Infotel Magazine

Be
2016 Edition 2
The Guest Book
This month’s top picks
Dates for the Diary
What to do, where to stay
A Postcard from...
We turn the spotlight
on Pembrokeshire
King
or
Queen
of the castle
A selection of
Special
Offers
from around the UK
Coastal or Countryside?
Where will you be this Easter?

DISCOUNTED RATES, AMAZING OFFERS, BUDGET TO
LUXURIOUS HOTELS, SERVICED APARTMENTS & OVER
758,880
PROPERTIES WORLDWIDE
For your next work or leisure night away
Contact
01775 843413
www.infotel.co.uk
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CONTENTS
The Guest Book
Dates for the Diary
Infotel: working for you
Portcullis Inn Majors Retreat
Old Mill
4
5
6 & 7
8
9
10 & 11 18 & 19
Easter Escapes
A postcard from...
12 & 13
20 & 21
Milsom Hotels & Restaurants Chef’s Corner
14 & 15
22
Infotel Specials
Chef’s Specials
16
23
Esseborne Manor Hotel Fernie Castle Hotel
17
24
Findon Hall Hotel
Infotel Collections
3

This month’s collection of Infotel properties to tempt you away
Huntingtower Hotel
Perthshire
The Fairway Barnsley
South Yorkshire
Hilton Southampton
Hampshire
Stay 2a
Kent
King Charles Hotel
Kent
Holiday Inn
Express Harlow
Essex
Great Western Hotel
Devon
Glendevon House Hotel
Kent
Speedbird Inn
Aberdeen Airport
Aberdeenshire
The Beach
Kent
4

Dates for the Diary
Follow our quick links for a range of accommodation at different prices
and star ratings, providing plenty of choice for your next night away...
WEDDINGS
2nd - 6th March
Dynamo Liverpool
LIVERPOOL
7th - 8th March
Adele
MANCHESTER
5th March
World Pasty
Championship at Eden
ST AUSTELL
4th - 6th March
The National Wedding Show
BIRMINGHAM
12th March
Ellie Goulding
SHEFFIELD
10th - 13th March
West Somerset Railway,
Spring Steam Gala
MINEHEAD
17th March
St Patrick’s Day
DUBLIN
19th March
Chatsworth House Opens
DERBY
18th - 20th March
The Cornish Arms
Beer & Mussel Festival
PADSTOW
25th - 28th March
Great Missenden
Food Festival
GREAT MISSENDEN
5

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take you this month?
We book you into the best room
rates around however long
your stay and wherever your
destination takes you
infotel.co.uk
GLASGOW
378 properties
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NEWCASTLE
375 properties
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MANCHESTER
363 properties
(Within 20 miles)
DUBLIN
439 properties
(Within 20 miles)
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315 properties
(Within 15 miles)
CARDIFF
339 properties
(Within 20 miles)
BRISTOL
461 properties
(Within 20 miles)
LONDON
2108 properties
(Within 20 miles)
“Very happy with the
quick, efficient service
from Infotel, will use again
for future bookings.”
Mark Mcpyke
“That’s fantastic! Another
great service from yourself.
I will definitely be using
you again.”
Dan Doughty
“Just to thank you for
helping me regarding the
booking, your action was
really appreciated.”
Pauline Love
VIEWPOINTS
7

FEATURED HOTEL
Portcullis Inn
Major’s Retreat
Badminton, Gloucestershire GL9 1HZ
From
£35
“What an amazing find!
A warm and friendly welcome,
fantastic, good quality food and
a wide range of choice”
A Trip Advisor reviewer
Mentioned in guide books for
walkers and ramblers taking on
the 102 miles of the Cotswold Way,
this 18th century stone pub with
rooms makes a great base, not just
for walkers, but for visitors to the
glorious Cotswold countryside
wanting to discover picturesque
villages, farmers’ markets and
famous ancient sites.
There are three self contained en
suite rooms available, including a
family room. All have tea and
coffee making facilities with free
wifi available in public areas.
A wide selection of local ales, lagers
and ciders are available. On cold
days ask the landlord for a glass of
mulled wine made from his secret
recipe. Then cosy-up by the large
log fire for a perfect thawing out!
A large oak panelled dining
room leading from the spacious
main bar provides a charming
traditional country pub backdrop to
meals at the Major’s Retreat. Enjoy
Gloucester old spot sausage and
8
mash, pie of the day or tuck into something
from the grill.
Major’s Retreat in the pretty village of Tormarton
in South Gloucestershire was formerly known
as the Portcullis Inn and has changed its name
to avoid confusion with The Portcullis in nearby
Chipping Sodbury.
40 Onsite WiFi Restaurant
Bar
Check In
12.00pm
Check Out
11.00am

FEATURED HOTEL
Old Mill
Maryport, Cumbria CA15 7JP
From
£75
“I stayed for a total of about 29
nights and ate there for nearly all of
these. Absolutely fantastic value for
money...staff are really helpful and
couldn’t have been more friendly”
A Trip Advisor reviewer
A warm Cumbrian welcome greets guests arriving
at this family run inn in the picturesque village of
Dearham, birth place to the world famous potter,
Josiah Wedgewood, and ideally located for
exploring the West Country and the nearby
Lake District National Park.
There are nine rooms available, including a good
sized family room which has a four poster bed
and two singles. All have tea and coffee making
facilities, free wifi and Freeview flat screen TVs.
Guests have a choice of either luxury feather or
modern polyester duvets plus an extra comforter
for the coldest of winter nights. All rooms are
comfortably furnished and the inn is a popular
choice with both business and leisure travellers.
Start your day with Continental or English style
breakfast along with a selection of different teas
and coffees. Enjoy locally sourced fresh fish, lamb
and venison in the restaurant, which uses the best
of seasonal produce, or for summer nights, relax
in the beer garden with a locally brewed pint or
a bottle of wine.
18 Onsite Free
WiFi
Restaurant Bar Wedding
Receptions
Live
Music
Check In
5.00pm
Check Out
11.00am
9

EASTER ESCAPES
Looking for an
Easter Escape?
Surround yourself with history, dramatic landscapes and spectacular
sea views with a retreat to the comforts of a coastal or countryside
stay this March
HARTLAND QUAY HOTEL Devon
At this time of the year, you’ll be hard pushed to find
a more spectacular scene when descending the
hill taking you to the Hartland Quay Hotel; a vast
panorama of rugged Devonshire landscape, the
raging fury of the Atlantic Ocean’s crashing breakers
and a dramatic horizon of charging clouds galloping
over Lundy Island; it’s a backdrop of nature and the
elements taking control and not surprisingly, the
striking location has featured in several films,
including Treasure Island.
The old harbour dates back to the time of Henry VIII
and parts can still be seem at low tide. The old
Customs House is now the Hartland Quay Hotel,
and along with a choice of en suite rooms, guests
can enjoy a traditional bar menu in the former stables,
now known as The Wrecker’s Retreat Bar.
The hotel is perfectly located to discover the charming
chocolate box village of Clovelly and the medieval
Tintagel Castle, a place inextricably linked with the
legend of King Arthur.
10
Follow @infoteloffers for all the latest news and offers

EASTER ESCAPES
CEOL NA MARA
GUEST HOUSE Isle of Harris
Recently announced amongst the happiest places
to live in the UK, the Isle of Harris boasts meadows,
moorlands, lochs and castles and is a playground
for outdoor adventure and exploration. Making an
ideal base to stay is the award-winning Coel na
Mara, Scots Gaelic for ‘music of the sea’ and
aptly named because of the haunting melodic
tones of the water reverberating off the rocks in
the tidal loch. As well as providing the soundtrack
to a stay at Coel na Mara, the loch provides the
centre piece to ever changing views from the
tastefully decorated bedrooms.
Start the day with a five star locally sourced
breakfast and for lunch and evening meals,
venture to one of local restaurants for a delicious
catch of the day. And don’t leave Harris without
buying some of the famous tweed!
The distinctive 19th century Amberley
Inn enjoys enviable views across the
National Trust owned Minchinhampton
Common and the gentle hills of the
Cotswold countryside.
AMBERLEY INN Gloucestershire
Built in 1855, the historic inn retains all
its charm and atmosphere, with original
oak panelled rooms and parquet flooring,
stone mullioned windows and roaring log
fires - perfect for sampling local real ales
and fine wines before retiring to either
a premier or classic bedroom, neither
disappoint with their Cotswold charm
and attention to comfort.
Still stuck for somewhere to stay?
View our coastal collection or head over to our country selection
COASTAL
COUNRTY
11

FEATURED GROUP
Beautiful bedrooms,
fabulous food and
stunning settings.
VIEW GROUP
MILSOMS
Colchester, Essex
A boutique hotel, brasserie and informal dining in a
stylish hotel with a vibrant bar and restaurant. A benchmark
for accommodation and informal dining with inventive food.
MILSOMS KESGRAVE HALL
Ipswich, Suffolk
Kesgrave Hall has twenty three en-suite bedrooms ranging
from standard through to top rate, all have plenty of WOW
factor, some of them even have bathtubs in their rooms
and huge walk in showers!
12

MILSOM HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
PIER AT HARWICH
Harwich, Essex
A luxury boutique hotel and restaurants in Harwich,
with 14 bedrooms and two celebrated seafood restaurants.
The Pier Hotel is located in two historic buildings that
stand proudly on the quay side of old Harwich.
MAISON TALBOOTH
Colchester, Essex
This luxury boutique hotel and restaurant overlooks the
famous Constable Dedham Vale and is a great escape
for complete relaxation.
VIEW GROUP
13

Wycliffe Hotel
Stockport, Cheshire
Spring Weekends!
Enjoy overnight accommodation and a full English breakfast,
availble on Fridays to Sundays until 28th March 2016
Starting from £85
Barony Castle
Peebles, Scotland
Two course dinner, bed & breakfast
Dinner, bed and breakfast with a bottle of wine on arrival and
a 30% Spa discount (Sunday to Thursday limited availability)
Starting from £99
Innkeepers Lodge Ambleside
- White Lion Hotel
Ambleside, Cumbria
Advanced Saver
Book now to save on all rooms
Starting from £59 £69
Skelwith Bridge Hotel
Ambleside, Cumbria
Easter Weekend 2016
Three night special package with four course dinner, bed
and breakfast Friday 25th to Sunday 28th March 2016
Starting from £160
14

Apollo Hotel
Basingstoke, Hampshire
A Little Bit Special
Enjoy a luxurious break with dinner, a bottle of house wine,
full English breakfast available on Thursdays to Saturdays
Starting from £125
Shankly Hotel
Liverpool, Merseyside
Amazing Discount
You don’t have to be a football fan to enjoy a luxurious night
away in this hotel dedicated to the famous Bill Shankly
Starting from £72 £400
Kilworth House Hotel
North Kilworth, Leicestershire
The Perfect Escape
Receive a reduction when you book a night away
at this stunning hotel
Starting from £180 £190
Innkeepers Lodge Brighton,
Patcham - The Black Lion
Brighton, East Sussex
Super Saver
Book now and enjoy great savings on rooms
Starting from £55 £89
15

FEATURED HOTEL
Esseborne
Manor Hotel
Andover, Hampshire SP11 0ER
From
£92
50 Onsite Free
WiFi
Restaurant Bar Wedding
/Civil
Tennis
Check In
2.00pm
Check Out
11.00am
“The food is outstanding... a real delight.
The rooms are large, well equipped with
large bathrooms to include spa baths
and separate showers. Wonderful”
A Trip Advisor reviewer
Located close to Highclere Castle, home to the
television series Downton Abbey, this family run
Victorian country hotel is small and unpretentious.
It is set amidst the splendour of the North Wessex
Down, close to the lovely Bourne Valley and in a
designated area of outstanding natural beauty.
Once referred to as being ‘invitingly snug’, the
house still retains the feel of a private home with
its luxuriously decorated rooms and an abundance
of fresh flowers and fruit in the comfortable
lounges. Fine linen and fluffy towels and robes
provide the pampering finishing touches to
beautifully decorated bedrooms which overlook
the gardens.
The award-winning Courtyard Restaurant offers a
choice of menus, including the Fine Dining Dinner
Menu; imaginative, mouth-watering seafood, fish,
meat and vegetarian options and a selection of
fine wines can be savoured in the elegant candle
lit dining room; or choose from the a la carte or
menu du vin, which is a set menu of up to four
courses with a specially selected
glass of wine to accompany
each course.
16

Findon
Manor Hotel
Worthing, West Sussex BN14 0TA
From
£84
FEATURED HOTEL
“Clean, welcoming and the staff
very friendly. Food good and can
recommend the Suffolk Breakfast.”
A Trip Advisor reviewer
25 Onsite Free WiFi Restaurant Bar Weddings Check In Check Out
/Civil 2.00pm 11.00am
Deep in the Sussex countryside and on the
slopes of the South Downs Way, set in over
two acres of beautiful gardens and perfectly
located for Worthing and Brighton, Findon
Manor Hotel offers guests a tranquil and
relaxing retreat away from the hustle of
daily life.
A range of rooms, including feature four
poster and superior rooms, provide a
comfortable stay with all the standard
in-room facilities guests expect plus a few
extras, such as a docking station, hot water
bottles, freshly ground coffee in cafetieres
and a choice of pillows to add to the comfort
of the individually decorated rooms.
A choice of dining is available with the
Snooty Fox Bar providing a casual, cosy
atmosphere to enjoy a fabulous selection
of hot and cold dishes or indulge in a three
course meal in the Terrace Restaurant.
17

A POSTCARD FROM...
Pembrokeshire
‘Gwlad Hud a Lledrith’, the
‘Land of Mystery and Enchantment’
Welcome to Pembrokeshire, home to
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the only
coastal national park of its kind in the UK and
one of three national parks, the others being
Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons national parks.
Award-winning beaches, stunning countryside,
the Shrine of St. David and St. David’s Cathedral,
a wonderland for walkers and beachcombers,
wildlife lovers and fabulous for families
and foodies...
Be spooked: named in the Sunday Times as
one of the top five ghost walks in Britain, take
the Tenby Ghost Walk full of fairies, ghosts,
witches and strange Pembrokeshire customs,
mysteries and murders in a guided walk
around the historic town of Tenby.
Walk the Pembrokeshire coast path:
pick up the path or plan for the whole 186
miles of ascending and descending coastal
path which takes in sea cliffs, golden beaches,
lush hills, low mountains and ancient chapels,
where you’ll spot seabirds and seals, dolphins,
puffins and penguins on the path which begins
in the village of St Dogmael’s near Cardigan
and finishes in Amroth.
Ride a wave: at the famous Newgale beach
where large surf crashes onto two miles of
gloriously golden award-winning beach.
18

A POSTCARD FROM...
Get symbolic: with a Lovespoon workshop in
Kilgetty. This traditional craft dates back past
the 17th Century. Spoons were originally
created to show a girl’s father the carver’s
woodwork skills and his ability to provide for the
family. Certain symbols came to have specific
meanings; a horseshoe for luck, a cross for
faith, bells for marriage, hearts for love, a wheel
to support a loved one and a lock for security.
Tuck into local produce: Haverfordwest
Famers Market has been in operation for over
ten years and prides itself on selling local
Pembrokeshire produce including award
winning organic beef and lamb, delicious
homemade sausages, wild boar, smoked
salmon and crab cakes.
Dare to jump: scramble around rocks and
then jump off cliffs and explore caves with an
experienced guide by your side. Coasteering
is (apparently!) an utterly liberating experience
and there’s a plentiful supply of Pembrokeshire
cliffs and white water playgrounds to sample
on this organised adventure for those with a
head for heights!
Have a gold top time: holders of the Best
Family Day out in Wales, Folly Farm offers four
fabulous reasons to visit; a friendly farmyard,
a zoo involved in many conservation projects,
an enormous vintage funfair and a range of
indoor and outdoor adventure play.
Folly Farm is a diversification success story.
The former dairy farm opened its doors in
1988 to demonstrate how cows were milked.
Nearly 25 years later, Folly Farm is one of the
top paid-for visitor attractions in Wales.
Get hooked: not even the captain of your
boat can predict what you’ll catch but bream,
mackerel and mullet could be on the end of
your line as you take to the pristine sea with
baited hook.
BROWSE OUR
PEMBROKESHIRE
COLLECTION OF HOTELS
19

CHEF’S CORNER
We caught up with Head Chef
Simon Bradley of Eynsham Hall
to talk about the hotel’s new
brasserie and what’s inspired
their creative new menu...
Simon explained:
“The launch of The Brasserie at Eynsham Hall has been an
amazing adventure to say the least. It’s been incredible working
to create a menu and an experience for diners that reflects and
represents the rich history of the hall and the transformation
of the space, which is now our brand new restaurant.
“My job has been to create a menu where each dish tells a
story; a blend of old and new. And to offer unrushed, seasonal
British food while putting a distinctly “Eynsham” twist on
everything we do. We’re really lucky to live in Oxfordshire with
so much incredible local produce on our doorstep.
20
“We work closely with local producers and have a good idea of
what is either coming into season, is in season, or is going out
of season so, to a certain degree, the menus write themselves.
We’ve built up a good network of local suppliers for lots of our
produce, and it’s these strong relationships that allow us to
have our produce at its freshest, and best.

CHEF’S CORNER
“Large houses like Eynsham
Hall would originally have had
a smoker, and I’ve overseen
the re-introduction of a new one
which has been really cleverly
created from a modified
American fridge and is now
affectionately known as Betty!
“It’s by mixing these older,
traditional methods of cooking
with more modern techniques
of cooking food for longer at
much lower temperatures,
which has enabled us to
mix things up a bit and keep
the menu exciting.
“For example, we buy in whole salmon, dry cure it and then oak smoke it. We also use a water
bath for cooking a lot of our meat. It allows me to have complete control over the cooking and
gives a perfect end result every time.
“We source our pork from Kelmscott Farm, about 15 miles away, in the Cotswolds. We use the
bellies and soak them in a brine (which is another old way of preserving food), and them cook
them at 60C for 30 hours. The pork is chilled and pressed ready for service. Portions are then
caramelised on our plancha grill and served.
“The pork is amazing, tender, juicy and full of flavour, and a perfect example of how a mix of old
and new methods can develop a unique and individual menu. It just needs the ground work to
be put into place and time to build up a network of like-minded suppliers.
“We formally launched the Brasserie in the New Year and
I’m delighted with the response. Feedback on the menu
has been fantastic. The space was originally designed for
entertaining and it feels humbling to be replicating traditions
that the Mason family would have embraced. It’s a turning
point for us in terms of offering more to the community,
and being able to support local farmers and businesses.
We can’t wait to hear what our guests think.”
VIEW HOTEL
21

CHEF’S SPECIALS
Our four course serving of delicious
delights to savour this month
Sanderson invites you to tumble down the
rabbit hole for the 150th anniversary of Alice in
Wonderland and enjoy all the splendour of the
Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea. Discover menus
hidden inside vintage books, teapots adorned
with kings and queens, sandwich plates
decorated with birdcages and carousels and
ticking clocks displaying savoury, speciality
sandwiches, created to delight the senses.
SANDERSON
London
The ending promises to be as divine as the
start with red velvet Ladybird cake, scones
and chocolate coated, coffee flavoured pocket
watch macaroons. You can also enjoy five new
tailor made teas inspired by the characters of
the classic novel.
CRATHORNE HALL HOTEL
North Yorkshire
Crathorne Hall Hotel are offering a three course Sunday
Lunch for two for just £32.50 during March. They also
make the perfect afternoon tea in the most perfect
location overlooking the Leven Valley on the edge
of the Yorkshire Moors.
NORTON HOUSE HOTEL & SPA
Edinburgh
Enjoy a Mother’s Day traditional afternoon tea with
a selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones
and lashings of cream and homemade preserves,
pastries and cakes accompanied by a selection of
fine teas, or perhaps a glass of Champagne!
PRIEST HOUSE HOTEL
Derbyshire
22
Celebrate Easter with lunch in the original dining
room at The Priest House in Derbyshire. This four
star country house perched on the banks of the
River Trent has a fabulous three course menu
to delight lovers of meat, fish and vegetarians.
Particular highlights are the crab and crayfish
tians, pan fried fillet of salmon served with sweet
mash, wilted greens and sauce vierge and then
complete your Easter lunch with total satisfaction
over a warm Bakewell tart, raspberry coulis
and clotted cream.

FEATURED VENUE
Fernie Castle Hotel
Cupar, Fife KY15 7RU
From
£95
“The Library Suite was enormous and
well furnished.We had a wonderful four
course meal in lovely surroundings and
enjoyed our private dining experience
tremendously. Breakfast was equally
delightful as was the cream tea on arrival.”
A Trip Advisor reviewer
This 14th century castle is a small
luxury hotel specialising in the
care of guests and offers all the
character of the past with the
comforts of today. Situated in 17
acres of woodlands with its own
loch, there’s plenty of places to
stroll, watch the wildlife go by or
just sit and relax!
There are 20 individually designed
bedrooms, all en suite and for an
extra special experience enjoy a
stay in the Treehouse. Perched up
in six lofty sycamores, the first
glimpse of the house is through
the pines, rowans and elderberries
with the sun dancing off the copper
roof tiles. Enter via a flight of stairs
to a fairy festooned balcony where
double doors with striking stained
glass lead into the bedroom and the
bespoke elm bed and furniture.
Wallow in the striking slipper bath
under a chandelier of leaves and
flowers - you’ll feel like you’re
starring in your very own luxurious
Rodin Hood movie!
23
For dining enjoy The Keep Bar,
which dates back to 1530, The
Auld Alliance Dining Room with its
centre piece Georgian chandelier
adding to a more formal experience
or chose The Turet Bistro for light
lunches and dinners.
200 Onsite WiFi Restaurant Bar
24hr
Reception
Weddings
Check In
5.00pm
Check Out
11.00am

More
ideas to inspire...
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