Searching for Shelley at Elcot Park in Berkshire June 13, 2022 THE WEEKEND: On the fringes of the market town of Hungerford in rural Berkshire, The Retreat at Elcot Park is set on elevating the country-house hotel stay. The second hotel from The Signet Collection (the first property is the awardwinning The Mitre in Hampton Court), guests can expect more of the brand’s alluring combination of [...]
Dates announced for Aegean Messinia Pro-Am at Costa Navarino June 8, 2022 The dates have been announced for what promises to be Europe’s most luxurious golf tournament later this year. The Aegean Messinia Pro-Am 2022 will take place from 14-17 September at Greece’s incredible Costa Navarino, which was named the World’s Best New Golf Development at the 2020 World Golf Awards. The inaugural 54-hole event, which will [...]
Welcome (back) to Ibiza, as the Balearic prepares for its biggest summer yet June 7, 2022 The pandemic hit every tourism-focused economy hard, but few places felt the effects of Covid more starkly than Ibiza, an island that specialises in squeezing lots of hot and sweaty people into enclosed spaces. Two years of closures and uncertainty took their toll – almost half of the island’s GDP comes from tourism and visitor [...]
How to be a real king of Lyon June 1, 2022 The weekend: Tired of visiting Paris because you’re tired of, well, Parisians? I don’t like to give much credence to stereotypes, but Paris is a hard city for those who thrive on politeness. Unlike the capital, Lyon has buoyantly friendly people who, when I visited at least, mocked their Parisian neighbours in the same way [...]
Nose around a central London house for the weekend with Onefinestay May 31, 2022 The weekend: For a recent milestone birthday I decided I wanted to celebrate with an intimate group of friends – but I couldn’t face hosting a dinner party at home. A gathering in the private dining room of a restaurant was an alternative but they can lack atmosphere. So when I discovered that Onefinestay allows [...]
Japan reopens after two years: Time for that trip of a lifetime May 30, 2022 After two years of closure to tourists, Japan will welcome visitors from 10 June. Steve Hogarty takes a trip from Osaka into the ancient Japanese countryside. Osaka’s main entertainment district, Dotonbori is a kind of psychedelic, neon circus. Brilliant, colourful lights bounce off the glass-fronted buildings, and below they transform the surface of the canal [...]
Why Tenerife is the beacon of the Canaries May 27, 2022 THE WEEKEND: Many will have soaked up the sun in Gran Canaria, or had fun on the strip in Lanzarote. Tenerife, however, feels more abundant with five-star luxury. It is the only Canary Island to have Michelin Starred restaurants, for instance, with six stars spread across five eateries. WHERE? Home was the Ritz-Carlton Abama, a [...]
Uncovering Churchill’s Marrakech May 26, 2022 Asking if Winston Churchill was a hero or a villain oversimplifies the man and the historic events in which he played such controversial — but undoubtedly significant — roles. I knew of him first as a statesman, then as a historian and writer, but only relatively recently discovered that Churchill was an accomplished artist, too. [...]
Callow Hall: Laid-back charm and rural beauty in the Peak District May 24, 2022 THE WEEKEND: Found on the southeastern edge of The Peak District, Callow Hall is the first hotel from the Wildhive hospitality brand. Placing nature at its core, the owners behind the launch are aiming to champion the UK’s lesser-known spots, by offering laid-back stays in restored historic houses. What’s more, by hopping on the train [...]
On the Beach sales beat pre-pandemic levels as Brits grab suitcases and passports May 24, 2022 On the Beach saw sales soar in the first half of the year, up 322 per cent from 2021, and six per cent compared to pre-pandemic figures.