Staycation at The Runnymede Hotel and Spa: I remember The Runnymede Hotel from the days when I had a 9-5 job and worked in Newbury. Somewhere just off the A3, in what was the English equivalent of Silicon Valley, we used to have meetings there. There’s a massive lounge area and some rather good conference […]
Discovering Catalonia – Part 1
A short break to Catalonia, Spain: Catalonia is a region of Spain that, other than from a couple of short city breaks to its capital Barcelona, has never been on my radar. Little did I know what I had been missing – read on and discover more of Catalonia with me! I have recently returned […]
A Hideaway at Highbullen Hotel
Highbullen Hotel, Golf and Country Club: So far, we are having an almost perfect English summer this year. Of course, there have been a few days which are just a little too hot in the City, and on those days what better than to escape to the Country – somewhere like Highbullen Hotel. A couple […]
The St Pancras Renaissance – Belvedere Spritz and Spa
An Introduction to the St Pancras Renaissance and Belvedere Vodka. Although I work from home and enjoy a flexible lifestyle, I seldom take a full day out from work. But, right now my house is full of builders who have been refurbishing the living room – the space directly above my study. So, an invitation […]
Down Hall Country House Hotel – the perfect country getaway.
Down Hall – A Country House Retreat: We arrived at Down Hall after sunset and swept up the long avenue that led to the beautifully illuminated hotel. A grand house, dating back to the 14th century, in the heart of the Essex countryside awaited us. We were shown to our room which was comfortably cosy, decorated […]
SPAshell comes to Fishmore Hall in Ludlow
A Shropshire Sojourn with SPAshell: Fishmore Hall is a rather lovely boutique country house hotel in beautiful Shropshire. Like many fine English houses, it served its time as a school, then fell derelict and unloved until rescued by its current owner, Laura Penman. Laura has a wonderful eye, and although this is a country house […]
Oskia Facial at One Aldwych
Cocktails and a Luxurious Facial at One Aldwych: Feeling in need of something relaxing, revitalising and luxurious after the maelstrom of Christmas and New Year? I’d seriously recommend booking a facial at One Aldwych. I went along to try the new Oskia range of products and spent 75 minutes being totally cossetted. Not before I’d […]
Zadar and More – Health and Well Being in Dalmatia, Croatia
Health and Well Being in Dalmatia, Croatia: I spend a lot of my time in London doing rather unhealthy activities. Too many meals out, too much wine, too many late nights and not enough exercise. An invitation to visit Zadar and the surrounding area of Croatia to do something OTHER than review food and wine […]
Four Spas and a Barrel of Wine in Madeira
Funchal, Madeira. Spa-Testing and Madeira Wine Tasting: Much of my recent trip to Madeira was taken up by exploring and trying some of the spas in Funchal. Having just spent a week on a boot-camp in Spain I was really rather thrilled to be invited to spend a few days being pampered. And to make […]
Ellenborough Park – A Place in History
Modern Comforts and Traditional Style in a Luxury Hotel and Spa: While I don’t always stay in luxury hotels, with family and friends in the area I thought I had a good idea of places around Cheltenham. I’d never heard mention of Ellenborough Park though, although what I found on the internet looked stunning. The […]