Accommodation Update March 2016

Wednesday 30 March 2016

London

New and upcoming openings

InterContinental London - The O2, Greenwich: now open
The new InterContinental® London - The O2 officially opened in January 2016. The luxury 453-bedroom 18-storey hotel has a luxury spa with 17m swimming pool and eight treatment rooms, as well as the Clipper bar and Meridian Lounge. There are two restaurants - a fine dining restaurant, The Peninsula, and all-day dining in the Market Brasserie, as well as an 18th floor sky bar, Eighteen, boasting uninterrupted, panoramic views across the water to Canary Wharf and beyond... http://iclondon-theo2.com/#/
PR contact: Leah Eser/Julia Gosling Leah.eser@daviestanner.co.uk /Julia.gosling@daviestanner.co.uk

Nadler Victoria: now open
The fourth hotel to open in the Nadler chain had its grand opening on 1 January 2016. As with the other Nadler properties (Soho, Kensington, Liverpool), the focus is on providing good value, stylish rooms and encouraging guests to explore the surrounding neighbourhood to eat, drink and be entertained. All members of staff are trained to give local recommendations and guests receive a VIP card that entitles them to discounts in the local area. Wi-Fi is free, as are local phone calls.
PR contact: Anna Hollingworth ahollingworth@thecommunicationgroup.co.uk

Z Hotels: now open
Z Hotels has added two new properties to its portfolio, Z Shoreditch and Z Gloucester Place, which opened in February 2016. The compact-design rooms offer guests 40" LED TVs with Sky Sports and Movies at no extra cost, plus free high speed Wi-Fi throughout. There will also be complimentary cheese and wine each evening for guests. www.theZhotels.com
PR contact: Z Gloucester Place gloucesterplace@thezhotels.com

ZSL's Gir Lion Lodge, London Zoo: May 2016
ZSL London Zoo will launch a luxury overnight experience in the heart of its upcoming Land of the Lions exhibit in May 2016. After dinner, guests will embark on an evening tour led by a dedicated host who will share their conservation knowledge before guiding guests back to their Lodges close to the Zoo's Asiatic lions. After breakfast, guests embark on a morning tour of the Zoo before it opens to visitors. The Gir Lion Lodge experience will open six nights a week, May to December 2016, with designated family nights and adults-only nights. www.zsl.org/girlionlodge
PR contact: Rhiannon.Bates@zsl.org

Mercure London Hyde Park Hotel: June 2016
Overlooking a peaceful garden square in elegant Paddington, Mercure Hyde Park Hotel, due to open in June 2016, is a two-minute walk from Paddington Station and five-minute walk from London's iconic Hyde Park. A charming, classic English style townhouse, the hotel has a popular bar and comfortable rooms, designed with the contemporary/traditional British feel.
http://www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-A002-mercure-london-hyde-park-hotel-open...
PR contact: Jennifer Cole Jennifer.COLE@accor.com
 

Refurbs/expansions

Staycity Heathrow: now open
Staycity opened the doors to a further 125 apartments at its popular London Heathrow site on 1 March with the addition of a guest lounge and café on the ground floor and breakfast area and terrace on the podium level. The extension to Staycity Heathrow sees the fast-growing aparthotel operator moving into its neighbouring property, giving it a total of 269 studios, one- and two-bed apartments. www.staycity.com
PR contact: Linda Pettit, Tilburstow Media Partners Linda@tilburstowmedia.co.uk

Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington: now open
The Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington has recently completely a £2 million refurbishment, which has transformed the hotel's meetings and events spaces, and will ensure that guests visiting the hotel will experience some of the very best amenities and facilities. There is a new foyer area, new woven carpets in the meeting rooms and high speed Wi-Fi internet, as well as new glassware, lecterns, soft chair covers and candelabra. Located in a quiet residential corner of London's fashionable district of Kensington, the Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington has 833 comfortable air-conditioned rooms. www.millenniumhotels.com/en/london/copthorne-tara-hotel-london-kensington
PR contact: Ginny Lancaster ginny.lancaster@millenniumhotels.com

JW Marriott Grosvenor House London
The hotel on Park Lane has had a grand reopening following extensive refurbishment; 42 suites have been refurbished and two new Royal Suites, as has the lobby. The Park Room restaurant reopens on 19 March after refurbishment. www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/longh-grosvenor-house-a-jw-marriott-hotel
PR contact: Nick.Barrington-Wells@marriott.com
 

Long-lead

Four Seasons to move into Ten Trinity Square: December 2016
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, along with multinational developer Reignwood Group, are to open a 98-room Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square in the City of London in December 2016, as well as 41 private residences and a private members' club. It will be located within the redeveloped former Port of London Authority building, and will be Four Season's third hotel in London (the two others are based in Canary Wharf and Park Lane). The property will also feature two gourmet restaurants and a spa. www.fourseasons.com
PR contact: Anna Dickinson adickinson@prco.com

Nobu Hotel: Late 2016
Master sushi chef, Nobu Matsuhisa, is planning his first European hotel, the Willow Street Hotel in London's Shoreditch, to open in 2016. The new hotel has been designed by Ron Arad Associates and will house 143 bedrooms and a statement restaurant: a dramatic five-metre high space in the basement. The five-storey hotel will include its own garden, while rooms are clustered around a central bathroom and screened off by a full-height curved unit. www.nobuhospitality.com

Moxy, London Royal Docks: Winter 2016
Moxy Hotels describe themselves as 'just like home, but with a bartender'. The Moxy has ripped up the rule book for budget hotels, and boasts premium comforts and convenient services, including 42" televisions, fresh brewed coffee and self-service breakfast. The London addition of its expanding portfolio is set to open late 2016. http://moxy-hotels.marriott.com/hotels

Ibis Styles Piccadilly Circus: 2017; MGallery Leicester Square: Late 2016

Hotel operator Accor has started work on the 583-room Ibis Styles Piccadilly Circus hotel, which is due to open in 2017 on the site of the Trocadero Centre between Shaftesbury Avenue and Coventry Street. The group also announced they would be opening an 80-room hotel in Leicester Square under their MGallery brand in late 2016. The new Ibis Styles Piccadilly Circus will serve breakfast, which is included in the room rate, and have a bar but no full service restaurant. www.ibis.com PR contact: Jennifer Cole Jennifer.COLE@accor.com

2019: Art'otel® at Battersea Power Station
Earmarked to open in 2019 in a building designed by Foster + Partners and set around the historic Grade II* listed Battersea Power Station, this will be a 160 plus -bedroom luxury lifestyle hotel with skyline floors boasting panoramic views. There will be a Roof Garden, an outdoor rooftop pool and bar overlooking the iconic chimneys, as well as curated gardens, a signature destination restaurant and double height bar. Guests will be welcomed by a public gallery; a multi-purpose creative space offering a rotating calendar of exhibitions, as well as cultural and artistic events supporting established and up-and-coming artists alike. PR contact: Lisa Woodman lwoodman@pphe.com

 

More accommodation news

A ‘Royal Progress' Luxury London Stay: April - 31 August
In celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday, the St Ermin's Hotel in Westminster presents the ‘Royal Progress' luxury two-night retreat fit for a Queen. Based in the heart of royal London and just a short stroll from Buckingham Palace, the hotel's ‘Royal Progress' package also includes one of Her Majesty's favourite pastimes, a champagne ‘RoyalTEA' as well as a visit to the magnificent Windsor Castle. Package running 1 April - 31 August. www.sterminshotel.co.uk
PR contact: Dannielle West dani@wixhill.co.uk

Also: Kids' ‘Happy Birthday Your Majesty' Package: 1 April - 31 August
St Ermin's Hotel, Westminster, is also offering a family ‘Happy Birthday Your Majesty' kids' discovery package including tips on Royal etiquette, such as how to bow or curtsey, 90 fun facts about the British monarchy and a Right Royal Quiz with Crown and Tiara prizes. Just a short stroll from Buckingham Palace, families can explore the best regal sites in the capital from the hotel. And after a hard day of Royal birthday discovery, families can take part in afternoon tea. A children's ‘NineTea' menu features royal favourites such as chocolate digestive cake, crumpets and one of Queen Elizabeth's beloved childhood treats - jam pennies... small jam sandwiches cut into circles the size of an (old) English penny! Package running 1 April - 31 August. www.sterminshotel.co.uk
PR contact: Dannielle West dani@wixhill.co.uk

Family Fun Package at The Arch London: ongoing
The Arch London has devised the ultimate family package starting at £390 per night. On arrival children will be given a speciality Archie Bear as a gift. There will also be special children's bathroom products and children's sized bathrobes and slippers waiting in their rooms. There is a large Treasure Chest filled with toys for children, as well as books for bedtime stories or to explore in the hotel's Martini Library with complimentary cookies and milk. Families can refuel and recharge at the hotel's restaurant Hunter 486, as young children dine complimentary with their parents during their stay. Children's sized cutlery is provided and colouring books will be on hand to keep them entertained whilst parents can sit back and relax. There is currently no end date on this package. www.thearchlondon.com
PR contact: Roxii Hoare-Smith Roxii@luxepr.com
 

Scotland

New and upcoming openings

Knockinaam Lodge, Dumfries and Galloway: March 2016
In March 2016, Knockinaam Lodge will present Shingle Lodge, a new luxury self-catering property whose interior design is as charming as its older relative and where guests can re-energise with the magnificent seascape, located around two-and-a-half hours from Glasgow. www.knockinaamlodge.com

Crossbasket Castle, south Lanarkshire: May 2016
Following extensive refurbishment, Crossbasket Castle in Blantyre, half an hour's drive south east of Glasgow, will reopen on 1 May 2016 as a luxury hotel. Managed by Inverlochy Castle Management International, it will feature a fine-dining restaurant, nine bedrooms, drawing room and library, furnished with Scottish pieces from between the 14th and 16th centuries. www.crossbasketcastle.com

Safestay Edinburgh, Scotland: Summer 2016
Premium hostel brand Safestay will launch Safestay Edinburgh in the heart of Old Town, in Summer 2016. The property is undergoing a refurbishment and rebranding programme whilst trading as "Smart City Hostel by Safestay". Safestay Edinburgh has 132 rooms with 615 beds and offers ensuite private and mixed bunk-bed dorm rooms. Safestay Edinburgh is located at the site of the first printing press in Scotland, and one of Edinburgh's ancient thoroughfares near the lively Cowgate. www.safestay.com 
PR contact: Amanda Gore-Booth mandy@pilot-pr.com
 

Long-lead

Urban Villa Edinburgh, Scotland: Late 2016
Designed by New York architects Grzywinski + Pons, Urban Villa Edinburgh is poised to be Urban Villa's landmark boutique hotel, comprised of 183 luxurious suites, 8,000 square feet of restaurant and bar/lounge space, overlooking Union Canal with views of Edinburgh castle. The hotel has been designed to play homage to Edinburgh's elegant cultural fabric while infusing elements of Manhattan and London style. Each suite will include a fully fitted kitchen, living room, with half of the suites housing waterfront balconies. www.urbanvilla.com
PR contact: Eric Jafari Eric.Jafari@unionhanover.com

Radisson Red Hotel Glasgow: 2017
The Radisson Red Hotel Glasgow will be located adjacent to Scotland's largest exhibition centre, featuring 176 rooms. It will welcome its first guests in 2017 and joins existing Carlson Rezidor properties in Glasgow: the Radisson Blu and a Park Inn by Radisson in the city. www.radissonred.com
 

More accommodation news

The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa
The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa has launched a Book Menu, giving its guests the unique opportunity to purchase signed copies from some of Edinburgh's most celebrated contemporary authors including Ian Rankin, Alexander McCall Smith and Kate Atkinson, directly from their bedroom. The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa is the only hotel in the city to offer the "Books in Bedrooms" room service. The Book Menu also features a carefully selected range of classic Scottish books, locally-written children's books and hand-picked guide books to the city that can be delivered to the room in minutes. www.sheratonedinburgh.co.uk
PR contact: Emma Offord Emma.Offord@sheraton.com

Wales

New and upcoming openings

Twr y Felin, St David's, Pembrokeshire, west Wales: now open
Twr y Felin Hotel has been restored and reopened on 1 January as a luxury contemporary hotel. Located in the heart of Britain's smallest city, St David's, it lies within the surrounding landscape of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. It offers 20 ensuite luxury bedrooms and a bar and restaurant, plus a lounge, Oriel, (Welsh for gallery). Twr y Felin Hotel joins a select group of UK Art Hotels with a collection of more than 100 pieces of art and sculpture. Originally a Windmill built in 1806, Twr y Felin is a unique building whose character has been preserved. www.retreatsgroup.com
PR contact: Paula Ellis paula.ellis@retreatsgroup.com

Life House/ Tŷ Bywyd: May 2016
Life House / Tyˆ Bywyd, located in a rolling valley near Llanbister, mid Wales, has been designed by the British architect John Pawson. Each of the three large bedrooms is dedicated to one calming ingredient in life: reading, listening to music, and bathing. The rooms have been designed as modern versions of the monastic cell. Dates for May/June will be released soon. Living Architecture will also be opening The Secular Retreat in Devon in Winter 2016. www.living-architecture.co.uk/the-houses/LifeHouse/overview

Refurbs

Royal Victoria Hotel, Snowdonia: now open
Mount Snowdon, the highest peak in England and Wales, towers over the village of Llanberis 3,560ft below. Local Gwynedd hotel, the Royal Victoria, has one of the best views of this rocky marvel. The hotel has invested heavily over recent years to improve facilities. In the last year the hotel has spent approximately half a million pounds on improving and updating facilities. 2016 sees the hotel look forward to welcoming guests to its re-modelled Padarn restaurant, refurbished lounge and Victoria dining room, renamed Blas Yr Wyddfa. The hotel has also refurbished 50 bedrooms, 12 of which have been re-branded ‘Coach House Snowdonia' and all meet four-star quality standard. www.theroyalvictoria.co.uk
PR contact: Wendy Stickler Wendy.Stickler@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Cliff Hotel & Spa, Cardigan Bay: Spring 2016
The Cliff Hotel & Spa, situated along the West Wales Coast, has recently changed ownership and is going through a full refurbishment to be completed in Spring 2016, with the majority of the ground floor and a selection of the bedrooms are now complete. Standing on the edge of the coastline with breath-taking panoramic views over Cardigan Bay, the rugged coastline, the Teifi Estuary and the broad sweep of Poppit Sands. Many rooms have views over Cardigan Bay and the hotel's golf course. www.cliffhotel.com

More accommodation news

The Grove Narberth welcomes new Head Chef
Allister Barsby has joined the team at The Grove as Executive Chef. Allister joins from two Michelin-starred Gidleigh Park in Dartmoor, where he has been working under Executive Chef Michael Caines since 2008, with a short spell as Sous Chef at the Bath Priory. Having been moulded by one of the best chefs in the UK, Allister has the experience and natural talent to transform the kitchen at Grove of Narberth. He will be working alongside their Head Chef Peter Whaley, who was promoted from Senior Sous Chef in May 2015. Whaley joined from the Fat Duck in Bray in February 2014. www.thegrove-narberth.co.uk
PR contact: tom@amarr.associates

Under The Thatch's Top 10 cottages for 2015 include stunning waterfront properties, traditional cottages and a converted railway carriage! See them all at http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=1d1f7be73453b522959752d4c&id=d2545bb... & Northern Ireland

 

New and upcoming openings

New Forest Domes at Finn Lough Resort, County Fermanagh: now open
Now open, the extraordinary domes at the Finn Lough Resort aim to bring an entirely unique accommodation experience to the visitor. Using locally designed furniture along with beautiful interiors, the Forest Domes feature 180° transparent walls from which to enjoy the surrounding nature, and guests can sleep on four-poster beds. These Forest Domes are part of a resort that offers lakeside lodges and cottages in a stunning lakeside location. Two further domes will open in April 2016, and two more in May 2016. www.finnlough.com

Refurbs

Galgorm Resort, Ballymena: now open
The new Thermal Village & Spa at Galgorm Resort is now open. The award-winning Thermal Spa facilities offer you the chance to experience the ancient rituals of bathing in cold, cool, warm and hot environments to aid detoxification, purification and relaxation. Open to both residents of the Hotel and day Spa guests these areas include: Infinity Hydrotherapy Pool, Outdoor Hot Tub & Jacuzzi Pool, Laconium, Herb Caldarium, Aroma Grotto, Ice Fountain, Sauna, Experience Showers and Heated Relaxation Loungers. www.galgorm.com/spavillage.html#Indoor-Wellness-Facilities-3

Manchester, Liverpool & north-west England

New and upcoming openings

King Street Townhouse, Manchester: now open
One of 2016's most anticipated openings, King Street Townhouse is now open. The Grade II-listed building is home to Eclectic Hotels' second city centre hotel. Facilities include 40 bedrooms and suites, King Street Tavern (bar, restaurant and wine cellars) and afternoon tea rooms. The Eclectic Hotels' group Manchester-located properties comprise Great John Street, the former Atherton street old school house, Didsbury House and Eleven Didsbury Park hotels, both previously Victorian Villas, and On the 7th members' club at MediaCityUK. www.kingstreettownhouse.co.uk
For further information contact: press@kingstreettownhouse.co.uk

Oddfellows On The Park: Late summer 2016
Oddfellows On The Park sister to the award-winning Oddfellows in Chester is due to open in summer 2016. The design-led hotel will offer 22 boutique bedrooms in the heart of Bruntwood Park near Manchester Airport. www.oddfellowschester.com/our-story/oddfellows-on-the-park
PR contact: Katie Bentley katie.bentley@oddfellowshotels.com

Plus...
...a new Holiday Inn (296 rooms) will open at Manchester Piccadilly in April 2016.

Pullman Hotel, Liverpool: now open
The four-star Pullman Liverpool opened in February 2016 on the site of exhibition centre ACC Liverpool. Integrated with ACC Liverpool's new interconnected sister venue, Exhibition Centre Liverpool, Pullman Liverpool is the second Pullman hotel in the UK, and the first outside of London. It has 216 bedrooms, free Wi-Fi and is located close to the city centre and all major transport links. www.pullmanhotels.com
PR contact: Jennifer Cole Jennifer.COLE@accor.com

Long lead

Roomzzz Aparthotel, Manchester: Late 2016
Roomzzz Aparthotel, part of the Parklane Group, will open its second Manchester site in the iconic Corn Exchange in the City Centre. The new hotel is part of a £30 million leisure redevelopment programme, which also includes 13 new independent restaurants and four retained restaurants. The hotel, which is expected to open in late 2016, is a key part of the redevelopment of the Grade II listed building which, upon completion, will be one of Manchester's primary dining destinations. The hotel will have its entrance fronting Exchange Square, with guest accommodation over the second, third, fourth, and fifth floors. www.roomzzz.com

Luxury hotel for Liverpool - Principal Hayley purchases Martin's Bank Building Liverpool
Principal Hayley Group, a leading hotel and conference centre provider, announced in February 2016 that it has purchased the historic Martins Bank building in Liverpool, and plans to convert the Grade II-listed property on Water Street into a stunning, 227-room luxury hotel with a destination spa and food and beverage offerings. Designed by noted architect Herbert James Rowse and completed in 1932, the Martins Bank building is considered to be among the finest classical buildings built in England during the interwar period.

www.ph-hotels.co.uk
PR contact: Joe Keggin jkeggin@marketingliverpool.co.uk

Refurbs

Dalmeny Resort Hotel, Lancashire
To celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2016, The Dalmeney Hotel is undergoing a £2.5million refurbishment over the next two years, with many of the hotel's bedrooms being given a facelift. A new restaurant will be created, as well as improvements made to the spa services. A new terrace dining area for the existing Indigo Bar & Grill, and a Kids Zone, will open by Easter 2016. The hotel is set on St Anne's award-winning beach, offering romantic sea view rooms and spacious family suites. www.dalmenyhotel.co.uk
PR contact: Laura Cullen Laura@freshfield.com

More accommodation news

Seven-bedroom Edgar House Hotel in Chester was named the best small hotel in the world in TripAdvisor's Traveller's Choice Awards in January 2016! Other UK winners include South Lodge guest house in Bridlington, Lincolnshire, named the seventh best B&B in the world. Blackpool had two hotels named among the best worldwide: the North Ocean and the Queens Promenade. www.edgarhouse.co.uk

Meanwhile, in Cumbria, Eden Valley's Appleby Manor Hotel has claimed top spot in the Best Eco-Friendly Hotel Category at the Best Loved Hotels Awards. Appleby Manor has a Garden Spa equipped with the latest in environmental technologies to conserve water and minimise heat loss and even the range of treatments has been carefully selected to minimise their impact, resulting in one of the only carbon-neutral spas in the country. www.applebymanor.co.uk

Newcastle & north-east England

New and upcoming openings

Hilton Garden Hotel, Sunderland: May 2016
The next hotel to be opened by the Hilton Group, Hilton Garden Hotel, is set to offer a perfect destination for visitors and businesses alike. The 141-bedroom hotel is situated at Stadium Park, ideally located to enjoy Roker beach, National Glass Centre, and Sunderland AFC's Stadium of Light. The hotel is accepting reservations from 24 May 2016. www.safc.com/hospitality-and-events/conference-events-and-hotel-centre/h...http://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/united-kingdom/hilton-garde...

The Commissioner's Quay, Blyth: July 2016
New £4.5million waterfront inn, The Commissioners Quay Inn, at Blyth in Northumberland, has been designed with 40 bedrooms across three floors, while a bar and eatery area on the ground floor will provide covers for up to 265 diners inside, and a further 100 covers outside. The Inn will provide value-for-money accommodation, local real ales, and homemade pub fare. It will open in July, ahead of the arrival of the Tall Ships in Blyth in August.
PR contact: Claire Thorburn claire.thorburn@impactpr-m.co.uk

Woolsington Hall Hotel & Spa, Newcastle: Late 2016/ early 2017
The Grade II listed Woolsington Hall will undergo a luxury renovation, transforming the hall into a 34-bedroom, five-star hotel and leisure complex - the first of its kind in Newcastle. Earmarked for winter 2016/spring 2017, the site will also be complete with a restaurant, lodges, golf course, spa, and a cookery school. With history as its backdrop, the hall will be gracefully and sensitively restored to its former glory, with a bespoke, unique and personal touch running throughout. www.woolsingtonhallhotel.co.uk

Birmingham and West Midlands

New and upcoming openings

Knight's Village, Warwick Castle: July 2016
Those on a quest for fun and adventure should book the Knights' Village at Warwick Castle from 1 July 2016. There are 28 lodges in the wooded idyll of the attraction's 64-acre estate, set within a tranquil woodland glade close to the River Avon and a few paces from all the daily action at the Castle. Woodland Lodges sleep up to five guests in two bedrooms. Knight's Lodges sleep up to seven guests and are set across two storeys, including a grand galleried master bedroom. All lodges offer fully ensuite facilities, including wet rooms. Overnight guests enjoy a hearty breakfast in the banqueting hall and two days' entrance to Warwick Castle as part of their stay. http://www.warwick-castle.com/sleepovers
PR contact: Jardine Howlett jardine.howlett@whitetigerpr.com

Recent openings

Staycity Birmingham Newhall Square: now open
In February, Staycity opened 170 new apartments in Birmingham's Newhall Square, the company's second site in the city. Newhall Square is in Birmingham's historic Jewellery Quarter within walking distance of the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham New Street train station, and the Bullring Shopping Centre. The project, which has taken nearly two years to complete, consists of four studios, 142 one bedroom apartments sleeping three-four people, and 24 two-bedroom apartments accommodating up to six people. All have fully-equipped kitchenettes, sitting areas and bathrooms, with a 24-hour reception service, fitness room and on-site parking. www.staycity.com
PR contact: Linda Pettit, Tilburstow Media Partners Linda@tilburstowmedia.co.uk
 

Nottingham

New and upcoming openings

Gardener's Cottage at Newstead Abbey: Easter 2016
Opening in Easter 2016, visitors will be able to stay in the original Gardener's Cottage in the beautiful grounds of Newstead Abbey, once the home of the romantic poet Lord Byron. Set within the heart of the grounds, the Gardener's Cottage is a charming Grade II listed cottage overlooking the original Rose Garden, refurbished yet still retaining original features such as wooden floorboards and beautiful stone mullion windows. The Gardener's Cottage sleeps up to six people, with two double bedrooms, and also has its own private walled courtyard. Newstead Abbey is a visitor attraction known for its beautiful formal gardens, set over 300 acres and including a Japanese Garden, Walled Garden, Rose Garden and Spanish Garden.

www.newsteadabbey.org.uk/hire-us/gardeners-cottage
 

Recent openings

Igloo Hybrid Ho[s]tel: now open
Nottingham welcomed its first ‘poshtel' recently - the Igloo Hybrid Ho[s]tel celebrates Nottingham's local colour and independent spirit, with boutique, budget accommodation for up to 58 guests, housed in a multi-level site in a quiet courtyard off one of the city's main thoroughfares. An inspired hostel with posh four and six bed dorms and private double rooms, Igloo offers guests welcoming touches in a stylish setting, for a fraction of the price of a city centre hotel. www.igloohostel.co.uk/igloo-hybrid
 

The Cotswolds & west England

New and upcoming openings

Two new Lucky Onion hotels: Cheltenham and Gloucester
The Lucky Onion, the Cotswold-based collective of hotels and restaurants owned by husband and wife team Sam and Georgie Pearman, will expand their portfolio from Spring 2016 after acquiring two new sites. In Cheltenham, the Georgian villa No. 131 The Promenade, which opened originally in 2013, will double in size to make 22 rooms in total. A florist, coffee shop and bakery will be new additions at the front of the building, while a large communal sitting room will be added inside and the restaurant will double the number of covers. Outside, an extended seating area will make space for an outdoor bar, fire pits and additional sofas. In the Cotswolds, The Lucky Onion has purchased The Wild Duck in the quaint village of Ewen, Gloucestershire. The 16th century inn is closed for refurbishment and will reopen in summer 2016 with 12 bedrooms, all individually designed by Georgie Pearman. The Wild Duck will be a comfortable and stylish country inn with a touch of luxury in the bedrooms.
www.theluckyonion.com
PR contact: Tori Slater tori@gerbercomms.coms
The Barrel Store, the UK's first ultralow-energy youth hostel: April 2016
Cirencester's thriving arts, theatre and cultural centre, New Brewery Arts has transformed the market town's Barrel Store in to an eco-friendly youth hostel. The 48-bedroomed hostel will offer stylish and reasonably priced accommodation and is the first public Passivhaus (low carbon) enterprise in the country. www.newbreweryarts.org.uk

Refurbs

Bamford Haybarn Spa: now open
The Bamford Haybarn Spa at Daylesford in the Cotswolds is doubling in size to extend the treatments and activities available. The major refurbishment means there are now nine new treatment rooms and a brand new yoga studio, as well as a transformed manicure and pedicure area and new space offering refreshments to enjoy after a class or treatment. www.bamford.co.uk

The Seven Tuns: now open
17th Century pub The Seven Tuns, which was neglected for two years, has been brought back to life. Newly refurbished, the Chedworth pub now oozes warmth, atmosphere and charm. The perfect location to stop by and enjoy a locally brewed ale, a coffee, or a bite to eat and relax in front of the wood burners among the eclectic interior or under the weeping willow on the terrace, surrounded by stunning views. www.seventuns.co.uk

The Painswick: March 2016
The latest hotel in the Calcot Manor Group's portfolio of luxury hotels, The Painswick will open its doors to its first guests in March after major refurbishment. www.thepainswick.co.uk
PR contacts for Cotswolds Tourism: Robin Tjolle robintjolle@aol.com & Susie Hunt Susie.hunt@cotswold.gov.uk.

Long lead

Z Hotel, Bath: 2017
Offering compact luxury rooms in city centre locations, Z Hotels will be opening its first property in the south west of England in 2017. Z Bath is part of a £14 million development in Saw Close and work will start imminently. The property will offer 148 bedrooms and will follow in the footsteps of all other Z Hotels which offer luxury bed linen on handcrafted beds, 40" LED TVs with Sky Sports and Movies at no extra cost, power showers and free high speed Wi-Fi throughout. There will also be complimentary cheese and wine each evening for guests.
www.theZhotels.com

Lake District & Cumbria

New and upcoming openings

Forest Side, Lake District: now open
After an 18-month long and £4 million pound renovation, Forest Side launched in February 2016, a 20 bedroom, 50 cover restaurant with a bar and lounge set in a 19th-century Victorian hotel minutes from Grasmere in the Lake District, Cumbria. Heading up the kitchen is Kevin Tickle, who was former sous chef and head forager at L'Enclume for eight years. Kevin's menu will change daily according to produce available within the abundant 46 acres of forage-able grounds and restored Victorian-walled kitchen garden. Furnishings and artwork have been sourced locally complimenting Forest Side's landscaped and wooded private gardens. www.theforestside.com
PR contact: Hélène helene@cuffcommunications.com
 

Refurbs

Brimstone Hotel, Lake District: April and October
Since its launch in 2013, the Brimstone Lodge has been renowned for its style and luxe décor. Now, this luxurious boutique hotel will launch two significant additions: a 200 seat restaurant Stove, and the Brimstone Spa. The Stove Restaurant will offer modern British food and Brimstone Spa will offer ten treatment rooms plus an indulgent double treatment room. The Restaurant will launch in April, with Brimstone Spa fully following in October. www.brimstonehotel.co.uk

Cornwall & Devon

New and upcoming openings

Padstow Townhouse, Cornwall: now open
Chef Paul Ainsworth from Michelin-starred restaurant Number 6 opened his first accommodation offering in December 2015. The property previously known as The Tregea Hotel relaunched as the Padstow Townhouse and has six high-end luxury rooms in the heart of Padstow, a north Cornish harbour town on the edge of the Camel Estuary. Paul and his wife Emma own the Michelin-starred Paul Ainsworth at Number 6 on Middle Street, and Rojano's in the Square, a family-friendly Italian inspired restaurant. www.paul-ainsworth.co.uk

THE PIG at Combe, Devon: July 2016
THE PIG hotel group has announced a fifth addition to its expanding portfolio. Located at Combe House in Devon's Otter Valley, it will feature 33 rooms in the main house (a Grade I listed Elizabethan manor) and a characterful stable block. A 600-year-old thatched longhouse will provide further private accommodation for up to eight guests and it is due to open in July 2016. www.thepighotel.com/at-combe/opening-2016
Atlantic House, Polzeath, Cornwall: Winter 2016
Opening in the summer of 2016, Atlantic House will be a beautiful 15-bedroom coastal family hotel and terrace. Only 50 yards from one of Britain's premier surfing beaches, this stylish hotel will see the return of the much-loved Doombar restaurant serving locally sourced food in a relaxed Italian-style. www.theatlantichouse.co.uk

Refurbs

Little White Alice new Wild Spa Area, Cornwall: now open
Hidden in the heart of the Cornish countryside is Little White Alice, a private complex which offers Five Star Gold holidays in two 'green' cottages and two Eco Arks. New for this year is the Wild Spa Area, located at the foot of celebration woods. It consists of a wood burning sauna, a wood burning hot tub, a meditation pool and a small sanctuary building used for massage, meditation, and yoga. www.littlewhitealice.co.uk

Gaia Spa at Boringdon Hall, Devon: May 2016
Boringdon Hall Hotel's new Gaia Spa development will be opening in May. With a philosophy of ‘your wellness naturally,' the Gaia spa combines ancient wellness traditions from around the world with refinement and skills of modern spa specialists. The new spa has been designed to imitate the surrounding moorland of Dartmoor, and will feature 12 first-class treatment spaces, two double rooms and a beauty suite. There will also be an infinity pool, a hydrotherapy pool, a Finnish sauna, crystal salt steam room, and a fitness suite. www.boringdonhall.co.uk/devon-hotel/spa
 

Yorkshire

New and upcoming openings

The Staycity Aparthotel, York: July 2016
The Staycity complex will open in July 2016, featuring 190 serviced apartments with fully equipped kitchens and dining rooms/lounges and two retail units on the ground floor. The six-storey building will be built next to York Barbican and overlooking the city's Bar Walls. www.staycity.com
PR contact: Jason Delany jason.delany@staycity.com

Ibis Styles, Leeds: Date TBC
Ibis Styles Leeds will be a 134-room new build hotel based in the city's Merrion Centre, located close to the shopping centre and within the Arena Quarter. It is part of the hotel operator Accor. www.ibis.com/gb/united-kingdom/index.shtml

Hampshire, south England, Isle of Wight

New and upcoming openings

Heckfield Place: Date TBC
Country house hotel Heckfield Place in Hampshire will open in 2016. Following a long period of restoration and refurbishment, the property has been transformed into an idyllic country retreat. Positioned in beautiful rolling countryside, Heckfield Place will offer guests the atmosphere of "a private country residence with a touch of whimsy and quintessential English eccentricity". The 18th century manor house and cottages, along with the mews addition, have been restored and updated. The result is a property with 45 bedrooms and suites, three restaurants, a state-of-the-art cinema, a wine cellar and three intimate spa suites. The hotel sits within a 400-acre estate, with gardens, an arboretum, two lakes, a working farm, vegetable and flower gardens. Heckfield Place will also feature The Bothy, a luxurious and serene spa. www.heckfieldplace.com

North House, Cowes, Isle of Wight: May 2016
North House on the Isle of Wight will be a ‘country town house by the sea', in the attractive town of Cowes. Having taken over the former Rawlings Hotel, and neighbouring theatre, owners Lewis Green and Luke Staples have gutted the premises and have stamped their own mark on the property with the aim of opening a 14-bedroom hotel in mid-May 2016. Nine of the rooms will have sea views over the rooftops of Cowes. Each will be individually decorated, boasting roll top baths and open fires, as well as a pantry stocked with local goodies.
The hotel will also feature a bar and restaurant for non-residents, a lounge, swimming pool and country garden growing herbs and vegetables with a sun terrace overlooking the sea. The old Rawlings Hotel once hosted Princes William and Harry. The new hotel, however, will create a new chapter in the history of the property.
PR Contact: Ian Weightman ian@ianweightman.co.uk

 

Norfolk, east of England

New and upcoming openings

The Hollies B&B, north Norfolk coast: now open
Historically, this fabulous and opulent Grade II-listed house was only opened to large parties of around 20 guests, but since the arrival of The Hollies B&B at Carrington House, couples can enjoy its stunning interiors and families of four can take The Cottage Wing at The Hollies B&B. Connected to the main house, this self-contained cottage can sleep up to four across the three bedrooms and comes with its own living room. Every room includes luxurious 400 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, complimentary organic REN beauty and grooming products, tea and coffee making facilities, flat-screen televisions and free Wi-Fi in reception rooms. www.the-hollies.net
PR contact: Romi Rauber at Roche Communications Romi@rochecom.com

The Assembly House, Norwich: now open
In the heart of Norwich is this fine example of Georgian architecture, and member of the Norwich 12. February saw the launch of 11 rooms, including two opulent top-floor suites with stunning views over the rooftops of Norwich and a beautiful bridal suite. Six rooms boast their own secret gardens and four have their own comfortable lounges. All rooms are fitted with top-of-the-range luxury fixtures and fittings, from top quality pocket-sprung beds to Egyptian cotton sheets and duck-down duvets, character antique furniture to drench showers and, in many rooms, roll top baths. www.assemblyhousenorwich.co.uk

Refurbs

Congham Hall: April 2016
The latest phase of the refurbishment of Congham Hall Hotel in Norfolk is almost complete, with five refreshed rooms available to book from Easter and a further three ready from the end of April. Eight of the 26 guest rooms are being redecorated in keeping with the rest of the hotel, which was relaunched by the current management in 2013. The final three, including one suite, will be refurbished in January 2017. A contemporary palette complements the manor house's classic Georgian style. The highlight is Dandelion, a new honeymoon suite with its own sitting room and private balcony overlooking the parkland. It has been restored as a sumptuous love nest and features a free-standing Kurv bath in the bedroom and flowing silk curtains. www.conghamhallhotel.co.uk
PR Contact: Simone Kane simone@lbbcreative.co.uk or Kate Simon kate@lbbcreative.co.uk

The Norfolk Mead Hotel, Norwich: Easter 2016
This four-star, boutique country house has 13 stylish bedrooms, including a two-bedroom cottage and a summer house with a lounge. The Norfolk Mead Hotel will be introducing two new bedroom suites and a brand new spa this Easter. Guests can enjoy boating trips, walks around the walled garden, and exploring the Norfolk Broads and beaches. www.norfolkmead.co.uk

 

And finally...

Coast, Castle and Countryside Trail launched for English Tourism Week
To mark English Tourism Week, a new trail along the north east coast has been launched to make it easier for visitors to experience the wealth of coastal attractions in the region. The ‘Coast, Castles and Countryside' trail has been introduced by The Inn Collection Group with visitors choosing to stay at The Kings Head Inn in North Yorkshire, The Seaton Lane Inn in Durham and The Lindisfarne Inn in Northumberland. Staying at the three inns means a visitor is never more than a half-an-hour from the coast or a castle, whilst being close to the countryside.

The Kings Head Inn is located in the picture-postcard village of Newton under Roseberry and sits beneath iconic Roseberry Topping, Cleveland's ‘Matterhorn of the North'. The Lindisfarne Inn, located close to Holy Island and just south of Berwick-upon-Tweed, is perfect for visiting Northumberland and for forays into the Scottish Borders. The Seaton Lane Inn is located just minutes away from Durham's dramatic heritage coastline and within easy reach of Sunderland, Newcastle and Durham city centres.

PR contact: Claire Thorburn at Impact PR & Marketing claire.thorburn@impactpr-m.co.uk

Cotswolds Finest Hotels
A new-look website and 80-page brochure highlighting the finest accommodation in The Cotswolds, as well as insider tips to the area, is helping to change the way the world views one of Britain's most popular destinations. The collection of 23 of the most stylish hotels - which, between them, boast 68 AA stars, 33 AA-rosettes, two Michelin stars, and countless other awards - have launched their latest annual guide to the Cotswolds Finest Hotels. Newcomers to the group in 2016 include The Queensberry Hotel in Bath, Thyme in Southrop and - from when it opens in March, in time for the Cheltenham Gold Cup - The Painswick, in Painswick. Download an electronic version of the new brochure at http://cotswoldsfinesthotels.com/cfh_brochure/index.html

Farm Stay UK Launches Capability Brown ‘WOWW' Garden Trail for 2016
Farm Stay UK has launched a Capability Brown WOWW Garden Trail to show green-fingered travellers how to combine stays in quaint rural B&Bs on working farms with visits to some of the big names in Brown's portfolio nearby. The self-drive trail is best done over a week or more and the route traverses the Cotswolds. Taking in Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire (nicknaming this the WOWW Brown trail) - the trail takes in some of Brown's most famous work as well as lesser-known gems; including Croome Court in Worcestershire and Lacock Abbey in Oxfordshire, where Downtown Abbey was recently filmed. In addition to the trail, Farm Stay UK has introduced a ‘Capability Brown' accommodation collection, allowing holidaymakers to search all of their properties within a 15 mile radius of a Brown garden or landscape. The collection can be viewed at www.farmstay.co.uk/CB300; details of WOWW at www.farmstay.co.uk/News/capabilitybrown300thanniversary

PR contact: Emma Harber emma@fionareece.com

Hilton launches its reimagined HHonors loyalty program
In 2015, Hilton guests missed out on more than 1.6 million free overnight stays as 57 billion Hilton HHonors Points went unearned because guests did not book direct. Hilton has reimagined its HHonors loyalty program to make membership more valuable and useful to all types of travellers. Hilton HHonors members who book directly with Hilton save time and money, and gain instant access to benefits included guaranteed discount, instant benefits and exclusive experiences, like Live Nation concerts and private dining experiences.
PR contact: Lydia.Meakin@grayling.com

For more information contact:

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