Soho House can do no wrong in my eyes. From the recently refurbished original Soho House to the Electric Cinema in Portobello Road to White City House to The Ned – I love them all and I’m not even a member! Here, we have their latest opening, a roadside motel and diner by the name of Mollie’s. It sits next to the BP Garage on … Continue reading Mollie’s Motel and Diner
Part of the Calcot Collection, which consists of 7 hotels, restaurants and pubs across the UK, Calcot Manor is the jewel in their crown. Sprawled across 220 acres of Cotswolds meadowland it truly is a stunning place. Our one night stay is in a Large Family Suite called The Woodchester and although we arrive child-less, I imagine it’s the perfect space for a couple and … Continue reading Calcot Manor, Gloucestershire
The Bloomsbury hotel, part of the Doyle Collection, has recently undergone a dashing makeover with much of the design work courtesy of Martin Brudnizki (he and the team also did Aquavit, the Ivy Collection, Sexy Fish, Scarfe’s Bar and The Wigmore to name but a few). If food and drink is your thang, there’s plenty here to get you going. We have dinner on the … Continue reading The Bloomsbury
Soon set for world domination The Hoxton is globally going from strength to strength. They have hotels in Hoxton, then Holborn, then Amsterdam. Soon there’ll be Brooklyn, Portland, Chicago and Southwark in London. Arguably their most beautiful property yet is in Paris. Based in the Rue du Sentier, if it’s art you’re into, you can get to most of the good stuff on foot: Louvre … Continue reading The Hoxton Paris
I first tried Mark Birchall’s food at l’enclume back in 2012. It may well have been Simon Rogan’s restaurant in that little village of Cartmel in Cumbria, but it was head chef Mark’s food that was really spectacular. Great news then to hear he’s opened a restaurant with rooms on his home turf in Lancashire. Aughton, West Lancashire, to be precise. We arrive after a … Continue reading Moor Hall, Lancashire
Ynyshir (pronounced ‘Un-Is-Hear’) is a restaurant with rooms in Ynyshir, Wales from couple Gareth Ward and Amelia Dora who took the reigns after the original owner died back in 2016. It holds a Michelin star – although after dinner I’m surprised it doesn’t have two. The bedrooms in the main house have upgrades and modernisation in the planning – although we find our room, Renoir, … Continue reading Ynyshir, Wales
The Hoxton has gone through quite the expansion recently. They’ve opened hotels in Amsterdam and Paris, Brooklyn is on its way and they’ve just started building works on Blackfriars Bridge Road in Southwark. Their original, in Shoreditch, has been sitting pretty since 2006. On our Friday night stay the foyer is pumping; there’s loud music and quite the jolly atmosphere. Our “Cosy” room is small … Continue reading The Hoxton, Shoreditch
Rosewood London is a Fun House of a hotel – you could stay for a week and happily not leave for things to see and do. You’ve got Pearl, the hotel’s dog, who sits in a bed in the foyer, or the love birds, perched alongside each other in their cage on the first floor. There’s the marble staircase, untouched from its time as the … Continue reading Rosewood London
Hotel Café Royal’s best kept secret is its super swanky spa in the basement; I had no idea they had one. With the purple glow, it’s quite magical swimming right beneath Piccadilly Circus – you can even hear the rumble of the tube trains. Once dried off, our home for the night is the Oscar Suite which is a real looker. The living room is … Continue reading Hotel Café Royal, Piccadilly
Northcote, on the edge of the Ribble Valley, is probably best known for its Michelin starred restaurant with Lisa Allen at the helm (you might recognise her from Great British Menu) along with exec chef Nigel Hayworth. They also host a star studded food festival, Obsession, now in its 17th year, which you can read about here. But this review is of the hotel – … Continue reading Northcote, Lancashire
Cliveden House is a National Trust property and hotel set within stunning grounds in Taplow, Berkshire. Once home to Lord and Lady Astor, the outside swimming pool was made famous as the location for the Profumo affair and guests at the time ranged from Winston Churchill to Charlie Chaplin. It’s had quite an illustrious existence. Over our numerous visits, be it for afternoon tea, lunch … Continue reading Cliveden House, Berkshire
The Devonshire Club is a new hotel and members club in the City, tucked away in a square just behind Liverpool Street station (opposite Pitt Cue). At the helm is Brian Clivaz, he’s the chap who made his name at Home House, The Arts Club and more recently L’Escargot – London’s oldest French restaurant. Our deluxe club room, number 403, is simple but practical. I … Continue reading The Devonshire Club, Devonshire Square
The Gallivant is conveniently located right next to Camber Sands. You don’t actually get a sea view from this “coastal motel”, but a 30 second walk over a sand dune and you’ve got the most beautiful of beaches. We make the most of it as soon as we arrive with a bottle of Nyetimber (English sparkling wine) and some blankets – a lovely touch. But … Continue reading The Gallivant, Camber Sands
There’s something rather charming about Newforge House, based a forty minute drive from George Best airport, Belfast. There’s a gravel driveway leading up to a small yet grand house covered in ivy. It’s quaint. Once in, it’s all antiques and creaky floorboards. John and Lou Mathers are the owners of the 17th century house which has been in their family for six generations. The furniture … Continue reading Newforge House, Northern Ireland
Gleneagles isn’t just a hotel; there are three golf courses, a spa, Scotland’s only 2 Michelin starred restaurant, 3 more casual restaurants, not to mention all the activities; a falconry school, off-roading, clay pigeon shooting, archery, horse riding. Plus, it’s all set within stunning Scottish countryside, grounds we fall in love with just a few seconds after arriving. The journey is about an hour drive from … Continue reading Gleneagles, Scotland
