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sleep<br />
Entertain in style in the<br />
Crowne Plaza’s gastronomic<br />
gem of a restaurant, Le Sélys<br />
Crowne Plaza LIÈGE<br />
9-11 Mount Saint Martin, tel. +32 (0)4 222 9494, crowneplazaliege.be<br />
As hotel brands go, Crowne Plaza wouldn’t be<br />
the fi rst one you’d turn to when looking for<br />
luxury. Meetings and conference facilities<br />
perhaps, but not luxury. So it was a surprise<br />
to stay at Liège’s new fi ve star (one of the<br />
few in Wallonia apparently) and fi nd the CP<br />
logo above the door. This converted castle,<br />
where once aristocracy did whatever<br />
aristocracy did, is now a fairytale retreat<br />
with all the mod-cons thrown in. Perched<br />
above the city on Mont Saint Martin, the<br />
views from the various terraces are<br />
breathtaking but before you get carried<br />
away by all that, head down to the<br />
spectacular spa in the basement. So often<br />
a high-class hotel is let down by its inferior<br />
pool/gym/spa facilities. Not so here – clearly<br />
a lot of thought (and money) has been put<br />
into it. You could check in for the pool alone.<br />
Upstairs the rooms in the modern extension<br />
are comfortable but the real attraction is the<br />
rooms in the old Sélys Longchamps period<br />
house itself (which by the way will set you<br />
///NEWS<br />
back €425, so make sure your credit card is<br />
more prince than pauper). This is the luxury<br />
issue, but if you can’t quite justify splashing<br />
out on a room, then Le Sélys gastronomic<br />
restaurant (which was not yet open at the<br />
time of visiting) is also a draw, while<br />
downstairs is La Cave bar, located in an old<br />
16th-century arms room. You’ll party like it’s<br />
1599. Doubles from €145. Richard Bence<br />
Looking for somewhere with a bit of soul to rest your head? Erfgoed Logies specialises in historic cottages and luxurious bed and<br />
breakfasts in the Belgium, Germany and France. Just the ticket for a cosy pre-Christmas escape. erfgoedlogies.nl<br />
The lobby lounge<br />
features a Swarovskicrystal<br />
chandelier<br />
Corinthia LONDON<br />
Whitehall Place SW1, tel. +44 (0)20 7321<br />
3050, corinthia.com<br />
The Corinthia is a dazzling new €345m<br />
fi ve-star hotel in an historic building that<br />
once housed the Ministry of Defence. For<br />
such splendour, guests get the run of<br />
a lavishly appointed joint with a snazzy<br />
cocktail bar and two smart restaurants.<br />
Massimo’s dining room is high-ceilinged and<br />
very swish. David Collins Studio was hired to<br />
create the right effect, which uses both<br />
grand gestures such as massive chandeliers,<br />
a seafood bar and wine wall, and exquisite<br />
detailing such as stitched leather seats and<br />
other expensive furnishings. The restaurant’s<br />
name refers to Massimo Riccioli, the head<br />
chef from La Rosetta in Rome. Or try the<br />
British restaurant, Northall, which is a lesson<br />
in comfort-food classics. Like everything<br />
else here, the ESPA spa is a show stopper.<br />
Spread over four fl oors – and at 3,300 sq m<br />
the largest of all London spas – the enormity<br />
and grandeur of ESPA Life is breathtaking.<br />
Soft curved walls throughout, black Tunisian<br />
marble and textured leather make this what<br />
baby spas want to be when they grow up.<br />
Fancy a cut and blow dry? Head to the<br />
Ultimate Make-Over Room at the inhouse<br />
Daniel Galvin salon. And for last-minute gift<br />
buying, this is the only hotel that Harrods<br />
deemed worthy enough of having a<br />
concession at. Corinthia has A-list written all<br />
over it. Rooms from €459. Richard Bence<br />
16 Brussels Airlines b.there! magazine November <strong>2011</strong><br />
Brussels from €99; London from €139 return, taxes included
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