Accommodation Update December 2015

Monday 21 December 2015

London

New and upcoming openings

Nadler Victoria
The fourth hotel to open in the Nadler chain will have its grand opening in January 2016. As with the other Nadler properties (Soho, Kensington, Liverpool), the focus is on providing the rooms and encouraging guests to explore the surrounding neighbourhood to eat, drink and be entertained. All staff are trained to be able to give local recommendations and guests receive a VIP card that entitles them to various discounts in the local area. Wifi is free as are local phone calls and the focus for them is on value messaging - you only pay for the room - no hidden extras. PR contact: Anna Hollingworth ahollingworth@thecommunicationgroup.co.uk
The Waldorf Hilton
The Waldorf Hilton has been given a £13.5 million hotel-wide renovation, restoring the hotel's elegant 1920s Edwardian style. The hotel first opened its grand doors in 1908 and is now a Grade II listed building. The hotel-wide renovation encompassed all 298 guestrooms, seven meeting rooms and event spaces, including the iconic Palm Court, Good Godfrey's Bar and the Adelphi Suite. And, a hotspot for dancing and socialising since the hotel opened in 1908, the Palm Court has been restored to its former Edwardian glory. www.waldorfhilton.co.uk
PR contacts: Kara Smith Kara.Smith@Hilton.com or Michael Mumford michael.mumford@grayling.com

Z Hotels
Z Hotels has added two new properties to its portfolio, Z Shoreditch, which is now open, and Z Gloucester Place, in early 2016. The compact-design rooms will 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: Shoreditch@zhotels.com

Amba Hotel Marble Arch
The hotel reopened in November, bringing the hotel groups occupancy offer to almost 1,000 bedrooms in the heart of central London. The Marble Arch hotel has undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment - all 692 bedrooms and studio apartments are being fully refurbished. www.amba-hotel.com/hotels/united_kingdom/london/marble-arch/index.html
PR contact: Alice Perry amba@launchpr.co.uk

ZSL's Gir Lion Lodge, London Zoo
ZSL London Zoo has will launch a luxury overnight experience in the heart of its upcoming Land of the Lions exhibit. Guests will stay close to the Zoo's Asiatic lions at the Gir Lion Lodge, a village of nine colourful private cabins, inspired by the guest houses of Sasan Gir, which is on the outskirts of the Gir Forest, home to the world's last remaining population of wild Asiatic lions. After enjoying dinner, guests will embark on an exclusive evening tour, led by a dedicated host who will share their conservation knowledge before guiding guests back to the comfort of their en-suite Lodges. Guests will be treated to breakfast and an exclusive morning tour to see the animals before the Zoo opens to visitors, and can spend the rest of the day exploring at their leisure. The Gir Lion Lodge experience will be open six nights a week from May to December in 2016 with designated family nights and adults-only nights to ensure each stay is specially tailored to its guests. The nine lodges provide lodging for up to two adults and two children. www.zsl.org/girlionlodge
PR contact: Rhiannon.Bates@zsl.org

Hilton London Bankside
Hilton London Bankside, moments from Tate Modern and close to Shakespeare's Globe, Borough Market and the Tower of London, is due to open its penthouse in early 2016. The hotel has 292 contemporary rooms and suites, and vibrant dining that includes a bar and restaurant with show kitchen. It also has a lap pool and extensive gym facilities. www.hilton.com/london
PR contact: Emma Powell Emma@saucecommunications.com

JW Marriott Grosvenor House London
The hotel on Park Lane is due to have its grand reopening in April 2016 following extensive refurbishment; 42 suites have recently been refurbished and two new Royal Suites added plus the lobby's refurbishment is due for completion in early 2016. www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/longh-grosvenor-house-a-jw-marriott-hotel
PR contact: Nick.Barrington-Wells@marriott.com

Millennium Bailey's Hotel, South Kensington
The Millennium Bailey's Hotel London, which dates back to 1876, has completed its refurbishment of all guest rooms and public areas. Each floor is decorated differently following an individual theme, reflecting different facets of London life and living through the ages. These themes include the timeless elegance of the dapper City Gent, the exotic beauty of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and Henley Regatta's unique blend of sporting prowess and high society. www.millenniumhotels.co.uk/millenniumbaileys
PR contact Sarah Schmid sarah.schmid@millenniumhotels.com

InterContinental London - The O2, Greenwich
The new InterContinental® London - The O2 is scheduled to open in early 2016, rooms will be bookable from 1 February 2016. The luxury 453-bedroom 18-storey hotel and conference centre currently in construction as part of a 7.6 acre development scheme on the Greenwich Peninsula, a destination enjoying a huge surge in visitors following the 2012 Olympic regeneration project. Facilities at the InterContinental London - The O2 will include a luxury spa, hotel bar, two restaurants - comprising a fine dining and all-day dining experience - as well as a 18th floor Sky Bar boasting an uninterrupted, panoramic view 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

Mercure London Hyde Park Hotel
Overlooking a peaceful garden square in elegant Paddington, Mercure Hyde Park Hotel, due to open in February, 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.
www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-A002-mercure-london-hyde-park-hotel-opening-october-2015/index.shtml
PR contact: Charlotte Bourgeois charlotte.bourgeois@accor.com

Four Seasons to move into Ten Trinity Square
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 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

Long-lead

Late 2016: Nobu Hotel
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

2017: The Trocadero centre in London's West End being turned into budget hotel
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 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 by 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: Sophie Black sblack@prco.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 a160 plus -bedroom luxury lifestyle hotel offering skyline floors boasting panoramic views. There will be a Roof Garden, an outdoor rooftop pool and bar overlooking the iconic chimneys, curated gardens, a signature destination restaurant and double height bar with wraparound views across the Power Station and London skyline. 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, E: lwoodman@pphe.com

Scotland

New and upcoming openings

Crossbasket Castle, south Lanarkshire
Following extensive refurbishment, Crossbasket Castle in Blantyre, half an hour’s drive south east of Glasgow, will reopen in Spring 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

Inglewood House and Spa, Alloa
Located ten minutes from the historic city of Stirling and 40 minutes from both Edinburgh and Glasgow, the Grade A listed Jacobean mansion in Alloa has been restored to its former glory as part of its transformation into a luxury boutique hotel and spa. From 2016 self-catering woodland lodges will be available in addition to the luxury hotel accommodation. www.inglewoodhouseandspa.co.uk

Safestay Edinburgh, Scotland
Safestay Hostels will open its fourth luxury hostel in Edinburgh in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town and close to the Royal Mile in early 2016. A 132-room, 615-bed hostel and student accommodation scheme it has 272 beds available for hostel use throughout the year. The property, which comprises eight floors, has a bar and lounge with an outside courtyard and split-level terrace. All Safestay hostels feature private twin rooms and family rooms with 40” plasma TVs and tea/coffee facilities, as well as four-, six-, eight- and larger bunk bedded rooms, most with en-suite shower rooms. The bunk beds come with individual reading lights and curtains for extra privacy as well as lockers to secure luggage and personal items. Entry to the rooms is by touch key. The hostel will continue to trade under its existing Smart City Hostel name while undergoing refurbishment and will be rebranded as Safestay Edinburgh. www.safestay.com
PR contact Amanda Gore-Booth: mandy@pilot-pr.com

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

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

Urban Villa Edinburgh, Scotland
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 direct 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 has been designed to include a fully fitted kitchen, living room and with half of the suites housing waterfront balconies. It is due to open in late 2016. www.urbanvilla.com
PR contact Eric Jafari: Eric.Jafari@unionhanover.com
 

More accommodation news

Old Town Chambers, Edinburgh
Ranked third on TripAdvisor for top places to stay in Edinburgh, Old Town Chambers is a collection of 50 serviced apartments comprising of studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments, as well as three penthouses and the 15th century townhouse. Situated off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and in the heart of the Old Town, Old Town Chambers straddles three medieval closes (or lanes) to create evocative living spaces for city breaks, holiday accommodation and extended business stays. Unique features include original period wall paintings and exposed brickwork, through to bluetooth Bose sound systems, Smart TVs and a multi-zone heating system in every room. Entry is via a keypad for which every guest has a specific code. The concept is one of hotel luxury alongside the independence, freedom, comfort and privacy of your own ‘home’ in the centre of the city. www.lateralcity.com
PR contact: Melissa@indigopr.com

 

Wales

New and upcoming openings

Twr y Felin, St David’s, Pembrokeshire, west Wales
Twr y Felin Hotel has been restored and has now reopened as a luxury contemporary hotel. Located in the heart of Britain’s smallest city St David’s, just a ten-minute walk from Caerfai Bay, it lies within the surrounding landscape of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. It will offer 20 ensuite luxury bedrooms, a bar and restaurant plus a lounge named Oriel (Welsh for gallery). Twr y Felin Hotel will join a select group of UK Art Hotels with a collection of more than 100 pieces of art and sculpture. Leading British urban artists including Phlash, Mr Jago, Xenz and Remi Ruff, Harry Adams and Pure Evil will be represented as well as Welsh artists such as John Uzzell Edwards, Brendan Burns and leading ceramist Adam Buick.
Originally a Windmill built in 1806 Twr y Felin is a unique building whose character has been preserved, which is especially evident in the tower bedrooms. The upper tower suite offers three storeys of luxury with its spacious bedroom and ensuite bathroom, while on the top floor the observatory offers panoramic views over the St David’s Peninsula and its surrounding bays and islands. www.retreatsgroup.com
PR contact Paula Ellis: paula.ellis@retreatsgroup.com

Refurbs

Cliff Hotel & Spa, Cardigan Bay
The Cliff Hotel & Spa, situated along the West Wales Coast, has recently changed ownership and is going through a full refurbishment, with the majority of the ground floor and a selection of the bedrooms now complete. Standing on the edge of the coastline with breathtaking 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

In good timing for Wales’ upcoming Year of Adventure in 2016, Discover Carmarthenshire has put together a collection of accommodation with walks available right from the doorstep – perfect for soft adventure. Examples include The Dolaucothi Arms, Pumsaint; owned by The National Trust and a 15-minute walk from the Dolaucothi Gold Mines, this is a cosy pub with three cosy rooms. The flagstone bar welcomes walkers (mud and all) and with a warming woodburner, local beer and hearty home cooked food it’s an ideal ramblers’ retreat (www.thedolaucothiarms.co.uk). Details on cottages are also included, such as Gwel y Don, Llansteffan. This beautiful Grade II listed townhouse in the coastal hamlet of Llansteffan boasts exposed beams, white washed walls and stripped hardwood flooring. A three-mile circular walk takes in Llansteffan’s dramatic coastline and rich history- taking walkers of all abilities up to Llansteffan’s iconic castle, down to its beautiful sandy beach and along the Wales Coastal Path to Scott’s Bay, a hidden sandy bay (www.underthethatch.co.uk/don). www.discovercarmarthenshire.com/active/walking.html
PR contact: Emma Harber or Fiona Reece emma@fionareece.com / fiona@fionareece.com

 

Belfast & Northern Ireland

New and upcoming openings

New Forest Domes at Finn Lough Resort, County Fermanagh
Opening soon, the 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. www.finnlough.com

Galgorm Resort, Thermal Village & Spa, Ballymena, County Antrim
The resort has recently undergone a £15million expansion to include additional 48 deluxe guestrooms and suites and the creation of a unique Indoor & Outdoor Spa Village, the first of its kind in the destination. The Signature Suite boasts 122sqm of luxury both indoors and outdoors, including a terrace complete with your own private hot tub overlooking the River Maine. A feature dual-aspect fireplace separates the sleeping and relaxation zones of the bedroom, while a separate enormous living and dining area is equipped with its own service kitchen allowing for in-room dining for up to six guests. www.galgorm.com/spavillage.html#Indoor-Wellness-Facilities-3

 

Manchester, Liverpool & north-west England

New and upcoming openings

King Street Townhouse, Manchester
Work on the fifth venue in Eclectic Hotels’ portfolio is underway, with King Street Townhouse set to open in early 2016. The Grade II-listed building, located within the Upper King Street conservation area of Manchester, will be home to Eclectic Hotels’ second city centre hotel. Facilities will 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: Eleri Roberts at Rococo PR Eleri.roberts@rococogroup.co.uk

Roomzzz Aparthotel, Manchester
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 by Aviva Investors and Queensberry Real Estate, which also includes 13 new independent restaurants and four retained restaurants. The hotel, which is expected to open in early 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 destination. The hotel will have its entrance fronting Exchange Square, with guest accommodation over the second, third, fourth, and fifth floors. www.roomzzz.com

Oddfellows on the Park, Manchester
Based in the heart of beautiful Bruntwood Park, yet only minutes by car to both central Manchester and Manchester Airport, lies a boutique hotel with personality and character. Housed in a Victorian mansion with an unforgettable history is Oddfellows On The Park, sister hotel to the award winning Oddfellows, Chester. Design-led and full of fun with 22 individually designed and luxurious boutique bedrooms, an events space to dream of, restaurant, cocktail bar and spa. www.visitmanchester.com

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

Refurbs

Dalmeny Resort Hotel, Lancashire
To celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2016, The Dalmeney Hotel will undergo a £2.5million refurbishment, 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. The hotel is set on St Anne’s award-winning beach, offering romantic sea view rooms and spacious family suites. www.dalmenyhotel.co.uk
 

More accommodation news

Crag Hall, Derbyshire
Crag Hall, a Georgian country house with views over the Peak District, is now available by exclusive appointment, accommodating up to 21 guests across 12 bedrooms for weekend and short stays. The house, which comes with its own dedicated housekeeper, can be rented out for a three-night weekend stay plus there is the option of having a chef cook for a group. There’s also a billiards and games room, open log fires in the drawing room and study and the option of adjoining bedrooms, kitchenette/living area and an informal living room are ideal for children. Outdoor activities popular in the area include orienteering, bird watching, cycling, mountain biking, shooting and fishing – there’s provision for lawn games at the house, including badminton and croquet. www.craghall.co.uk
PR contact: Sarah Proctor sp@spmediarelations.co.uk

 

Newcastle & north-east England

New and upcoming openings

Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter, Newcastle

The 251-bedroom four-star Crowne Plaza in the Stephenson Quarter, located next to Newcastle Central Station, is now open and features a spa and wellbeing centre, restaurant, banqueting suite and bar area plus a dedicated Gin Bar, where guests can create or re-engineer their own gin-based cocktails. St James’ Park, home of Newcastle United Football Club, the Centre for Life, the Metro Radio Newcastle Arena and the City’s attractions, shops, theatres and nightlife, are all within walking distance. www.crowneplaza.com/hotels/gb/en/newcastle-upon-tyne

Hilton Garden Hotel, Sunderland
The next hotel to be opened by the Hilton Group, in April 2016, the 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. www.safc.com/hospitality-and-events/conference-events-and-hotel-centre/hilton-hotel-information

Woolsington Hall Hotel & Spa, Newcastle
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
 

More accommodation news

Lord Crewe Arms, County Durham
The Good Hotel Guide 2016 - judging the best hotels, inns and B&Bs in Great Britain and Ireland - has named The Lord Crewe Arms at Blanchland, on the Northumberland-Durham border, its ‘Inn of the Year'. The Lord Crewe being one of just ten properties - across wide-ranging, individual categories - to collect a César award. In August, The Lord Crewe Arms was named as one of three winners in the 'Pub with rooms’ category of Sawday’s 'Special Places: Pubs and Inns of England & Wales’ guide. www.lordcrewearmsblanchland.co.uk
PR contact: charlotte@charlottedohertypr.co.uk

Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham
The hotel has become the first in the region to receive a new award given out by a leading recognition scheme. This year the AA has introduced its Silver Star award for hotels which achieve particularly high standards and it is the only four-star hotel in the area to have been awarded the new accolade.www.ramsidehallhotel.co.uk
PR contact: Claire Buchan claire@sortedpr.com

Birmingham

Recent openings

Genting Hotel at Resorts World Birmingham
Resorts World Birmingham, the UK’s first integrated leisure and entertainment complex, is now open, and includes the Genting Hotel, a 178 room four-star hotel and spa in Birmingham. The hotel also offers five five-star suites situated on the top floor of the building and a spa and, as well as a range of internationally-themed restaurants and bars at their fingertips, hotel guests have access to the new 11-screen IMAX cinema and shopping outlets all under one roof. www.gentinghotel.co.uk/resorts-world-birmingham
PR contact Rebecca Bannister: Rebecca.bannister@marketingbirmingham.com

ibis Styles hotel Birmingham Airport
The new ibis Styles hotel Birmingham’s theme takes inspiration from the city’s position as one of the major transport hubs of England and the hotel funky design features from the 1960s. www.ibis.com/gb/hotel-9551-ibis-styles-birmingham-airport-nec/index.shtml
PR contact Caroline Lott: caroline@housepr.com

 

Bristol

New and upcoming openings

The Lodge – Bristol Zoo
Eating breakfast with the gorillas, taking a behind-the-scenes twilight tour among the animals and being cooked for by a private chef are just some of the perks of staying at The Lodge – Bristol Zoo’s new luxury accommodation. The Zoo is calling it “a secluded luxury lodge with a hint of safari” but this overnight stay is as much about the animal experiences as the boutique accommodation. Located behind the Zoo’s Zona Brazil exhibit, ‘The Lodge’ can accommodate up to four adults and two children. www.bristolzoo.org.uk/explore-the-zoo/the-lodge
PR contact: Kate Willacy kwillacy@bristolzoo.org.uk

 

Nottingham

New and upcoming openings

Gardener’s Cottage at Newstead Abbey
Opening in January 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

Lace Market Hotel opens its doors
Nottingham’s iconic hotel, the Lace Market Hotel, has recently reopened its doors after a complete refurbishment under new ownership, bringing Nottingham a stylish new boutique hotel. Highlights of the refurbished Georgian townhouse include Saint Bar, the Cock & Hoop ale house and restaurant Merchant’s, along with 42 rooms. It’s located in the heart of the historic Lace Market area and is close to Nottingham attractions including Nottingham Contemporary, the Galleries of Justice Museum, St Mary’s Church and the Capital FM Arena. www.lacemarkethotel.co.uk

 

The Cotswolds & west England

New and upcoming openings

The Barrel Store Youth Hostel, Cirencester
Cirencester’s 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 offers stylish and reasonably priced accommodation and is the first public Passivhaus (low carbon) enterprise in the country. www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/making-a-visit/the-barrel-store

The Painswick, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire-based Calcot Hotels has added a new hotel to its portfolio of boutique hotels with the acquisition of The Cotswolds88 Hotel in Painswick, west England. The hotel, which offers 17 guest bedrooms and suites, a 34-seater restaurant, and a beauty treatment room, is currently closed for refurbishment and is set to re-open by Christmas with new name The Painswick. www.thepainswick.co.uk
PR contact: charlotte@charlottedohertypr.co.uk

Thyme, Southrop
Formerly only available for exclusive use, Thyme now offers eight luxury suites three cottage suites, and cottages for individual bookings. Located in Southrop on the Oxfordshire border, the traditional Cotswold stone buildings have been renovated and restored and each suite is furnished with a mix of English and French antique furniture from local Tetbury. Each room is labelled after herbs grown in the Thyme gardens with soothing properties, including ‘Lemon Balm’ and ‘Lovage’.
For groups of friends or families, The Tallet offers four double bedrooms, an outstanding open plan living area with fully equipped kitchen, bar, dining room and private courtyard; and Old Walls is a charming cottage situated a couple of minutes’ walk away from Thyme in the village. Thyme is also home to The Baa, a guest drawing room and bar, an authentic medieval barn for breakfasts, and The Swan at Southrop, a 17th-century English village pub with award-winning restaurant. Plus Thyme offers a cookery school, offering a wide range of classes throughout the year, teaching guests how to work closely with the land and understand seasonality, sourcing directly from Thyme’s kitchen gardens and farm. www.thyme.co.uk
PR contact: Charlotte Wilmots: cwilmots@prco.com / Emma Lipman: elipman@prco.com

Z Hotel, Bath
Offering compact luxury rooms in city centre locations, Z Hotels will be opening its first property in the south west of England in 2016. 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 wifi throughout. There will also be complimentary cheese and wine each evening for guests.
www.theZhotels.com
 

More accommodation news

Bamford Haybarn Spa
The Bamford Haybarn Spa at Daylesford 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

Cotswold Village Rooms has been launched which features accommodation with a focus on staying in villages and hamlets in private homes, inns with rooms and self catering properties, offering local Cotswold produce to guests and all chosen for their character, comfort and great hosts. www.cotswoldvillagerooms.co.uk
Contact: Margot Clarke margot@cotswoldvillagerooms.co.uk

 

Lake District & Cumbria

New and upcoming openings

Brimstone Hotel, Lake District
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 10 treatment rooms plus an indulgent double treatment room. The Restaurant will launch in March, with Brimstone Spa following in July.
www.brimstonehotel.co.uk
 

More accommodation news

Windermere’s Boutique Church Suites have been awarded ‘Best Hotel Design in the world’ at the
SBID International Design Awards. Nominated in the category of ‘hotel design’, the Boutique Church Suites was also nominated for almost a dozen national and international awards this year alone, with the luxury suites named the ‘best hotel suites in the UK and second in the world’ in the ‘International Hotel & Property Awards 2015’ in July. www.thecranleigh.com/the-church-suites-rooms.html

The Eden Valley’s Appleby Manor Hotel, has claimed a top national accolade at the recent Best Loved Hotels Awards in the Best Eco-Friendly Hotel Category. The Cumbrian four-star hotel has a string of eco awards to its name, including a Green Tourism Gold Award, and recently Cumbria Tourism’s Sustainable Tourism Award. The addition of the hotel’s new £1million destination Garden Spa development has also followed this principle, with the spa equipped with the latest in environmental technologies to conserve water and minimise heat loss and even the range of treatments. www.applebymanor.co.uk

A £4.2m spa and restaurant redevelopment has been announced at the Langdale Estate near Ambleside in the Lake District. The new spa, which will replace an existing spa and a further restaurant, will boast a heated infinity relaxation pool, an outdoor fire with a covered seating area, seven `thermal experiences’ and ten treatment rooms. www.langdale.co.uk

 

Cornwall & Devon

New and upcoming openings

Padstow Townhouse, Padstow, Cornwall
Chef Paul Ainsworth from Michelin-starred restaurant Number 6 is to open his first accommodation offering in 2016. The property previously known as The Tregea Hotel will be relaunching as the Padstow Townhouse and will feature 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

Atlantic House, Polzeath, Cornwall
Opening in the summer of 2016, Atlantic House will be a beautiful 14 bedroom coastal family hotel and terrace. Only 50 yards from one of Britain’s premier surfing beaches, this stylish hotel will have a restaurant serving locally sourced food in a relaxed Italian-style. www.theatlantichouse.co.uk

St Tudy Inn accommodation, near Bodmin, Cornwall
St Tudy Inn, a Cornish pub near Bodmin, is opening guest bedrooms from Spring 2016. The four double bedrooms will share the light and bright style of the pub restaurant. www.sttudyinn.com

The PIG at Combe, Devon
THE PIG hotels 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-1 listed Elizabethan Manor) and a characterful stable block. A 600year-old thatched longhouse will provide further private accommodation for up to eight guests and it is due to open in April 2016. www.thepighotel.com/at-combe/opening-2016

Recent openings

Chapel House, Penzance, Cornwall
From being close to collapse, Chapel House in Penzance has become a stunning boutique hotel with six double rooms, most with views of Mounts Bay. Chapel House was originally built for Admiral Linzee who fought at Trafalgar and commanded the Fighting Temeraire. It retains a wealth of original Georgian features and since opening in June has already been named the Sunday Times' top B&B in their list of the Ultimate 100 British Hotels. www.chapelhousepz.co.uk

An Mor, Bude, Cornwall
Named An Mor (Cornish for “The Sea”), the hotel is perched on the hilltop boasting gorgeous views of the harbour, canal and Atlantic ocean and opened in autumn this year. It joins the Tommy Jacks and Hebasca Hotel to become the Hebasca Group’s third hotel in Bude in as many years. www.anmorhotel.co.uk
 

Long-lead

Eden Project hotel, Bodelva, near St Austell, Cornwall
A new £6million, 115-bedroom hotel will open at the Eden Project in 2017. Designed to blend into the countryside and have high standards of accessibility, energy-efficiency and sustainability, the new mid-range hotel will support Eden's activities, its educational aspirations, its existing and future conference events, weddings, and the annual Eden Sessions series of concerts. www.edenproject.com

Waterside Luxury Village, near Bodmin, Cornwall
Lakeview Country Club, a 30 year old Cornish holiday village, is being developed by a British Chinese joint venture to become the largest and private waterside village in Britain. Designed by award-winning architects Evans and Shalev (designers of the Tate Modern in St Ives), the village will include stylish villas, a luxury adult-only hotel, leisure and active facilities, and restaurants. www.lakeviewcornwall.co.uk
 

Yorkshire

New and upcoming openings

Ibis Styles, Leeds
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

The Staycity Aparthotel, York
The Staycity complex will feature 197 serviced apartments with fully equipped kitchens and dining rooms/lounges, with 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. It is set to provisionally open in 2016. www.staycity.com

North Star, Yorkshire Wolds
Eight luxurious woodland suites, all inspired by the people and places in Yorkshire, are now available to visitors to The Yorkshire Wolds in a new glamping village, inspired by American Great Camps. North Star glamping suites have cosy sitting rooms with double sofa bed, large bedroom, kingsize bed and a wood burner, second bedroom with bunk beds and a spacious bathroom. www.northstarclub.co.uk/about/experience
 

Recent openings

Harrogate West Park Travelodge
Travelodge has opened its second hotel in the spa town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire. The new 70-room hotel, Harrogate West Park, which has a Bar Café is located on Tower Street within walking distance of the town’s main shopping area. All rooms feature the king size Travelodge Dreamer Beds and Truckle beds for children. www.travelodge.co.uk
PR contact Daisy Whitfield-Davis: pressoffice@travelodge.co.uk

 

Hampshire, south England

New and upcoming openings

Heckfield Place
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 original 18th century manor house and cottages, along with the mews addition have been sympathetically restored and updated. The result is a property boasting 45 individually designed and furnished 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 due to open in 2016. www.heckfieldplace.com

 

And finally…

• The Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) has just released the findings of a unique survey, jointly with Savills, which confirms that the sector looking to double in size in Britain in the next two year, in London but also in Scotland and the Midlands in particular set for significant growth.

• Topland Group has unveiled the new Hallmark Hotel brand, which brings together the existing Hallmark Hotels with the Menzies Hotels group, to create a new 20 strong and growing portfolio of hotels across Britain. As one of the fastest-growing owner-operators in Britain in the mid-market hotels sector, with 2,700 rooms per night across Britain. A new website will be launched, where all the hotels can be directly booked. www.hallmarkhotels.co.uk
PR contact: Emma Moffat emma@streetand.co

• With 2016 marking the 300th anniversary of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s birth, FarmStayUK has launched a Capability Brown WOWW Garden Trail, showing 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. 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 new ‘Capability Brown’ accommodation collection, allowing holidaymakers to search through all of their properties within a 15 mile radius of a Brown garden or landscape. Denoted with a ‘CB300’ search icon, this collection can be viewed here www.farmstay.co.uk/CB300
PR contact: Emma Kent or Fiona Reece emma@fionareece.com / fiona@fionareece.com

• A new website has launched, Rural Concierge, aimed at visitors to Herefordshire in west England, who are looking for holiday information in a rural area. www.rural-concierge.co.uk

For more information contact:

VisitBritain Media Team

pressandpr@visitbritain.com

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Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham
Tithe Barn and Courtyard
Crag Hall, Derbyshire
Gardeners Cottage at Newstead Abbey
Art'otel Battersea Power Station restaurant
Art'otel Battersea Power Station, swimming pool
The Nadler, Victoria bedroom
The Nadler, Victoria
The Nadler, Victoria, lobby
The Nadler, Victoria, bedroom
The Nadler, Victoria
The Nadler, Victoria, exterior