Infotel Magazine | Edition 19 | August 2017

2017 Edition 19

All Aboard!

The Norfolk Broads

Pedal Power!

Tour of Britain: Where to stay Wyboston Lakes Hotel: Fabulous for Business & Leisure

DISCOUNTED RATES & AMAZING OFFERS ON BUDGET TO LUXURIOUS HOTELS, SERVICED APARTMENTS & OVER

1,106,436 PROPERTIES WORLDWIDE

FOR YOUR NEXT WORK OR LEISURE NIGHT AWAY

01775 843413 Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

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CONTENTS

Front Cover: Norfolk Broads Inside Cover: Blenheim Palace

4 5 6 8 9 10

The Guest Book Dates for the Diary Clumber Park Muthu Hotel & Spa Best Western Plus Lancashire Manor Hotel

Wyboston Lakes Hotel Infotel Business

12 15 16 17 18 20

A postcard from Norfolk Norfolk: Where to stay Half Moon

Tour of Britain 2017 Latest News: Infotel Solutions Ltd Airport Parking

23 24 26 27 28

Chef’s Corner Featured Group: Hospitality First Ltd Ryelands B&B Flambards Hotel & Tea Rooms Infotel Specials

3

Infotel Partner properties ready to welcome you

Hillingdon Prince Reading

Lakeside Lodge Golf Centre Huntingdon

South Bridgwater

Appleby Inn Hotel

Nethybridge Hotel

Forest View Hotel

Cairn Hotel

Swadlincote

Nethy Bridge

Forest Gate

Moxy Aberdeen Airport Dyce

4

Walnut Tree Hotel

Harrogate

Headingley Lodge Hotel Leeds

Aztec Hotel & Spa Bristol

DATES FOR THE DIARY

What’s On? Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 10 - 13 August Bristol >>

Shrewsbury Flower Show 11 - 12 August Shrewsbury >>

AUGUST 2017

Who?

Portsmouth International Kite Festival 12 - 13 August Portsmouth >>

Where?

Summer Nights Festival at Wollaton Hall 24 - 28 August Nottingham >> Notting Hill Carnival 2017 26 - 28 August London >>

CarFest 2017 25 - 27 August Hampshire >>

The Big Festival 25 - 27 August Cotswolds >>

When?

The Cheese & Chilli Festival 2017 19 - 20 August Winchester >>

Newlyn Fish Festival 28 August Cornwall >> 5

FEATURE

Clumber Park Muthu Hotel & Spa Worksop, Nottinghamshire S80 3PA

ÂŁ108 01775 843413

From

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

Located in the Nottinghamshire countryside, just a few minutes from the famous Sherwood Forest and easily accessible for the A1 and M1 motorways, Clumber Park Muthu Hotel and Spa offers a relaxed and friendly stay for both business and leisure.

An executive family room, four poster beds and a suite with a separate sitting room are also available.

Dining is in the Normanton Inn and the Courtyard Restaurant. Both serve a traditional menu with seasonal classics using locally sourced ingredients.

The knowledgeable team there will recommend wines to complement meals or relax in the bar or one of the comfortable lounges with a little something from the gin, vodka or whisky menu!

Overnight spa breaks as well as bed and breakfast can be booked in the comfortable, clean and contemporary guest rooms which are finished to a high standard. Free WiFi, Gilchrist and Soames toiletries and hospitality trays are in all rooms.

6

150 Spaces On-site

Free WiFi Restaurant

Bar

Weddings CCTV & 24hr Reception

Parties

Gym & Spa

Indoor Pool

Check In 2.00pm

Check Out 12.00pm

FEATURE

Head Chef Allan Barrett is the creative behind the delicious menu being served at both restaurants. With ten years experience, he’s keen to let local produce and ingredients influence a menu inspired by the seasons while still serving everyone’s favourites.

Here he takes our quick-fire 30 second interview!

What’s proving popular on the menu at the moment?

Potato pancakes with smoked salmon and poached eggs.

The #Shelfie - a chef’s go to herbs!

Yours are?

Smoked paprika, salt and pepper, chives, thyme, cumin seeds and rosemary.

When you go home, who does the cooking?

Me!

“Rooms are well appointed, clean and comfortable. Bar is well stocked, service prompt and polite.

All in all, good value for money.”

Taken from a Trip Advisor review

Which celebrity chef inspires you?

Tom Kerridge.

Your favourite cuisine?

American - slow, long cooking is great. BBQ - it’s the perfect time of year!

You’re stranded on a desert island with one item from your kitchen.

What is it?

My chef knives!

Turn to page 23 to enjoy Allan’s Potato Pancake recipe!

7

FEATURE

Best Western Plus Lancashire Manor Hotel Wigan, Lancashire WN8 9QD

£75 01775 843413

From

£90

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

Dating back to the 16th Century, the hotel has recently undergone a £1 million refurbishment and offers stylish guest rooms, a thoughtfully designed restaurant with oak beams and beautiful stone walls, free WiFi and parking.

Best Western Plus Lancashire Manor Hotel sits right at the heart of the action, conveniently situated five minutes from Junction 5 of the M58 Motorway.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is just a 20 minute drive, and Manchester Airport is 30 minutes away.

“We appreciated the location of the hotel, the warm welcome, the quality and cleanliness of rooms.”

Taken from a Trip Advisor review

8

200 Spaces On-site

Free WiFi Restaurant

Bar

Weddings CCTV & 24hr Reception

Parties

Mini Gym

Check In 2.00pm

Check Out 11.00am

FEATURE

Wyboston Lakes Hotel Bedford, Bedfordshire MK44 3AL

£170 01775 843413

From

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

Newly refurbished, beautifully constructed and well equipped bedrooms for leisure and business with a choice of Deluxe, Superior, Junior and Wyboston Suites. Rooms have walk-in showers, a range of luxury toiletries, bathrobes, espresso machines, laptop safes with charging points and flat screen TVs ranging from 42” to 48”. New in-room technology helps provide a great guest service via tablets and smart phones. Guests can view menus, order room service, search local information and book spa treatments quickly and easily.

Dining in the Waterfront Brasserie provides a relaxed and enjoyable experience, with views over the waterside patio and south lake. Award-winning food from a menu to suit all budgets and a well stocked bar with a wide range of wines, Champagne, beers and spirits along with superb leisure facilities (fishing, golf, walking and a very good spa) make for an excellent stay.

800 Spaces FREE WiFi Restaurant On-site

Bar

24hr Reception

Weddings

Parties

Gym & Spa

Indoor Pool

Golf

Check In 3.00pm

Check Out 11.00am

“Check-in quick and efficient, staff were excellent.

Room very clean and spacious.

Bar area lovely.”

Taken from a Trip Advisor review

Check In 2.00pm

9

Meet the team

Amy

business

It’s our to look after you!

We provide the perfect partnership for finding your work and leisure accommodation

Bespoke Service

Babs

Becky

Accommodation

Clear Pricing

We search, secure and book your accommodation so you’re free to do your job.

We have access to over 910,000 properties, including major hotel chains, serviced apartments and independent B&B’s.

We offer a completely FREE service so there’s no hidden charges to worry about at the end of the month.

Travel

Savings

Flexible

We use the latest technology to secure the lowest rates on rail, air and ferry fares.

We save our clients on average 20% off all bookings.

We offer FREE cancellation on thousands of properties and we will make all the changes for you.

How to use our services Jackie Step 1: Get in touch!

+44 (0)1775 841184 Rosie

hotels@infotel.co.uk www.infotel.co.uk

Step 2: Your Enquiry

Working with your agreed budget and location, an Infotel specialist will locate the best hotel at the best rate or source the best travel itinerary to get you to your destination on time.

Step 4: Confirm Payment

Sue

Tanya

The booking can be secured to a card of your choice, with payment taken at the time of confirmation or on arrival. For clients using our billback service, we will settle your bill and issue a fortnightly invoice consolidating all of your billing.

Ready to book?

Step 3:

Our Proposal

Once you’re happy with the options provided, your Infotel specialist will make the booking and you will receive confirmation via email or SMS.

Step 5: Live Booking Portal

We can provide access to online management tools and information so you can monitor travel and accommodation bookings. We can also supply a bespoke online booking portal so you can enter your requirements on any internet enabled device.

01775 843413

Lines open 9.00am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday

BUSINESS

Where will your work take you this month?

ST ANDREWS

LONDONDERRY

259 properties

283 properties

HARTLEPOOL

SHREWSBURY

280 properties

285 properties

NOTTINGHAM 389 properties

CARDIFF

421 properties

SOUTHAMPTON

CANTERBURY 477 properties

448 properties

The best rooms at the best rates, sourced by the best accommodation specialists.

11

A POSTCARD FROM

By Acme, Cristobal Palma Photography (Own work) [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Norfolk Coastal or countryside, Norfolk has so much to offer.

From charming Cromer and it’s end of pier entertainment to the bright beach huts of Wells-next-the-Sea, boating on the beautiful Broads or artisan shopping in picturesque market towns. It’s a twitchers paradise, a seal spotters sanctuary and a royal retreat…

12

A POSTCARD FROM FEATURE The much-loved country retreat of Her Majesty The Queen, Sandringham has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs.

Set in 24 hectares of stunning gardens and at the heart of the 8,000 hectare Sandringham Estate, with a woodland and heath Country Park which is open to public free of charge every day of the year.

The estate is a mix of landscapes, including tidal mudflats, woodland and wetland, arable livestock and fruit farms. Sustainably managed and self-sufficient, the estate welcomes thousands of visitors every year to the House, Museums and Gardens.

Photo © Pauline E (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Photo © David Dixon (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Follow in some famous footsteps with a day at Holkham Bay. This enormous, unspoilt beach has been voted the best beach in Britain and gained worldwide publicity when it featured in the Oscar winning movie Shakespeare in Love.

A backdrop of pinewoods, rare flora and fauna, and a pleasant walk from the car park on boardwalks takes you to the four mile stretch of beach where you may spot a future monarch and his children playing!

Photo © Colin Smith (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Built as a bathing resort in 1846, Hunstanton is perfect for a paddle or crabbing in the shallow, salty rock pools. At the mouth of The Wash, the shallow waters make it an ideal place to learn kite surfing too.

By Dennis Smith [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

13

A POSTCARD FROM Marsh harrier, bittern, stone curlews, kingfishers and geese are just a few of the birds choosing to nest in Norfolk.

Listen out for moustached bearded tits in the dawn chorus or warblers in the rustling reed beds and at dusk look out for the ghost like barn owls cruising above the countryside.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust have a range of nature reserves and child-friendly visitor centres.

For many, NWT Cley Marshes is a must-stop.

With a shingle beach, saline lagoons, grazing marsh and reed beds, the site supports a large number of wintering and migrating birds.

Photo © Christine Matthews (cc-by-sa/2.0)

By Palmiped (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The largest seal colony in the country can be found at Blakeney Point, a four mile shingle and sand spit with a distinctive blue lifeboat house.

Part of a National Trust reserve, it can be reached by boat or by foot from Cley car park.

Common seals have their young between June and August and the Greys between November and January.

Bull seals fight for territories with mating taking place soon after pups are born so it can be quite a dramatic place to visit! If you’re going by boat, don’t be surprised when the seals swim out to meet you!

For an action packed day hitting top speeds of 30mph, the Anglian Karting Centre on the outskirts of Swaffham will fuel adrenaline junkies aged eight and above! Originally part of the RAF North Pickenham Station which was built for the US Army Air Force in 1943, the centre offers a choice of two circuits and provides overalls, helmets, hairnets and gloves. The Biz Karts have 2000cc Honda engines for adults and 1600cc for children and there’s a range of track experiences to keep all abilities revved up and raring go!

14

A POSTCARD FROM The Norfolk Broads aren’t just for boats!

With quiet lanes, undulating countryside and beautiful landscape it’s an idea area for cycling.

The Broads by Bike network is 14 circular rides exploring Wroxham, Ranworth, South Walsham, Neatishead, Barton Turf and Dilham.

Photo © David Dixon (cc-by-sa/2.0)

There’s also a stretch which reaches the sand dunes of Horsey and five other routes exploring the southern Broads around Waveney valley.

Where to stay

Olde Windmill Inn

Heacham Manor Hotel

Andover House

The Russet House

Innkeepers Lodge The Swan Inn

Sprowston Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club

Swaffham

Kings Lynn

Hunstanton

Horning, Norfolk Broads

01775 843413

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

Great Yarmouth

Norwich

MORE HOTELS

15

FEATURE FEATURE

Half Moon

Woking, Surrey GU23 6AN

£75 01775 843413

From

£85

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

Located just off junction 10 on the M25, and convenient for Woking and Guildford, this 18th Century inn offers comfortable accommodation and gastro-pub dining in the beautiful and historic village of Ripley in Surrey.

All rooms are en-suite, with the exception of the triple room which has a separate, private shower room, and include FreeView TV, WiFi, bathrobes, complimentary toiletries and hospitality trays.

Home-made pizzas, platters, light bites, more substantial meals and a traditional Sunday roast together with a wide selection of beers and wines are available from the bar.

“Clean room, big en-suite bathroom, fab shower, breakfast was quick service and good food” Taken from a Trip Advisor review

16

50 Spaces On-site

FREE WiFi

Restaurant

Bar

Pet Tea & Coffee Friendly Facilities

Check In 2.00pm

Check Out 11.00am

TOUR OF BRITAIN

Where to stay 3 - 10 September 2017

Stage 1. Edinburgh to Kelso Stage 2. Kielder Water & Forest Park to Blyth Stage 3. Normanby Hall to Scunthorpe Stage 4. Mansfield to Newark-on-Trent Stage 5. Clacton-on-Sea Stage 6. Newmarket to Aldeburgh Stage 7. Hemel Hempstead to Cheltenham Stage 8. Worcester to Cardiff Photos courtesy of SweetSpot

17

Latest News

When you place your trust in us, you trust us to

keep your data safe and secure.

With our own code of conduct in place we can confidently report data loss or corruption is not an issue for clients using our services.

However, it's important for us as a business to not stand still...

This year we have gained the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Set up to ensure companies who work with credit cards do so securely, the standard focuses on the credit card transaction process and is administered and managed by an independent body of major payment cards, including Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

Kimberley Graham, Operations Director at Infotel Solutions, said:

"Following PCI security standards is good business and one of our objectives this year was to gain the standard of PCI compliant.

It was important for us to be able to offer this extra level of reassurance for our clients who put their trust in our services. I believe our member hotels will also benefit from this added data security which can only encourage more guests through their doors."

Robert English, Senior Developer at Infotel Solutions continues:

"The way we accept, process, store and transmit credit card information is done in a secure environment which our clients can continue to trust and rely on. They can also rest assured that we have robust systems in place to guarantee a fast response should any potential data risks or threats arise. Through implementing all the requirements of the PCI standard we have made it much more difficult for an attacker to gain access to data."

Kimberley concluded:

"What is safe today is not necessarily safe tomorrow so our teams will continue to operate best practices in remaining PCI compliant in delivering our services and surpassing clients' expectations."

If you would like information on how Infotel Solutions Ltd can help with your accommodation bookings please contact

01775 843418

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm

AIRPORT PARKING

The Great Escape is underway and if you’ve not yet booked your airport stay our handy guide to hotels with airport parking is what you need!

For London Gatwick

Holiday Inn Express Gatwick Crawley

Crompton Guest House

Gatwick Belmont Hotel

For London Heathrow

Crowne Plaza Heathrow

Holiday Inn Taplow House London Heathrow Hotel & M4 J4 Restaurant

20

Holiday Inn London Gatwick Worth

Pinewood Hotel

Heathrow Windsor Marriott

Doubletree by Park Inn by Hilton London Radisson Heathrow Airport Heathrow

AIRPORT PARKING

For London Luton

Aubrey Park Hotel

Holiday Inn Luton South M1 J9

For Birmingham Airport

Arden Hotel & Leisure Club

Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport

Regency Hotel Solihull

Crowne Plaza Birmingham Nec

For East Midlands

Novotel Nottingham East Midlands

Kegworth Hotel & Conference Centre

For Manchester Airport

Hallmark Hotel Manchester Airport

Best Western Appleby Park Hotel

Crowne Plaza Manchester Airport

Etrop Grange 21

For Norwich

AIRPORT PARKING

Holiday Inn Express Norwich

Mercure Norwich Hotel

For Aberdeen

Speedbird Inn Aberdeen Airport

Hallmark Hotel Aberdeen Airport

For Glasgow

Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport

Normandy Hotel Glasgow Airport

Gleddoch House Hotel Golf & Spa

For Edinburgh Need a hotel? Contact

01775 843413

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

Norton House Hotel & Spa

22

CHEF’S CORNER

Ingredients Potato Pancake

By Allan Barrett (serves one)

Method

1. Combine mash, cream & eggs and whip to a batter.

• 400g Mashed Potato • 120ml Cream • 2 Eggs • 50g Corn Flour • 2 tablespoons of Chives & Dill • Parsley • Smoked salmon, bacon or Parma ham

2. Fold in corn flour and herbs to a thick batter.

3. Allow to rest for 20 minutes.

4. Pan fry one side for 4 to 5 minutes.

5. Finish under a hot grill for 3 to 4 minutes.

6. Top with smoked salmon or if you prefer crispy bacon or Parma ham.

23

GROUP

Hospitality First Ltd is a leading independent hospitality management company who work with a wide range of hotels, delivering exceptional customer service.

The group has ten hotels in the UK and this month, we take a snapshot of two; Ibis Budget Warrington Lymm Services and Ibis Budget Knutford.

VIEW GROUP

Ibis Budget Warrington Lymm Services Warrington, Cheshire WA13 0SP

The Ibis Budget Warrington hotel is located at Lymm Services, just one mile from junction 20 on the M6 and junction 9 on the M56.

Convenient for Manchester City Centre and the airport, hotel guests can also benefit from discounts between 10 and 20% at the food and retail outlets on the service area (M&S, Costa, McDonalds and WHSmiths) plus the hotel’s own restaurant and bar.

En-suite accommodation with flat screen TV, hospitality trays and free WiFi plus a 24 hour reception for late check-ins.

60 Spaces On-site

24

FREE WiFi

Services CCTV & 24hr Check In Reception 2.00pm

Check Out 12.00pm

GROUP

Ibis Budget Knutsford

Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 0PP

Comfort at a sensible price and a convenient location for Manchester City Centre and Airport, Cheshire and the North West.

A total of 32 ground floor rooms with double beds and flat screen TVs, free WiFi, ample free parking and a 24 hour reception.

35 Spaces On-site

WiFi

24hr Reception

Check In 2.00pm

Holiday Inn Express Kettering

Check Out 11.00am

Quality Hotel Birmingham Airport

Best Western Plus Lancashire Manor Hotel

Best Western Crewe Arms Hotel

Best Western Tillington Hall Hotel

25

FEATURE FEATURE

Ryelands B&B Saltash, Cornwall PL12 6PH

£65 01775 843413

From

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

Three comfortable, modern and recently refurbished en-suite guest rooms in this B&B positioned on the border of the ‘Gateway to Cornwall’, south of the Tamar Valley.

Flat screen TVs, WiFi, deluxe bathrooms, bathrobes, toiletries and well stocked welcome trays in guest rooms, views of the Devon and Cornwall countryside and plenty of peace and tranquillity make Ryelands an ideal base for both business and leisure guests.

A full English breakfast from locally sourced produce along with fresh fruit, yoghurts and cereals, are served in the lounge.

“I have travelled all over the UK with my job and this B&B is by far the best I have ever stayed in. The rooms are spotless, the hosts are very friendly and helpful and the breakfast is to die for!”

Plymouth is about eight miles away, the edge of Dartmoor National Park is 20 minutes and the Eden Project is 40 minutes by car. The naval base of Raleigh is only 20 minutes away.

26

Taken from a Trip Advisor review

5 Spaces On-site

WiFi

Breakfast

Laundry

24hr Reception

Great Views

Check In 2.00pm

Check Out 11.00am

FEATURE

Flambards Hotel & Tea Rooms Cardigan, Ceredigion SA43 2NT

£75 01775 843413

From

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

Six newly refurbished guestrooms are available on the first floor with an easy access room on the ground floor of this former pub which has been lovingly renovated, opening last year as a tea room, coffee lounge and hotel.

Guest rooms have flat screen TVs with Freeview, wireless internet and hospitality trays, additional WiFi is available in public areas. Evening meals are served from 6pm to 9pm, Tuesday to Saturday and Sunday dining is from 12noon to 3pm. Breakfast is served in the tea rooms.

“A welcoming and comfortable stay. Lovely evening meal, tasty breakfast and clean bedroom.”

Taken from a Trip Advisor review

Situated in a picturesque village with views and walks along the river Teifi, Flambards is convenient for the market town of Cardigan, North Pembrokeshire and South Ceredigion.

25 Spaces On-site

WiFi

Restaurant

Bar

Pet Tea & Coffee Friendly Facilities

Check In 2.00pm

Check Out 10.00am

27

SPECIALS

From a saving of £5 to a discount of 70% - there’s a special waiting for you!

Village Hotel Club - Herons’ Reach Blackpool Golfing Break offer VIEW DETAILS

Last Drop Village Ruxley Rooms Sidcup Hotel & Spa Bolton

Pennine Moor escape from £39 VIEW DETAILS

Deans Place Queensberry Hotel & Olive Tree Hotel Alfriston Restaurant Bath Savings of up to £80 VIEW DETAILS

ENQUIRE

Stay & save - four packages available VIEW DETAILS

Discounts on all rooms - save up to £40 VIEW DETAILS

Hallmark Hotel Glasgow Glasgow

Summer break offer - enjoy 35% off VIEW DETAILS

01775 843413

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm 28

SPECIALS

Going, going, gone! Catch a saving before it’s too late...

Jurys Inn Swindon

The Block Liverpool

20% off this Summer

Late booking discounts up to 70% off

Swindon

VIEW DETAILS

Liverpool

VIEW DETAILS

The Parsonage Hotel & Spa

Llechwen Hall Hotel

Up to £50 off!

1/2 price discount

York

VIEW DETAILS

Pontypridd

VIEW DETAILS

01775 843413

Royal Hotel Hull Hull

Book 10 days in advance & save up to £20 per night

VIEW DETAILS

New Inn Brecon

10% off when you quote ‘Infotel’ VIEW DETAILS

ENQUIRE

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

29

Let’s be friends

Peterborough 417 properties

VIEW HOTELS

Plymouth 430 properties

VIEW HOTELS

Portsmouth 197 properties

VIEW HOTELS