HELLO, HOTELS Add A-list sparkle to your Plan B
All being well, many British hotels will finally be able to fling open their doors on May 17. But with some favourites already booked and others still without a confirmed return date, travellers keen to get away will be looking for alternatives. Here are five top spots to secure right now to ring in the return of hotels in style.
SEASIDE ESCAPE
If you like… Watergate Bay, Newquay, Cornwall
Try… The Headland, Newquay, Cornwall
No surprise that the ever-popular Watergate Bay is fully booked during the third week in May, but on the other side of Newquay another super seaside spot still has space. You might recognise the Headland from its star turn in the film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches. The hotel is looking particularly sparkling after the addition of its £10 million Aqua Club, which includes six pools, a sun terrace overlooking the sea and a Mediterranean-inspired reslarly taurant. As at Watergate Bay, all manner of water sports are available. Early birds can book one of the hotel’s 40 clifftop cottages from April 12. Doubles from £165; headlandhotel.co.uk
HIPSTER HIDEAWAY If you like(d)… Ace Hotel London Try… Birch, Hertfordshire
Once the epicentre of east London cool, the capital’s Ace outpost has sadly permanently closed, but fans can recapture its spirit at members’ club and hotel, Birch. This thoroughly modern take on a country-house hotel is the brainchild of Chris Penn, former managing director of Ace, and is designed as an easy escape for frazzled Londoners, located just 30 minutes from Liverpool Street Station. For post-lockdown stays, Birch is promising barbecues on the terrace and yoga on its lawn, while an outdoor lido is due to be “opening soon”. Rooms are deliberately pared back in style, but Robin Gill’s Zebra Riding Club restaurant adds a splash of glamour.
Doubles from £150; birchcommunity.com
SPA BREAK
If you like… Lime Wood, New Forest, Hampshire
Try… Seaham Hall, County Durham
The laid back but luxurious Lime Wood (and its Herb House Spa) has been at the top of its game for a decade – no wonder it’s packed in late May. Up in coastal County Durham, Seaham Hall is simiunstuffy, and its dash of no-nonsense northern charm and more affordable rates make it a worthy alternative. This is a proper spa hotel, with the huge complex reached via an underground low-lit walkway. Between treatments, enjoy the 20-metre main pool, outdoor hot tubs, hydrotherapy pool, thermal rooms and ice baths, if you dare. Be sure to brush up on your Byron before you visit – the Romantic poet was married at the Hall.
Doubles from £315; seaham-hall.co.uk
FOODIE STAY
If you like… L’Enclume, Cartmel,
Lake District Try… Forest Side, Grasmere, Lake District
Simon Rogan’s two Michelin-starred L’Enclume is busy enough in normal times and reopening week will be no different. Those wanting a post-lockdown blow-out meal and stay should instead book a room at Forest Side over in Grasmere, where head chef Paul Leonard’s menu has also attracted a star. The kitchen garden at this Victorian mansion is no token gesture – the vast majority of the herbs and vegetables used in the eight-course tasting menu are grown here. Dishes are creative without being overwrought. Walk into the village to visit Wordsworth’s former home, Dove Cottage, and pick up some famous Grasmere gingerbread. Doubles from £229; theforestside.com
COUNTRY CHIC If you like… The Newt in Somerset Try… Homewood, Bath
The Newt in Somerset is an exceptionally industrious country house hotel, with its cyder press, farm shop and perfectly maintained gardens. However, nearby Homewood is not resting on its laurels either, launching a dining dome DIY grilling experience, two new selfcatering cottages and even its own gin this spring. Expect playful touches at this restored Georgian manor, such as a giant grass-covered teddy bear in the grounds. The 21 bedrooms are individually designed, but many have an art deco flourish – opt for a Deluxe Garden suite for a private hot tub on outdoor terraces. Other big draws are the heated outdoor pool surrounded by loungers, plus the well-equipped spa.
Doubles from £200; homewoodbath. co.uk