For centuries the pub has been an essential part of London’s cultural and social fabric. This beautifully illustrated book takes readers through the doors of 25 historically and architecturally significant London pubs. Through photographs specially commissioned for this project, readers can explore these institutions—from snob screens to 400-hundred-year-old flagstone floors. Engaging texts highlight what makes each pub so special; their place in London’s history, the personalities who have frequented them, the events that occurred inside, and the ways pubs have contributed phrases such as “on the wagon” and “one for the road” to the modern lexicon. This book reveals why The Lamb and Flag in Covent Garden earned the nickname the “Bucket of Blood”, and features a pub that Charles Dickens described as a “great rambling queer old place”. Furthermore, the book muses over the chances that Casanova paid a visit to The Dog and Duck in Soho, and uncovers the location of Charles De Gaulle’s favorite wartime watering hole. These and other amusing anecdotal histories make this fascinating and luxuriously illustrated book a must-have for anyone with a love for the good old London pub.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 208

Dimensions: 210 x 270 mm

Publication Date: 13-09-2016

The Dive Atlas of the World offers a global tour of dive sites, described and photographed by experts. From well-known classics to sites that have only recently been discovered, this global selection offers the discerning diver a feast of locations to choose from, including an expanded selection of Caribbean dive sites.Whether you favour muck diving and macro photography, wrecks, walls, reefs, caves, blue holes or the adrenaline rush of high-speed drift dive in a strong current (or all of these), you will find well-written, clearly mapped accounts of the top places where you can enjoy these dives.This book features contributions from local experts, leading writers and award-winning photographers such as Jack Jackson and Lawson Wood.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 300

Dimensions: 270 x 320 mm

Publication Date: 10-06-2016

The bleak, volcanic island of Ascension, 800 miles from its nearest neighbour St Helena, was described by a Victorian naval officer as ‘one of the strangest places on the face of the earth’. It is still exceedingly odd. Uninhabited when it was taken over by the British in 1815, it was an almost perfect natural vacuum – a triangular heap of lava and ash. When the Royal Marines brought in plants and animals, some flourished, others died. Tropical forest now clothes the peak of Green Mountain, and feral donkeys haunt the plains. As sea birds swarm around the coast, radar stations monitor space from the tops of rust-red cinder cones, and primeval, giant green turtles lumber up the beaches to nest. The island’s history is short but extraordinary.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 256

Dimensions: 138 x 216 mm

Publication Date: 05-09-2016

In what has been described as ‘the greatest raid of all’, Operation Chariot saw heavy destruction of the enemy-occupied port of St Nazaire by British forces. Winged Chariot examines the role that the RAF played during this epic raid on 28th March 1942. With focus on the planning and actions of the operation, Peter Lush explores the three functions carried out by the RAF; the sweeping of the Bay of Biscay, the diversionary raid and protecting the withdrawing survivors. He also outlines the importance of the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit to the raid and the development of the Bomber and Coastal Commands particularly through the sorties flown by Coastal Command two days before the attack started. The book also highlights the difficulties that occurred for the RAF when the diversionary raid was carried out with impossible conditions, and the ensuing loss of aircraft across Yorkshire and in the Channel. Lush examines whether greater success could have been achieved if the RAF had not been marginalised during the planning process for Operation Chariot. With the 75th anniversary of the operation in 2017, this timely and ultimate account written by an expert who has collated over forty years worth of research is an essential work for all those interested in military aviation, particularly during the Second World War.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 192

Dimensions: 156 x 234 mm

Publication Date: 30-08-2016

If your dog seems like a mission impossible, relax! This one-stop guide to understanding and curing your dog problems is here to help you on the way to owning a happy, loving dog that you will be pleased to see every morning. This latest book draws on a lifetime’s experience of solving dog difficulties – most of which Janet Menzies admits to have experienced personally at one time or another! So whether it is a simple problem of pulling on the lead, or the more complex issue of canine aggression, Psycho Dog has the solution. One stop guide to understanding and solving problems with your dog All dog owners have problems at one time or another Includes sections on aggression, bad behaviour, barking, biting, chewing, growlng, jumping up, pulling and dominance

Bind: paperback

Pages: 224

Dimensions: 189 x 246 mm

Publication Date: 28-09-2016

A beautifully produced hardback featuring a unique collection of extraordinary, whimsical and sometimes bizarre but true stories. Many of the best and most intriguing stories, some of which date back to the early 19th Century, have been discovered in long-forgotten books and magazines, but all reflect our enduring passion for man’s feline friend. Stories include everything from the cat that saved its canary friend by seizing the canary in its mouth, to the cat that nursed a ‘missing’ leveret, to the sagacity of Miss P’s adopted feline friend who foiled a burglary and last but not least, Miss Deb’s (the family cat) who knocks on the door for prompt attention became as well known to the servant as that of any other member of the family, and, no doubt to Miss Deb’s great satisfaction, it usually met with prompt attention! A delightful collection of short feline stories spanning the last two centuries Balanced mix of charming, quirky and true tales that will amuse the reader Stories that tap into our passion for cats and can be read in any order Delighful illustrations by Nicola L Robinson Perfect gift for every cat lover

Bind: hardback

Pages: 208

Dimensions: 138 x 216 mm

Publication Date: 29-07-2016

Roger Evans faces each day on his dairy farm in Shropshire with a wonderful mixture of dry humour, sharp observation and a delight in the natural world and the animals around him. This latest book of his popular diary entries takes his fans through the weeks of the past two years and covers his beloved farm dogs, his cattle, his friends at the pub. He struggles through all weather, survives the ups and (mainly) downs facing everyone in the dairy industry and he encounters several unexpected events along the way. Very funny, uplifting and a joy to read.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 192

Dimensions: 138 x 216 mm

Publication Date: 02-09-2016

Michael Clayton has enjoyed a fascinating career as a professional journalist on Fleet Street – but the highlight of his career was his work as a editor and journalist in the field of horses, and with hunting horses in particular. This is his autobiography in horses: his boyhood work in local stables, his first post as a cub reporter, leading eventually to his appointment as editor of Horse and Hound magazine. Here he talks frankly about his involvement with the Royal family and their horses, his roving hunting brief, the development of new safety standards in riding, and all the key characters of the equine world whom he got to know first-hand. He worked as a reporter of horse-racing, show-jumping, carriage driving (disastrous!) and with almost all the hunts of Britain, Ireland and the USA. Michael also recalls the time of the hunting ban, among other key moments. His account, with photographs, is witty, incisive, pacey and very frank.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 288

Dimensions: 156 x 234 mm

Publication Date: 05-09-2016

How many cards do I have to deal before I know for certain that you have a straight? If two typists can type two pages in two minutes, how many typists will it take to type 18 pages? How many days are in five million seconds? If you think these are good questions, this is the book for you! Over two hundred entertaining puzzles involving mathematical and mechanical calculations include challenges to your lateral thinking and logical reasoning. When your brain's tired of being teased, you can consult the complete solutions.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 160

Dimensions: 128 x 205 mm

Publication Date: 01-09-2016

To see the big picture, draw it first. Graphic recording is the rapidly growing practice of visualizing the content of a presentation or meeting by drawing it live with markers and a large sheet of paper. Hand-drawn cartoons and diagrams entertainingly represent key messages, ideas, goals, and results, ensuring high engagement and retention.§This book is the first how-to guide for creating graphic recordings and using them to make meetings and workshops more effective. Expert graphic recorder Anna Lena Schiller reveals the essential tools and techniques with examples and helpful visuals.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 176

Dimensions: 240 x 280 mm

Publication Date: 08-08-2016