Posts Tagged “hotel”

Parador 44

Parador 44

Spain in the Heart of Cardiff. 20 years ago, brothers and sister Tom Morgan, Owen Morgan and Natalie Isaac opened their first Spanish tapas restaurant, Bar 44, in their hometown of Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales. Since then, they have opened another three sites, two in Wales and one just across the…

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Kensington’s Melia Hotel

Kensington’s Melia Hotel

Melia London Kensington Hotel was the first hotel in this International chain in which I had stayed. It’s a Spanish group and there is a nod to that in its restaurant cuisine, and also in the fact that most of the staff seem to be bilingual. That’s a rather unique draw for those guests from…

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Miyako Sushi Restaurant at Andaz Hotel

Miyako Sushi Restaurant at Andaz Hotel

Oh, deep Japanese food-loving joy. I think I have found my perfect Japanese restaurant in London! It’s called Miyako! It’s near both mainline and Underground stations and is a little gem. All of that with a fine chef and food to match, at a price that won’t make one’s eyes water! Miyako’s Head Chef Kosei…

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Heavenly Kruisherenhotel Maastricht

Heavenly Kruisherenhotel Maastricht

Kruisherenhotel Maastricht is one of the most noteworthy hotels in which I have stayed in the Netherlands. Perhaps it’s one of the most memorable hotels I have ever visited anywhere. It’s a unique marriage of 15th century architecture and ultra-modern design. It truly is a matter of taste, but Kruisherenhotel was, for me, heavenly in…

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Gilbey’s for an Eton Stay

Gilbey’s for an Eton Stay

Dear tourist, please take a step away from London on your next vacation. Eton awaits and it’s a gem of a destination. Don’t worry about where to stay. I have a suggestion which will delight with its charm and comfort. You will likely not want to leave, so do your sight-seeing first. Well, why would…

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Outrigger Mauritius – lagoon lounging

Outrigger Mauritius – lagoon lounging

I didn’t know what to expect. It was my first visit to Mauritius and my second to an Outrigger resort. The bar had been set very high! The welcome by immigration officials at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport was warm and friendly. This seasoned traveller braces herself for such encounters. There were smiles, jokes and…

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Crowne Plaza London – Albert Embankment

Crowne Plaza London – Albert Embankment

This new and smart hotel is part of the polished Crowne Plaza group and it sits next to the Thames on the historic Albert Embankment. That location might sound, to the untutored, like a mound of earth or what those who hail from across the pond call a levee. Albert Embankment was created by the…

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Madeira Quinta da Casa Branca Dining

Madeira Quinta da Casa Branca Dining

Funchal in Madeira is one of my favourite cities and Quinta da Casa Branca has one of my favourite restaurants. That is surely a recipe for delicious contentment and a very happy reviewer. I have not actually stayed at Quinta da Casa Branca but dream of doing so. It is perhaps one of the most…

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Holdsworth House – dining

Holdsworth House – dining

Holdsworth House Hotel is found along a rather anonymous road halfway between Leeds and Manchester, and not far from Halifax. It makes the ideal base for visiting Yorkshire’s Brontë Country and Calderdale’s beautiful and dramatic hills and moors. It’s a stone’s throw from the Lake District, one of Britain’s best-loved regions. This is one of…

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Lancrigg Hotel – dining

Lancrigg Hotel – dining

Lancrigg is perhaps one of the most charming hotels in the Lake District …and even beyond. It has the exterior of a rather good country home. Its pale yellow walls blend perfectly with the surrounding countryside. The stone barn behind is so picturesque that it could almost have been put there just to thrill Instagram…

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The Brown Horse, Windermere – stay

The Brown Horse, Windermere – stay

The Brown Horse Inn, located in the heart of the Lake District, is an 1850s former coaching inn that offers its guests a comfy and modern take on a Cumbrian break. This would be a lovely hub from which to explore this region of natural beauty and charm. Incorporating all of the best aspects of…

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Holdsworth House Halifax – stay

Holdsworth House Halifax – stay

This is a jewel of a hotel, and there can surely be no better time to visit Holdsworth House Hotel than during those weeks just before Christmas. The building lends itself to traditional decorations and colour, giving a nod to gentler times, warmth and conviviality. Truthfully, Holdsworth House Hotel is a marvel at any time…

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Lancrigg Hotel – stay

Lancrigg Hotel – stay

Oh, deep joy! A hotel that thinks it’s a home. A house with guest rooms. A place to snuggle by the fire. A spot where kids are welcome. It’s called Lancrigg. This charming hotel is a delightful mix of contemporary art, comfy sofas and friendly conviviality. Wendy and her husband have only been the managers…

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Burlington’s Restaurant – The Beech Hill Hotel

Burlington’s Restaurant – The Beech Hill Hotel

The Beech Hill Hotel is located on the eastern bank of Windermere. Its stunning views over the lake change with the seasons. Autumn is a quieter time and perfect for enjoying the rust and golden hues of the mellowing foliage and heather. This hotel can trace its history back to the 1900s. One can still…

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The Plough Inn – to stay

The Plough Inn – to stay

The Plough in the hamlet of Lupton was built around 1760 but the welcome to this historic pub is contemporary and artful. There is a horse outside, but this is a rather ghostly plough-horse in metal, giving a nod to its rural location and its stylish interior. The pub has recently undergone extensive renovations to…

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Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort, Thailand

Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort, Thailand

Thailand is a beautiful and magical land of charm and grace. It’s fringed by some of the best beaches in the world and is famed for its vibrant food, culture and charm. Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort is a gentle introduction to this marvellous country. Outrigger is a chain of high-end hotels dotted across the…

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One Aldwych for a Stay

One Aldwych for a Stay

No, this isn’t the first time I have visited one of my favourite hotels, but it was the first time I had spent the night. So, how can it be one of this writer’s favourites? I have visited One Aldwych on numerous occasions. I’ve covered Dinner and a Movie, Indigo Restaurant for Brunch, the superb…

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One Aldwych – Trays of Treats

One Aldwych – Trays of Treats

One Aldwych has, over many years, ticked numerous culinary boxes (read my reviews here). The hotel’s location makes it an ideal spot for both business and leisure, for families and lone workers. Back in 1907, this building housed the offices of The Morning Post. It has theatres on its doorstep and Covent Garden is a…

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St Ermin’s – Crystal and Plaster Elegance

St Ermin’s – Crystal and Plaster Elegance

St Ermin’s is a time-capsule of accessible refinement, a showcase of craftsmanship, and an oasis of comfort. Its location is convenient, being just around the corner from St James’s Park Underground station, but it’s this hotel’s history and elegance that will assure many happy returns. This four-star deluxe hotel in London’s St James’s Park has…

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Jean-Didier Gouges at The Petersham

Jean-Didier Gouges at The Petersham

There are few hotels I like more than the characterful Petersham, overlooking the River Thames in Richmond. And to compound the joy, there is a restaurant to admirably partner that hotel, and its Head Chef is Jean-Didier Gouges! This young man is charming, with a smile that seems never far from his lips. He is…

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