Across the water from Padstein – a sunny afternoon feast at St Enodoc Hotel. Halfway down the M4 from London to Cornwall, my phone rang. An apologetic Rachel from reservations at St Enodoc Hotel calling to let me know that our confirmed lunch on the Terrace, scheduled for Bank Holiday Monday needed to be postponed, […]
Rothay Manor – boutique hotel in Ambleside – review
Finest of fine dining and accommodation in the heart of the Lake District You have to hand it to those merchants of old Liverpool who came to the Lake District – they could spot a great place for a country retreat, somewhere to escape the stresses of nineteenth-century living. They also had the brass to […]
Creating History – The Columbia Hotel
The Renaissance of a Rock Hotel – The Columbia. Walking from Lancaster Gate to the Columbia Hotel, you might wonder, like me, why you’ve heard of it but never been there. The five townhouses that make up the hotel were built between 1856 and 1857 in the French Rennaissance style. Grade II listed, the hotel […]
Channels Lodge Hotel – Essex
A perfect staycation in the Essex countryside at Channels Hotel. I’m a Londoner through and through, and for me, life in the city has many advantages. During lockdown though, I’ve longed for a break in the countryside and plenty of fresh air. Since restrictions have been lifted and the hospitality trade has reopened, I’ve particularly […]
Hotel Indigo Bath – Staycation and Dining at The Elder
Boutique comfort at Hotel Indigo Bath with excellent food at The Elder Restaurant. A second winner for the Hotel Indigo/Mike Robinson pairing We recently heard about the opening of the latest Hotel Indigo in Bath. We’ve loved the way that this quirky line of hotels has evolved and we’ve already visited a few, in London, Stratford-upon-Avon, […]
Hotel Indigo Manchester
The perfect staycation in central Manchester For the past couple of years, I’ve been travelling up and down to Manchester delivering or visiting my daughter at the university. Discovering this vibrant Northern city has been a real pleasure and I have come to love the amalgamation of old and new architecture, with clear evidence of […]
Hotel Indigo Chester
A Perfect Choice for a City Staycation. Wanting to take a staycation, but seeking inspiration on where to go? Help is at hand! Indigo Hotels promise you’ll find them “At the heart of vibrant neighbourhoods”, and from the list of the UK destinations they cover, including Hotel Indigo Chester, you can look forward to a […]
Cornwall – Best Hotels, What to See and Where to Go
The Best of Cornwall The stunning scenery in Cornwall is a match for anything you can find overseas and it is somewhere in England you can reach easily by car from London in around five hours, or by train from Paddington. It’s a very special place and where I grew up. I still love Cornwall […]
Where to stay in Edinburgh – Boutique Hotels and more
Top Hotels in Edinburgh – Boutique and Beyond. Well may Edinburgh be called Auld Reekie! The houses stand so one above another that none of the smoke wastes itself upon the desert air before the inhabitants have derived all the advantages of its odour and its smuts. You might smoke bacon by hanging it out […]
Mallory Court Hotel and Spa – Review
Luxury life in Leamington Spa at Mallory Court. Leamington Spa, just south of Coventry and Birmingham and to the east of Stratford-upon-Avon, deserves to be better known. A pretty spa town that rivals Bath for Georgian and early Victorian architecture, I suspect it suffers from proximity to Stratford-upon-Avon. My soft spot for Leamington comes from […]