The Red Arrows made a flying visit to Dartmouth Golf and Country Club following their appearance at the Dartmouth Royal Regatta.
Dartmouth Golf & Country Club boasts 27 holes of golf in addition to a luxurious spa complex, 35-room hotel and a selection of sumptuous lodges. The eight-strong team spent the night at the resort after wowing thousands with their aerobatic display at the nearby festivities and took full advantage of the resort’s amenities including its spa and leisure facilities.
A new name has emerged in the UK budget hotel market in the form of Tune Hotels. The budget chain is mostly based in Indonesia and Malaysia, but their first London hotel opened recently in Westminster, Central London.
The market is getting a little flooded with budget hotel chains, but Tune Hotels believe they have the edge based on what could be referred to as the “Ryanair Concept”, ie: everything not absolutely essential is chargeable.
For your money you get high quality spring mattress beds with pillows, pillowcases, bed sheets and 250-thread count duvets; plus each room is en-suite with a power shower.
Chargeable items include phone bookings and credit cards which are entirely understandable, but charging for towels does seem a little extreme – this is however billed by their PR people are an “extreme budget hotel”. This does seem to conflict a little with their “5 star quality for 1 star prices” motto.
So does this business model stackup?
Their main rivals would seem to be Easyhotel run by the same people as Easyjet, Travelodge and Premier Inn.
Easyhotel run a number of central London hotels and base their budget pricing mostly on booking well in advance – the earlier you pay, the less you pay is the idea. They charge for phone bookings, credit cards, toiletries and during-stay room cleans but do provide towels.
Travelodge have been established over 20 years in this market and often market themselves as very much budget prices by cutting out everything you don’t need. They also charge for credit cards and toiletries, but room cleans are included and so are towels.
Premier Inn have marketed themselves a little higher up the scale and do provide most toiletries, TV and room cleans for the price….and they definitely include towels.
So as these are pretty similar to Tune Hotel in what they provide, except for the towels, it would seem to come down to price. Comparisons are a little tricky especially with the Easyhotels model, but taking a random date about a week from now – 7th Sept 2010 for 1 room, 1 night, 2 people:
- Tune Hotel in Westminster: £65
- Easyhotel Earl’s Court: £55 (+ £5 for the TV)
- Travelodge in Waterloo: £95
- Premier Inn Euston: £142
Other days the prices might be closer although the Travelodge in question starts at £79/night, but going this by admittedly not very scientific experiment it would suggest that the extreme budget hotel isn’t that budget afterall compared to it’s closest rival the EasyHotel.
Whether Tune Hotels can beat Easyhotels at their own game we’ll just have to wait and see, but going by what I’ve seen so far, they need to do something a little more extreme with the prices to justify what you don’t get.
More links:
London Hotel Guide
Attractions in London
Some of the UK’s most popular tourist locations are at the prettiest out of season when they’re free from crowds, the Autumn colours are turning or the crisp Winter air looms. The other great thing about this time of year is that self-catering accommodation providers will often take short breaks rather than their usual Friday-Friday or Saturday-Saturday weekly lets. And what’s more, it’s invariably the cheapest time to go!
Self-catering really is a no-brainer, too. You invariably get more space, more privacy and a far better rate when you work it out per person per night. With a little forward planning, you can get some great deals for a pre- or post-Christmas break, or perhaps even a Valentines treat. Have a browse of sites such as the UK cottage website for an idea of what’s available.
Paul Johnson is a Director at Kendal Holiday Cottages Ltd. which offers luxury self-catering accommodation between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales
From 13th to 16th October 2010 Linthwaite House Hotel, overlooking Lake Windermere, will be offering guests a taste of Thailand when the hotel hosts a culinary extravaganza in conjunction with Koh Samui’s original boutique hotel, The Tongsai Bay.
So whilst guest can enjoy the autumn colours of the Lake District by day, by night they will be transported to the flavours of the Far East as Linthwaite’s head chef Richard Kearsley and his experienced team open up their kitchen to Tongsai Bay’s executive chef Alvin Tan Kian Chee and sous chef Jaturan Ounnahasuwan to fuse the exotic flavours of southern Thailand with the highest quality produce from Cumbria, creating exclusive menus and sharing the knowledge of their respective cuisines.
Both Linthwaite and Tongsai Bay have a long tradition of culinary excellence. At Tongsai Bay, the cuisine was overseen for many years by chef Piengchom Darbanand (known as ‘Chom’), a former chef to the Thai Royal household. Although now she is almost in retirement her standards are strictly maintained and her occasional visits to the hotel are much anticipated. Linthwaite is also renowned for its imaginative cuisine, using the best local produce; previously of The Waterside Inn, Mallory Court and Lords of the Manor, Richard Kearsley learnt his trade alongside stars of the culinary world. Both hotels also have a strong connection to the late Keith Floyd, who worked on his legendary ‘Far Flung Floyd’ series with the team at Tongsai Bay, and more recently hosted cookery theatres at Linthwaite.
The chef’s visit will culminate in a series of events at Linthwaite, at which they will present their dishes through cookery demonstrations and exclusive menus.
To celebrate Linthwaite is offering a special two night dinner, bed and breakfast package from £128 per person per night on 13th and 14th or 15th and 16th October 2010. Cost also includes a special afternoon tea with traditional Thai fruit carving.
Paul Johnson is a Director at Kendal Holiday Cottages Ltd. which offers luxury self-catering accommodation between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales
Useful link:
Tourist attractions in Windermere
From dune surfing and building sand castles to fossil hunting or rock pooling, there are family adventures galore to be found in East and West Sussex. With miles of beaches and unspoilt countryside, the region is the ideal place to find a fresh air adventure, and the good news is that they are all free! Whether to fly a kite on the South Downs, picnic by the River Arun or discover some of Winnie the Pooh’s favourite places on a walk in Ashdown Forest, here are 10 reasons to Visit Sussex this summer:
WEST SUSSEX
1. Count the bars on Britain’s longest bench
Seating over 300 people, the colourful bench bends, wiggles and dips along the seafront promenade in Littlehampton, West Sussex. Just opened to the public, the longest bench in Britain is made from thousands of bars, creating a unique attraction.
Visit Sussex Top Tip: Pop into the award-winning East Beach Café – another Littlehampton design marvel – for lunch or dinner.
2. Build sandcastles!
Big kids – and their children – can get stuck into some serious sandcastle-building at Blue Flag award-winner West Wittering Beach. The West Sussex beach is also a hot spot for surfing, wind-surfing and kite-surfing.
3. Fossil hunting
Along the coast from West Wittering, families can look for shark and ray teeth, fossilised gastropod and bivalve shells, or even fish vertebrae. Find them washed up on top of the sand as the tide retreats at Bracklesham Bay.
4. Picnic by the river
Grab a blanket, pack up a picnic and spend a day by the river in Arundel. Energetic picnickers can go on a six mile circular walk across to South Stoke then returning along the River Arun. Or simply pick a spot by the river and take in stunning views of Arundel Castle.
Visit Sussex Top Tip: Stop by Fins in Arundel to pick up some fresh locally-caught seafood, or top up the picnic hamper at Pallant of Arundel.
5. Meet mischievous goats…
…and a host of other animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs and chipmunks at Tulleys Farm. While visitors do have to pay to explore the Giant Maize Maze and play on the trampolines and mini tractors, entry to the ‘Animal Patch’ is free.
EAST SUSSEX
6. Go on a Winnie the Pooh Walk
Explore Ashdown Forest to find some of the sites of Pooh’s adventures, including Pooh’s Bridge, The Enchanted Place, Heffalump Trap, Hundred Acre Wood and Eeyore’s Sad and Gloomy Place. There are two themed walks to choose from.
Visit Sussex Top Tip: Stay nearby at The Felbridge Hotel and Spa.
7. Cycle the Cuckoo Trail
Load the bikes into the car and head to Heathfield in East Sussex. The picturesque 11-mile trail follows the former ‘Cuckoo Line’ railway track leading through countryside and villages. Look out for wild garlic growing, the orange-tip butterfly and of course cuckoos!
8. Fly a kite on the South Downs
With an elevated position overlooking rolling grassland, Devil’s Dyke is the ideal spot for kite-flying. Located just north of Brighton, the historic beauty spot is on the South Downs Way and offers views south to the English Channel.
9. Rock pooling
Trawl the rock pools at low tide to find crabs, barnacles and other sea beasties at Seven Sisters Voluntary Marine Conservation Area. There are access points along the shore, including Seaford Beach, Seven Sisters Country Park, Birling Gap and Eastbourne seafront.
Visit Sussex Top Tip: Stay over at The Star Alfriston and see more of the local area.
10. Go dune surfing
As the only sand dune system in East Sussex, Camber Sands is the perfect place to try out dune surfing this summer. While professionals may use snowboards, a simple sledge or piece of cardboard should suffice and will provide hours of fun.
Useful links:
Arundel Hotels
Chichester Hotels
Crawley Hotels
East Grinstead Hotels
Eastbourne Hotels
Littlehampton Hotels
Dating from 1251, the Ye Old Man in Bolton claims to be the oldest pub in Britain and with an apparent 20 resident ghosts it has more than it’s fair claim to have “a wide range of spirits available”.
The most famous of the ghostly residents is is Charlotte de Tremoille, the wife of Royalist James Stanley, Seventh Earl of Derby. James Stanley spent his last 3 hours in the pub before being beheaded in the square outside. The pub makes quite a feature of these residents including a re-enactment of the events on October 15th.
If you want to interact with some of the other spirits in the pub, why not take one of the guided ghost hunting tours with a professional medium, and equipment such as electronic voice phenomena, table tipping, a seance and even a live orb cam.
For more information, see the Ye Olde Man Bolton web site.
Useful links:
Hotel accommodation in Bolton
Things to do in Bolton
Wikipedia page on Ye Olde Man
Whatley Manor, a beautiful restored private manor house hotel that nestles in 12 acres of Wiltshire countryside, has installed the UK’s first Iyashi Dome in the luxurious surroundings of its award winning spa Aquarias.
The Iyashi Dome was first developed in Japan and comes from the traditional Suna Ryoho technique of burying oneself in the warm sand by the seashore or near hot springs to detoxify the body through perspiration.
The modern Iyashi Dome allows the user to lie back and relax on a comfortable wooden bed, whilst listening to soothing Japanese influenced music. The technology of the unique black carbon dome gradually heats up the body by emitting vibrations of far-infrared rays that are in line with the far-infrared rays which are naturally produced within the body. The head remains uncovered during this process and the breeze from the state-of-the-art Dyson Air Multiplier refreshes the face whilst the dome cocoons the rest of the body for a purifying, regenerating and slendering treatment.
Ahhhhh… it all sounds very relaxing. Why not treat yourself?
Useful links:
Whatley Manor
Attractions near Whatley Manor
There are few better pleasures than a summertime picnic, and the Athenaeum’s new hampers for couples bring five-star service to London’s Royal Parks. Sandwiched between Green Park, Hyde Park and St. James Park, guests staying at the hotel can picnic al-fresco in the ‘garden’ of their London home.
The Athenaeum’s lovingly prepared ‘Romantics Hamper’ is the perfect accompaniment to a romantic liaison. The menu includes a Bottle of Louis Roederer Champagne and a selection of gourmet treats such as English asparagus with olive oil and truffle vinaigrette, salmon and cream cheese and chive bagels and roast rib eye steak sandwiches with horseradish sauce.
For pudding the chef has created an indulgent, sweet finish of white chocolate covered strawberries, vanilla cheesecakes and chocolate brownies. Included in the hamper is a disposable camera to capture the day.
The Athenaeum staff are at hand to guide you to the best-hidden picnic hot spots around the surrounding Royal Parks. Romantics will love the secluded areas with attractive views tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Piccadilly, from the open spaces next to the Serpentine Lake to the cycle paths along Constitution Hill.
The Athenaeum’s ‘Romantics Hamper’ is priced at £99 for two people.
Useful links:
Hotels in Mayfair
London parks and tourist attractions
Has the latest Robin Hood film taken your fancy? Practice your bow and arrow skills at the new Olympic sized indoor archery range at Eaton Manor in Shropshire. The new range was built following a specific request from members of the Commonwealth and UK Olympic Archery Teams. It compliments other facilities which include a heated covered swimming pool and large private gardens.
Set within 500 acres of estate land, Eaton Manor provides a peaceful escape for individuals or groups, meaning that the property is suited to both business and leisure travellers. A total of five, four star cottages make up Eaton Manor, the smallest of which offers cosy accommodation for just two guests while the largest can sleep 14 in six bedrooms.
Useful links:
UK holiday cottages
Like many parts of the traditional British seaside holiday, the brightly coloured tiny beach huts have seen rather a revival in recent years as people rediscover the British coastline instead of all flocking off to Majorca or Benidorm. If you don’t happen to have £100,000 to buy a beach hut, then you can hire them for a day or even a week.
Those offering accommodation are naturally a little larger than the original beach huts and tend to be referred to as “beach chalets”, but they still have all the advantages of the original beach hut plus a few amenities such as toilets and electricity (something which even the £100,000 beach hut didn’t have!).
Beach huts at Felixstowe don’t allow overnight accommodation, but they are the traditional tiny huts seen on beaches since Victorian times which are so in vogue and are available from around £12/day or £60 a week.
Beach huts in Woolacombe, Devon are available from around £17 a day or £72 a week through Parkin Estates. Like those in Felixstowe, these are daytime beach huts but do adhere to the traditional design of the beach hut. Contact Parkin Estates on 01271 8702340 or just turn up and ask for availability at Enrico’s cafe on Beach Road.
For something a more sizeable (sleeps 6) why not try a 1960’s beach chalet, although personally I think they look remarkably like the Butlins chalets. The Shades of Blue chalets nestle on the Gwithian dunes overlooking three miles of sandy beach which form part of St Ives Bay. There are 3 chalets available each with two bedrooms, a bathroom/WC and open plan kitchen and living area.
Dunster Beach Holidays offer around 230 beach chalets dating from the 1930’s of all different sizes. Most of the chalets include electricity and toilets / showers, although for the few that don’t there are shower blocks nearby. Think of this as camping on the beach, but in something slightly more comfortable than a tent.
Dukes Walk Beach Hut Resort takes the beach hut idea to a whole new level with traditionally designed beach huts, combined with cutting edge internal design and all the amenities you could want. Opening in 2011, this will take the beach hut design to the masses.
If you’d like a little more information about beach huts history and some of the locations featured here, see an article in the Guardian.
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