Palé Hall – the ultimate luxury staycation at this top hotel in Snowdonia For some, the pop of a Champagne cork instantly conjures up a feeling of pleasure. For me, it will be remembering the crunch of tyre on gravel, pulling up in front of Palé Hall and hearing that first, friendly welcome. While your […]
Great Fosters Hotel and Gardens, Egham Surrey
Surrey Steeped in History – A Luxury Hotel Break at Great Fosters. What’s your idea of luxury? For me, it’s feeling that someone has anticipated everything I might want – and makes sure that anything more is easily on hand. Some luxury hotels are just that, super luxurious places where your every whim is catered […]
Paschoe House – indulgent rest and relaxation in Devon
Head south-west to Paschoe House, a little piece of Heaven in the heart of Devon. There are country house hotels which feel like hotels and there are country house hotels which feel like homes, and then there is Paschoe House, a stunning grade II listed, family-run, country house offering luxurious rooms and a glorious 3-AA […]
Festive Afternoon Tea at the Rosebery – Mandarin Oriental
Christmas Vibes at the Mandarin Oriental. At this time of year, a little window shopping at any of the major department stores is enough to wake up my Christmas senses – and Knightsbridge, home to the Mandarin Oriental just happens to have two right opposite, in the form of Harvey Nichols and Harrods. So, I’m […]
Afternoon Tea at the Rosebery, Mandarin Oriental
Elegant and Luxurious Afternoon Tea at the Mandarin Oriental, London Hyde Park. Originally ‘The Bennett Tearoom’ the space which now houses the Rosebery first opened in the 1920s. A stylish tea room, Lord Rosebery, a Liberal statesman and for a brief period, prime minister, was a frequent visitor to this elegant room with high ceilings […]
Burgh Island Hotel – Devon Art Deco and Decadence
The Great White Palace – Burgh Island Hotel – channel your inner Agatha. What better setting for a murder mystery than an island. Perhaps that was why Burgh Island inspired not one but two of Agatha Christie’s novels (‘Evil Under the Sun’ and ‘ And Then There Were None’). Or was it just because she […]
Capture the Castle at The Penn
Pennsylvania Castle Estate Pennsylvania Castle Estate, one of the South West’s most spectacular destinations, overlooks the sea from the clifftops of the Isle of Portland. This dramatic neo-gothic Castle has a unique history, one that has seen celebrities, royalty and politicians gather in its grounds and marvel at the view. Previously only available for private […]
The Glasshouse – An Opulent Dining Alternative
Review – The Glasshouse at the Grove Hotel: The reputation of The Grove Hotel goes before it. A luxurious five-star hotel in the Hertfordshire countryside with elegant spa, over 200 rooms and 300 acres of grounds which include a championship golf course, it’s a popular destination both for corporate and leisure events. So an invitation […]
Spotlight on Southwest Iceland
A two-centre holiday offers an Icelandic immersion! Iceland, violently created through the fusion of fire and ice, is a country worth building a relationship with. Its vast landscape can test the nerves of an experienced thrill-seeker whilst its eco-system is a nature-lovers paradise. With dramatic waterfalls, crystal-blue rivers, hidden valleys and wide, wide horizons it’s […]
Le Pavillon des Lettres, Literary Hotel in Paris
Boutique Hotel in the 8ième Arrondissement Paris – Le Pavillon des Lettres. Any regular visitor to Paris will have their favourite Arrondissement. Mine has always been the 6ième – Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Latin Quarter and the Luxembourg Gardens- an area full of cafés with history, old churches and heritage. I seldom stray – this time, tempted […]