A REAL COUNTRY RETREAT

West Lodge Park Hotel

 

 

I can't remember the last time I drove down such a magnificent drive, certainly never one that has led me to a hotel. Approaching West Lodge Park Hotel, down the long and winding tree lined drive, is like arriving at a large stately home. The hotel sits majestically amid thirty five acres of stunning grounds and gardens, nestled in the heart of Hertfordshire, just a short drive from London.

 

 

Built in 1838, this wonderful four star hotel has been successfully run by three generations of the same family since 1945. The hotel boasts the highest AA quality rating of any four star hotel in the North London area. It is also the only hotel in Hertfordshire with an Arboretum, which alone attracts over 10,000 visitors a year, all eager to view the glorious assortment of 800 varieties of tree.



 

 

 

 

The hotel has a total of fifty nine high standard, luxury bedrooms, ranging from Classic singles through to Executive doubles, and culminating in the 71 square metre Hadley suite, with its two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Guests can select their preferred bedroom when completing their booking online. Standards are high at this hotel, which can clearly be seen in the décor and furnishings, and in the impeccable service guests receive from the hotel's dedicated staff.

My wife and I arrived mid afternoon for our one night stay, this meant we had plenty of time to settle into our room and acquaint ourselves with our 'home' for the next twenty hours or so. On our arrival at West Lodge Park, so taken were we with the beautiful grounds, that even before checking in, we felt tempted to explore further whilst the sun was still shinning on this lovely November afternoon. The gardens looked spectacular, the trees starting to carpet the ground with their colourful Autumn foliage were splendid in the fading light of day. Wildlife was also in abundance with various birds, including a pheasant, and several playful squirrels accompanying and entertaining us on our walk.

 

 



Soon the lure of dinner, and the evening chill, tempted us inside. On approaching the entrance we were pleasantly surprised to find the door being opened for us by a smartly dressed gentleman who then showed us the way to reception, and kindly offered to carry our bags for us. At reception, a very polite young lady checked us in and gave us directions to our room.



 

 

Guest rooms have names as well as being numbered, our room was number 63 and named Firebrace after a previous owner of the house. Overlooking the terrace and grounds, our room afforded us some beautiful views, which we enjoyed from the comfort of our quaint and characterful cushioned window seat. The room was very tastefully decorated, including a display of very interesting wall-mounted photographs. The Bedroom and bathroom are separated by a small hallway with separate doors to both rooms, and another door leading to a good sized walk-in wardrobe which also housed the mini bar, tea and coffee making facilities, fridge with complimentary water, safe, iron and ironing board. The bathroom included a bathtub with overhead shower, and complimentary toiletries. Furniture within the bedroom included a large, very comfortable double bed, bedside cabinets, coffee table, two easy chairs, and a dressing table and chair. Complimentary slippers and dressings gowns are also included for guest use during their stay.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner that evening was served in the Mary Beale Restaurant, a delightful dinning area, tastefully decorated and with a very friendly, welcoming ambiance. We chose our three courses from the Table d' hote menu, both tempted by the delicious hake for our main course, which was cooked to perfection and melted in the mouth, simply divine and bursting with flavour. The Food and service was faultless. Near to the entrance of the restaurant is a very well stocked bar and comfortable lounge area, refreshments can be taken here as well as al fresco on the terrace. Breakfast the next morning was also served in the Mary Beale Restaurant and included a combination of self service and served food and beverages, a mouth-watering and ample array of both hot and cold food and drinks were available to enjoy.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are many fine paintings on display around the hotel, most notably in the beautiful function rooms and around the magnificent main staircase. This wonderful collection of art, mainly from the late seventeenth century, feature many paintings by Mary Beale (1633-1699). Mary Beale was Britain's first professional female painter. With the impressive collection of artwork and the ornate décor throughout West Lodge Park, one could easily forget that this is a hotel, it has much more the feel of a private home about it, making it so easy to feel relaxed and enjoy the experience.



 



 

With several function and meeting rooms, the hotel also caters for conferences, weddings and private functions. The hotel currently accommodates around 50 weddings a year, proving that this wonderful hotel is a perfect choice for that very special day.

 

 



 



To occupy guests during their stay there is a putting green and croquet, and of course the stunning Arboretum and gardens. Guests staying at West Lodge Park also receive free membership to a top local gym and leisure club, as well as 15% discount off treatments at Champneys in Enfield and Go Ape in Trent Park. Horse riding is available locally, and those wishing to play a round of golf need look no further than the Trent Park Golf Club.

With central London only 12 miles away and easily accessible by train or road, West Lodge Park is a perfect alternative to an inner city hotel, close enough to the city for convenience of accessibility, but far enough away to feel like a real country retreat. My wife and I had a wonderful stay, we were only sorry that we could not stay longer to fully enjoy all that this truly lovely hotel has to offer. Maybe next time!



Full postal address: West Lodge Park Hotel, Cockfosters Road, Hadley Wood, EN40 0PY

For more information, please visit: www.bealeshotels.co.uk

A GREAT SPA

Holiday Inn Brentwood

Located just off junction 28 of the M25, where the A12 and M25 meet, and within easy access of London, Kent, Essex and Hertfordshire, the Holiday Inn Brentwood is situated in a prime location. Just two miles from the bustling Essex town of Brentwood, with its extensive choice of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues, the hotel is the ideal base for anyone visiting this part of the country.

I was staying at the hotel for just one night, a lay over between business trips. Earlier in the day, I had set off from my home on the Essex coast to drive to London Excel to attend the World Travel Market. After an exhausting day of meetings and seminars, I was looking forward to a good meal and a good nights rest. I was not disappointed.



After a very slow drive, due to rush hour traffic, of approximately one hour from London Excel, I arrived at the hotel. There is a large car park at the front of the hotel where parking is free for hotel guests or £15 a day for visitors. I was lucky and found a space close to the hotel entrance. Carrying only my small overnight bag, I made my way to reception to check in. Entry to the hotel is gained via a covered entrance with large, glass, double doors opening into a very clean and welcoming reception area. There are a number of very comfortable leather chairs and sofas, creating cosy, intimate seating areas which makes it an ideal place for guests to relax and unwind, or perhaps hold informal meetings.



 

 



The reception staff who greeted me on my arrival were extremely friendly, very polite and welcoming. In no time at all, I was checked in and making my way to what proved to be a most comfortable and pleasant room. The room layout may appear a little old fashioned to some tastes, but the guest rooms, as well as the public areas, are extremely well maintained by the hotel staff, and the cleanliness of all areas that I witnessed during my stay were of a very high standard. My room consisted of a double bed, dressing table and mirror, bedside cabinets and wardrobe, a set of drawers, coffee table and two occasional chairs. Facilities within standard rooms include complimentary tea and coffee, flat screen TV with pay to view movies, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, telephone and air conditioning. Bathrooms include a bathtub with overhead shower, and complimentary toiletries. Executive rooms also include premium hot drinks, complimentary water, bathrobes and slippers.

After a much needed cup of coffee, I decided to take a look at the rest of the hotel. The hotel boasts a total of 149 guest rooms, these are spread over three floors and include some rooms which are classed as accessible rooms. There are also 9 flexible function rooms which can accommodate a total of 120 guests and are ideal for business meetings, weddings or private functions. On the ground floor, just off of the reception area, can be found the very popular bar area with ample, comfortable seating and tables, perfect for a relaxing drink or meal. Further on from the bar is Traders, the hotel's restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Here, parents will welcome the fact that children eat free.

 

 



One of the reasons that I chose this hotel, besides its perfect location for my needs, is the fact that it has an excellent pool and spa area. The spa consists of a gym area, treatment rooms, whirlpool, steam room, and both male and female saunas. The pool is a very good size for a hotel, and the sauna, steam room and whirlpool were very relaxing, just what I needed to de-stress after a busy day. Ian and his team are always on hand to ensure guests can safely enjoy their spa experience, and Ian, a Registered Exercise Professional, can advise guests on a suitable fitness regime.

Breakfast the next day consisted of the usual fare, an ample array of hot and cold food and beverages, all very well presented in a self service buffet style. The food was very tasty and the service extremely good, with staff keeping tables clean and food replenished in a timely manner. After breakfast I had time to relax in the spa area before the short drive to my next business meeting in Hertfordshire. I left the hotel feeling refreshed and ready for the day ahead, a most pleasant and satisfactory stay.

 

Other facilities at the hotel include a dry cleaning and laundry service, as well as a luggage storage service. Free WI Fi is available throughout the hotel. The hotel will be undergoing extensive refurbishment in 2018, therefore, descriptions of the hotel layout and facilities within this review will be open to change in due course. However, one thing that I am certain won't change is the wonderful service that guests staying at the Holiday Inn Brentwood receive from General Manager James Barkhouse and his dedicated team. I thoroughly enjoyed my brief stay and I very much look forward to visiting this hotel again following its refurbishment.

Areas of interest, within easy travelling of Brentwood, include the City of London, just 30 minutes by train, and Southend, with all its amusement arcades, entertainment houses, pier and beach, approximately 30 minutes by road. Old MacDonalds Farm is a mere two miles away, where children are permitted to pet the animals, and the large Lakeside shopping outlet is a 15 minute drive away.

 

 



 

The full address of the hotel is: Holiday Inn, Brook Street, Brentwood, Essex CM14 5NF

For more information please visit   www.ihg.com/holidayinn

HERTFORDSHIRE HOTELS

BEALES HOTEL HATFIELD

The four star Beales Hotel Hatfield opened in 2004 following an extensive rebuild. The Beale family had previously had a hotel on this site since 1964, but decided in 2003 to demolish the old hotel and set about creating a modern, contemporary building which would blend in perfectly with, and better reflect, the changing local surroundings. Having been in the hotel business since 1769, I feel confident to say, there were none better suited to this task than the Beale family.

Boasting a total of 53 individually designed bedrooms, all tastefully decorated in a contemporary style with a fair amount of flair and inspiration, this hotel will not fail to please the eye and warm the heart. Facilities within the bedrooms include air conditioning, wall mounted flat screen TV, free Wi Fi with 2mb broadband, tea/coffee making facilities and complimentary water. To add to guests comfort, the exceptionally comfortable beds feature Egyptian cotton duvets, there is also a trouser press and ironing board. The bathrooms feature underfloor heating, power showers and complimentary toiletries.

 

 





One feature that I particularly liked was the original artwork that features in all the bedrooms, and throughout the hotel. This exploration of the art world is a collaboration between the hotel and the Department of Fine Art at the University of Hertfordshire, and features work created by many of the university's art students. This unique and fascinating, artistic venture even extends to the naming of the rooms after the artwork that is featured within. My room, number 19, featured a work by Jane Hogson, titled 'Polarity 1'.

 

Located on the one way system in Comet Way Hatfield, opposite the galleria shopping outlet, Beales Hotel is perfectly positioned for guests wishing to explore Hatfield and the surrounding area. Hatfield train station is less than two miles away, enabling quick and easy access to London, a mere thirty minute train ride. The beautiful Hatfield House and Gardens is just a short distance away, and both St Albans and Knebworth are also relatively close by. With easy access from the A1 (M), guests arriving by car will find this hotel very conveniently situated. The hotel also benefits from a large, free car park.



The gastronomic needs of guests is extremely well catered for within the superb Outsidein. This tastefully decorated and very comfortable restaurant has been granted an AA Rosette for cuisine an impressive eight years in a row. The restaurant serves breakfast from 7.00am to 10.00am Monday to Friday, and 8.00am to 10.30am at weekends. Dinner is served daily from 6.30pm to 10.00pm. Guests are spoilt by a mouth-watering choice from either the A la Carte menu, or Table d' hote menu which is priced at £19.95 for two courses or £24.95 for three courses. The food is absolutely fabulous. I chose three courses from the Table d' hote menu, starting with Smoked salmon & sundried tomato mousse, followed by Game pie topped with puff pastry, and finished with Roasted plum & frangipane tart, all washed down with an excellent glass of Shiraz. The meal was faultless and all the staff were extremely polite and attentive. The restaurant positively oozed warmth and conviviality, which was enhanced by the delightfully soothing piped piano music, which was playing unobtrusively in the background.



 

 

 

For lighter snacks there is the 'Talk Bar', a very cosy bar area furnished with some very stylish and interesting coconut chairs. The bar serves light meals from 10.00am to 11.00pm and is the perfect place to unwind with a drink and a bite to eat. There is ample seating within the bar area as well as additional seating outside for those wishing to dine al fresco.





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are a number of private function rooms available for hire for business use as well as weddings and private parties. The hotel also holds special events and offers special weekend packages which include dinner, bed and breakfast.

 

 

Guests looking for a little relaxation, sport, or wishing to keep fit during their stay at Beales hotel will not be disappointed. There are Golf Courses nearby and guests staying at the hotel also have use of the gym and swimming pool facilities at the Hertfordshire Sports Village free of charge. This modern sports facility is a mere one mile from the hotel, making it an easy twenty minute walk.

My visit to this impressive hotel was unfortunately a flying visit, just one night. I arrived early evening with the minimum of baggage. Check-in was carried out in a very polite, friendly and efficient manner, a quality that I noticed in all the staff throughout my short stay. I had just enough time to familiarise myself with the layout of the hotel, settle into my room with a complimentary cup of coffee, before going to dinner. I had previously reserved a table for dinner on the hotel's website, which was very easy and convenient to do. After dinner I had an extremely comfortable nights sleep, rising refreshed the next morning in plenty of time for breakfast. Breakfast is mostly self service buffet style, but there are additional items that can be ordered from the menu, I opted for a delicious, freshly made omelette with fillings of my choice.



I left Beales Hotel Hatfield wishing that I had longer to fully appreciate all the hotel has to offer, but I am sure I will return. For now, I am just thankful I chose this lovely hotel for my stay on this occasion. I drove away from the hotel feeling refreshed, relaxed and ready for the drive ahead. I thoroughly enjoyed my brief stay at this warm and welcoming hotel and I am certain that any guest choosing to stay here will not be disappointed.



Hotel address for Sat Nav: Beales Hotel, Comet Way, Hatfield, Herts. AL10 9NG

Telephone number for reservations: 01707288500

Email address: hatfield@bealeshotels.co.uk

Web address for further information: www.bealeshotels.co.uk

EAST MIDLANDS AIRPORT HOTELS

RADISSON BLU HOTEL EAST MIDLANDS AIRPORT

 

 

This was to be the third time I had visited the city of Derby. On the previous two occasions I had opted for a city centre hotel, this time, however, my choice of hotel was to be the Radisson Blu Hotel East Midlands Airport. The reason for my choice was not as you may expect. The fact that Radisson Blu Hotel is a mere one mile from the airport had, on this occasion, nothing to do with my decision, I was not flying in or out of the airport. The reason I chose the Radisson Blu over other hotels in the area, besides being a wonderful four star hotel, was simply the lure of the fantastic spa that the hotel boasts.

I was in the Derby area attending meetings over a two day period, this required a hotel stay for two nights. Having almost 200 miles to drive from my home to Derby, I was keen to have a comfortable hotel with good leisure facilities, somewhere I could relax and unwind before and after my meetings. Radisson Blu East Midlands Airport proved to be the ideal base in which to do just that.

Located on the Pegasus Business Park, within close proximity of the airport terminal building, the Radisson Blu is a very good choice for those flying in or out of the airport. The hotel runs a shuttle bus to the airport for its guests, and offers 'Park Dream and Fly' packages which include a hotel stay, parking and return shuttle. Being approximately 14 miles from Derby, the hotel is also ideal for visiting this historic city. Nottingham and Leicester are also within an easy drive, which affords travellers the opportunity of visiting much of this beautiful part of England.

The hotel is a very modern, contemporary building, and offers 218 extremely stylish bedrooms and suites, all with modern contemporary furnishings. Five of the rooms are classed as accessible rooms, and there are room card operated lifts serving all floors. The rooms feature free high speed Wi Fi and 24 hour room service. There is a mini fridge and Tea/Coffee making facilities in all rooms, with Nespresso Coffee Machine and upgraded toiletries in the suites. Robes and Slippers are also included in Business Class rooms, as is the mouth-watering array of food on offer with the excellent Super Breakfast Buffet.



Breakfast and Dinner is served in The Runway Brasserie, a delightful eating area offering views of the planes taking off and landing. Breakfast is served from 6.30am to 10.30am Monday to Friday, and 6.30am to 11.00am at weekends. Food is also served in the wonderfully bright and airy Bar area, with its attractive and expansive high glass wall and ceiling, from 11am to 11pm.



Other facilities at the hotel include the Hasa Health Club and Serenity Spa, where you will find everything you need to keep fit and healthy during your stay. There is a very well equipped gym, a good sized swimming pool, sauna and steam room. There are also treatment and beauty rooms available for that extra pampering.

The hotel is equipped to deal with all manner of guests, from the flight weary traveller to the explorer looking for a base from which to discover this part of England. Business guests are well catered for with 9 conference rooms with a total capacity of 400 guests. Social gatherings such as weddings or parties can also be accommodated.

Located just off the M1, the hotel was easy to find, and there is ample parking in the car park. My first impression as I drove into the car park was a very favourable one, here was a very modern and stylish hotel, an attractive, impressive building that stood out amongst other buildings in the area. On entering the reception area, I was impressed with the clean, light and airy feel to this large and welcoming open space. The area was furnished with an array of tasteful and unique chairs and tables, with a 'Living Wall' feature behind the reception desk. Leading on from reception was the bar area, business centre and library, and finally the Runway Brasserie.

 

 

Check-in was quick and efficient and performed in a professional and friendly manner. My room was a Business Class room and was very nicely decorated with large bird motifs on the wall. There was a coffee table and chairs as well as a dressing table area, the room featured a large TV and also offered views towards the runway, ideal for plane spotters. This particular room featured a bath with overhead shower, whilst some rooms feature showers only.

Having made myself a cup of coffee, I changed into my swimming shorts and put on the complimentary gown and slippers, I then made my way down to the spa area to make use of the facilities. Towels and lockers are provided in the spa and there are cold drinks available, as well as water. After spending a relaxing time in the spa, I returned to my room to prepare myself for an evening out in Derby.

It was a relatively easy 20 minute drive into the city centre. As I would be dining out in Derby City on both evenings of my stay, I, unfortunately, would not get the opportunity to dine in the hotel's restaurant. However, if breakfast is anything to go by, I am sure that any guest wishing to dine in the hotel's restaurant for dinner, will not be disappointed.

The following day would involve a full day of meetings, starting at 9am in Derby City. This meant an early wake up call, arranged at reception on check-in, and an early breakfast. Breakfast included all the usual hot and cold food and drinks from the self service buffet that you would expect from this class of hotel, but there was also the option of ordering extra items from a menu. There was a surcharge for some items.



 

 

 

 



I enjoyed a most comfortable and relaxing stay at Radisson Blu East Midlands Airport and it proved to be a very good choice for my needs. Certainly, anyone flying in or out of the airport should seriously consider this hotel.

Address for Sat Navs is: Herald Way, Pegasus Business Park, East Midlands Airport, DE74 2TZ

Telephone: +44 (0)1509670575

Email: reservations.eastmidlandsairport@radissonblu.com

For more details visit : www.radissonblu.com/en/hotel-eastmidlandsairport