https://restaurantao.co.uk/dine-at-home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AO at Home</a> bespoke menus and expertly paired wines. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lounges-lands-in-lymington">Lounges lands in Lymington</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1172" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Solento-Lounge-Lymington.jpg" alt="Solento Lounge Lymington cafe bar Hampshire news" class="wp-image-35748" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Solento-Lounge-Lymington.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Solento-Lounge-Lymington-800x625.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Solento-Lounge-Lymington-1000x781.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/11/Solento-Lounge-Lymington-768x600.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Haven&#8217;t got a Lounge in your neighbourhood yet? Chances are you will soon! The all-conquering, all-day dining chain with its chintzy-chic decor, eclectic art and cheeky Tapas Tuesdays has just opened another new Hampshire café-bar, <a href="https://thelounges.co.uk/solento/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solento</a>, in the former Barclays building on Lymington High Street. It joins existing locations around Hampshire including Southampton, Petersfield, Portsmouth, Ringwood, Fleet as well as Newport, on the Isle of Wight.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-charity-dough-from-pizza-express">Charity dough from Pizza Express</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/11/PizzaExpress.jpg" alt="Pizza Express snowball dough balls" class="wp-image-176194" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: @pizzaexpress</figcaption></figure>



<p>And finally: Pizza Express is getting into the Christmas charity spirit by bringing back its festive Snowball Dough Balls. If you’ve yet to experience this delight, they’re basically a sweet version of the regular doughballs, covered in chocolate sauce, cinnamon and icing sugar. Back in restaurants nationwide as part of the Pizza Express&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pizzaexpress.com/christmas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Christmas menu</a>&nbsp;this week, Tuesday 19 Nov is Snowball Dough Ball Day, when you can snaffle a portion for just £1. If that isn’t tempting enough, all the money raised on the promo day will go to Pizza Express’ charity partner&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/_place2be/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@_place2be</a>, which supports children’s mental health in schools in the UK. Doing good never tasted so great.</p>


Superflash! All the latest from around Hampshire

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