Winter warming experiences at Pride of Britain Hotels

With the weather finally having turned colder, it’s time for cosy wood burners and open fires, squashy sofas, four-poster beds, country walks, hearty comfort food and pampering spa treatments. Pride of Britain Hotels’ 49 luxurious, independently-owned hotels offer all this and more:

Curl up in the King’s Bedroom: Hartwell House near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, is a palatial property set in 90 acres of rolling countryside.  Situated at the top of the main Jacobean staircase, the King’s Bedroom was once occupied by the exiled King of France, Louis XVIII, from 1809 – 1814.  Guests can sleep in a lavish antique four poster bed and admire the same uninterrupted views that Louis XVIII enjoyed 200 years ago. A night’s stay in the King’s Bedroom costs from £250 pp (two sharing) including overnight accommodation, full English breakfast and use of the spa.

A Devonshire Twixmas or New Year: Overlooking the stunning Devonshire coastline and close to Salcombe and the market town of Kingsbridge, Thurlestone offers traditional family entertainment in spades.  The children’s Dolphin Club offers arts and crafts, movie nights, Merlin the Magician and more, plus there’s evening entertainment for adults, too.  A three-night dinner, bed and breakfast Twixmas stay (27-30 December) in a sea view room costs from £375 per adult and £114 per child (aged 3-7) based on two adults and up to two children sharing.  Alternatively, a four-night dinner, bed and breakfast stay over New Year (30^th December – 2^nd January) costs from £800 per adult and £200 per child (aged 3-7) in a sea view room and includes a Gala Dinner and Highland Piper to welcome in the New Year, all entertainment, afternoon tea and kids’ High Tea. There are also optional excursions to the races and/or local pantomime.

Bathe in bubbles overlooking the Sussex Downs: Built in 1883 as a family home, South Lodge Hotel in the Sussex Downs is a beautiful country house hotel set in 93 acres.  With a private lake and two restaurants (including Michelin-starred The Pass), the hotel now boasts two rooms with open-air hot tubs with the addition recently made to the Farriers Suite’s private terrace.  Other touches include a Bose sound system, hand-made mattress plus pillow menu (including lavender and manuka or anti-snoring), a bath with aqua vision television and mist-free bathroom mirrors. A night’s stay in The Godman or Farriers Suite costs from £348 pp (two sharing) including a full English breakfast.

Woodburners and winter walks in Wales: The Grove, Narberth, in Pembrokeshire, makes for the perfect rural getaway with wonderful coastal walks nearby. Coppet Hall Beach is home to the owners’ expanding portfolio, with Coast restaurant and the new Kiosk Beach Café selling paninis, home-made soup and hot chocolate topped with marshmallows. Back at the hotel, snuggle up in front of the fire or feast on Duncan Barham’s delicious seasonal cuisine.  The hotel also has four smart self-catering cottages with cosy wood burning stoves. A night’s stay in Copper Beech cottage costs from £145 pp (two sharing), including breakfast.

Auld Lang Syne near Durham: Seaham Hall overlooks a sweeping sandy beach and is just 14 miles from historic Durham.  On New Year’s Eve a five-course dinner, including wine, will be served in Byron’s Bar & Grill (named after the celebrated poet who was married at the hotel in 1815).  This will be followed by dancing, fireworks and a Scottish piper and costs £195 pp.  Dinner guests on New Year’s Eve can also stay overnight for the special rate of £100 pp (two sharing) and enjoy a relaxing New Year’s Day at the hotel.  The Serenity Spa houses a 20-metre indoor pool, hammam, outdoor hot tubs, manicure and pedicure stations and a roof garden.  Treatments include the reinvigorating Rasul Mud Treatment for two combining mud, steam and water – perfect for reviving tired winter skin (£75 for two – 45 minutes).

The Pride of Britain collection of independent hotels spans the UK.  Admission to the group is subject to each hotel successfully passing an anonymous overnight inspection and a ballot of the membership.  The consortium is limited to a maximum of 50 hotels to guarantee quality and exclusivity.

To book an overnight stay, and for the best available price, call Pride of Britain Hotels on 0800 089 3929 (www.prideofbritainhotels.com).

Ends – 12 November 2014

Press:  Photography of all properties is available to download: www.prideofbritainhotels.com/press.

For media enquiries and press visits, please contact:

Julia Farish, Camilla Colley or Sue Ockwell, Travel PR, tel: 020 8891 4440, email: j.farish@travelpr.co.uk, c.colley@travelpr.co.uk or s.ockwell@travelpr.co.uk.