Searcys Insider: Helen Coffey’s ‘Zero Altitude’ Book Launch

Searcys Insider has popped to St Pancras Champagne Bar by Searcys the other day to congratulate Helen Coffey, the Independent’s travel editor, on the launch of her book “Zero Altitude How I Learned to Fly Less and Travel More”.

Helen Coffey is a leading travel journalist, who has previously worked at national titles including the Telegraph, Evening Standard and Daily Express. Over the course of her journalism career, Helen has penned hundreds of articles, from exclusive news stories and colourful long-form travel features to pithy opinion pieces and nuanced reviews. Part climate-change investigation, part travel memoir, Zero Altitude follows Helen Coffey as she journeys as far as she can in the course of her job as a top travel journalist – all without getting on a single flight. Between trips by train, car, boat and bike, she meets climate experts and activists at the forefront of the burgeoning flight-free movement. Over the course of her travels, she discovers that keeping both feet on the ground is not only possible but that it can be an exhilarating opportunity for adventure. Her book is brimming with tips and ideas for swapping the middle seat for the open road.

We couldn’t have thought of a more suitable spot to launch the book at the gateway into Europe, St Pancras International, and its famous Champagne Bar. Searcys Insider rubbed shoulders with the literary crowd and enjoyed a glass or two of Searcys brand-new own label English Sparkling Wine, courtesy of Greyfriars vineyard outside Guildford, while tucking into chickpea fritters with mango relish, Searcys smoked salmon blinis, seared tuna with avocado and delicious ham and Lincolnshire Poacher cheese toasties.

“Helen Coffey’s book is an inspiration to share the joys of terrestrial travel – whether on high-speed rail, a slow boat to Africa or, as a pilgrim, on two feet. Be transported to a gentler, more analogue world – with simple pleasures such as the splash of the Adriatic less than 24 hours after leaving London,” says one of the guests, a travel journalist and broadcaster Simon Calder.

This was one of the last events hosted at Searcys Champagne Bar at St Pancras, before it closes for an extensive refurbishment over the summer. However, don’t despair – Europe’s longest Champagne Bar will be back at the beginning of September. It will feature a new-look bar that highlights the extensive champagne range of bottles and magnums and a new seafood offer, along with plush booths and marble-topped tables. Champagne lovers rejoice as the bar’s iconic ‘Press for Champagne’ buzzers will remain.

Seen by the Searcys Insider:

Travel Journalist and Zero Altitude Author, Helen Coffey, proudly showcasing her new book at Searcys St Pancras Champagne Bar

Zero Altitude How I Learned to Fly Less and Travel More, by Helen Coffey can be purchased here.