Bingham Riverhouse Hotel, Richmond – Staycation and Dinner: (invited press review) For sheer self-indulgence, you can’t beat a staycation, so of course I jumped at the chance when I was invited to visit Bingham Riverhouse Hotel to check out the new refurbishment. Bingham Riverhouse Hotel was originally built in 1740 as two Georgian houses. From […]
Nilaya Hermitage, Goa, India
Nilaya – an idyllic hotel retreat in the hills of Arpora: This year was my third visit to India. I have slowly fallen in love with this beautiful country (and who wouldn’t?) with its stunning beaches, bustling towns and cities bursting with activity and colour, not to mention the wonderfully hospitable and friendly people. Prior […]
Vintry & Mercer – DND and Mercer Roof Terrace reviews
Vintry & Mercer Boutique Hotel, City of London: (invited press review) Vintry & Mercer is a brand new boutique hotel on Garlick Hill in the City of London from the same group who own South Kensington’s The Ampersand Hotel (which I reviewed recently). I’ve now been invited to their cocktail bar DND (Do Not Disturb) […]
Boutique Hotels Palma de Mallorca – Brondo Architect Hotel
Brondo Architect, a Quirky Boutique Hotel, Palma de Mallorca: Press Trip Wandering the streets of Palma de Mallorca with a guide, we stopped to look at a pair of buildings, Can Casasayas and Pensión Menorquina. My naive comment, that they looked like Gaudi provoked the response that the architect was, of course, heavily influenced by […]
The White Horse Hotel, Dorking
The White Horse Hotel Dorking – Boutique Hotel near Gatwick. Dating back to the 13th century, The White Horse Hotel is a historic inn in the charming Surrey market town of Dorking. The delightful traditional timbered building is centrally located on the High Street with the Denbies Wine Estate and Box Hill as near neighbours […]
Boringdon Hall Hotel and Spa – a Plymouth Sanctuary
Boringdon Hall Hotel Review It must have been Karma. Just as I was putting the final details to my recent trip to Plymouth exploring the Mayflower heritage, an email hit my desk about Boringdon Hall Hotel. What could be better than balancing a trip to the centre of historic Plymouth with one to a historic […]
Queensberry Boutique Hotel & Olive Tree Restaurant, Bath – Review
Boutique Hotel in Bath – Bliss at The Queensberry Hotel: Bath is such an elegant city blending its Roman heritage and elegant Georgian sense of style with a progressive and contemporary worldview. Just two hours drive from London it’s the perfect spot for a weekend away or a midweek staycation. In this most perfectly put […]
County Durham – Seaham Sea Glass and a Heritage Spa Hotel – Seaham Hall.
Seaham, County Durham – Byron, the Beach, a Spa and Sea Glass. Arrive at Seaham Hall at dusk to a stunning classic mansion fronted by a striking contemporary water feature. First impressions count – mine was one of fascination. I’m used to the juxtaposition of old and new, but the water feature at the approach to […]
A Year of Chocolate – Boutique Hotels and More
Exploring the World’s Best Chocolate and Cacao. While I’d love to claim that I’ve spent the last year climbing mountains, diving for hidden treasure or zip-lining across the jungle, 2018 for me has definitely been a year in which I’ve indulged one of my greatest passions – chocolate. Not intentionally, you understand. It’s just happened […]
Bombay Sapphire package at De Vere Wokefield Estate
Bombay Sapphire Distillery and the De Vere Wokefield: I finished my WSET Spirits Level 1 course (passed with 100% – sorry, just had to brag!) just 2 weeks before Deborah and I were due to visit the DeVere Wokefield Estate for a night away and a trip to the Bombay Sapphire Distillery at Lavenham. I was […]