Infotel Magazine | Edition 20 | September 2017

2017 Edition 20

National Read a Book Day: try a novel stay!

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Portsmouth

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Head Chef

Rose Mclean Johnson lets her food do the talking!

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CONTENTS

Front Cover: Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth Inside Cover: Norfolk Broads

4 5 6 7 9

The Guest Book Dates for the Diary Buckatree Hall Hotel Let the food do the talking...

A Novel Stay

57 13 926 2024 13 14 15 16 18 19

Latest Offers

Docklands Lodge London Padbrook Park Hotel

Infotel Business Purdy Lodge The Glenlyn

20 24 26 27 28

A Postcard from Porstmouth Compass Hospitality Group Latest Offers The Imperial Hotel Blackpool Chef’s Corner

3

Infotel Partner properties ready to welcome you

Countryman Inn Dorset

Mill House Hotel & Riverside Restaurant Bedfordshire

Falcon Hotel Cambridgeshire

The Fleece at Cirencester

Jurys Inn Nottingham

Littlebeck Warren

Dunkeld House Hotel

Gloucestershire

Nottinghamshire

Cumbria

Feathers Hotel East Yorkshire

4

Perthshire

Feughside Inn Aberdeenshire

Holiday Inn Express Northamptonshire

DATES FOR THE DIARY SEPTEMBER 2017

What’s On? Who? St Annes International Kite Festival 2 & 3 September Lytham St Annes >>

Blackpool Illuminations and LightPool 2017 1 September to 5 November Blackpool >>

Where?

British Science Festival 6 - 9 September Brighton >>

Foodies Festival 4 - 6 September Edinburgh >> Bestival 2017 7 - 10 September Dorset >>

Southampton Boat Show 16 - 25 September Southampton >> Holmfirth Food and Drink Festival 23 - 24 September Holmfirth >> Scarborough Jazz Festival 22 - 24 September Scarborough >>

When?

5

FEATURE

Buckatree Hall Hotel Telford, Shropshire TF6 5AL

ÂŁ70 01775 843413

From

ÂŁ140

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

This country house hotel at the foot of the famous Wrekin in Shropshire offers relaxing accommodation in traditional, well appointed guestrooms.

Flat screen TVs, hospitality trays and free WiFi plus a choice of rooms offering either private balconies or four poster/sleigh beds are available.

Many of the rooms overlook the scenic gardens or the private lake in this conveniently located hotel, ideal for historic Ironbridge, RAF Cosford, Wonderland and Weston Park.

The Lakeside Restaurant, lead by head chef Rose Mclean Johnson, serves a contemporary cuisine with the stylish Lander Bar and Lounge providing guests with a selection of traditional meals.

6

80 Spaces On-site

Free WiFi Restaurant

Bar

Weddings CCTV & 24hr Reception

Parties

Gym

Air Conditioning

Room Service

LET THE FOOD DO THE TALKING

We recently caught up with Rose from Buckatree Hall Hotel...

“Our room was spacious, clean and overlooking the lake which was very relaxing. The staff were really pleasant, and the restaurant manager was exceptional.

The stay exceeded our expectations and we would have no hesitation in staying again.”

Taken from a Trip Advisor review

Pet Friendly

Casino Nights

Check In 2.00pm

Check Out 11.00am

How long have you been a chef and how did you get started?

Originally I wanted to be a nurse and went to Shrewsbury College on a pre-nursing course but when I lost my father to Leukemia, I had a complete change of heart and I’ve now been in the kitchen for over 30 years! I started as a trainee chef working under the guidance of Paul Clarkson at the Park House Hotel in Shifnal before relocating to Southampton for a couple of years.

I crossed paths again with Paul when he was Executive Head Chef at Madeley Court and I was his Head Chef. I was there for seven years before stints in Gloucestershire, Kidderminster and Derby and then heading up the team here at Buckatree where I’ve been since 2004.

7

LET THE FOOD DO THE TALKING

What is proving to be the most popular dish on your menu at the moment?

We have just introduced two new summer salads which both have beetroot as a central ingredient. I love beetroot, not just the taste but the vibrant colour it adds to any dish. Both salads, one with mackerel and one with goats cheese, have been extremely popular with our guests.

What do you look for when creating a new dish or menu?

While the obvious answer has to be seasonality the reality is somewhat different. My menus are put together by taking into account our customer base, the abilities and time constraints for my team and the costs.

The cost of food has gone up dramatically over the last 12 months. Even less popular cuts of meat or fish have in some cases gone up by 100%. We can’t pass on all of these increases to our customers so this means we have to be even more creative with our menus and in some cases, set trends rather than follow them.

8

“I have a very large family.

Cooking, particularly for a celebration, was always at the centre of my family life.”

You’re sharing a recipe today, why did you choose this one?

Like I mentioned, sometimes you have to set trends and not just follow them! I cooked my Apple and Stilton Crème Brule for my Head Chef at Botley Park in Southampton nearly 30 years ago. At the time it was very innovative and nobody was doing a dish quite like it.

Today, it is just as popular and makes an appearance on the menu here at Buckatree Hall from time to time.

Who, dead or alive, would you love to cook for and what would you serve?

My dad. I miss him very much.

I would cook him belly pork with a Caribbean twist. We would chat for hours and he would hopefully be proud of what his daughter has achieved.

Turn to page 28 for Rose’s recipe >>

A NOVEL FEATURE STAY

If there’s a book on your list of must-reads, you’ve seen a film but heard the book is better or you’re looking for an excuse to lose yourself to a page turner, then National Read a Book Day on 6 September is your excuse for a literary escape!

9

A NOVEL STAY

From the opening paragraph to the final chapter, wherever you decide to start your story, our guide for a novel stay will get you started…

1

3

For a touch of espionage, you don’t need to dig too deep to discover Dover’s connection with the ultimate spy, James Bond. Author Ian Fleming bought Noel Coward’s home White Cliffs, in St Margaret’s Bay, north-east of Dover, to use as his weekend and holiday home between 1951 and 1957.

Most of the Bond novels give a nod to the author’s favourite county,

Moonraker where

Norwich became the sixth UNESCO City of Literature in 2012 and is where writers Ian McEwan, Kazuo Ishiguro, Rose Tremain and Emma Healey, to name a few, have studied.

It was home to best-selling author Philip Pullman, creator of the fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials, and home to Black Beauty author Anna Sewell.

10

Norwich is without doubt the city of stories

with a rich history going back over 600 years, three literary festivals, world-leading bookshops and a regional centre for publishing.

Bookmark a Norwich stay>>

Photo by Adrian Hon, via Wikimedia Commons

Get booked into Dover >>

Photo © Marathon (cc-by-sa/2.0)

http://mssv.net/ [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]

villain Sir Hugo Draz builds a nuclear rocket outside of Dover; the famous golf match in Goldfinger is inspired by Fleming’s favourite Kent golf club and later, when Bond follows Goldfinger to Lydd Airport on Romney Marsh. Home to Moneypenny Farm and Honeychild Manor Farm, Romney Marsh also has the world’s smallest public railway. Inspiration perhaps for villain Francisco Scaramanga’s narrow gauge railway in The Man with the Golden Gun.

5

A NOVEL STAY Did holidays in Llandudno inspire the beginnings of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland?

The young and inquisitive Alice would recount her holiday adventures to Lewis Carroll and many believe these tales shaped the story we all know today.

Read between the lines in Llandudno >>

Bideford and Barnstaple in Devon provide the scenery for Tarka the Otter by Henry Williamson. The book begins and ends in Torrington with the author using real places throughout the story; Bideford Long Bridge, The Beam Aquaduct, Hoar Oak Water and many more. Take the Tarka Trail by bicycle or foot and discover this much loved book, which has never been out of print.

Paperback best seller in North Devon >>

[CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]

Photo by Daniel Ogren, via Wikimedia Commons

Edinburgh, the first designated UNESCO City of Literature in the world, is the birthplace and home to some of the world’s most loved writers. JK Rowling wrote all the Harry Potter books here, Kate Atkinson calls Edinburgh home, Rebus and Ian Rankin are synonymous with the city and it’s where

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

was brought to life. Literary events,

unique book shops and cafes,

new writing and the largest

International Book Festival make

Edinburgh a chapter not to skip.

Discover the windswept heathers and wild moors of Bronte country, West Yorkshire. The Bronte Way takes enthusiasts on a 43 mile walk starting at Oakwell Hall (Fieldheld in Charlotte Bronte’s Shirley) past the Bronte birthplace in Thornton, past Ponden Hall (Thrushcross Grange in Emily’s Wuthering Heights) and onto walks that the family enjoyed.

Scenic highlights include the trail to the Bronte Waterfall, over Bronte Bridge and up to Top Withens, the suggested location of Earnshaw House in Wuthering Heights.

5 6 Try a special edition in Edinburgh >>

Photo © Roger A Smith (cc-by-sa/2.0)

3 4 Photo © Humphrey Bolton (cc-by-sa/2.0)

The walk does take in some pretty wild and desolate moorland but it can be broken down in to four manageable ‘chapters’ and there are plenty of pubs and country houses to keep you fuelled on your journey!

A textbook stay in West Yorkshire >> 11

By William Shuter, via Wikimedia Commons [Public domain]

A NOVEL STAY

Photo © Graham Robson (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Wander lonely as a cloud with a visit to Wordsworth’s Lake District! Start at his home, Dove Cottage in Grasmere, where little has changed since 1799; stone floors, dark panelled rooms, open fire places and many of the family’s own belongings remain.

Enjoy the refuge of the cottage garden before discovering the lakes, mountains and waterfalls which so inspired William Wordsworth.

7 8

By Selfie756 (Own work), via Wikimedia Commons

[CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

Go for large print in the Lake District >>

9 12

Photo © Rod Allday (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Walk through Poldark country, from Botallack to Higher Bal. The spectacular South West Coast Path conjures up the drama of Winston Graham’s much-loved novels. Following in the footsteps of old smugglers, the path takes in Cornwall’s rich industrial heritage of mining, quarrying, fishing and boat building.

Try a soft cover in South Cornwall >>

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think,”

Experience Bram Stoker’s classic novel Dracula with a walk in Whitby! At just under five miles, the route takes in many of the streets and landmarks which fed the creative flair of the famous author, including the harbour, the famous 199 steps and the ruins of Whitby Abbey.

said Christopher Robin to Pooh.

Ashdown Forest in East Sussex is the setting for AA Milne’s Winnie the Pooh stories and the five and a half mile circular ‘Pawsteps’ walk includes time for pooh sticks at Pooh Bridge, exploration in 100 Acre Wood and a visit to Eeyore’s Gloomy Place!

Pick a page turner in North Yorkshire >>

Don’t forget the epilogue in East Sussex >>

8

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13

FEATURE

Docklands Lodge London Docklands, London E14 0BB

Special Offer! 10% off all bookings until June 2018

£60 01775 843413

From

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

A modern hotel with a friendly atmosphere and a high level of service. Located just three minutes from three Dockland Light Railway Stations (Blackwell, Poplar and All Saints) and convenient for Canary Wharf, the O2 Arena, Westfield Stratford and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

A mix of en-suite rooms and rooms with shared bathroom facilities are available.

All have tea and coffee making facilities, flat screen TVs and WiFi. A cooked breakfast can be enjoyed in the hotel’s restaurant and there’s a good choice of restaurants and bars for evening entertainment if you decide to go out.

“This hotel is excellent, lovely friendly staff, amazing breakfast, rooms are superb.

Mine had three windows!

Shared bathrooms were always spotless.”

Taken from a Trip Advisor review

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Concierge Tea & Coffee Luggage Free WiFi Restaurant CCTV & Storage Facilities 24hr Reception

Check In 2.00pm

Check Out 11.00am

FEATURE

Padbrook Park Hotel Cullompton, Devon EX15 1RU

From

£100 01775 843413

£110

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

Located in the heart of the Culm Valley, at the southern end of Cullompton and just 15 minutes from the historic City of Exeter, Padbrook Park Hotel offers 40 cosy and comfortable, en-suite rooms with power showers, tea and coffee making facilities, Freeview TV, a business desk and telephone, free WiFi and complimentary access to the on-site gym.

Dining is in Ripleys Restaurant, serving traditional British cuisine including beer battered cod and slow cooked pork belly, tempting vegetarian options and a children’s menu.

“Huge rooms with all the right facilities... plenty of safe on-site parking... all the staff were very friendly.”

Taken from a Trip Advisor review

On-site parking for up to 250 vehicles is available.

250 Spaces On-site

FREE WiFi

Restaurant

Bar

Weddings CCTV & 24hr Reception

Parties

Fitness Hair & Beauty In-house Centre Movies Salon

Check In 2.00pm

Check Out 11.00am

Check In 2.00pm

15

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01775 843413

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BUSINESS

Where will your work take you this month?

AVIEMORE 173 properties

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

17

FEATURE FEATURE

Purdy Lodge

Belford, Northumberland NE70 7JU

£73 .95 01775 843413

From

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

A choice of self-catering cottages and guestrooms in the lodge, with tea and coffee making facilities, free WiFi and flat screen TVs. Cottages include fully equipped kitchens, bed and bath linen, sitting rooms and private patio areas with outdoor furniture.

Along with a cooked breakfast, the bar and grill restaurant serves an evening menu of local ingredients whenever possible.

Beer battered cod, steaks, burgers, Lindisfarne chicken, pulled pork plus vegetarian options are available. Alternatively the on-site café offers a quick service 24 hours a day.

“We love this place.

Staff are always helpful and friendly and the rooms are lovely. The hotel restaurant is nice or you have the cheaper option of the 24 hour café.”

The Purdy Lodge is conveniently located for Bamburgh, Alnwick, Berwick upon Tweed and North Northumbeland.

18

40 Spaces On-site

FREE WiFi

Taken from a Trip Advisor review

Restaurant & Catering

Bar

Weddings

Parties

24hr Reception

Room Service

Golf Nearby

Fishing Nearby

Check In 3.00pm

Check Out 10.00am

FEATURE

The Glenlyn Finchley, London N12 8RP

£65 01775 843413

From

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

The family run Glenlyn is set within large Victorian terraced houses and seamlessly combines original architectural features with today’s high standards of comfort and service.

Guestrooms have their own distinctive décor creating a homely and cosy feeling, flat screen TVs with Freeview, WiFi and welcoming hospitality trays. There is a private bar, a garden and a conservatory where guests can enjoy a full English breakfast. Finchley has an excellent choice of restaurants for evening dining.

Minutes from Woodside Park Underground Station, good access to Wembley, Alexandra Palace and Central London, the Glenlyn offers free parking and is outside the London Congestion Zone.

14 Spaces On-site

FREE WiFi

Breakfast

Bar

Tea & Coffee Luggage Congestion Check In Facilities Storage Zone (Outside) 2.00pm

Check Out 11.30am

“The hotel was very well located, near to restaurants, shops and the tube, where it was about a 30 minute trip into Central London. The staff were all very polite and helpful.

We stayed in a family room which was spacious and comfortable. Breakfast was delicious and there was plenty of variety to suit all tastes.”

Taken from a Trip Advisor review

19

A POSTCARD FROM

Portsmouth The UK’s only island city is packed with pomp with its proud naval and maritime heritage, world-class visitor attractions and its celebration of literary greats.

Stand in the steps of Henry VIII at Southsea Castle, built as part of the country’s fortifications in 1544, and where the Tudor monarch watched his flagship, the Mary Rose sink. Open from March to October, visitors get a real idea of how the castle defended the country from invaders.

Enjoy in the panoramic views over the Solent and the Isle of Wight from the artillery gun platforms at the top of the keep.

With a café, gift shop and micro brewery to add to the experience, try to time your visit for a Friday when you can also raise a glass in the Champagne Bar!

20

Photo © Mike Faherty (cc-by-sa/2.0)

A POSTCARD FROM FEATURE

All aboard HMS Alliance for a journey through the decades of this submarine’s service. Look through the working periscopes, see and feel how it was for crew members packed into small spaces, hear from ex-submariners and see how the country’s only surviving WWII submarine defended the country from under the sea.

Photo © Chris Allen (cc-by-sa/2.0)

When you’re finished diving the depths, also at the Historic Dockland is the 16th century warship, the Mary Rose. The purpose-built award-winning museum reunites the ship with many of her artefacts and crew at the moment in time when she sank.

Capturing the world’s imagination when she was raised from the depths of the Solent in 1982, Henry’s favourite ship has been painstakingly conserved for generations to come and now forms the centre piece of this £27 million museum.

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

If you love to shop, Gunwharf Quays doesn’t disappoint! Premium retail outlet stores with plenty of famous brands, from Ralph Lauren, Jack Wills, Michael Korrs, Karen Millen and Ted Baker, plus homeware and top sporting brands offer up to 60% off the RRP. When it’s time to drop, you’re spoilt for choice with Jamie’s Italian, Brasserie Blanc, Café Rouge, Loch Fyne and Wagamama waiting to whet your appetite!

Photo © Paul Gillett (cc-by-sa/2.0)

21

A POSTCARD FROM

Swap 2017 fashion for the regency of Charles Dickens’ Birthplace Museum or enjoy an organised literary walk around the city. Discover the home of Rudyard Kipling, the workplace of HG Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle’s home where super sleuth Sherlock’s literary life began, Nevil Shute and many more writers of classic page turners who had chapters of their own lives in the historic city.

High teas and high thrills - if you have a head for heights! The Emirates Spinnaker Tower was built as part of the centre piece in the Renaissance of Portsmouth Harbour Project. Standing tall at 110 metres high, it’s an architectural and engineering masterpiece which offers dramatic views over the harbour, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth Historic Dockland and the surrounding towns and suburbs.

A high speed lift whizzes visitors to the View Decks in just 30 seconds. If you prefer to take the stairs, there’s 570 up to View Deck 3. Adrenaline junkies can take part in organised abseiling events but if you prefer something more sedate, enjoy afternoon tea or opt for the Sparkles and Tower experience where fizz flows at 105 meters above the harbour!

Meet the animals, explore the gardens and enjoy the ancient woodlands at Staunton Country Park. Llamas, alpacas and donkeys, pigs, sheep and Shetland ponies will keep the children entertained, especially if you’ve bought some animal feed from the farm shop!

For a journey of discovery, follow the water trail around the park to see how water makes it ways from the lakes to our taps.

Photo © Basher Eyre (cc-by-sa/2.0)

22

A POSTCARD FROM

Staying with water, South Coast H2O is an adventure playground for wakeboarders, wakeskaters and kitesurfers, from beginners to pros and everyone over the age of eight who’s ready to rip up the water!

With a System 2.0 in place, riders can hit obstacles in quick succession and perfect their style. Beginners will welcome the forgiving system which stops if a rider falls and the tow handle is brought back, making it easy to start again from where you fell!

Whether on land or water, Portsmouth is packed with plenty to do!

Photo © David Dixon (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Photo © David Dixon (cc-by-sa/2.0)

WHERE TO STAY

Brookfield Hotel

Ibis Portsmouth Centre

01775 843413

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

Solent Hotel & Spa

MORE PORTSMOUTH HOTELS

23

GROUP

From the legend of Robin Hood in Nottingham, the Yorkshire charm of Halifax, the history of Oxford and the city coolness of Manchester, Compass Hospitality has a hotel ready to welcome you!

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Big Sleep Hotel - Cardiff Citrus Hotel - Coventry

Columba Hotel - Inverness 24

GROUP

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Big Sleep Hotel - Cheltenham Lace Market Hotel - Nottingham

Best Western Plus Milford Hotel - Leeds Big Sleep Hotel - Eastbourne

White Swan Hotel - Halifax 25

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Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm 26

FEATURE FEATURE

The Imperial Hotel Blackpool Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 2HB

£63 .75 01775 843413

From

£85

Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm

The Imperial Hotel, Blackpool, is a grand 19th Century hotel recalling the opulence and glamour of this famous resort’s Victorian heyday. Offering all the comforts of modern life and with views over the North Promenade, there’s a choice of standard, deluxe and master suites, all with free WiFi, flat screen TVs with Sky channels and hospitality trays. The master suites offer sea views and either four poster or sleigh beds.

Dining is in the Palm Court restaurant which serves a seasonal table d’hote menu plus daily specials from locally sourced produce.

“The building is spectacular and this theme continues throughout. Rooms are clean and comfy. Situated right on the sea front and the tram stop is right outside.

Lovely place.”

Taken from a Trip Advisor review

A continental or full English breakfast with farmhouse pork sausages, grilled bacon, eggs benedict and smoked salmon guarantee the perfect start to the day!

150 Spaces On-site

FREE WiFi

Restaurant

Bar

CCTV

Fitness Centre

Indoor Pool

Room Service

Laundry Service

Luggage Storages

Check In 3.00pm

Check Out 11.00am

27

CHEF’S CORNER

Stilton & Apple Crème Brûlée with Parmesan Crisp

By Rose Mclean Johnson (serves six)

28

CHEF’S CORNER

Preparation Preheat the oven to 275°F. In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over a medium heat.

Lightly sauté the diced apple for just a minute or two before adding the apple puree/sauce.

Simmer on a low heat for 2 minutes and then set aside to cool down.

The fresh apple should still have a bite to it which will give texture to the finished Crème Brûlée.

Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until pale in colour. Whisk in the cream and mix in the apples, blue cheese and salt and pepper.

1 tbsp olive oil

Place six ramekins in a shallow tray. Divide the custard mixture among the dishes. Pour warm water into the tray to come halfway up the sides of the dishes.

(I use Bramley, peeled and diced into small cubes)

Bake in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the centre of each custard still jiggles slightly.

5 ounces of crumbled blue cheese

Remove from the oven and lift the dishes from the hot water. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan onto a silicone sheet in circles, I use a large cookie cutter. Watch as it begins to melt then remove from the oven and leave to cool.

Cover the top of each Brûlée with a thin layer of sugar. Using a hand-held blowtorch caramelise the sugar or place under a hot grill.

Enjoy!

2 tbsp of apple puree/sauce 1 medium sized apple

4 large egg yolks 460ml double cream (I use Wrekin blue)

Pepper to taste Salt and freshly ground black Grated Parmesan cheese Sugar for topping

Why not book a stay and try Rose’s food for yourself?

29

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