Our hearty congratulations to the following Best Loved Winners at the South West Tourism Awards announced on 6 February at Torquay:
Bed & Breakfast and Guest Accommdation of the Year:
Gold Award – Pentillie Castle, St Mellion, Cornwall
Small Hotel of the Year Winners:
Gold Award – The Bath Priory Hotel, Restaurant & Spa, Bath
Silver Award – The Manor House Hotel, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire
Large Hotel of the Year Winners:
Gold Award – Bovey Castle, North Bovey, Devon
Bronze Award – Bowood Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, Calne, Wiltshire
Large Hotel of the Year Highly Commended:
Headland Hotel, Newquay, Cornwall
St Michael’s …

As part of our series of guest bloggers, Janice Waugh of Solo Traveler stops in Edinburgh to investigate Hotel Missoni.
Last November at The World Travel Market in London I had the chance to meet in the acclaimed travel blogger and social-media advocate, Janice Waugh. Up to then Janice and I had what could be called a casual electronic acquaintanceship on Twitter.
Yes, @bestlovedhotels and Janice, affectionately known as @solotraveller, had exchanged tweets from time to time admiring each other’s work.  Since 2009, Janice has carved out an interesting niche writing …

Guest blogger Laura Porter finds historical inspiration from her stay at Doxford Hall, Northumberland.
At a recent stay at Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa near Alnwick, Northumberland, my room was named ‘Grace Darling’ and I discovered a Victorian heroine from the area.
Grace was born in nearby Bamburgh in 1815, the seventh of nine children and the fourth daughter. Her father, William Darling, was a lighthouse keeper and the family lived at the lighthouse with him. In 1826, when Grace was ten years old, her family moved to the Longstone Lighthouse …

Amie O’Shaughnessy is the Founder and Managing Editor of Ciao Bambino, an award-winning global family travel resource featuring trusted hotel recommendations, extensive destination-related insight, and tips for traveling with kids all ages from babies to teens.
 I asked Jeffrey Epstein for his advice on a family-friendly weekend getaway from the Best Loved Hotels portfolio that would be appropriate and fun for a multi-generational group including our 8-year-old son. Given our limited time for this holiday — just 72 hours — we also needed something that was no more than a 2–hour …

Winner of the Isle of Skye’s first and only Michelin star for outstanding food and the Scotland Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year, Chef Marcello Tully is rightly proud of his achievements. Working previously with the Roux brothers, Marcello’s menu uses only the finest ingredients available. Specialities include Isle of Skye crab mousse, hake, and pigeon breast, all with a unique twist. Each dish is accompanied by a wine recommendation which can be purchased by the glass or bottle enabling dinners to enjoy a variety of fine wines with fine …

 
On Sunday, March 26th the 8th Annual Scottish Hotel Awards were announced. Our hearty congratulations to these Best Loved winners:
The Scottish Hotel of the Year 2011  - The Torridon
Manager Gold Medals 2011 – Robert Ince | The Torridon
Chef Médaille d’Or 2011 – Jason Bruno Birkbeck | The Torridon
Cheese Award 2011 – The Torridon
Hoteliers of the Year 2011 – Anne Gracie & Ken Gunn | Duisdale & Toravaig House Hotels
Rising Star Young Manager Award 2011 –  Ali Gunn | Toravaig House Hotel
Rising Star Young Chef Award 2011- Chris Brayshay | Toravaig …

By Olive Roberts
Well I think most folk in Ireland will agree that Christmas 2010 will not be forgotten for a while to come. Temperatures got as low as -16 & -19 in some parts! A White Christmas indeed! This Arctic weather spell was in the lead up to Christmas and bookings were made and events planned. Some went ahead and others just had to be postponed or cancelled altogether. Spending Christmas at a Country House or Hotel is a big deal for people, many guests return to the same property …

What an enchanting idea – take home a piece of The Merrion Hotel with you for yourself or for your loved ones. For over a decade, guests at The Merrion Hotel, Dublin, have been enjoying Chef Ed Cooney’s delicious food. Now, with the launch of The Merrion Pantry, they can take it home.
Remember, before the fridge was the Pantry and inside was any amount of necessities and treats waiting to be discovered. The Merrion Pantry offers chutneys, jams, sauces, oils and spread are all now in attractive bottles and jars …

Playful, innocent, full of wonder and curiosity – Tweeters last week used these words to describe Childhood, the subject for last Friday’s #FRIFOTOS, and it’s no surprise these same qualities were delightfully reflected in the submitted photos. These #FRIFOTOS images of childhood, past and present, were a joy to look at, and are guaranteed to brighten up anyone’s day.
There must be something profound and elemental about the connection between childhood fun and the beach or pool, as this was favorite theme. @MO_Hotels gave us an elegantly beautiful image of two …

Waterford Castle held their All-Island Open Day on July 18th and it included a BBQ, family gardens games, children’s entertainment, face painting, bouncy castle and live music. The main event was their 2nd 5K Island Run.
Almost 300 runners took part and among them were newly married couple Susan & Allan Crowley who celebrated their big day that same weekend. In the spirit of the Fun Run Susan wore her wedding veil and bouquet and Shane wore his wedding shirt and cravat
The overall winner of the run Shane Quinn was …