Vegetables for vouchers
Brighton vegetarian restaurant Terre a Terre has set up a scheme with allotment growers in the area where surplus fruit and vegetables are swapped for restaurant vouchers. Growers drop off produce on a weekly basis and also liaise with the restaurant's kitchen team to let the it know what it can expect to receive for the month ahead. "We have been doing this or a version of it for three years. The public love it and ask every year when it's going to start. As you can imagine the dishes are always very green or very red," said Terre a Terre's Olivia Reid.
Photography
Wiltshire hotel Mayfield House is planning to monopolise on its picturesque Cotswold location by running monthly three-day digital photography courses from October. The hotel has joined forces with professional photographer Terry Hewlett who will tutor a group of 10 people on how to use their cameras, set up shots and more. The course and a single room costs from £379 with the price including a pass to Westonbirt National Arboretum.
Fish for dinner
Thames-side city restaurant High Timber is installing fishing rods on its terrace overlooking the river all this month, to give customers the chance to have a go at fishing for their suppers. A trained member of staff will be on-hand to help customers try their hand at fishing. All catches will be returned back to the river alive, but head chef Justin Saunders has promised to give successful fishermen and wome, a complimentary dish in return for their efforts.
Whisky and cigars
London bar Boisdale of Canary Wharf is hosting monthly cigar seminars and whisky tastings to teach customers about the finer points of cigar and whisky matching. Next week Jimmy McGhee of Hunters & Frankau and Phil Huckle of Pernod Ricard will host a seminar on Punch Churchill (Tubos) Vintage 1998 matched with Chivas Regal 18 year old whisky at a cost of £25 (£15 for members) per person. The next seminar on 2 August, will be run by Mitch Orchant of C.gars and Pernod Ricard's Huckle and will focus on the San Louis Rey Double Corona Vintage 2004 cigar and Chivas Regal 18 year old and 25 year old whiskies. It will cost £70 (£35 for members) per person.