The UK hotels going all out for Christmas
Alison Taylor finds festive cheer is bigger than ever this year
If you happen to be near Helmsley in North Yorkshire this weekend, stop by the 15th-century Black Swan Inn, which is hosting a pop-up ice rink to celebrate being back in a big way this Christmas. The Inn Collection Group – which also has hotels in the Lake District, Northumberland and County Durham – has even appointed its very own “Mrs Christmas”, who is spending the next three weeks transforming its sites with a dazzling three miles of Christmas lights, 2,400ft of garlands, 100,000 bulbs, 20,000 baubles and 60 Christmas trees. It’s a running theme this December, as hotels have really upped the festive ante after last year’s letdown.
“Last December, Christmas was kind of cancelled, so we’re going all out this holiday season to make up for it,” says Luca Vannini, general manager at the Hoxton. With tongue firmly in cheek, the hip hotel group is running a “Festive AF” room package – tapping into the trend for full-throttle festivities. “Helping our guests get in the spirit, we’ve partnered with our friends at Trouva. Think waking up to a Trouva stocking, a beautifully dressed tree in your room, a bottle of bubbles on ice, and a £50 Trouva gift card to treat yourself to something nice.” Not ones to go half measures, a Christmas tree farm will also be popping up outside the Hoxton Southwark. “We’re all about spreading that festive cheer,” says Vannini.
Other London hotels piling on the cheer this year include the Standard in King’s Cross with its “Not Your Standard Christmas” package, bringing not a tree but a forest to the lobby. New luxury destination NoMad has launched a “Home Away for the Holidays” festive package, inviting guests to “make up for lost Christmas time” with early checkins and late check-outs designed to extend the occasion, which includes an OTT Boxing Day brunch and doorstep access to Covent Garden’s festive food markets and 55ft Christmas tree adorned with 30,000 lights. Whilst up on high, the Shangri-La at the Shard has been made over with an après-ski theme giving guests “a mountain experience without leaving London”, complete with ski gondola, cosy wooden panelling and alpine gingerbread village.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the capital is ranked number one in terms of most Christmassy cities, according to research carried out by botanical drinks brewers Fentimans. They delved into the data – from number of Christmas markets to chance of snow, and even how aesthetic the city is for your Instagram posts – to find the ultimate Christmas break destination. Manchester is also up there, ranked number three, thanks to its six Christmas markets, affordability and – we would wager – ability to create really memorable events for its community. Such as the apart-hotel Native, in the industrial Ducie Street warehouse, which will be transformed into a fairy-tale land called “Mancunia” – the highlight being a panto performed in the huge atrium.
“This year, we have curated a series of free and ticketed events to showcase Manchester’s local and independent businesses,” says general manager Takis Melitsiotis. “As well as the live Christmas panto experience, we’ve got creative wreath-making workshops, festive films will be shown in our Mini-Cini and famed gospel choir Manchester Inspirational Voices will be gracing the ground floor with bespoke performances throughout the festive season.”
Other highlights this year – especially when you have kids in tow – include the Santa Sleepover at Warwick Castle, where, new for this year, there is an elf workshop with Orchard Toys where kids make their own board games. The magical light trail is back by popular demand and the ice rink is the castle’s biggest yet. Emphasis on biggest yet.
NoMad is inviting guests to make up for lost time with early check-ins and late check-outs