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 […]
Adam Handling Afternoon Tea at the Belmond Cadogan Chelsea
Adam Handling at the Cadogan – Afternoon Tea Lined with designer shops, the walk from Knightsbridge to Sloane Square exudes luxury. About halfway down, opposite Cadogan Place Garden is the Belmond Cadogan, a discreet five-star hotel that whispers good taste and style. I know Belmond best for the Belmond British Pullman one of a portfolio […]
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 – a 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 […]
W Goa – Vagator Beach, Goa
Fine dining at a luxury beach resort in Goa: (Invited Press Visit) W Goa is the jewel in the crown of North Goa’s lovely coast. A one-hour flight from Mumbai and a 90-minute drive from Goa International Airport, it’s a tropical paradise, with an expansive, private coastal setting and breath-taking views overlooking Vagator beach […]
The Welcombe Hotel – Review
Hallmark Welcombe Hotel and Spa – Stratford upon Avon: The stunning Welcombe Hotel is a former country mansion house near Stratford upon Avon, built in a grand Neo-Jacobean style for Manchester businessman Mark Philips who commissioned the building from designed by architect Henry Clutton. Completed in 1869, Philips died just four years later, leaving the estate […]