Brisbane's newest restaurant might have the most breathtaking backdrop in the entire city

The River City is gunning for gold in Australia's dining scene, with a slew of world-class restaurants opening in recent months. But Brisbane's latest claim to fame? One of the city's newest riverside eateries, Supernormal Brisbane, was just named among the world's best new restaurants of the past year. And the city's culinary scene is showing no signs of slowing down, welcoming its latest dining venue, The Summit Restaurant, atop Mt Coot-tha last month.
Perched on the edge of Brisbane's highest peak, The Summit Restaurant boasts some of the most sublime views of the city skyline out to Moreton Bay. The multi-million-dollar revitalisation of the heritage-listed venue – including a refined dining room, a vibrant brewpub-style public bar and an expansive verandah – has been brought to life by Mantle Group, whose resume includes The Charming Squire, The Sound Garden, Babylon and Tai Tai.
At the kitchen's helm is Queensland hospo legend Kym Machin, who brings more than 30 years of culinary experience from top venues, such as Urbane, Bare Bones Society and Same Same But Different.
Sustainability and seasonality are at the heart of the menu, which traverses Queensland's diverse climates, regions and native ingredients. Diners are encouraged to journey through themed sections titled Sea, Air, Land, Earth and Garden, with small plates to start and sweets to round out the experience.
Machin said, 'When you're standing at The Summit, you can see for miles – from the city to the bay and out to the hinterland – and we wanted the menu to reflect that sense of scale and beauty.'
Bread is baked in-house daily and paired with cultured butter, smoked salt and honey harvested from The Summit's own beehives. Other standout starters, including Elliott Heads' spanner crab salad and ocean trout gravlax, are served with fresh herbs picked from the restaurant's edible garden.
Mains are best enjoyed as a share-style feast, with highlights including Moreton Bay prawns topped with native herb chimichurri, roast duck smoked over paperbark, almond-fed pork with pickled apples and pumpkin agnolotti in brown butter sauce. If you get decision anxiety, the kitchen can take the reins with two chef-curated tasting menus ($79 and $99). Or you can simply drink in the ripper views with a cocktail and a casual bite from the bar menu.
The opening of The Summit Restaurant marks just the first stage of this multi-million-dollar transformation at Mt Coot-tha summit. While still in the planning stage, the team hopes to deliver the full transformation ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – complete with a two-level Pavilion venue, a boutique gin distillery and a cultural tourism experience that honours the mountain's rich history and significance.

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Wales Online

4 days ago

• Wales Online

You won't believe what's buried on the slopes of this historic Welsh hill walk

You won't believe what's buried on the slopes of this historic Welsh hill walk One of my favourite short hikes is a hill walk near the market town of Abergavenny, which has a very unusual burial site and memorial on the heather-clad slopes Blorenge is also on stage 3 of the Cambrian Way long-distance trail. (Image: Portia Jones ) From dramatic coastlines, wildflower-filled moorlands, and steep ridges to plunging river valleys and dense pine forests, Wales has an unbeatable range of walks to discover. This small but mighty country is a hiker's dream, offering numerous short treks and loop walks. The best part? You don't need to hike for days to discover Wales' epic landscapes. ‌ One of my favourite short hikes is a hill walk near the market town of Abergavenny, which has a very unusual burial site and memorial on the heather-clad slopes. ‌ Blorenge is a prominent hill in the southeastern corner of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, overlooking the valley of the River Usk, and is an ideal day walk in South Wales. The Blorenge walk is a gentle hike from the car park across the mountaintop, taking around two hours and suitable for older children to walk. The car park's proximity to the summit makes this a relatively easy walk compared to most in Bannau Brycheiniog. Stroll around swathes of heather moorland, looking out over the rolling Black Mountains and signs of the area's industrial heritage. Article continues below If you're kicking off your walk from the car park, keep an eye out for a rather quirky sight nearby – a memorial to a horse. How very Welsh. Up on the moorland, you'll spot a cluster of grey rocks and right in the middle, there's a green metal plaque marking the final resting place of Foxhunter, the legendary horse who carried Sir Harry Llewellyn to Olympic glory in Helsinki back in 1952. If you're kicking off your walk from the car park, keep an eye out for a rather quirky sight nearby – a memorial to a horse (Image: Foxhunter's memorial on the Blorenge by Jeremy Bolwell, CC BY-SA 2.0 ) ‌ Sir Harry rode this impressive 16.3-hand beauty effortlessly, and together, they made quite the dream team. They clinched Britain's only gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics and were part of the showjumping squad in 1948 as well. The Angel Hotel even named a bar after the magnificent Foxhunter, and for good reason – he and Llewellyn won the prestigious King George V Gold Cup three times (in 1948, 1950, and 1953) and racked up a staggering 78 international wins together. ‌ Foxhunter was to rest on the slopes of the Blorenge mountain, between Abergavenny and Blaenavon, and, fittingly, Sir Harry's ashes were also scattered there, a lasting tribute to a legendary partnership. Today, you can pay homage to the duo at the hillside memorial or at the Foxhunter Bar, where you'll find several pictures of them both and a special Angel Ale, 'Sir Harry, ' on tap in honour of them. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here Foxhunter bar, The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny (Image: Wales Online ) ‌ The Blorenge walk There are several walks in the area, including the 7-mile 'Blorenge Circular', which you can follow on the All Trails App. According to the All Trails route description, the trail starts from the car park by Keeper's Pond, a high-level lake originally built to power the Garn Ddyrys iron forge in the South Wales valley. The forge closed in the 1860s, and the Pond is now part of the Blaenavon World Heritage Site, it has the name 'keeper's pond' because the gamekeeper of the moors had a cabin nearby. ‌ After a short meander along the beautiful small lake, continue on the path along Blorenge's western slopes. Eventually, you'll head downhill to join the Hill's Tramroad around the hill. On the other side of Blorenge, you'll come across another lovely pond known as the Punchbowl. Located on the hill's eastern flank, this artificial lake is an ideal place to take a break and feast on your hiking sacks. ‌ Blorenge is also on stage 3 of the Cambrian Way long-distance trail (Image: Portia Jones ) Shortly after passing the Punchbowl, the path begins to ascend, briefly following a paved road before making a sharp turn and heading towards the summit of the Blorenge. At the peak, you'll find a cairn, shelter, and trig point, marking the hill's highest point. Here, you'll see epic views of the surrounding mountains of Bannau Brycheiniog, including Sugar Loaf, Corn Du, and Pen y Fan. ‌ After soaking in magnificent views, continue by heading southward towards the Foxhunter car park. From there, follow the road back to the starting point at the car park. If you prefer a shorter stroll, you can take a gentle walk from the car park across the mountain top, which should take around two hours. After your walk, head to gastro hotspot Abergavenny for lunch. Here, you'll find The Angel Hotel, which has been named the 'Best foodie hotel' on the Sunday Times list of 100 Best Places to Stay in the UK for 2025. ‌ This lively market town is already renowned as a foodie haven, with the artisan Angel Bakery (described by Times writer Caitlin Moran as 'the best in the world) and The Walnut Tree Inn, a popular Michelin-starred restaurant with cottages led by legendary chef Shaun Hill. For die-hard foodies, the best time to stay at the Angel is during the famous Abergavenny Food Festival, a celebratory weekend of all things food held every September. Expect the best from Welsh, British, and international producers as they showcase exciting dishes and homegrown produce. Be sure to book well in advance, as accommodations fill up quickly during the festival days. ‌ The trail starts from the car park by Keeper's Pond (Image: getty Images ) Hiking in Wales tips Serious hikers should consider using a detailed OS Explorer map to find walking routes and public rights of way in Wales. You should also download the what3words location app as an extra safety measure. Remember to also take water with you for long walks. Download the Refill Wales App to find locations to fill your reusable water bottle with tap water for free. ‌ The weather can be wildly unpredictable here in Wales, so wherever you hike, pack waterproofs and a hot tea or coffee flask. That's especially true when hiking in a mountainous region where conditions can change rapidly. Ramblers Cymru is also a great resource for walking tips, routes, and details on group walks in Wales. Going on an epic trek? Pack a head torch, compass, map, water bottle or hydration pack, whistle, first aid kit, mobile phone, and compact survival blanket. Article continues below

The Herald Scotland

5 days ago

• The Herald Scotland

Neah Evans on a rollercoaster road season and Commonwealth Games plans

'Two of them had ridden it before but one had a crash [on a previous visit] and lost all their confidence and the other one hadn't been in quite a long time,' revealed Evans. 'And then the other guy had never been on it. So, we got him up onto the boards which was quite good. 'I think it went well. Everyone seemed to be smiling and nobody crashed so I'm happy with that. I think that's a good achievement.' So, could a move to coaching be on the horizon? 'Hopefully, my racing career continues a lot longer before we need to think about that,' adds Evans with a laugh, a reminder that she remains one of Scotland's – and Britain's – leading elite cyclists. Being in year one of the Olympic cycle ahead of LA 2028 has allowed Evans and her peers to deviate from their usual schedules should they wish to do so. And so, the 34-year-old from Aberdeenshire has chosen to concentrate primarily on road racing this year as part of the Handsling Alba Development Road Team. It has been something of a rollercoaster so far, the plans to finetune her road racing strategy and technique coming temporarily undone by that crash in Luxembourg last month that is currently keeping her out of competitive racing. A pre-season target had been the recent Tour of Britain that ventured into Scotland for the first time for two stages, one in Kelso and the finale in Glasgow. Missing that due to illness and injury, then, was a major disappointment. 'It was super frustrating,' admits the qualified vet. 'It had been a season target but I'd come down pretty hard in Luxembourg. There was a crash in front of me and I couldn't stop in time and someone hit into me. I went flying through the air and landed a bit heavy. Sliced my elbow. Just the usual. Nothing bad, I've not fractured anything. But just the body took a bit of a battering. 'I then went to an altitude camp thinking 'I know I'm not in a good place. My body's either going to respond really well to the camp and I'm going to come out flying or I'm not'. 'And my body decided it was not. I ended up with quite a bad throat infection. I lost my voice and went super hoarse. I spoke to our team manager, Bob [Lyons], and said, 'listen, I think I could get around [the Tour of Britain] but I wouldn't be there to race. And that's not fair on the team and not a good position to go into a race. Let's reset and try and focus on the next thing'. 'That was hugely disappointing because so far in my career, I've always managed to pull things together for the major events. Especially whenever it's been a big target - you can always make it work. 'So, this was the first time I'd really been forced to say, 'no, I can't do that'. Which was pretty disappointing, especially when it's in Glasgow and that stage would have been so good for me. But I've got the national champs in a couple of weeks so hopefully I'll back for them.' Evans at this point is desperately hoping her luck will turn soon as she makes the adjustment to life on the road. 'This year has one of these weird ones,' she admits. 'Alba's been great and I've really enjoyed it. It's been really refreshing to have different challenges. And just a lot of travelling, a lot of racing. You're almost using racing for training and going more in a support role for a teammate, which is obviously very different from track racing where every race is about performance. 'From that aspect I've really enjoyed it. But the actual results and how the racing has gone has been hugely frustrating. I could give you a sob story of all the issues I've had this year. But I'm hoping I've had this reset and things are then going to come together because so far it's not been going to plan. 'But that's bike racing as well. It's so different to so many sports because there's a degree of luck. If someone crashes at the wrong point or you get a bike mechanical [failure] at the wrong point, there's nothing you can do about it.' That aside, being part of the Alba team has been a two-way learning experience, Evans sharing her knowledge from almost a decade of elite racing on the track but also tapping into her team-mates' greater insight on how to thrive on the road. 'I think the road racing flow - how the peloton moves about and some of the racing tactics - are quite different from what you would have on the track. So it's just kind of homing in on that and racing with teammates which is quite different. 'It's nice when, even if you're not having a good day yourself, you can still help someone generate something which is something that is quite special with road racing.' Track racing, however, remains Evans' true passion and she already has her return to the Glasgow velodrome pencilled into her calendar as she looks to add to her Commonwealth Games haul of three silvers and two bronze. 'I was a little bit sad that they weren't having road racing next year because obviously the last time it went pretty well for me,' she adds. 'But very much next season's goal is the Commonwealth Games on the track. It's a nice goal to have especially when it's in Glasgow.' The Commonwealth Games will take place between July 23 and August 2 next year. For more information visit

Scottish Sun

6 days ago

• Scottish Sun

English beach town to convert derelict seafront shelters into new tourist attractions

The town is also home to the world's biggest Wetherspoons BEACHY KEEN English beach town to convert derelict seafront shelters into new tourist attractions Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ENGLISH seaside town has revealed plans to convert the abandoned beachfront shelters into a place for tourists. Ramsgate's eight shelters line the East Cliff promenade, having been built in the 1930s. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Ramsgate's abandoned shelters are being converted Credit: The Heritage Lab 3 The eight shelters were built in 1935 Credit: The Heritage Lab The eight shelters - measuring 6m by 2m - look out across the sea but have been left to decay in recent years. Most of them are now covered in graffiti, without any form of seating. And the new plans will convert them into attractions such as a food and drinks outlet, as well as a sauna, beach huts, art spaces and fishing huts. One confirmed shelter will become seating and information screens right by the Grade-I listed Chine steps. The Architectural Heritage Fund, behind the transformation, has a small fund set to create the new designs. However, they are set to raise further funding for them to include power and water to them. If the target is met, then the new attractions hope to be open by summer 2026. Locals can add their own ideas to the open consultation form. The shelters, built in 1936, were part of the Marina Bathing Pool, a lido that was an Olympic-sized pool and diving zone. However, it closed in 1975 and has since been filled in to become a car park. The Sun visits Wetherspoons largest pubin Ramsgate Rob Kenyon, CEO, Heritage Lab CIC: "We are excited to be able to kick start this new project thanks to a viability grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund which will help to pay for the research, design and early development costs. "The project epitomises our ambition to develop curiously creative spaces, and we hope that this will help the regeneration of the East Cliff area and Ramsgate more widely.' In the mean time, tourists can visit the Ramsgate Tunnels, the UK's largest network of wartime tunnels. Or there is the Royal Harbour - the only one of it's kind in the UK. Ramsgate is also home to the world's biggest Wetherspoons. The Grade-II listed Royal Victoria Pavilion reopened as a Wetherspoons in 2017. We went down to try it out - here is what its really like.