Union Jacks

Jamie Oliver's restaurant Union Jacks has now opened in Winchester. I passed by yesterday and couldn't get close enough to the menu as there were a lot of people crowding around it (and I didn't have my glasses on me!)

It seems to have created a lot of interest in Winchester. I had a look on their website and it doesn't look too expensive, so I will give it a try sometime.

Christmas lights

Last week in the High Street the Christmas lights were put up. They are not switched on yet, that comes on Thursday. This year's 'celebrities' are the cast of the Cinderella Christmas pantomime, the University of Winchester Choir, girl group Vanity and the main attraction of the night will be last year’s X-Factor Contestants, The Reason 4.

Cycle 4 Life & 1st anniversary

1 year ago today I started this blog! I must admit in September and October 2010 the 'daily' aspect was a bit lacking, but after this false start I have published a photo every day, bar one when my modem broke! I still feel there are many more things to photograph here especially as so far the blog has been very central Winchester orientated! So here's to the next 365 days and thank you to everyone who has ever dropped by the blog and to anyone who has taken the time to comment, it's really appreciated!

Back to today's photo.. yesterday I got totally drenched at the Cycle 4 Life sportive in aid of Cancer Research. It was a 25km, 50km or 100km cycle ride - I chose the 25km! The weather was horrible, pouring with rain and cold, not great cycling weather! The event even had its own celebrity taking part - Les Ferdinand, ex England, Tottenham & QPR footballer.

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Peter Symonds College

I have posted previously about Peter Symonds here. And here is the 6th form college named after him. It is for 16-19 year olds studying A Levels. It is an excellent establishment, free, non selective and produces some of the best results in the country. This year 55 students are off to Oxford and Cambridge, which the college is quite rightly proud of.

The college was founded as a boys grammar school in 1897 and became the co-educational college that it is today in 1974. Notable ex pupils include Jack Dee (comedian), members of Coldplay and Razorlight, various ambassadors, MPs, judges, Air Chief Marshalls and Colin Firth's brother!

***update 2 March 2011 ***

I have had it confirmed that Colin Firth (our local Oscar winner!) also attended Peter Symonds!

Bishop On The Bridge

B is for Bishop On The Bridge which is a pleasant pub in Winchester. It has a nice atmosphere, live bands occasionally and a great beer garden next to the river (the river is to the left of the pub)

The old East Gate of the city stood approximately where the pub is today, however this was demolished in 1768. The current building dates from 1891 and has been known by various names, The Great Western Hotel, The Riverside Inn, The Louisiana, The Old Monk and more recently The Bishop On The Bridge. The Bishop in question is St Swithun the Saxon Bishop of Winchester from 852-862 who built the 1st bridge over the River Itchen.

Celebrity claim to fame for this pub - James Cagney stayed at this pub in 1942 when he came to Winchester to visit American servicemen at a Red Cross Hospital located in Winchester.

For more photos beginning with 'B' see ABC Wednesday

Winchester's got the X Factor!

Winchester is pitching itself as England's Christmas capital, with its Christmas Market, ice rink, live nativity and carols at the cathedral and today to start it all off  the Christmas lights have been turned on today by X-Factor band The Reason!