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With limited options to travel outside of the UK, Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London’s Apres-Ski winter wonderland transports visitors to the snowy Alps of Lech, Austria. #TeamCoco’s food culture writer, Eulanda Shead Osagiede, cozied up for a delightful afternoon of modern Austrian delights high above the London skyline.

Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London is giving guests a European winter experience similar to what you might find in the snow-capped slopes of Lech, Austria; an alpine-inspired ski lodge reception area, cosy winter chalets, ski gondola displays, and a gingerbread village.

The festive experience would not be complete without several standout culinary experiences like their Après-ski afternoon tea at TĪNG Lounge and Restaurant. Several delightful themed treats include their black forest chocolate sponge cake, the snowball coconut mousse, and their Christmas Kombucha welcome tea that will envelop you in a cloud of wonder.

The alpine themed decor and installations make a perfect backdrop for documenting special holiday moments. If you book a late afternoon tea, make sure to grab a photo of the bauble-forest window display behind the gingerbread village. The twinkling evening lights of London below will be on full display.

On New Year’s Eve, Shangri-La Hotel London will host an Après-Ski White Party with a unique twist. Night owls can toast the close of 2020 during Last Sunset celebrations on 31 December 2020. Guests can enjoy an extravagant five-course menu made from premium locally-sourced ingredients and accompanied with fine wine pairings. Early-bird guests can ring in the New Year during a First Sunrise brunch on 1 January 2021.

Guests looking for an indulgent New Year’s Eve in, can book a decoration and celebration room package, and an in-room massage featuring Neal’s Yard Remedies essential oils.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a laid-back alpine experience, head to Bar 31 on the ground floor to enjoy ‘Mama Macher’s Apfelstrudel,’ Raclette, Schnitzel, Glühwein and more winter warmers inside a cosy winter chalet, complete with a snow machine to provide the perfect snowy backdrop.

Après-Ski Afternoon Tea is available for £59 and £69 with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut per person. To reserve a table or book a room, please email specialevents.slln@shangri-la.com or call +44 207 234 8000. A superior double room begins at £950 per night.

Head into 2021 feeling refreshed and recharged by taking some much needed ‘time out’ to reset and restore your equilibrium.

If lockdown, dark nights and cold winter weather has left you in need of a wellbeing boost then the Six Senses Spa at The Alpina Gstaad has a wellness break designed to raise your vibes and up level your immunity.

Situated in the Swiss Alps, the spa is renowned for offering exceptional healing programmes, from ‘Yoga for Sleep’ and ‘Energy Sound Healing’, to ‘Holistic Anti-Ageing’ – think neuroscience meets ancient wisdom. Now, when we need it most, the spa has created two new programmes designed to put a positive spring in your step and kick start your new year.

Power Vibration Retreat

Turn negative energy into positive through a blend of vibratory sound and energy healing treatments, sophisticated daily mindfulness sessions and breathing techniques. The body’s subtle energy vibration is explored with different methods in order to rebalance, revitalise and reconnect with the inner self. A deep immersion into mindfulness, meditation and spiritual practices.

This retreat is ideal for anyone who needs to de-stress, this programme is about deep rest. It helps to build inner resilience and inspires more ease, peace and happiness.
From £6,245, including 6 nights’ accommodation.

Purifying Cleansing Immunity Boost Retreat, 1 – 5 days

A focused cleanse which combines customised treatments and nutritional supplements with personalised face and body treatments and the latest anti-ageing technologies, including a skin analysis.

This cleansing programme helps to boost and support your natural immunity, raises energy levels and can prompt a shift in excess weight.
From £4,932, including 4 nights’ accommodation and 3 lunches. A one-day taster is also available from £675.

For more information on the spa programmes and retreats available visit The Alpina Gstaad

With quarantine restrictions being likened to a game of whack-a-mole, it certainly seems that long haul travel is out of the picture for most would-be travellers. However, there are plenty of destinations — especially those whose COVID-19 response has shined throughout the crisis — that people can still and should travel to as soon as we are able.

With news of a potential vaccine giving us a needed dose of hope, we’re beating the #BlackNovember blues by pre-planning all our holidays for 2021 to these stunning locales that are still open for tourism.

Coral Reef Club Barbados

With British Airways launching direct flights from London Heathrow to Bridgeton, there is literally no reason in the world you shouldn’t be pre-planning a beachy escape to the Coral Reef Club in Barbados.

This family-run hotel balances familial island warmth with tropical luxury and is undeniably one of the best properties on the island. Check into one of the Coral Reef Club’s 88 rooms and get lost within its 12 acres of garden. You can also relax and take in the calming views of the Caribbean or get stuck into a wide range of sporting activities.

For those looking for a little bit more adventure, there’s plenty of shipwrecks to discover in the West Coast. Keen environmentalists can also volunteer in the Barbados Sea Turtle Project, which is next door to the hotel.

Zannier Hotels Omaanda and Sonop

If you’re planning a trip to Namibia in 2021, why stay in just one incredible Zannier hotel when you can stay in two? The Zannier Hotels in Omaanda and Sonop are made up of just ten luxury huts and ten luxury tents respectively – and offer the ultimate in Namibian luxury.

Zannier Hotels Omaanda is surrounded by savannahs filled with breath-taking wildlife. You can fill your days with game drives or even participate in the Zannier Reserve’s Rhino Rangers volunteer programme, which helps to fight against poaching in Namibia.

At Zannier Hotels Sonop, you can take your holiday to (literal) new heights with a helicopter ride or hot air balloon safari overlooking the dunes. You can also check out the oldest and largest sand dunes on Earth at Sossusvlei, with some dunes rising to 383metres high (which is higher than The Shard!).

Bequia Beach Hotel St Vincent & The Grenadines

The Bequia Beach Hotel is known as the Caribbean’s best kept secret and it’s easy to see why. Bequia is remote island destination is located only on seven square miles of true tropical paradise west of Barbados and South of St. Vincent.

The hotel is nestled within nine acres of stunning tropical gardens on the beautiful Friendship Bay. Next year, the Bequia Beach Hotel welcomes the ultra-luxurious Villa One, which has five generously-sized suites that are perfect for a socially-distanced getaway with the family.

The hotel is also launching a saltwater infinity pool, refreshed menus, and a new wine cellar for 2021 – So how soon can we book again?

Pullman Maldives Maamutaa Resort, Maldives

The Maldives have been added to the UK’s travel corridor list – hurray! And we’re satiating our wanderlust by pre-planning our dream trip to the Pullman Maldives Maamutaa. Pullman Maldives is an all-inclusive paradise set on 18 hectares of tropical forestry and pristine beaches. This January, global wellness coach Sarah Hoey is joining the resort for a wellness residency that will certainly eradicate all of your pent-up pandemic anxieties. Can 2021 come any sooner please?

Kagi, Maldives

Located in the Northern Male Atoll, the Kagi Maldives Spa Island is a newly-opened five-star wellness resort experience. Kagi Maldives was designed by Japanese architect Yuji Yamazaki, who built the resort to surround the 1500 sqm wellness centre. Guests can choose from a Beach Pool Villa, Lagoon Pool Villa or Ocean Pool Villa, but heck, if the resort is this spectacular – it doesn’t matter which villa you decide to stay in. Everything is perfect in paradise after all.

Hotel Fariones, Lanzarote

With the Canary Islands back on the UK’s travel corridor list, we’re looking at the Hotel Fariones for our next Spanish beach break in 2021. This casual laid-back hotel exudes effortless Spanish charm and features a rooftop bar and pool – perfect for watching the sunset.

Jade Mountain, St. Lucia

Overlooking the breathtaking St Lucia’s Pitons World Heritage Site, the Jade Mountain hotel is the ideal spot to get back in touch with nature. This incredible property features 29 open-air Infinity pool and jacuzzi sanctuaries. It even offers a ‘Six in Your Sanctuary’ in-suite Tasting Menu, which is just the thing those looking to social-distance while on holiday. The Six in Your Sanctuary Menu comprises six gourmet dishes with complementary wine pairings and served by a private butler too.

Alphonse Island, Seychelles

We can’t think of a better way to reward ourselves for surviving 2020 than with a trip to the Alphonse Island, Seychelles. Alphonse Island offers a wealth of experiences that celebrate the rich biodiversity and natural surroundings of the Seychelles. From fly fishing and scuba diving, to just spending a day lounging in your sustainable beach bungalow – we think this is Seychelles at its finest – and we can’t wait to visit.

The Peligoni Club, Zakynthos, Greece

With a select-few Greek islands still on the travel corridors list, we’re pre-planning a luxurious villa getaway to The Peligoni Club. This cool and laid-back members only property combines homegrown Greek hospitality with sleek and minimalist luxury villas. Perfect to give you some much-needed calm after what has been a pretty hectic year.

Glenapp Castle, Scotland

If you’re afraid to risk quarantining and want to avoid travel corridors in general, why not book a luxury staycation in the UK? Glenapp Castle is an incredible Relais & Chateaux castle that boasts timeless charm and a rich history. Located on the breath-taking Ayrshire Coast, it is easy to forget about the COVID-19 blues and lose yourself in Glenapp’s extensive grounds. Believe us, nothing is better than taking in the relaxing sea views of the Ailsa Craig and maybe even catching a glimpse of Ireland’s coast on a clear day at Glenapp Castle.

To mark their 10th anniversary, The Capitol Hotel, Tokyo invited House of Coco to join their virtual celebrations and gave us a sneak-peak around the hotel along with the inside scoop on some of the best places to visit in the city.

The hotel was recently awarded five stars by the Forbes Travel Guide and it is easy to see why. This luxury hotel successfully juxtaposes slick city chic with the calming aesthetics of traditional Japanese living. The interiors at The Capitol were designed by Kengo Kuma, the architectural genius behind Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic stadium. Clean lines, lots of glass and natural, light wood are set against a subdued palette. The impressive timber-clad lobby dominates the entrance along with the stunning water feature, which brings the tranquillity and serenity of nature, indoors. This is continued throughout, and the addition of the Japanese garden creates a zen feel, making this a great place to retreat from the bustle of the city.

The hotel showcases an art collection worth two million dollars and guests have the opportunity to admire and revere the works hung around the building.

Each of the 251 stunning guest rooms are large and contemporary, effortlessly blending minimalist Japanese tradition with modern style. Most of the rooms offer stunning views of the Tokyo skyline and on a clear day you can catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji.

When it comes to dining, there is a choice of three restaurants, all offering delicious dishes. Each restaurant has their own speciality chef. Indulge in teppanyaki grilled meats and vegetables, superb sushi, tempura, or the classic banquet-style kaiseki meals.

This sophisticated, modern hotel is in the heart of the city and connected with two major subway stations, so getting around is not a problem. From the hotel you have easy access to Ginza, Harajuku and Roppongi, all great for shopping and dining. If you like trendy cafes, boutiques, and vintage shops, the nearby Daikanyama neighbourhood is worth visiting. Despite being a vast city with lots of skyscrapers there are plenty of green spaces to enjoy. Just a short walk away is the famous Hie Shrine and the Imperial Palace grounds, both surrounded by lush, serene gardens. In the north west part of Tokyo you will find Okutama, home of forest bathing and a great place to reconnect with nature.

Japan has quickly catapulted to the top of my travel bucket list. Offering a plethora of experiences, a taste of Japanese culture and style I cannot wait for travel restrictions to lift so I can visit Tokyo.

For more information on The Capitol Hotel visit, capitolhoteltokyu.com

Sometimes, all you need to beat the COVID-19 blues, is simply a weekend getaway to the Cotswolds. Whisked away to the idyllic market town of Chipping Campden, we checked into The Noel Arms Hotel, a traditional inn that’s brimming with both charm and history.

The Noel Arms is one of the oldest Cotswold inns and rumour has it that Charles II found refuge in these very walls during the English civil war. We too found some welcome refuge within the stone façade of the Noel Arms, which was filled with plenty of warm touches and antique details as old as the hotel itself.

We stayed in one of the Double En Suite rooms, which was cosy but not lacking in any creature comforts. A Bespoke hotel property, each room at the Noel Arms is different, combining modern amenities with antique furnishings. The pièce de resistance has to be the hotel’s 1657 Four Poster room, which features a stunning wood-carved 17th-century bed.

The Dovers Bar restaurant serves traditional locally-sourced pub food with an Indian flair. Head Chef Indunil Upatissa was awarded the Great British Pub Awards for best Curry Chef three years running, and it’s easy to see why. It would be a crime to dine at The Dovers Bar without sampling Chef Indunil’s curries — and we tried both the Sri Lankan Black Lamb and the Ceylon Style Seafood Yellow curry which certainly did not disappoint. On a bright sunny day, the hotel’s sun terrace is a prime spot to spend an afternoon enjoying a cocktail or two.

Outside the hotel, there’s plenty of dog-friendly activities in Chipping Campden. The famous Cotswolds Way is just at the end of town and offers some pretty breath-taking walks. The Broadway Tower — which was once the Cotswolds highest tower — is not too far off too.

The Little Oak Vineyard is a brief jaunt away from town and offers dog-friendly wine-tasting that offers some of the best locally-grown wines. Most of the quaint and utterly charming restaurants, cafés and shops in Chipping Campden are dog-friendly too, so there’s never a shortage of things to see and do.

For those looking for a quieter escape, guests at the Noel Arms’ can pop into sister hotel, The Cotswold House Hotel Spa just next door to enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the spa. Otherwise, there is nothing better than getting cosy in front of the hotel’s roaring log fire, dog at your feet, and getting lost in a good book on a chilly early autumn evening.

Nightly rates at The Noel Arms start from £99 B&B for a double room

While it seems like all the months of 2020 have blurred into one, we’re dreaming of a time when we can once again visit all the beautiful destinations this planet has to offer. To (virtually) satiate your wanderlust, we’ve put together some of the world’s most breath-taking hotels to inspire your next holiday… whenever that may be.

The Roseate Ganges, Rishikesh

Set in the breath-taking foothills of the Himalayas of Rishikesh, the Roseate Ganges is an awe-inspiring, yet serene luxury retreat that’s perfect those looking for a total escape from daily life. The hotel has 16 rustic-minimalist cottages set on the Ganges waterway, each one with picturesque views of the holy waters below.

The hotel was designed to inspire and rejuvenate and offers a suite of wellness activities including river rafting, spiritual hiking, bespoke beach therapies, yoga and meditation. Guests can also visit the nearby Rajaji National Wildlife Park to reconnect with mother nature, away from all the truly exhausting pandemic news.

La Sultana Oualidia

The La Sultana Oualidia, which was once a Moorish fortress, is now a 12-room luxury hideaway overlooking a tranquil saltwater lagoon on the edge of the Atlantic ocean. The hotel is located on a protected ecological site, which is often visited by a wide variety of exotic birds, including pink flamingos.

As part of its commitment to preserving its natural environment, hotel staff pick litter around the lagoon every Monday and also upcycle water bottles into plant pots that now house over 30 different palm species in the gardens.

Glenapp Castle, Scotland

This gorgeous hotel offers 17 luxury bedrooms nestled on the Ayrshire coast in Scotland. This handsome castle hotel is hidden away on 110 acres of beautiful Scottish countryside embraced by stunning views and never-ending coastlines.

The hotel offers a Hebridean Sea Safari which gives guests the unique opportunity to explore the wildlife of the Scottish isles. A professional crew (and a private chef) will take you on a voyage to remote islands, coastal castles and charming inns. If you’re lucky, you may even spot some dolphins, milk whales and seals. After a long safari day, guests can retire in a luxury glamping tent atop the Ailsa Craig, a beautiful wildlife sanctuary which is home to over 40,000 birds.

Pullman Maldives Maamutaa Resort, Maldives

There is nowhere in the world more luxurious than the Maldives, but the Pullman Maldives Maamutaa Resort is a hotel that takes sustainable-luxury to new heights. The resort is set amidst 18 hectares of the lush tropical Gaafu Alifu Atoll and offers 122 water villas. It even has two luxury Aqua Villas that have underwater bedrooms giving a unique glimpse of the aquatic wildlife in the Maldives.

The hotel also offers plenty of wellness activities embracing sleep, sport, food and spa, each one capitalising on the beauty of its natural surroundings. The Pullman Maldives offers sunrise yoga sessions, aqua fitness, aerial yoga, and the signature Raaveriya Workout led by Global Wellness Coach Sarah Hoey.

The Harper, Norfolk UK

The Harper Hotel is one of the UK’s newest boutique hotels and marries all the quintessential charms of a countryside retreat with a touch of contemporary style. The hotel is located in Langham’s old glass blowing factory and reinterprets these historical features with an array of charming yet unstuffy design details. If you’re still looking for your next stylish weekend getaway, then we highly recommend checking out The Harper.

Destinations are finally opening up and are ready to be explored after months of lockdown; people are coming out of their homes with wide eyes, ready to dive back in. Hamburg, the sophisticated water city which is just a short plane ride from the UK, is the perfect place to start. At Hamburg’s heart lies Lake Alster and the lush oasis of parkland that hugs it. The Fontenay, is located on the shimmering shoreline and encapsulates lakeside luxury. The five-star hotel opened in March 2018 and represents the perfect balance of nature and urban living which is exquisitely found throughout the whole of Hamburg.

Hamburg is known for being a green city, and not without reason, 27% of the city comprises of natural areas that surround the lake at the heart. Designed to be a reflection of modern Hamburg and the natural urban shoreline, The Fontenay has a free-flowing, sculptural architecture, stylish and spacious interiors and luxury living spaces. The ‘Heaven Mirror’ fountain in front of the hotel, which weighs one hundred tonnes, greeted us and we were welcomed in the lobby by the gracious staff and accompanied to our room which had freshly made pink macarons on arrival and sweeping views of Lake Alster.

The lake provides a great way to get a different view of Hamburg. Locals set sail on picturesque wooden boats, canoes, pedal boats, rowing boats or even venetian gondolas. We jumped aboard for an Alster Boat Tour which circumnavigates the lake in just under an hour and gives a glimpse of the centre of the city. We meandered from the south of Lake Alster to the older parts of the city, taking in the imposing Rathaus and Gothic Revival church, Mahnmal St. Nikoli. The jewel in the crown is the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in the HafenCity quarter of Hamburg which showcases the maritime history of the city as well as its elegant present. The building resembles a hoisted sail and has a free viewing platform to see the working port on the Elbe River from above. The city’s port, known as the ‘Port of Dreams’, was the last stop for millions of migrants from Europe before traveling to America. Fascinating tales of discovering the New World can be heard at the Ballinstadt Emigration Museum. Rich historical tales of when Hamburg was the ‘Gateway to the World’ should not be missed.

After a full day of exploring, we were welcomed back to the hotel and enjoyed a drink at The Fontenay’s 500m² outdoor bar terrace with a 320° view of the Hamburg skyline. All five of Hamburg’s main churches, the inner and outer Lake Alster dotted with sailings boats, the Elbphilarmonie and the Town Hall can all be seen from the bar. Lakeside al fresco living continued with dinner in the grounds at Parkview restaurant. Foodie highlights included the chef’s sashimi, beef tartar, crustacean ravioli, all paired with the house white, named after the hotel itself. Not forgetting the sorbet we had with champagne in between courses. We learnt a new word after our feast – ‘fertig’ which in German means ‘full up’ or ‘completely finished’. We definitely were, and it was fantastic. As we indulged our full feeling, we enjoyed the restaurant views of the lake and watched locals trickle out to the water for an after dinner walk with loved ones, after months apart.

From The Fontenay, it is a fifteen-minute walk along the banks of Lake Alster into the city centre, making the destination a perfect weekend break. Although close to the centre, the hotel remains incredibly peaceful and tranquil. The entire lake can be conquered on foot in just over two hours, or longer if visitors linger over cafes, museums and piers en route. The Fontenay also has bicycles to borrow to explore further afield for more active tourists. Our guide Tomas took us via bike to the fresh and green boulevards surrounding the hotel, to St. Pauli, the ‘shoulder blade district’ and we ended at the Ratsherrn Brewery for some refreshing beverages. We knew the St. Pauli region was more than meets the eye and headed back to chow down on delicious Levantine food at Salt and Silver, overlooking majestic and gigantic ships on the water, as the sun went down.

The day at The Fontenay starts in relaxed luxury with breakfast at Parkview. Tiered stands full of delicious regional delicacies are placed on the table for each guest including a range of cheeses from Northfriesian Backensholzer Farm, a selection of local charcuterie and smoked fish specialties. Egg-based dishes like omelettes, pancakes with local speciality Rote Grütze (berry compote), or buttermilk waffles with fresh berries can be ordered additionally. The weekend stay ended with time reflecting at the rooftop spa pool at the hotel, looking over the city. Hamburg is chic yet down to earth, which is also the same as The Fontenay; sophisticated and welcoming, never stuffy. The city has a high-end foodie scene but fantastic local cheap eats, is a working, industrious city yet laid back with huge open spaces. The balance was just right and the hotel refreshed and revitalised, just like fresh water.

A Deluxe Room at The Fontenay, Hamburg is priced from €350 (from £309) per room per night including breakfast. Rate includes full breakfast, Wi-Fi, a selection of drinks from the minibar, in-room coffee machine, VAT, city tax and service. To book, visit www.thefontenay.com. For more information about Hamburg, visit www.hamburg-travel.com.

If anyone knows how to glow up a hotel, it’s Novotel. Their dedication to refurbishments of hotels is about on par with our dedication to staying at them. The fresh faced Novotel London Bridge reveals all.

There’s a real trend of larger hotel chains honing in the surroundings of each particular property to make them feel more unique, but still on par with the standards you’d come to expect. In our book, if the honey at breakfast doesn’t come squeezed from the bees on the roof then to be honest we don’t really wanna know.

There are thirteen hotels in the wider London area including some airport locations. That may be unlucky for some, but definitely not for us. The Novotel London Bridge sits in the shadow of the city skyline. Put it this way, if this was the year 1066, you’d be overlooking some very royal neighbours in the tower next door.

Picky millennials like us have a word we like to use to justify when we want to have exactly everything we want… savvy. And savvy travellers are favouring the ‘chain vibes’ of big hotels less and less. Novotel have done away with all of that and now offer up a cool independent like vibe that we are completely here for.

What hasn’t been lost is the efficiency of the whole operation – check-in is quick and painless, and desk staff speak several languages. Quality and standards have a huge part to play in Novotel’s ethos and it shows, which is a true testament to really good hotel, and makes you sleep that little bit better.

There’s a minimalist style running throughout the rooms, with flashes of personality here and there, like faux zebra rugs or starry night sky murals. A signature red cuts through the crisp white, adding to that overall luxe.

Downstairs, the traditional buffet of yoghurt and tinned peaches has been done away with, and in its place is a quirky café style kitchen and bar. So many of the time hotels slip up with their dining offering and take the corporate road, which is enjoyable to only those in suits who chunter over the morning FT, but here it’s definitely more flat-white and a lot less white-collar.

Prices start from £116 per room per night based on two people sharing. www.all.accor.com

Bath has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the UK. This world-heritage site may be well-known for its Roman history, but what we fell in love with, was how this city has truly embraced dog-friendly travel. In fact, the Visit Bath website even has its own dedicated dog-friendly page.

We checked into the Roseate Villa Bath, a boutique hotel that oozes warmth, style and authenticity. A home away from home, located just a short walk away from all of Bath’s most important cultural sites including Henrietta Park, Pulteney Bridge, the Regency Crescent and or course – the city’s namesake Roman Baths.

We spent two nights in one of the luxury rooms, overlooking the front garden. Aside from the matching dog-bed and dog bowls, Charlie was also greeted with a doggy welcome package that included healthy treats from Lily’s Kitchen, and a tennis ball too.

Outside of the hotel, Bath has several dog-friendly sites to visit. The American Museum and Garden is surrounding by breath-taking natural landscapes and is a truly wonderful spot to take an afternoon stroll. The gardens are filled with every kind of flower imaginable and are absolutely dog-friendly too.

If you’re looking for a bite to eat, The Provenist Café is the perfect little spot for a light brunch. This charming café offers a small menu of healthy snacks and pastries, proving that sometimes the simplest dishes are also the most satisfying. We recommend trying the eggs on sourdough or the mixed grains salad and washing it all down with a Mango, lime and banana smoothie.

Unsurprisingly, our short visit to Bath was characterised by bipolar British weather, and so we quickly discovered that the hotel’s newly opened Henrietta Bar is a great place to enjoy a quiet moment or get lost in a book over a cuppa. We highly recommend trying out the hotel’s afternoon tea offering, which can be enjoyed in the Henrietta Bar or in the garden.

The kitchen even prepared a specially-crafted dairy/egg/wheat free afternoon tea to suit my very specific dietary requirements; a testament to the hotel’s exemplary service. Hotel Manager Caroline made sure every aspect of our stay was perfect and made it a point to speak to all the guests at the hotel. If you’re lucky, you may spot Caroline’s own dog, Muttley, the hotel’s ‘Head of Security,’ wandering the halls.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that the Roseate Villa Bath exceeded every one of our dog-friendly expectations. From the warm welcome, the excellent service, and a genuine desire to create connections with guests – we can confidently say this is Bath’s most dog-friendly hotel, and we will surely be returning.

Rooms at The Roseate Villa Bath start from £150 a night

Afternoon tea experiences don’t come much more impressive than being on board a luxury, floating ‘boatique’ hotel. The story of how the Fingal came into being is fit for a Hollywood movie. It was commissioned by the Northern Lighthouse Board to undertake maintenance work on lighthouses on the western and northern shores of Scotland. It was sold to a private owner when it was decommissioned and in recent times, sold to The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust and turned into a premium hotel on the shores of Leith.

It might be a sister ship to The Britannia and a 5-star hotel, but it is fascinating to discover that it used to be a working ship. Even if you are just popping in for an afternoon tea like we did, if you speak with the hotel staff politely, they will gladly take you on a tour of the ship. Two places you must visit are the spectacular ballroom to admire the splendid acoustics, and the engine room to get an understanding of what the Fingal was about. And if not in use, do visit their unique, luxury cabins such as the penthouse Skerryvore Suite with one of the most elegant bathrooms you will find anywhere in the country and every small detail attended to like the super kind size bed headboard with map contours to trace of the famous lighthouses in Scotland.

Afternoon tea in their Lighthouse restaurant is a decadent affair with sumptuous art deco interiors that transport you back to a time when cruising the seas was only a luxury for the elite classes. The tea selection isn’t necessarily the most lengthy you will come across, but it’s been carefully curated to appeal to most people including their own Fingal’s blend, which includes different Ceylon teas, combined with Assam, Yunnan, and First Flush Darjeeling tea. They are keen to support local businesses and use Pekoe Tea Edinburgh, a Leith-based artisanal tea supplier. They offer a Champagne upgrade option with either Moët & Chandon Impérial or Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial.

The showstopper here is the exquisitely prepared canapés-style dishes. Each piece is a dainty work of art, that invigorates your sweet, savoury, umami taste buds without ever making you feel bloated. The heritage tomato arancini had a zingy sweetness that you know comes from well-sourced tomatoes rather than artificial sugars. Likewise, the pork rillette had a refreshing sweetness that came from the beetroot relish. Sandwiches were present and correct such as free-range egg mayonnaise and hot smoked salmon but the chef is more than aware, no one wants to walk out of a restaurant feeling like a sack of wheat.

Mastering the texture of a scone is a tricky affair but the pastry team at Fingal seems to have come up with the winning formula: it’s light and crumbly. They are freshly made daily in-house rather than purchasing stale supermarket varieties. It comes in buttermilk, plain and fruit options and served with Tiptree preserves and Rodda’s clotted cream.

The sweet items were universally impressive with highlights including hazelnut praline choux bun and Oakchurch raspberry trifle with Chambord jelly.

It might be quite a trek to travel from the historical part of Edinburgh to Leith, but this is one-afternoon tea worth making the pilgrimage for.

https://www.fingal.co.uk/food-drink/afternoon-tea/