Stop 5: Grand Central Glasgow

Stop 5 : THE GRAND CENTRAL

Glasgow. Ok so lets dispel some rumours. Glasgow doesn't always get a great press, and we were warned about not going out at night etc etc. ITS ALL RUBBISH!!

Glasgow is amazing. We found the people friendly, welcoming, funny, and the city is clean, well looked after and jam packed with things to do. Museums, art galleries (we'd recommend the GOMA), markets, churches, a Cathedral, Shopping.the list is endless and offers something for everyone.

The city is a lot more historical and cultural than we ever imagined. We needed much longer than two nights to cover everything.

The first day we were up early and so decided to try out room service. The breakfast was delivered at 7.15am, and does incur an additional cost but great quality food and still warm upon delivery.

We booked a day tour with Timberbrush out to the Scottish Highlands seeing among others, Loch Dormand, Loch Oich and of course the infamous Loch Ness where we had a half an hour cruise and visited the ruins of castle Urquhart. Would well recommend the tour, with Colin our knowledgeable and amiable tour guide/driver we saw so much more to the country than we ever would on our own steam.

Highlight too was meeting new great people on the tour - especially Kara the brilliant mining engineer from Australia who promised to take the challenge of trying haggis... and irn bru

Kara and Hayley C

After the long day's tour we were overjoyed to go back to the hotel and really get to explore our accommodation before heading to The Tempus Restaurant for dinner. We were upgraded to a twin executive room, with our beds draped in crisp white sheets and dark throws and matching pillows. The room was modern, but with high ceilings and pictures of trains and rails gave the room character, and reminded us that the hotel is part of the Central station built in the late 1800s.This quirky location and stunning exterior gives the hotel a unique selling point.

The beds were really comfortable and very generous with pillows. Although the hotel is located so close to the station we were not effected by any noise and had a pleasant nights sleep. The bathroom needs mentioning - we had a bath, separate shower, large mirror and so much space we could have got a bed in there. Luxury! Our room also had TV with free view, tea tray(including biscuits this time!), lots of cupboard space, ironing board and hairdryer...and bath robes and slippers. To be honest it was tempting to just stay in the room and chill out in our towelling robes!

Ok so perhaps not such little details but spectacular extras. The reception also offers a touch screen information point offering ideas of places to visit, bars, attractions.

We also noticed how popular the hotel was for events. Charity functions and weddings both took place during our stay and everyone seemed to be having a grand time!

The recent refurb is evident - the hotel is faultless - clean, almost sparkling! with little details that make the hotel feel special - a large drop chandelier down the staircase, a selection of old travelling trunks on the window sill, a grand piano, rail themed long canvas prints down to oversized hourglass shaped plant pots.

Down in the Tempus restaurant the staff were attentive, chatty and made the whole evening really pleasant. Hayley C had the sea bream as advertised in the menu 'winning dish for Scottish chef of the year' and Hayley A felt adventurous and tried the Venison en croute.

Absolutely beautifully cooked and presented and a great portion size. The food is reasonably priced and great selection that we hadn't seen in other Tempus branches. The restaurant itself is inviting and warm, we sat by the fire and was the perfect relaxing end to a busy day.

We finished the evening by staying in the hotel in the Champagne Bar...for quite a few hours! Overlooking the station concourse, Champagne central offers a great chic setting for all, the mirrored bar and the beautiful art deco chandelier are the vocal points of the bar. The menu is varied with cocktails, soft drinks and an extensive range of champagnes and wines suited to all tastes.

Breakfast, as you may already have realised is our favourite mealtime and so the Grand won us over with its offer of fresh pancakes! Notably impressive too was the presence of chefs cooking and topping up breakfast offerings. Really gave a sense that we were having fresh quality food.

We were spoilt for choice. The restaurant itself is a little small especially on the Sunday morning we arrived at the same time as a wedding party so tables were limited but they use the space they have well, using the adjoining Deli for overspill of guests and offering juice and pastries to those who did have to wait. It's a great example of quality customer service, and everyone left happy...and stomachs satisfied!

The hotel is perfectly located - aside from being part of a main train station it is around a 20 minute drive from the airport (airport buses are cheap at £7 for an open return) and surrounded by bus stops which take you all around the city, and of course being in the centre of Glasgow we could get to most places on foot. We wandered to the shopping streets on the Sunday, stopping at the famous Willow Tea Rooms on Buchanan Street. Not the high tea experience we were expecting but still delicious cakes and well needed hot chocolate.

We also took the City Sightseeing tour bus around the city taking in all the best sights, The Tall Ship, the amazing Cathedral and People's Palace - more than you can ever see in just one day, but great way to get an overview of the city.

We feel like parents admitting they have a favourite child, you know it's wrong BUT.... We have to admit that this is our favourite Principal Hayley hotel (so far.?!) The Grand Central is right up there on top. It is a great all rounder in a fantastic location and they really have an eye for customer service and quality. We would recommend the hotel to all, and will definitely be booking up again.

The Challenge is just getting better and better...

Stop 4 : Palace, Manchester

Hello Manchester!

Upon stepping out from Manchester Oxford Road Train station the tower of the Palace was in full view. Big red letters illuminated the city’s skyline and we raced across the road to see what lie in store for us. Outside were a group of men all tuxed up and immediately made me feel as if we was under dressed! But they were attendees at an event taking place in one of the Palace’s many conference suites. And we needn’t worry, though palatial and grand the hotel is still welcoming and friendly not pretentious. The reception has the wow factor with high rounded dome ceiling and beautiful intricate tiling.

On exploring the hotel we were surprised at just how big it was and provided lots of surprise rooms and suites down winding staircases and hidden corridors, it’s like a secret world. Even with the number of rooms the corridors feel quiet and felt like we were transported back in time, into a regal time of the Victorians! There is a room named ‘The Grand Room’ and this actually sums up all the general areas of the hotel. The detail of the building really make this hotel exceptional, tiles, arches, mixture of old and new pictures, artwork and photography, lead light windows, and high ceilings. The Victorian design is still breathtaking and translates well into the 21st century. 

 The tempus bar and restaurant continues this and with dim lighting creates a relaxed and trendy ambiance, the room lined with full length luxurious curtains framing the seating area. The food beautifully presented like at a 5* restaurant, and tasted just as good, with a wide selection of meals available. The staff here at both breakfast and dinner sittings were exceptionally friendly, and made us feel really well looked after. Breakfast served until 11am on weekends which was great for us, and still enough food left at the buffet at that time. We must mention Nasr who made us laugh both mornings with his brilliant Essex impersonations!!

 We were in a double exec room at the front of the hotel. The room was AMAZING! The most comfy bed I have ever slept in, we actually looked forward to going back to sink in that mattress! The room was immaculate, beautiful clean sheets, plump pillows. Real luxury and beyond spacious for two of us. The dark wood windows were nearly floor to ceiling and were a real feature of the room, accentuated by the thick curtains draped across. The bathroom was clean and modern with an amazing shower which left us feeling very refreshed! We had strawberries and a box of chocolates awaiting us on arrival – the most perfect welcome! There was noise from the road outside and late night revellers but not enough to stop any sleep, and is what you would expect from a metropolitan hotel.

Brilliantly located, we walked everywhere and had the Oxford Road Train station opposite. Having never been to Manchester before, we headed out early Saturday and went exploring. The city centre itself is great, we went on the wheel (and saw the couple next to us get engaged ) and stumbled upon the funeral of Betty Driver (Corrie) and all the cast arriving.  

 Manchester offers plenty to do, with lots of galleries and libraries and LOTS of shops! We took full advantage of this and even jumped on a tram and headed over to the developing Salford quays where we had a look around the outlet village.

 On returning to the hotel we got ourselves ready for our Tempus experience. The staff were great and we looked after very well. The food was delicious ,particularly the Jaffa tart! After our gorgeous dinner we headed out to explore the Manchester nightlife. Canal Street is just down the road with lots of gay bars and clubs playing cheesy pop. We also headed over to China town, which as you would expect, offers a variety of oriental cuisine.

 We ended up in Tiger Tiger in the Printworks, in the centre of the city and after a good dance were very happy to fall into our comfy beds!
 
In the morning, after another delicious breakfast, our checkout was swift and easy. Martin Hall in the reception area helped us to print off our boarding passes for our flight home and also stored our luggage until the evening; we were all done in less than 5 minutes!

 Overall, a fabulous hotel set in a magnificent building with fantastic staff, who show that they care about their guests. We will definitely return to The Palace and can recommend this as the perfect place to stay for a trip to Manchester.

Stop 3 : Ettington Chase

Ettington Chase, Stratford Upon Avon was the next stop for the two Hayleys on our Principal Hayley Challenge.

We stayed at the newly refurbished hotel 22nd July – 24 July. Our first 2 night stay! Out of the 130 rooms in the hotel we were in one of the deluxe rooms which consisted of a double bed and a single. The room was still spacious and the beds were so comfy, it was hard to get out of them in the morning! We were on the 2nd floor overlooking a row of trees and green fields, all part of the relaxing weekend that lie ahead for us.

On arrival at the hotel we both remarked about how all the Principal Hayley venues so far all have really impressive drive ways and this was no exception. The stay got off to a great start. The welcome we received from the reception was warm and friendly, and even better when we were told we had complimentary dinner the following night! Also waiting for us in the room was a chilled bottle of champagne, a box of chocolates and a signed card from the hotel manager. This is a hotel that really knows how to look after it’s guests (and Challengers!). Very impressed and the chocolates were exquisite!! Our room also had a flat screen TV with a good selection of channels, hairdyer, iron, safe – all items you would expect from a hotel of this quality. The bathroom was a good size, clean and white, with a shower so strong it was like having a massage! Amazing way to wake up in the morning, refreshing if a little vigorous!

After a long journey on the Friday after work we took the opportunity to chill out in the hotel bar, a modern space with comfy booths and high tables. Drinks were of average price for a hotel and the bar had a good ambience. It was a great spot to hang out in and after a well needed drink we headed back to the room, put on our bathrobes and watched a bit of Friday night tv in bed!
After a great night’s sleep we headed to the Tempus restaurant for the buffet breakfast. Notable customer service from a young waitress called Jade who was so helpful and welcoming on our 1st morning. The selection is not huge but enough to choose from, cooked foods, cereals, toast, yoghurt and juices. We both had the cooked breakfast and a cheeky croissant and jam! The 2nd morning we were slightly later so missed the pastries, so would suggest anyone with a craving for a croissant should set their alarm! The waiting staff serve you with hot drinks on request too. The restaurant itself looks great, dark modern décor with chic black surfaces and silverware. Classy but still inviting.

After filling up on breakfast on day 1 we headed into nearby Stratford-upon-Avon for a wander around the historic streets, stopping at Shakespeare’s house and then on to the Big Dig. Along the way we marveled in the amount of amazing tea shops on offer! First stop was a quaint and retro 1940s tea shop called FourTeas (genius right?!) for a hot chocolate, complete with white chocolate stars and marshmallows. Yum. Stratford maintains a real sense of Englishness with history still so evident in the buildings, and the constant reminders of Shakespeare on pub signs and even the street performer! You can feel a real sense of pride in the place and can imagine that a great deal of effort goes into maintaining this English gem of a place as beautiful as it is. We also played mini golf (Hayley C won....not that she would show off about that…!!), took a wander around the Royal Shakespeare Company, wandered along the river by the canal boats, and then jumped on the ferry to take us over the river for just 50p! Less than 2 minutes on the chain ferry a definite must!

In keeping with the Englishness of Stratford-upon-Avon we couldn’t not go for a bit of afternoon tea. Hobsons was our destination and they have so much to choose from it was not an easy task! Scones, lemon cake, orange cake, chocolate orange cake, berry slice, apple tart, crumble, cheesecake, it was every girl’s dream! Being absolutely rubbish at decisions I picked two things. Definite eyes bigger than belly moment but everyone needs a bit of indulgence!

Back to the hotel we went along for a quick swim in the pool, on site. A great pool with woggles on hand if you prefer just to float around! The pool was quiet as we got in there so a great way to unwind after a day of walking. We also had a look around the gym but after the amount of cake we had eaten was not quite ready to actually work out! Good gym though with range of equipment for guests.

Saturday night saw us have our first 3 course Principal Hayley dinner! I selected the grilled mackerel on ciabatta (unusual choice but great!) and then onto the specials for mains – I had my second course of fish, selecting the fried cod crispy potatoes and red lentils. Hayley A took the beef bourginon. Both gorgeous meals though we did have to wait a good hour before we were served our main, we most definitely enjoyed the food once it was served. I think my plate was wiped clean! Onto dessert I tried to hot dessert from the Chef’s daily special menu - cinnamon baked apple and cranberry with ice cream. Good light refreshing dessert to finish off the meal.

We finished the evening by taking a cab into the centre for a few drinks. Again the staff at reception are happy to help here. The cabs are pretty expensive though the centre is only about 15 minutes away.

Sunday, bright and sunny we left the hotel after breakfast and headed off to Bourton-on-Water, another great place nearby. A picturesque village with pretty bridges over the river and on such a beautiful day the place was busy with visitors making the most of the cold water by dipping their feet in and enjoying the view. Bourton is only 30 minutes from Stratford and again really offers up the best of British, quaint gift shops, home made ice cream, teashops, motor museum, fish and chips, traditional pubs, we even stayed to watch a brass band play on the riverside.

We finished our trip by passing through Burford to visit the renowned Huffkins for a last piece of cake, billed as the best teashop in the Cotswolds. We certainly wouldn’t dispute that claim! It was a weekend of indulgence, relaxation and beautiful sights, it may seem like it all revolved around food, and well actually it probably did! But with so many great things on offer both in and around the hotel it is hard to not take advantage and enjoy it all!

Stop 2 : Selsdon Park

Stop two on the Principal Hayley Challenge saw us stay for one night at the Selsdon Park Hotel & Golf Club.

Perfectly located for a one night-er being just thirteen miles from London. So great way to spend a weekend! What did surprise us was how green the area around was, it really felt peaceful and Selsdon Park itself has it’s own 18-hole golf course. On our arrival the grey skies and drops of rain hadn’t stopped play and we took a wander to see keen golfers doing the rounds.

Set in 205 acres of land we had a great walk around, saw a deer and investigated the outdoor pool (though a bit cold for a dip!). The building itself is what can only be described as grand, and interestingly we found pictures of how the building was originally and showed the parts that have been extended. But the whole building has a great feel to it and all in-keeping with the original designs.

Before checking in we went to nearby Hever Castle. Where heavens opened and we got drenched!! Ideally would have liked a nicer day but still was able to enjoy the exhibitions and the gardens. And best of all was the water maze, which has a few shocks for people trying to beat it! Be prepared and wear your rain mac! Really good fun and great for all ages.

When we came in check in we had a lovely welcome from Juliette on reception who actually knew who we were. So news of the Principal Hayley Challenge has spread, we are famous!!

We stayed in an executive twin room overlooking the green of the golf course, framed and emphasized beautifully by the huge window which made the room bright and inviting. We had robes and slippers waiting for us, which went on straight away – felt right at home! The room was a great size with two single beds comfortably fitting and still room for chairs, bed side cabinets and adequate sized wardrobe. The room was not modern in décor but was clean, well looked after, warm and inviting. The dining hall is also worth mentioning as the room itself is tunning with high ceilings and beautiful coving detail. Fitting then that the hotel seems popular for events and weddings. During our stay the hotel was heaving with guests for a college dance, a conference and a wedding. We were lucky enough to be sitting in reception to see the wedding party come out of the ceremony and trail past us to their drinks reception. It was like being part of the wedding, without having to buy a posh frock!!

As part of our relaxing weekend we went on down to the spa on the hotel grounds, in our robes and slippers! The pool is great and would be really inviting to kids too. There are steps leading to a platform almost like an island where you can chill out on a lounger. Or there are tables along the edge for guests to sit at. Armed with magazines we spent a good hour just chilling out and watching the families enjoying the pool. Deciding to enjoy the spa facilities we headed up to the steam room and sauna. We would say that the hotel could improve the standards of the spa facilities to bring them in line with the high standard of the rest of the hotel.

Back to the room we got ready and then headed out to The Cock Inn at Headley for a great meal. Car would be needed in this area to get around the Surrey Hills but it seemed there were plenty of things around to see and do.

Then, unfortunately I woke up early Sunday morning with a fever and so we had to cut our trip short…but not before indulging in the complimentary breakfast. Buffet style served up in the large dining hall mentioned above, there is a great choice of fresh and cooked foods to choose from. The staff were attentive and gave us top ups of coffee as and when we needed it. We were sat at a table overlooking the golf green and luckily the sun was shining making the view even more appealing. Our plan had been to head to Thorpe Park – just a short drive away from the hotel. So, we didn’t quite manage that but definitely would stay here again and use it as a base from which to head out on day trips.

Stop 1 : Oakley Court

STOP 1!

SO The Principal Hayley Challenge has begun!!!

What started as one birthday treat somehow jokingly became a challenge, but we got off to a brilliant start.


Destination number one for the Principal Hayley Challenge was Oakley Court in Windsor. I picked it as a treat to Hayley A for her birthday as Windsor is not far from us in Essex but far enough for a night away and chance to explore. When we pulled up in the car the manor house exterior was actually breath taking. The detail in the architecture is stunning and this continues inside throughout the décor. From the moment we stepped inside the staff were welcoming and friendly. We had a quick wander around to look at the 37 acres of land. Located right on the river Thames the hotel has amazing views and as town folk we really enjoyed the amount of greenery around. You wre also able to hire boats(much to Hayley A’s delight!) and we saw a few groups go along to hire the boats for the afternoon after a lunch at the hotel. Not great for those of us who suffer from sea sickness but great opportunity for all others!!

We started the day with a back massage at the body firm spa which is based on the hotel grounds. The staff were lovely and the massages great. We emerged pretty relaxed and ready for a sleep! I also managed to fit in a quick swim and Jacuzzi session before the day was out. Really great facilities, The pool area was incredibly hot though so didn’t feel the need for an additional sauna session!!
The restaurant team were great and fitted us in early for our afternoon tea booking so the day seemed to flow really well . They were young and friendly and made us feel right at home. We sat on the outside terrace and with the sun shining it was hard to believe that it was early May! There are also several lounge areas where you can sit inside – all beautiful and grand without feeling too over the top. We had a selection of sandwiches (special selection for vegetarians!) and cute lil scones then a selection of three cakes each – the highlight being a chocolate caramel slice. I’ll even admit that I was tempted to eat the ones left by the next table….!!! Tramp-ish maybe but they were goooood cakes!! We had a constant top up of tea and checked on to see that we were enjoying it, attentive and caring without being overbearing. It was the setting that really made it, looking out at the hotel and then across to the green and fountain. We felt like royalty! Very apt for the royal wedding weekend!

The room was amazing – I booked a deluxe twin room so we had a single bed each but there was so much space. We were in the East wing with a great view back over the river and the terrace where we had eaten afternoon tea. The hotel feels big and with different wings and adjoining annexes there are a myriad of staircases that run throughout. But each of those still have a real sense of history.

On one staircase we found the knight’s suit then at the top of one staircase we found the William Avery suite (Hayley A to track whether he is a relative!!). Even the corridors had a real attention to detail with pictures, antique wooden tables and information points. Great night sleep – the hotel was quiet and beds comfy. No freeview on the TV though, but who goes away to sit and watch hundreds of channels??

My favourite room though would be the library, which has the wow factor – full of regal looking armchairs and surrounded by a wealth of books but also a collection of board games, including a wooden turn table version of scrabble. Yes fellow scrabble fans, it was impressive!!! The kind of room you could just sit in for hours and still find things to look at – inside and out.

Breakfast = favourite meal of the day so I did actually look forward to this! We got the £59 room deal with breakfast included. I would say that the choice probably would have been greater if we had risen a bit earlier but there was still a good selection. Cooked bits, cereals, danishes, fruit on offer, with toast and other speciality cooked items available on request. Great start to the day. Oh and Tiptree jam always makes me smile – a lil bit of Essex to make us feel at home! Good choice guys.

On checking out of the hotel we went to the nearby Windsor races for a flutter on the horses, and also went for a wander around Windsor town centre. The Oakley Court was brilliantly located for this – although you did need a car or cab to get around it didn’t take long to do it. A cab into Windsor on Saturday night cost us about £10 each way though would advise that the area is not suited for those looking for a big night out but there are some lovely restaurants to go to.

Was sad to leave the hotel – would definitely go back for more nights next time…