The Queen of the Midlands – Christmas shopping anyone?

With only 30 days to go until the big day and only 29 actual shopping days, it is time to get your skates on, quite litertally and head to Nottingham for a Christmas Extravaganza. The Ice Rink is in full swing, the Alpine lodge is serving mulled wine and mince pies and the pavements are quite literally paved with festive cheer. Another very important point to remember, Nottingham currently ranks in the UK’s top five shopping destinations.

So, what better way to combat the pre-Xmas shopping blues by combining it with a special treat, a little weekend away for yourselves. See, automatically you are feeling much cheerier about it. To join in the festive cheer, we have  teamed up with The Best Western Westminster Hotel to offer you a rip roaring package.. Stay in an Executive room, a door to door taxi transfer to the shops and a £10 food voucher to be spent in the hotel against Dinner. All for a cracking £70!!!! So come on, come and pamper yourselves. The Best Western Westminster Hotel has been beautifully converted from Victorian Homes to offer a personalized and comfortable hotel less than 1 mile from the city centre. It has free parking so no expensive costs there and free wireless to plan your shopping route from the comfort of your upgraded Executive guest room. This offer is valid for bookings until 23^rd Dec so don’t dilly dally, book today!

Robsons Extreme Hotel Adventures: A Christmas Offer

It’s now freezing outside, it’s almost pitch black at 4pm and England have lost their 1^st Investec challenge rugby match against the All Blacks.  This can only mean one thing…..Christmas is almost here!

‘What shall we do on Christmas day?’  The most common question for this time of the year.  Followed closely by ‘Shall we go to your parent’s house or mine?’ or ‘shall we invite both our parents over to ours?’….Noooooooooooo!!!!

How about this ‘Why don’t we book an amazing Christmas offer at the De Vere University Arms Cambridge?’ Emmm, not a bad thought.

The De Vere University arms in Cambridge is an awesome hotel, it’s huge and very grand!  They are offering a Christmas deal that could tempt away from the norm.

This is a three night Christmas package and includes a three course dinner on Christmas Eve, Traditional Christmas Day lunch and evening buffet on Christmas Day and a three course lunch on Boxing Day plus Full English Breakfast each morning!  It’s already availability to book!  Christmas Offer.

Whilst there you can take a look at the Cambridge Colleges, or try your hand a punting (although you might have to ice-skate instead).

Don’t panic; apparently the hotel will let Father Christmas know you’re staying there.

Ho Ho Hooooo

Robson

Win a wonderful 2 night break for 2 in Bristol with Marriott

The wonderful city of Bristol is a contemporary, cutting-edge city that offers visitors a long list of attractions as well as being a historical jewel in England’s Crown.  Not only that but Bristol boasts not one but two Marriott Hotels and the lovely people at Marriott want to give you the chance to check them out and experience Bristol first hand.

Marriott Bristol City Centre

The Marriott Bristol City Center is situated close to the city centre, just a few minutes’ walk from the major business and shopping areas including Cabot Circus shopping center, home to over 120 shops. Making it a superb location for both leisure and business guests. Guests have the choice of the Mediterrano Restaurant, Costa Coffee shop and Terrace Bar, which are open all day for teas, coffees and a wide range of sandwiches and snacks as well as a large selection of alcoholic beverages. You can relax at the extensive leisure club with a heated swimming pool, whirlpool, steam room, sauna and fully equipped gymnasium that is complimentary to hotel residents.

Marriott Bristol Royal

With a fabulous location next to Bristol Cathedral and the historic waterfront, the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel offers ideal accommodations for enjoying England’s southwestern charm. From the moment you arrive, our Victorian-style hotel captivates you with polished marble, warm mahogany and gleaming brass. Spacious rooms offer comfortable furnishings, 24-hour room service, and large work areas with high-speed Internet.  Enjoy an afternoon tea or cocktail at the Champagne Bar after your stroll from Bristol’s historic sites. For dinner, the Terrace Restaurant offers the finest International specialties and great wines to complement your fare. Visit our Roman-style leisure club for the perfect retreat – enjoy a refreshing swim, soothing sauna or invigorating workout. When looking for a luxury hotel in southern England, choose the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel for its friendly staff and modern amenities.

And win, win, win…..

Today lastminute.com is offering an amazing prize to explore Bristol with a fabulous 2 night break at the Marriott Bristol Royal.  Your stay for 2 people will include a full English breakfast on both days and the chance to experience the culinary delights that the hotel has to offer with dinner on one night.  The prize is subject to availability and must be used by 30^th April 2011.

To win go to our facebook page and leave a comment starting with the words “I’m so excited about going to Brizzle because……”

Find fine accommodation, dining and drinking in a Bath Hotel

Now I like to think that some of you people out there in the blogosphere are a little like me.  And before you start to panic I am referring to the little bit that likes good food, good wine and good places to stay.  I think it was Albert Einstein or perhaps Cheryl Cole who said “I don’t know much but I know what I like” and there is always a worry for those who dabble in the subjects that you are going to come up against some smart arse know it all and look a little daft.  Fear not I have some knowledge that will go a long way dear friends – read on.

As top chefs across the country rejoice that they have made it into the Good Food Guide 2011, a team of fastidious wine appreciators in Bath are delightedly sipping the news that they have been awarded the Guide’s coveted ‘Wine List of the Year’ title.  The unique and quirky sectioning approach taken by owners Laurence and Helen Beere at the Olive Tree Restaurant has repeatedly earned them the AA’s Notable Wine List award, however the 2011 Good Food Guide accolade is a new honour for the celebrated venue. 

The Olive Tree is set within Bath’s Queensberry Hotel, and Laurence and Helen delight in approaching hospitality in their own characterful yet classic way and their unique wine sectioning methods reflect this attitude.  Here’s the good bit, rather than simply list wines by countries, region or price in the traditional way the Beeres have created a set of descriptive titles that positively encourage guests to experiment with wines that they may not have tried before. These include:

• FULL RICH RIPE and TOASTY – Full upfront wines, intense nose of peaches, apricots and tropical fruits. New oak in many for vanilla and butterscotch. Great food wine.
• RASPBERRIES and STRAWBERRIES - Mellow Perfumed reds, light to medium body. Silky smooth in the mouth.
• MOUTHWATERING SWEET and SOUR REDS – Exciting reds with sweet & sour cherry and plum fruits with a herby bite to finish.
• WARM and SPICY – Complex wines, gloriously rich and warm. Flavours of fruits berries, black pepper and chocolate abound

Finally let’s hand over to an expert for a quote to seal the deal.  Elizabeth Carter, Consultant Editor, The Good Food Guide 2001, says,

“The Good Food Guide is always searching for culinary gems, and The Olive Tree Restaurant really goes the extra mile for its customers. Its impressive wine list has been named The Good Food Guide’s Wine List of the Year because of an unstinting commitment to quality. With nearly three dozen wines by the glass, we were also impressed with a list structured imaginatively by wine style.”

So if you can admit to being a little like me then I suggest that you head for a weekend at the Queensbury Hotel in Bath were you will be able tick your accommodation, food and wine boxes.