If you’re in Garrucha and craving a meal that’s packed with flavour, great vibes, and exceptional service, then you absolutely can’t miss Restaurante Azul at Hotel Tikar. This charming spot has quickly become a local favourite, known for its welcoming atmosphere and unforgettable dishes that keep you coming back for more.

Now, let’s talk about the food – it’s an absolute treat. The Tikar Menu at 29.50€ is full of surprising and flavourful dishes like the roquefort-stuffed chicken. Tender chicken, filled with creamy, tangy Roquefort cheese or Tikar’s Seafood Chowder creamy and comforting with just the right touch of seafood.  The Menu of the Day at just 16.50€ is a true steal and offers a perfect balance of fresh, Mediterranean-inspired flavours. Start with Spinach Salad with Feta, Walnuts and Roasted Red Peppers. Then, prepare yourself for a Baked Hake with a Lemon and Cream sauce or Braised Pork Cheeks in Red Wine. And for dessert, you’ll want to indulge in the Lemon tart, smooth, rich, and decadent – the perfect sweet ending to your meal.

Restaurante Azul also hosts special events, such as “Tikar Tapas” on Saturday, where guests can savour a variety of handcrafted tapas.  In the summer months they host live music evenings in the tropical Tikar garden. These events have become a highlight for many, offering a unique opportunity to indulge and relax.

But it’s not just the food that makes Restaurante Azul so special. The laid-back yet stylish vibe makes it the perfect place to relax and enjoy a meal. Whether you opt for the cosy indoor seating or the lovely outdoor garden, the setting is always inviting. And don’t forget the service – Sean, the owner, ensures that every guest feels like family. His attention to detail and warm hospitality are just as much a part of the experience as the food itself.

For wine lovers, Restaurante Azul offers even more – personalised wine tastings for a group of friends, wine and dinner evenings with wine makers, and local wine tours are just a few of the exciting things on offer. Plus, their wine shop is stocked with a carefully curated selection of local and national wines.

So, whether you’re a local or just passing through, Restaurante Azul is the place to be. Delicious food, fantastic service, and a fun, relaxed atmosphere – it’s an experience you won’t want to miss. Come for the food, stay for the vibe, and let Sean and his team make your day unforgettable!

Lunch: Tuesday-Friday 1:30-3:30

Dinner: Wednesday-Saturday 7:30-10:00

Tikar Tapas: 1:30-3:30 Saturday afternoons

Hotel Tikar, Ctra Garrucha a Vera 10, Garrucha

950 61 71 31

www.hoteltikar.com

Sponsored

It is never too late but certainly the earlier the better.

My daughter is now 32 and a mother. When she was nine she started using lenses that we flew to England in desperation to try, having read about them in the Daily Mail. That trip changed her life and that of our entire life dramatically.

She was finally diagnosed as dyslexic after years and thousands spent on tests and special teachers.  We had been recommended to take her to a special school and then, by using these lenses she quickly learnt to read and comprehend.  The best of all was when she realised that there was nothing wrong with her except she hadn’t seen things as the rest of us do, but didn’t know it was different to explain what was happening to her.

Then we tested her brother, diagnosed with ADHD, who also resulted in a combination and didn’t need medication to be able to settle quietly into school and home life.

The family trauma and arguments stopped and my children regained confidence in themselves.

Two decades later and following various studies and thousands of case histories, we now know that it’s never too late to start but the same improvements you get in 3 months from starting at 4 to 6 years of age can take up to 3 years after 10 years of age.  The more the brain develops the wrong way, the more pathways need to rectify once the perception is improved.

I had to stop working with these lenses due to the new regulations with Brexit but, for my granddaughter’s sake, I’ve found someone to take over!  So, if you feel identified with any of the above, let me know and I’ll pass you on!

Sometimes a car can turn out to be somewhat of a quandary. Take the new KGM Actyon, KGM was formerly SsangYong and the Actyon is an SUV that sits between the Torres and Rexton.

There’s much to like about the Actyon including excellent build quality, including a superb paint finish, standard equipment levels and, although subjective, a striking and stand out style. However, there’s also a couple of things that would irritate longer term.

Power comes from a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit mated to a 6-speed automatic. This is the first of the irritations in that the normal refined drive is rather broken under acceleration. The engine has a lot to haul and the transmission seems to take an age to catch up pushing the engine revs high. It just doesn’t seem, or drive, like a good match.

This is a shame as under more relaxed driving it’s a smooth and refined machine. That engine and transmission combination would also account for the poor fuel consumption which during my time with the Actyon averaged, in mixed driving, 27 mpg. Not great!

Thankfully there’s much more to like than dislike with the Actyon. The paint finish on my test car was superb with the flake in the metallic black finish popping. The interior is extremely well finished from the leather upholstery to the suede trim.

Standard equipment is generous to say the least with heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, auto lights and wipers, powered seats, keyless entry and start, power tailgate, intelligent cruise control, TomTom navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with wireless phone charging and more. Even given the €45,843/£38,649 price tag it’s a voluminous list.

To say there’s space inside the Actyon is an understatement, it is extremely spacious and with the comfortable seats it’s a rather nice place to be on any journey. The slightly curved touchscreen is much more integrated than many of the ‘bolt-on’ looking iPads we’re used to seeing on most cars and the Actyon dash looks far classier than rivals as a result.

The touchscreen is annoyingly slow to react but on the plus side it’s easy to switch off the driver annoyance…sorry assistance…features. Leave them switched on and there is more bong than Big Ben, and they’re far too sensitive often giving little idea why the car doesn’t like what you’re doing.

All told the Actyon feels nicely premium despite some reviewers thinking it variously cheap to okay, certainly I’ve seen worse on equivalent priced rivals. Add the build quality, striking style and the fact it will be a rare sight and it will appeal to those tired of lookalike cars. The downside is likely to be residuals but even more so the poor fuel consumption. I’m sure KGM will address the touchscreen issues and hopefully the engine gearbox combination and poor fuel consumption.

Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets