Date of Visit: 25/02/2018
What’s on Offer: Bar, roof terrace, fine dining & grill
What we found: We visited before the official opening and so staff were a little unsure and a few items weren’t available, but the views, value for money, range of cocktails and food made this a ‘must see’ for anyone visiting Manchester. It is a cross between Plateau and the old Ubon in London’s Canary Wharf, but less pretentious (for now!).
More info: http://20stories.co.uk/
Date of Visit: 22/04/2016
What’s on Offer: Three Hotels, Four Restaurants, One Spa, Funchal, Madeira.
What we found: Beautiful resort just 30mins drive from the airport, gorgeous views of the sea, lovely gardens, four swimming pools (indoor/outdoor) lots to do on-site, free activities and courtesy bus into town.
Find out more about Portobay Hotels
Date of Visit: 13/09/2013
What’s on Offer: Hotel, Venue & Function Rooms, Englefield Green, Surrey.
What we found: An amazing wedding venue and often overlooked for parties and events outside of term time. Exclusive Chapel available for Alumni and staff. Picture Gallery featured on Downton Abbey!
More info: Royal Holloway College
Date of Visit: 27/05/2012
What’s on Offer: Hotel, Restaurant, Bar & Function Rooms, Egham, Surrey.
What we found: We’ve been a few times, buildings and grounds amazing – beautiful flowers, a pond, atmospheric wood panelling and relaxed grandeur. However modern artworks in the garden are a bit bizarre and the service varies, as does the food, from stiflingly traditional French over-abrubtness to friendly professionalism, depending on the level of stress of staff! Conference and events co-ordinator lovely.
More info: http://www.greatfosters.co.uk/
Date of Visit: 21/04/2012
What’s on Offer: Pub, Dining Rooms and Cookery/Foraging Courses.
What we found: Good fresh, seasonal, locally sourced food, charming service in the restaurant from all the young staff, but owners seem a little dis-enchanted – but maybe just had an off-day! The location is well off the beaten track and has a real rural-chic atmosphere. Great for chatting with fellow diners over lunch and the pizza oven looked like a winner for their ‘pizza nights’. The Dining Room was more formal, but still relaxed. Lots of outdoor seating for warm days. Could do with more than one toilet!
More info: http://www.potkiln.org/
Date of Visit: 27/02/2012
What’s on Offer: Hotel, Restaurant and Bar. Mayfair, Green Park, London.
What we found: We only visited for their special Pudding Parlour – back in February 2012, but if that’s anything to go by, their Afternoon Tea is well worth a try. We had a flat fee to pay for one visit to the ‘Pudding Table and endless tea refills. The cakes varied from the beautifully presented but over-sweet to the unbeaten figgy and bread and butter puddings! A nice retreat from the mayhem of Mayfair.
More info: http://www.athenaeumhotel.com/
Date of Visit: 26/02/2012
What’s on Offer: Family-run Thai restaurant in a lively village at the heart of the Lakes. Ambleside, Lake District, Cumbria.
What we found: A new second floor to a well-established favourite. This is simply THE BEST Thai restaurant we’ve ever eaten at. The only problem used to be getting a table, but that problem has now been eased by the addition of the upstairs conversion. There seems to be no sign of a loss in quality or the personal touch from owners Chris and Busara Knight. Try the traditional deserts and don’t be tempted to try any of the pretenders that seem to have popped-up in Ambleside – there is only one true Thai!
More info: http://www.doiintanon.co.uk/
Date of Visit: 16/04/2012
What’s on Offer: Pub Hotel, restaurant, countryside village location and gardens. Waddington, nr Clitheroe, Lancashire.
What we found: A deceptively large pub – with little gardens that go back and back! Good quality food, a little over-priced, but great location and relaxed feel. Breakfast was impressive. Little to do in the immediate area, apart from wander along the babbling brook, churchyard and twee gardens, but great base for exploring the wider area of Clitheroe and Lancashire.
More info: http://www.waddingtonarms.co.uk/
Date of Visit: 21/01/2012
What’s on Offer: Four star Hotel, restaurant, swimming pool, grounds and rooms overlooking the river. Sandford on Thames, nr Oxford, Oxfordshire.
What we found: An absolute surprise that such a reasonably priced hotel had such lovely rooms (overlooking the river), such perfectly managed grounds and such fabulous and attentive staff! We hadn’t realised how close Oxford was, we walked leisurely along the river, from the back of the hotel to a pub on the edge of the city in about an hour. Even in the cold rain of January it was a nice walk for any ability. Only let-downs were the perfectly nice, but not particularly inspirational evening meal and the takeover of the hotel by a rugby team on the second morning! The pool was tiny and could easily be taken-over by kids – but fine for an early morning or late evening dip.
Place: Alexander House Hotel & Spa
Location: Turners Hill, West Sussex.
Eat: Lunch, Dinner & Afternoon Tea.
Just a few miles from Gatwick Airport & Pooh Corner!
Sleep: Cosy individual rooms in the old building and
beautiful luxurious rooms in the spa wing.
Spa: My favourite spa with steam, sauna, monsoon shower,
hydro-therapy, jacuzzi, outdoor hot tub & treatments.
Wellies also provided if you fancy a walk around the grounds.
Lowdown: THE best service of any hotel I’ve been to,
I have returned over 6 times in 4 years and can’t wait to go again!
Hotel’s own website: http://www.alexanderhouse.co.uk
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