The Kings Head, Cirencester

With weekends feeling shorter than ever, making the most of them and taking some time to switch off and relax is high on my agenda these days. With so many beautiful places on our doorstep, travelling to far flung destinations for a little ‘R & R’ isn’t always necessary, and a relaxing retreat could be just around the corner (or a short journey on the train at least).

With a break from London life on my mind, I headed 93 miles west of the city, to the Cotswold town of Cirencester, an old market town which is the largest in the Cotswolds region.My home for the weekend was the Kings Head, an old coaching inn that is now a restaurant with rooms – 45 boutique style ones to be exact. The Kings Head is situated right on the high street of Cirencester, so a perfect location for amenities and those looking to explore the picturesque town.Having had a total refurb in recent years, the décor is modern, bright and welcoming yet still plays to its historic past and original features.

My room was practically palatial. A giant, marshmallow soft bed with similarly comfortable sofa at the foot, took centre stage, whilst the light filled bathroom sat atop my split-level residence.The décor has a homely, rural feel but with a modern twist and appliances; think leaf green floral wallpaper and plump neutral textiles, juxtaposed with a large flat screen TV and sleek coffee maker; essentially everything you need for a restful country escape. It wasn’t long before the sofa was calling, and I settled down under a blanket for an afternoon nap.

Feeling rested, food was next on the agenda and The Kings Head has arguably one of the best restaurants in Cirencester, so after a short walk down the stairs and I was ready to embark on my culinary adventure.The restaurant feels rustic yet polished, with its homely autumnal colour scheme and open kitchen. It also has a sophisticated cocktail bar, which was buzzing with well-heeled locals this Friday night.The menu is typically British, with lots of locally sourced ingredients and modern twists on classics. It is refined without being fussy.I opted for the sirloin steak and triple cooked chips, which were served ‘Jenga’ style, along with roasted vine tomatoes. The steak was juicy and perfectly cooked, whilst the rest of the plate was equally flavoursome.I make no secret that dessert is always my favourite part of a meal, and I was spoiled for choice at the Kings Head. The rest of the table had a similar conundrum, so we ordered them all in an attempt to identify a favourite. Every dish that arrived was beautifully presented and delicious, making it difficult to pick a winner, however the overwhelming choices were the Lavender & Honey brulee and the Autumn Fruit. Ordinarily these types of dessert would never make my shortlist (as a self confessed chocoholic) however the accompanying madeleine’s that came with the brulee and the combination of textures of the fruit dish, definitely won my vote.

After a hearty meal of that calibre, the thought of retiring to my cosy bedroom was at the forefront of my mind, and the realisation I was only steps away from my cloud-like bed, made the ending to my evening even sweeter.An uninterrupted night’s sleep later and I woke feeling refreshed and ready for the day’s activities – but first breakfast!

Breakfast is served in the restaurant again, however it takes on a completely different, but equally lovely ambience in daylight hours, which is a rare quality.The open kitchen becomes home to the buffet part of the breakfast, which you can tackle as a prelude to the A La Carte options.Many say a hotel is only as good as its breakfast, and if that were the case, The Kings Head would pass the test with flying colours. The Full English I ordered ticked all the boxes, both in terms of taste and flavour, and accompanied with a pot of tea, was a perfectly British way to start the day.My final stop at The Kings Head was the spa. Described by the hotel as ‘Subterranean’ I ventured down the stairs where I met my therapist in a candle lit corridor in the vaults of the hotel. The original features of the building give the spa a very calming, cosy feel, where too often they can feel quite clinical. I took my place on the therapist’s bed and embarked on 60 minutes of pure relaxation, before retiring to a ‘chill-out’ area of waterbeds draped in faux fur throws.

It was almost time to check out, and I had firmly checked out, so with my goal complete, I bid a reluctant farewell to my weekend retreat.In a bid to savour the last moments of the trip, we set off to explore the local area.There are plenty of things to do and places to explore nearby, so no worry of getting bored. Londoner favourites, Bicester Village and Daylesford are a short drive away, whilst for those looking to try their hand at some local pursuits as I did, Clay Pigeon shooting at Ian Colley is a fun way to get in the country spirit – tweed jacket and cap optional.

For more information on The Kings Head, Cirencester visit their website>

 

The Luxe Life was a guest of The Kings Head, but all views my own.

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Winter Wonderland at Dalloway Terrace

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past 3 months, you will have noticed a Narnia-esque setting that has been splashed across every London cool-girl’s instagram account. Whether posing supping a hot chocolate with cute gingerbread accompaniment or #tablescaping in the chalet-like setting, the latest festive hotspot in town is Dalloway Terrace, part of the Bloomsbury Hotel.

In an effort to get in the Christmas spirit, having just returned from a sun soaked trip to Dubai, I made a reservation for their recently launched afternoon tea and prepared to indulge amongst a winter wonderland.In true British style, the afternoon was grey and wet, however all feelings of gloominess were eliminated on walking through the candlelit entrance into the cosy winter terrace.Chairs were covered in cosy sheepskin throws and tables were strewn with lanterns; it was the epitome of hygge, the latest interiors trend.We took our seats under the canopy of festive foliage by Wild at Heart, and expectantly read over the menu whilst enjoying our first glass of champagne.The afternoon tea menu has been created with Maison Pierre Marcolini, the renowned Chocolatier and includes many a chocolate lovers treat, in both liquid and patisserie form.A duo of mini chocolates and their famed macaroons sit atop a traditional stand filled with creative chocolate bites, such as the white chocolate and Christmas pudding dome or the pecan and salted caramel slice.

Warm buttermilk scones were served with lashing of strawberry jam and Devonshire clotted cream. The savoury selection was equally as tempting; my favourite being the smoked turkey and cranberry served in brioche; however the traditional ham and mustard or egg and cress did not go unfinished either.We were so full after clearing every morsel we practically needed to be rolled through the door; but not before our final chocolate hit, in the form of a Black Forest cocktail, mixed with Pierre Marcolini hot chocolate of course – the perfect preparation for climbing back through the doors of Narnia and into drizzly London town.

Time is running out to experience the Winter Terrace at Dalloway, as it closes mid February. Fear not, it will be open in all its summer glory and with a new menu in May, so check the website for more details >

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The Thompson Beach House, Mexico

Tulum in Mexico has been on my travel bucket list for several years, and with a successful 2016 ticking off new locations, I wanted to start my 2017 in the same way and where better to spend a snow laden January week, than in the beautiful sunshine of the Quintana Roo.

Unsure about whether I was equipped for a week of total technology disconnection in Tulum (more to come on that later), I decided to ease myself into my Mexican break with a couple of days in Playa Del Carmen, at the Thompson Beach House, just 45mins from Cancun airport.Boutique hotels are my preference, and as a member of the Soho House group, it was the same exclusive feel, stylish interiors and laid back attitude of the Beach House that made it my first choice. With just 27 rooms, all with a balcony and ocean view, it was exactly the start to my first trip of 2017 I could have wished for!

Although the property is small, as a guest of the Beach House, you can also take advantage of the main property’s facilities, such as the super glamorous roof top pool and duo of chic eateries including NYC import ‘Catch’, all just a short walk away.After a seamless check in at possibly the chicest lobby I have had the pleasure to visit, we made our way to our room, where the sun trap terrace was our first port of call to maximise vitamin D time.Our room was spacious, bright and modern, with subtle nods to the native culture in the form of Mayan room numbers, traditionally produced stone fittings and even local beers in the mini bar. It has all the mod cons you can expect from a chain, but with an appreciation of the destination, so you feel somewhat immersed.Alongside a large walk in rain shower, complete with seat, there was a standalone bathtub with beach view, which proved to be the ideal spot to end the day.

The Beach House also has a pool, however it is its proximity to the white sands and turquoise waters, which make it a holiday hotspot with fantastic lounger service to boot.It wasn’t long before we picked ourselves a beach bed, got acquainted with our inflatable flamingo and had a cocktail in hand, right through until the sun set.As a fan of the original New York outpost, dinner at Catch was firmly on the agenda for my visit, and it didn’t disappoint. Unlike the city hotspot, fresh ‘catch of the day’ is a stones throw from it’s seaside location, and the ocean breeze from the 360 degree design only adds to the buzzy, vacation ambience.As the name suggests, the menu is predominantly seafood, however for a non fish eater like myself, there was still plenty to choose from, some with a welcome Mexican twist. Crispy prawns came with a spicy mayo coating and the Wagyu short rib tacos, were some of the best tacos I have tasted (and I ate a lot of tacos on my trip). We followed this up with the Picana with chimichurri for me and Cantonese lobster for him. Washed down with some playfully named tequila cocktails.The dessert! The dessert could have a post of it’s own; A dessert that I left the restaurant feeling like I had unearthed the cure for worldwide unhappiness and that I was about to share my unprecedented discovery with all of human kind, hailing me as 2017’s Mother Theresa for services to humanity. Yes, it was THAT good. Unfortunately it seems that I am a little late to the Catch ‘Hit-Me’ dessert party, and on a little googling I found numerous tributes to this wonder of the dessert world; it even has its own hash tag!The video below negates the need for a full description, however it is essentially a sandwich of chocolate brownie, chocolate cake and a solid milk chocolate slab filled with liquid white chocolate, which when smashed/hit with a spoon, oozes all over the tower of chocolate heaven. Honestly something I would make the 11 hour plane journey to experience again.
Waking the next morning feeling refreshed (and with that dessert still on my mind), we made our way down to the pool for another day of uninterrupted lounging, breaking only for brunch at the C-Grill on the beach. Breakfast favourites such as smashed avocado with poached eggs and granola were on offer at this beach hut styled restaurant, as well as more local dishes, such as the cheese quesadilla -which I would highly recommend.Playa Del Carmen has become a bit of a party town, so the destination is certainly not for everyone, however the Beach House is just far enough removed from the bustle of the open sided clubs and house music playing bars to offer a peaceful, relaxing break for anyone looking for some down time. It made the ideal stop for us on our way down to Tulum (more on that trip to come) and proved a nice contrast to the more minimalistic hippy vibe of our other destinations – a great place for those looking for a nightlife scene.

To find our more about The Thompson Beach House, visit their website >

 

The Luxe Life was a guest of The Thompson Beach House but all views my own.

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A Spa Escape to Pennyhill Park

With turmoil over Brexit meaning that venturing abroad for your holiday is now eye-wateringly expensive, and the great British weather finally turning it on this summer, a UK holiday is now far more appealing than ever. And why wouldn’t it be?

Our green and pleasant land is replete with beautiful country bolt holes, glorious landscapes and some of the prettiest beaches in the world, not to mention manor houses that put the rest of the globe to shame.

Enter in Pennyhill Park, a beautiful ivy-clad Victorian manor set in the pretty, bucolic Surrey hills, famed for its traditional English aesthetic, dedication to luxury and its award-winning spa.

Taking us less than an hour to drive from Central London, it’s also supremely easy to reach; the ideal choice for a quick getaway from the big smoke.On arrival, we were shown to our room, Tamarisk – each of the 123 rooms having their own unique name; a huge, split-level bedroom in the main house, complete with Queen size bed and iPad to do everything from order breakfast in bed to watch a DVD of your choice on the giant plasma TV.

Sweeping staircases, chandeliers and tapestries are set against far more modern mod-cons such as a super-sleek bathroom (a TV in the bath is always welcome), warp-speed Wi-Fi and light-up, sensory rain showers.

One of the trademarks of Pennyhill is its sprawling spa – 45,000 square feet to be exact, and after a light lunch in the bar, we were eager to try it out.

The Surrey sunshine was on its best form as we laid our fluffy towels on a cushioned bed and ordered our cocktails beside the pool.

The spa itself comprises multiple experiences such as an ice cave, hamman, hydrotherapy pools and saunas, as well as a giant indoor pool and outdoor pool and changing rooms containing every amenity you could ever wish for.

Being a huge fan of the Natura Bisse range, I opted for an Oxygen facial which interestingly took place inside an oxygen filled bubble. According to my friendly therapist Kamala, the purpose of the bubble was to maximise the properties of the products and experience by being surrounded by a purer variety of air.

After an hour of pure bliss and a newly refreshed complexion, I was shown to the relaxation room for a post-treatment snooze. Inside the candle lit room were gel filled beds, which were the most idyllic, nap inducing beds I have ever experienced and the perfect ending to a relaxing treatment.

Another renowned part of a Pennyhill stay is the food, and this was no disappointment.

Cutting his teeth at two Michelin Star restaurants, Pennyhill’s The Latymer head chef Matt Warswick has created a culinary hotspot that we’d heard plenty about and couldn’t wait to try.

Offering exclusively tasting menus, your palette is guaranteed a journey of bold flavours and surprising twists. Classic English fare (pig’s trotter and cockles provided just two of the ingredients of our 6-course dinner), got a contemporary update, with a touch of Middle Eastern and Asian fusion coming in with baba ganoush and cardamom yoghurt in a savoury cone.

Each course was expertly paired with wine by our super-sweet and tremendously knowledgeable French sommelier – we highly recommend the 2014 Dajoar Rieseling; complementing the truffle-filled profiteroles and girly gossip perfectly.The service was impeccable – the sommelier even personally delivered a bottle of water we’d requested to our room after the meal – a necessity after the courses of octopus, beef, lamb, two delicious desserts and handmade macaroons to die for. Oh, and a cheese course.

A meal that truly lived up to the restaurant’s reputation and guaranteed an undisturbed night’s sleep.Awaking from our rejuvenating slumber the following morning, there was a race to the iPad to order breakfast in bed before heading back to the city.
Tummies full of bacon and eggs; we loaded the car before reluctantly bidding farewell to our country retreat.

For more information or to book a stay at Pennyhill Park, visit their website >

 

The Luxe Life was a guest of Pennyhill but all views my own.

from The Luxe Life