Category: PLACES

VISITING THE FEEL GOOD CLUB IN MANCHESTER

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date August 3, 2021
No Comments on VISITING THE FEEL GOOD CLUB IN MANCHESTER

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! Last weekend I visited the Feel Good Club in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. I had a lovely catch up with an old friend and we ended up staying there for almost six hours. I had such a lovely time and luckily I remembered to take lots of photos, so I simply have to share it with you all!

What is the Feel Good Club?

The Feel Good Club is a coffee house but not just any old. It’s also a space for anyone and everyone. It’s a coffee shop with a real focus on mental health and wellbeing and it’s the first of its kind in the city. Their mission is to make you feel good every time that you visit! Not only do they serve delightful delicacies and cosy cuppas, they also offer the opportunity to take part in yoga classes and movie nights, to listen to guest speakers and to visit pop-up galleries showcasing local artists and businesses. If that wasn’t enough for you, their staff members are Mental Health first Aid trained to help support their customers in the best way possible. Something I was particularly impressed with was the way they displayed supportive and positive messages on billboards across the city, encouraging people to keep going. Also, get this – on Fridays, they open the space up for “Freelance Fridays”, to encourage self-employed people to use the venue for free as a place to network and feel part of a community!

Adverts in Manchester city for the Feel Good Club with positive mental health messages

What is their story?

The Feel Good Club was created by wives, Aimie and Kiera Lawlor-Skillen. They wanted to design a space where people could talk about mental health openly and honestly and where people would feel happy and safe. They originally started the initiative online, creating a huge community across various social media platforms. After being such a huge hit, the couple wanted to take it a step further and bring it to life, so The Feel Good Club opened in 2020! Despite the pandemic giving them all kinds of unexpected challenges, Manchester received the coffee house with open arms and it proved to be extremely popular.

My Experience

We ended up choosing this coffee shop because my friend said she had heard great things about it…little did we know we would end up spending the whole day there! The moment I stepped foot in the place I felt calm. It was so bright and cheerful. It’s very open, which I love as I can often feel overwhelmed and overstimulated. There were lots of seating options, including the windowsill with some cushions which looked perfect for days where you need to study or get some work done.

The place is filled with joy and colour. It’s such a positive place to be and the vibes were immaculate *chef’s kiss*. Towards the back of the room, they had a little section dedicated to their own merchandise and some goodies from local businesses. One of which, Fruit Loop Studios, need a shoutout of their own – check out their Etsy page here. There was even a little affirmation station where customers could write a positive and encouraging note for someone else to discover. It was such a human place, with a real focus on mental health at the core.

Biscoff stuffed cookie at the feel good club in Manchester

Avocado on sourdough bread at the feel good club in Manchester

Tea and stuffed cookies at the feel good club in Manchester

Obviously I had to be all millennial about it and order myself something avocado related (with a sprinkling of radish and spring onion) but let me tell you this was DELICIOUS. I also had some Earl Grey with vanilla supplied by local business Tea Keepers, which was heavenly. We were there so long that we needed to eat something else later on, and that ladies and gentleman is when I fell in love with a biscoff stuffed cookie. I mean look at it? I limited myself to a bite every few minutes to make it last as long as possible. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.

What did I think?

I absolutely love this place. It set me up for the week and that was on a good day so I can only imagine how fantastic it is to visit on a bad day. I felt calm, relaxed and comfortable enough to spend the day there which is unusual for me as I normally feel a bit boxed in after a while in a coffee shop or restaurant. The prices weren’t stupid either which is always a bonus for a city-based hangout. I love that they encourage freelancers to use the space to create a community of their own. It’s also lovely to see somewhere promoting local businesses in almost every aspect of what they do. I will absolutely be going back, maybe with my laptop to do some work, in the future. I can see myself being in there alone and feeling safe and totally chilled, which again is rather unusual for me. I look forward to seeing what else they do with the space and whether or not they open up any more Feel Good Clubs across the country. I can see them doing very well in other cities too – especially as a place for people to take a break after a stressful day or to stop by in their lunch breaks. I’m excited for them, I really am. If you’re visiting Manchester, or you’re here already, be sure to go and see it for yourself!

N xxxx

Tags Cafe, Coffee, Lifestyle, Manchester, Mental Health, Photography, Photos, Review, Summer, Travel, Travel Guide, Wellbeing

LIFE PLACES

VISITING THE CITY OF BATH

Hello! I hope you all had a fab Christmas – I definitely ate my fair share (and more) of Twiglets and pigs in blankets! I also managed to win a game of Pointless with my apparently extensive knowledge on the different types of potato (feel free to clap).

This year, my boyfriend and I decided to give each other city breaks for Christmas! I took him to Edinburgh and he took me to Bath. I wrote a post about our trip to Edinburgh so take a look if ya fancy! I’ve been to Bath before, with my mum and dad when I was younger for a day trip and I remember loving it. It was so lively and full of shops and things to do.

The hotel, Combe Grove, is a beautiful 18th Century Manor House on a hilltop on the outskirts of Bath, away from the busy city life below. At first we wondered where on earth these tiny winding roads were leading us but then the hotel emerged and we were gobsmacked. It had a slight Downton Abbey feel to it with it’s endless amount of gardens and grand country manor aesthetic. I’ve always loved Georgian architecture, especially when it’s later been transformed into a hotel or a living space, as the history behind it is still there. We were warmly greeted and immediately offered a WiFi code (free of charge – yay!) and shown to our room. My boyfriend had booked a front facing room in the Manor House itself, as they were described to have breath-taking views. When we walked in I was stunned, the bedroom was gorgeous. The window caught my eye in particular – it was absolutely massive! The views from the hotel were incredible, especially the one from our bedroom in the morning!

There’s something special about staying somewhere old and full of character that makes a weekend away so much more enjoyable. We looked forward to getting back in for a nice glass of wine in the bar downstairs, before having a nice relaxing bath and sinking into our lovely luxury sized bed (do excuse how badly placed the throw is, that gap is really bugging me).

Breakfast was incredible. I chose the Homewood Halloumi served on a spinach flatbread with black beans, avocado and a perfect poached egg. It was SO good, I could eat this all day every day. I’ll almost always order anything with avocado involved. There was also a breakfast table with a plate of fresh fruit, granola, yoghurt, toasted breads, croissants and a fabulous array of fruit juices and jams. We also had the loveliest view of the grounds whilst we ate.

Although I did a fair amount of shopping in the sales (many blog posts are to come as a result) however we did get some time to take a look around the historical parts of Bath. The abbey looked so beautiful in the sunshine, even if it has been standing since 1499! I remember visiting the abbey as a little girl with my dad, and we went into listen to a choir rehearsal and as a result got the chance to meet Sir Willard White!

We decided it wouldn’t be a trip to Bath without visiting The Roman Baths. We originally wanted to go in the morning, but there had been a very long queue so we had to keep coming back and eventually there was only a small group in line! We practically sprinted and we were in the building within five minutes! The standard adult ticket would’ve cost us £15.50 each but as we’re students, we only had to pay £13.75 each. We were offered free audioguides (one by Bill Bryson was available?!) but we decided to just read the signs as we went along.

The first view we had of the baths was from the Terrace. There were Victorian statues of Roman Emperors lining the Terrace, dating back to 1894 and were designed for the opening of the Roman Baths in 1897. Below, was the Great Bath and although huge, apparently it makes up less than a quarter of the entire site. It was lovely to be out in the fresh air and also still able to view this fantastic historical site (from above).

Then, we looked at The Sacred Spring, at the very centre of the Roman Baths site. For thousands of years, the naturally hot water (46°C) has been rising there every day! (If you’re wondering why on earth I have applied a weird fuzzy filter over my photos, it’s actually just the steam rising from the water). It was once believed that the ancient gods were responsible for this. Many also believed that this water had healing powers and some would travel for miles and miles just to drink it or bathe here!

Part of the East Baths, this would have been a hot room for people clean up before using the baths (pretty much like modern day spas now) where they could receive massages or sit in saunas.

There were lots of objects recovered from the Baths which we found particularly fascinating. It really brings the place to life when you can see real objects from hundreds of years ago.

My favourite part of our tour was being able to look at the curses. These were messages written on lead or pewter, before being folded up and thrown into the Spring. It was believed that the spirit of the goddess dwelt within the waters and would hear their messages.

There was even a Roman skeleton in one area of the exhibition, including the coffin too. This was definitely another fascinating reminder that all of this really happened and that these people really existed.

Finally, we got to view the Great Bath up close. The bath is 1.6 metres deep with steps leading down to it on all sides. The niches around the bath were for people to sit on to talk or would have held drinks and snacks. You can sort of see in the back right of the photo, a large flat slab of stone, which is known today as the diving stone.

Just before we set off for home, we stopped at a quirky little coffee shop called SOHO coffee. It gave off strong Pret vibes but it had a very different menu. I opted for an avocado caesar baguette and a fruit pot and wait for it… a Rocky Road hot chocolate. This was the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had, generously topped with marshmallows and cream too! I would really recommend stopping by, as it’s a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by whilst recovering from lots of walking and shopping!

I had the best time in Bath, it’s such a beautiful and lively city. It’s brilliant for shopping and also sightseeing which I think makes for the perfect city break. I know I mostly focused on the hotel and The Roman Baths in this post, however the shopping will come later on! I’m saving some things back for other posts to share with you! I would love to know if any of you have visited Bath or if there’s anywhere you would recommend going to stay as we want to go on some more city breaks in 2018!

Also – Happy New Year!

N xxxx

Tags Bath, December, England, History, Holiday, Lifestyle, Photography, Roman Baths, Shopping, Tourism, Travel, Winter

2017 BLOGMAS LIFE PLACES

CHRISTMAS IN EDINBURGH

BLOGMAS DAY 11

I took my boyfriend to Edinburgh for the weekend, for a combined birthday and Christmas present. For the first time ever, I chose to look at Air BnBs instead of hotels. I was surprised at how many results came up! I ended up choosing a beautiful apartment in one of Edinburgh’s Georgian crescents, in Stockbridge. The apartment was based on the ground floor (YAY – no stairs to crawl up after a long day) with a bedroom, bathroom and a living space with a built-in kitchen. Everything was so beautifully put together, it seemed like a lot of thought went into the apartment decor, it felt so luxurious. Despite the high ceilings, we were able to keep cosy with the fireplace in the living room. They even left us some prosecco, whisky, and gin along with tea, coffee, and milk which was so generous! There was also a little hamper in the bathroom full of skincare bits and toiletries, another lovely touch!

We were a 10-15 minute walk away from the city centre which was perfect for getting back home with lots of shopping bags when it was freezing cold outside! The area was very peaceful and quiet which was perfect to come back to after a long day spent amongst the heaving crowds in the city. On our walk, we had to cross a bridge that had such a pretty view of the river beneath it.

On the way into town, there was a gorgeous little Patisserie that caught my eye, called Patisserie Florentin. Pop in if you ever get the chance, the interior design is super quirky and cosy, a really lovely place to stop by. They do the BEST smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels (ask for it with avocado too!)

On George Street, there were a few stalls were selling handmade gifts and confectionary. There were beautiful festive designs projected onto buildings. It was so colourful and vibrant. We thought these were the only festivities to be expected from Edinburgh but we were so wrong…

We carried on exploring and happened to stumble upon the biggest Christmas market either of us has ever seen. It was so big there were even multiple levels of it! There were hundreds of little stalls selling gifts, in the traditional Santa’s grotto-type wooden huts. You can see Edinburgh castle lit up in the background!

There seemed to be lots of stalls dotted around, selling lanterns and candles which were all handmade and unique. They would make brilliant gifts for family and friends over the Christmas holidays. The tealight holders in the photo below looked fantastic. They had unique designs carved onto the outside of the holders so that when a candle was placed inside, the design would be projected onto the space around it!

The lanterns also looked incredible when it was dark outside, they were all clustered together and looked so effective! Again, these were all handmade and ready to give as gifts!

These origami-style star lights were so beautiful to look at. They were selling all kinds of patterns and sizes and different shapes, there was something for everyone! I would’ve loved this kind of thing as a kid!

My favourite stall to look at was the hand-carved wooden candle holders (bottom left- as you can see I was trying to find an excuse to stay here all night). There were miniature woodland scenes carved into some and moons and stars in others. I had never seen anything like this before!

There were the usual Christmas market stalls selling hundreds of kitsch decorations, which made it feel that little bit more festive. There were tiny bearded Santas and tartan covered reindeer, if you can imagine it, it’s probably sold somewhere in the depths of the market!

Of course, there was plenty to eat and drink. There were stalls selling German hotdogs and other delicacies, chocolate covered marshmallows (you’ll understand why my love for these is so strong if you click here) There were huge colourful mountains of different flavours of fudge, Belgian hot chocolate with your choice of syrup, crepes with all kinds of toppings available…the list is endless. There was also a bar built for the occasion, similar to the one I described in my post about Nottingham’s Winter Wonderland, it was full of antique mirrors and candles and was so relaxing and warm to walk into away from the bustling crowds outside in the cold.

There was also a HUGE Big Wheel and some teacup rides, a helter skelter, flying chairs and a gentle rollercoaster for the little ones! The lights and music from all of the rides made it feel so much more festive and lively regardless of some of the terrified screams from a rather menacing looking star flyer (bottom left).

We dedicated one day to exploring the streets closer to the castle. There were quirky little gift shops and bars but to my delight, there was an entire shop dedicated to Harry Potter merchandise. I was in Hogwarts heaven… apologies if Harry Potter isn’t for you, however in the words of JK Rowling “I don’t think everyone should believe in magic, but I’m not sure I would trust anyone who doesn’t”.

We were going to go on a tour of the castle, however, it cost £17 just to go inside, so we stuck to just admiring it from the outside. By the time we got there it was already dark, however, it was so beautifully lit up that it was still just as amazing to take it all in when stood in front of it. The view from on top of the hill was stunning, the lights from the city lit the way for miles. I’m usually not one for scenic views, but this was breathtaking (photos don’t do it justice)

If you get the chance, go to Edinburgh in December, as the whole city is so festive and lively. There’s something for everyone! I would suggest wrapping up VERY warm as it is absolutely freezing there! I’m sure it’s still just as beautiful to visit during the summer, however, we will definitely be returning to the Christmas market. Let me know if any of you have visited, or are hoping to visit Edinburgh before Christmas, I would love to hear what you got up to and what you thought about it!

N xxxx

Tags Christmas, December, Edinburgh, Harry Potter, Holiday, Lifestyle, Market, Photography, Presents, Scotland, Shopping, Travel

2017 BLOGMAS LIFE PLACES

CHRISTMAS IN NOTTINGHAM

BLOGMAS DAY 4

I mentioned in my Halloween post that Nottingham embraces the festivities like there’s no tomorrow. There’s a Winter Wonderland Christmas market every year and I absolutely love it. The market is typically made up of lots of little wooden huts (Santa’s grotto-esque) which sell all kinds of goodies.There’s definitely something for everyone. This year it’s even bigger and better.

So they only went and built the ‘sur-la-piste’ bar, which is basically a double-decked (GASP) French ski lodge, which is super cosy and lively if you fancy a drink with some friends or even just somewhere warm to run to when you become a bit too chilly. The bar plays Christmas music all day and then switches to an electric violinist on Friday and Saturday evenings! For the beer lovers amongst you, the bar is the first in Nottingham to serve unpasteurised beer (no added chemicals – pure lager) from oldest distillery in Europe! You can grab yourself some mulled wine and kick back and watch the world go by or embarrass everyone you know whilst dancing to an exotic cover of Sam Smith, the choice is yours!

There are interesting foods and gifts to be found all over the place, including a tea shop this year that sells amazing flavours of, (at the risk of blowing your minds) teas – including a “Sweet Vanilla Shortbread”, “Ginger Cranberry” and “Sweet Rosehip Cinnamon”. These are all available to buy here as well. This year there are lots of traders selling award-winning Chutneys, Cheeses and Chocolates which make great stocking fillers! There are fabulous gift stalls filled with handmade jewellery and Christmas decorations and even Lego themed artwork and so much more. There’s nothing quite like giving someone you love something special and handpicked by you with them in mind, of which there is plenty to choose from! There’s also a beautiful stall selling relaxation themed products with lots of mood lights and candles (see below).

In terms of food, there’s a lot to show you. I previously spoke about my beloved chocolate covered marshmallows and here they are once again! They have so many flavours, including Toblerone, Cappucino and Rum & Raisin! You even can grab a box of twelve for ten pounds and give them as a gift, I am obsessed with these!

Here’s some more for those of you with a sweet tooth there’s plenty more available! The sweet stalls are probably my favourite as they’re so vibrant and colourful, it’s hard not to stop and stare to take it all in! There’s so much variety! The mini pancakes (below) were AMAZING and opting for a topping of strawberries and Nutella might have been the best choice I’ve made. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much fudge in my life either, there are all kinds of flavours, from Skittles to Salted Caramel. It’s worth checking out, even if it’s just for a photo of the mountains of sugary goodness! There are Crepes, Pick ‘n’ Mix, Candy Floss, Toffee Apples, Giant Chocolate Muffins…the list goes on.

Your choices for savoury food are also endless. There are stalls selling delicious traditional British Hot Dogs, Honey Roast Ham served with juicy pineapple, Corn on the Cob, German fried potatoes, Homemade Olives, Stews…and that’s only a fraction of whats available!There are stands dedicated to covering your delicacies in all kinds of sauces, offering a wide range of toppings and side dishes. For those that have not mastered the art of walking and eating simultaneously (me), seated dining is available inside the bar area where lots more foods and drinks are served.

For the children (or those still in touch with their inner child – me again) There are lots of stalls with fairground games where you can win yourself a giant elf or there’s the Helter Skelter that kids can zoom down whilst one of the three bars remains festive and jolly below. Possibly the most popular and certainly the biggest attraction at the market is the ice skating rink, where you can glide around a giant and beautifully lit tree to festive tunes with your friends and family. Although I’m practically like Bambi on ice, it was worth it for the amount we laughed!

The choices are endless and it’s such a special experience, the perfect way to get into the festive spirit and do some Christmas shopping! I would highly recommend checking the Nottingham Winter Wonderland out, especially for those looking for a city break before Christmas. Don’t miss out!

N xxxx

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Tags BLOGMAS, Christmas, December, Family, Festive, Holiday, Lifestyle, Market, Nottingham

LIFE PLACES

ITALY, OH HOW I MISS YOU

During the summer, I went on holiday with my parents for the first time in YEARS. We went to a beautiful spa town in Italy, called Abano Terme, close to Padua. It was such a relaxing holiday and the heat wasn’t too overwhelming for a majority of the time we stayed there, meaning we could to a bit of ‘touristing’. I thought this would be a nice way to reflect on it and have it all written down somewhere rather than relying on memories staggered around my head.

The hotel we stayed at was incredibly beautiful and although some may argue, a tad dated, I found the traditional decor so charming. The bedrooms had chandeliers and old white wooden wardrobes which I instantly fell in love with. There were also incredible spa facilities and a large pool area, connecting the indoors, outdoors and spa. The pools were warm! This was because they contained thermal water which was sooooo relaxing and surprisingly refreshing given the heat. I spent most of my days in the lounging area, sprawled out on a sun-bed with a book (The Girls- Emma Cline).

One thing that this holiday influenced massively was my diet, as there was such a huge variety to eat here. We ate SO MUCH but it was all fairly healthy stuff, disguised by bright colours and decorative arrangements. The hotel provided a ‘serve yourself’ salad/starter bar which had beautifully prepared fresh vegetables and seafood every day. I had never really been a huge fan of eating cold seafood and arguably have stuck by the “fish are friends, not food” that finding Nemo taught me. However, if I catch a whiff of grilled and lightly seasoned squid, ya girl abandons all childhood Pixar related belief systems and is ready to go IN.

Within a few days of being away, I noticed that my skin had cleared up so much and my tiny little food baby (usually a permanent attachment to my body) had disappeared entirely. I was only really eating salads and fish which meant I wasn’t even eating half as much of the carbs that I usually do back at home or university. The sunlight also usually clears my skin up to (Vitamin D is incred), so as well as feeling super relaxed I was starting to feel so much more confident in my own skin (no pun intended).

That being said, I did spoil myself every few days with a pasta dish. I mean come on, it’s Italy, the home of pasta and pizza (90% of my usual diet). How can you turn down a tomatoey cheesy bowl of pasta?!

Most evenings, we walked into Abano Terme. It has to be said, it isn’t exactly a nightclub or shopping hotspot however it was quirky and different from what I was used to which is what tempted me to return every night. There were a lot of statues of fountains dotted through the streets, making lovely places to stop for a coffee or watch the people go by.

Towards the end of our holiday we got the train to Venice (they were double-decker trains too- mindblown). We realised we couldn’t justify failing to go there given how close it was to our hotel. I can’t even begin to explain how beautiful Venice is so I hope my photos do it justice. I’ve not had the chance to travel much, as my parents had to care for my brother (he was severely disabled) when I was younger, so going away for long periods of time was an extremely rare treat. This completely took my breath away, I have never felt so lucky or grateful to see such a beautiful place. We found a small church off of one of the winding streets (far left below) inside people were lighting candles and it was extremely peaceful. The ceiling was incredibly high up and there were paintings and images of angels and religious figures carved everywhere. It truly was magnificent.

We spent the end of the trip in Piazza San Marc (St Mark’s Square) (above images 2-4) which arguably, is the beating heart of Venice. Despite its vast size, there were also intimate areas where musicians played and restaurants served brightly coloured gelato. There were so many groups of tourists taken aback by the beauty of the square and for once their flashing cameras and stop-start style of walking didn’t bother me because this place NEEDS to be seen.

We crossed lots of tiny bridges and walked along the canal through many streets with stalls and shops selling Murano glass and the normal tourist trap goods. It was amazing to think that this was an everyday scene for some the locals. (Below photos)

Saying goodbye to this beautifully scenic and incredibly relaxing place, was harder than I thought it would be. However, I was so grateful to have been able to go there at all and I hope to return at some point in the near future, perhaps with my boyfriend.

Let me know if any of you have visited Abano or Venice, I would love to hear about your experiences! Also given this is my first blog post, I would also appreciate any feedback that you have to offer (good or bad)

N xxxx

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Tags Family, Holiday, Inspiration, Italy, Lifestyle, Photography, Spa, Student, Travel, Venice