Mr Superdry’s super-chic retreat
GREAT BRITISH BOLT HOLES
STEP into this hotel and it feels appropriately Georgian, with 7ft-tall sash windows and its huge proportions fashioned with grace, gutsiness and Regency panache.
It stretches across five Grade II listed townhouses, and you certainly won’t think that you’re coming into a £90-a-night billet.
All 46 bedrooms are joyful, with rain showers, Hypnos beds, blackout curtains and large TVs set off by a palette of moody blues, greys and greens. The air-conditioning is top-notch, there are well-chosen books by the bed and even the smallest rooms are generous in size.
The George’s owner is Julian Dunkerton, a serially successful entrepreneur who started the Superdry fashion chain. His Lucky Onion group has a small collection of pubs in the Cotswolds and the romantic No131, a Georgian lodge hotel also in Cheltenham.
In recent years this spa town has feasted on festivals – science, literature and the races. On the edge of the Cotswolds, it has got elegance and a certain racy charm.
The George has teamed up with Cheltenham Ladies’ College, which is across the road, so guests can use its very lavish sports facilities, including its swimming pool – just one of the ways Dunkerton aims to deliver value for money.
Good entrepreneurs like a challenge, and Covid has given him a few. There’s now contactless checkin and, rather than being geared up for festival delegates, it’s weekend breakers who are more likely to be discovering Cheltenham. Did I miss a bar? Yes. You can buy artisanal gins and tonics and snacks at the front desk, but refashioning one of the ground-floor rooms into a snug where you can relax with friends would be a nice touch.
The USP: The George is a prototype for Dunkerton’s new budgetminded high-style Cult Hotels brand – named after the original Cult Clothing store he owned in the town, which launched his Superdry empire. It feels like a winner on lots of levels, and lifts your spirits.
The rooms: Prices may veer to the budget end but serious money has been spent, whether it’s on the 400-thread count sheets, power showers or big bottles of Norwegian Sprekenhus toiletries in the extravagantly tiled bathroom. The rooms don’t have minibars or coffee machines, but this may change.
The food: While The George doesn’t have its own restaurant, in the basement is the Diner where guests can enjoy a free continental breakfast, but there’s also cooked breakfasts with a full quota of Cotswolds sausages and eggs. The front desk can make reservations at Julian’s restaurants nearby, including No131, which now has more tables outside, all with heaters and views on to Cheltenham’s beautiful Promenade. Sarah Turner B&B from £90 a night (culthotels.com).
VALENTINE’S DAY… what better time to start planning a fun and romantic cruise holiday to brighten this summer or beyond?
With mounting hopes of a return to near-normality, and everyone ready to break free, you’ll rediscover what it means to feel free when you cruise with NCL.
Turn those Valentine dreams into reality and before the year’s end you could be toasting the sunset in Santorini or topping up your tan on Caribbean beaches.
What’s more, NCL’s sensational sale means those who book a couples or family getaway by midnight on Thursday, February 18, will get a massive 30 per cent off. Plus, you can upgrade for just £99pp and indulge in ALL applicable Free At Sea packages.
Enjoy open bars throughout, gourmet global speciality dining, $50 shore excursion credit per port and a wi-fi package, while extra guests pay taxes only when sharing your stateroom.
Secure your cruise with confidence, knowing that NCL’s robust, enhanced Sail Safe protocols are in place on board and that you’re free to cancel up to 15 days before departure, for cruises through to October 31, 2021.
On NCL’s latest and recently refurbished ships, you can look forward to an elevated experience. Expect Broadway shows, such as Footloose, Kinky Boots and Six, and a wide choice of amazing dining options, serving specialities from juicy lobster to Asian fusion. And with no fixed dining times, you can follow your mood, not a timetable.
CORFU OR CARIBBEAN?
IN EUROPE, the warmer season could yet see you throwing a coin in the Trevi Fountain in Rome, taking in priceless art in Florence, and marvelling at some of Gaudi’s extraordinary architecture in Barcelona, all while cruising the western Med for seven days on family-favourite Norwegian Epic.
Alternatively, leave palace-lined waterways behind as you sail out of sublime Venice on Norwegian Dawn, bound for the sunny Greek isles where historic ruins, ancient mythology and relaxation await.
Start things off with a walk along Dubrovnik’s famous walls before sailing through sparkling seas to alight in gorgeous Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos and more.
Meanwhile, Norwegian Spirit invites guests to immerse themselves in culture and gastronomic delights along the Italian and Croatian coasts on a nine-day sailing. Taste limoncello in Sorrento, savour fresh fish specialities in Koper, Slovenia, and view the awesome treasures of Venice and Rome.
Caribbean calling? There’s a fun-packed, seven-day Norwegian Gem itinerary departing from vibrant New York, calling in on South Carolina and Orlando en route to the Bahamas. Visit the Kennedy Space Center or the theme parks before relaxing in a cabana on a soft, white-sand beach or kayaking in crystal-clear water on the tropical paradise of Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.
Christmas 2021 could even see you sailing aboard Norwegian Escape from Orlando to Barbados and the Dominican Republic. On this blissful 11-day trip you can drive through a volcano in St Lucia, tour a rum factory in Barbados, visit the botanical gardens in Antigua and follow the route of swashbuckling pirates into one of the most breathtaking harbours in the world at Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas.
Fancy exploring further north instead? An 11-day sailing to Iceland from Southampton calls at Edinburgh and Inverness and noses into several Norwegian fjords before turning west towards the volcanoes, hot springs and flourishing foodie and music scene of Reykjavik and other fascinating Icelandic ports.
With so many sensational destinations to see, turning Valentine’s Day into a great excuse to book a cruise will surely make for a brighter, more memorable and fulfilling year ahead. But do act by midnight on February 18 to benefit from those amazing 30 per cent savings and take all the Free At Sea deals.
To find out more, visit ncl.com.