No matter what type of food and drink clients hope to try on their next trip to Great Britain, Avanti Destinations has a customizable itinerary that will fit the bill.
As part of an ongoing partnership, VisitBritain and Avanti Destinations have introduced several new Local Flavors in Great Britain itineraries that focus on the unique and varied food and drink experiences available to travelers throughout Britain.
“Nothing else conveys a sense of a place like a destination’s food and drink,” said Paul Barry, executive chairman for Avanti Destinations. “This ongoing partnership with VisitBritain is a great fit for our expertise in food-focused travel and our ability to create seamless multidestination independent vacations that enhance the unique character of our destinations.”
It’s no secret that, for many years, England didn’t quite enjoy a stellar reputation as a foodie destination — but all that has long changed.
Today, London is considered one of the culinary capitals of the world — it even has a total of 72 Michelin-starred restaurants (including three that hold three stars). As a result, Avanti has created five culinary itineraries in the city. Each features customizable options such as sampling traditional food at historic pubs in London’s Docklands area or an exclusive tasting tour through the artisanal food stalls in Borough Market, one of London’s oldest and largest food markets (and where many of the city’s Michelin-starred chefs shop for ingredients). Clients can also opt for a tasting of award-winning beers at Greenwich’s Meantime Brewery, complete with an all-important lesson on how to pour a proper pint.
“We talk about the ‘food and flavors of Britain,’ and that’s a big part of travel,” said Mark Grundy, COO for Avanti Destinations. “Our relationship with VisitBritain is a continued commitment not only to promote London, but other areas in Britain as well.”
Britain offers varied culinary experiences.
Credit: 2019 VisitBritainBecause of that commitment, Avanti’s Local Flavors campaign also includes itineraries that showcase food- and drink-related attractions and tours outside of London. These include The Lakes District, home of the famed Grasmere Gingerbread Shop; and Yorkshire, which is the birthplace of chocolate and, of course, Yorkshire pudding.
No trip to Britain is complete without a taste of Yorkshire pudding, and there's obviously no better place to try it than in Yorkshire.
Nobody knows the exact origin of Yorkshire pudding — called a “dripping pudding” for its flavorings from roasted meat — but the first recipe dates to the 1700s. Today, Yorkshire pudding is a key component of traditional British Sunday roast dinners served across Great Britain.
We want to shine the spotlight on the exciting food and drink experiences available across Britain’s regions and inspire more [American] visitors to book a trip.
Clients may be surprised to find that Yorkshire puddings are not necessarily relegated to just a side dish. An example is the large Yorkshire puddings filled with slow-pulled beef and creamy mashed potatoes on offer at Yorkshire Tapas in Harrogate.
“Sometimes on itineraries, people will suggest certain activities, and you don’t know what to expect — but they turn out to be great surprises,” said Georgann Swearingen of Global Travel in Boise, Idaho.
Mary Doyle of Boise-based Harmon Travel agrees.
“The biggest surprise [on my recent trip to England] was the food and wine,” she said. “I thought we’d be having bangers and mash, and fish and chips the whole time.”
The surprises on Avanti’s Local Flavors itineraries go hand in hand with VisitBritain’s “I Travel for Local Flavors” campaign, which highlights the delicious — and often unexpected — tastes that the destination has to offer.
“Our objective is to show the world what Great Britain is all about,” said Gavin Landry, executive vice president, Americas for VisitBritain. “We want to shine the spotlight on the exciting food and drink experiences available across Britain’s regions and inspire more [American] visitors to book a trip.”
The Details
Avanti Destinations
www.avantidestinations.com
VisitBritain
www.visitbritain.com
