THEGAYUK

Tag: Hotel Review

Our writers explore new accommodations, hotels and B&Bs to bring you the latest reviews. Find out where’s gay-friendly and where they go the extra mile to make you feel welcome.

  • HOTEL REVIEW | Rica Hotel, Alta, Norway

    One of the best breakfasts I’ve ever had.

    If you happen to find yourself in Alta, in Norway, perhaps to see the Northern Lights or visit the world famous Ice Hotel, we suggest you check out the RICA Hotel, one of the two hotels available in one of the western world’s most northern cities.

    The Rica Hotels chain is unknown in the UK, but has 80 locations in Norway.

    Clean, modern lines await you as you check into the Hotel and all of the 241 rooms, set over 5 floors are comfortable and include a great bed and comfortable cushions.

    Check out is late – at 12:00PM and you can check in from 3PM. Rooms at the front of the hotel are afforded a stunning view of the mountains and the Northern Lights Cathedral, an amazing piece of modern architecture.

    There’s also a Saunas and Solarium – which should help you warm up from the arctic conditions outside the hotel. Temperatures can reach a staggering minus 20 degrees.

    What sets this hotel apart is the rather glorious food, especially the breakfast, which can, at some chains, be an insipid experience, however at the Rica it is one of the most pleasurable features. Wonderful and I’ve never had scrambled eggs like it.

    The evening meal was also just as delightful – and as a vegetarian the staff were more than accommodating with meal suggestions and ideas.

    And for those of you who need Internet, there is free Wifi – and it’s fast!

    Rooms from £104 per night (January 2015)

    http://www.rica-hotels.com

  • HOTEL REVIEW | NiteNite Birmingham

    On paper, the nitenite hotel in Birmingham looks like an attractive offer. For under 50 quid per night, two of you get to stay in the heart of Birmingham, near all the attractions and entertainments in Japanese inspired simplicity – but that’s where the attractive offer stops. ★★

    As a person that does a fair bit of travelling, I like to think I know most hotel chains, and what they have to offer, yes even the budget brands! So I was surprised to learn about a new chain hopeful – nitenite, just off Broad Street in central Birmingham. Based on Japanese design – the rooms are compact and supposedly complete. The hotel crams over one hundred of these rooms on one floor.

    If you’re looking for your creature comforts – and I include a window within that category you’re out of luck. As no rooms in this hotel have windows, they don’t have phones, hairdryers, handtowels, wardrobes or anywhere to put your baggage. The total floor space is around the size of two double beds, side by side and that includes the WC and shower, complete with opaque door – which is never a welcome feature, especially if you’re sharing.

    As a warning be careful when using the singular table surface as it has a deceptive curved edge. You run the risk of ruining your entire suitcase of clothing, if you place a cup of coffee near the edge and it simply falls on to your belongings. There’s simply no place to put your luggage anywhere. If you want a bedside shelf – or somewhere to put your glasses/water/book/ipad – then you’re also out of luck. There are no usable surfaces anywhere in the room.

    So What! – You might say – ‘I’m just there to put my head down after a night on the razz.’ Well don’t expect a peaceful night’s sleep.

    We stayed on a Saturday night, where on the hour every hour we were woken by the sounds of girls cackling, falling A over T, shouting, then screaming and then door slamming. Then came the noise of men- arguing and shouting. It was like some hideous campus experience, but without the education. I think around 3.49AM a rather burley sounding man, slammed his door so hard the entire floor seemed to shake, walked out into the corridor – said, ‘right I’m off to reception to complain about this… Let’s ‘**king ‘ave it…’

    In the morning I complained to reception and asked why they didn’t do anything about the noise, he shrugged and told me that they usually have security to deal with wayward guests. Now I don’t know about you, but a hotel that employs someone specifically for security to deal with drunken hooligans certainly isn’t a place I would be seen in again. If you do stay, either get completely blotto and become one of the yobbos that clearly patronise this establishment or bring earplugs/Calms/Tramadol in order to get a good night’s kip.

  • HOTEL REVIEW | The Wensleydale Heifer

    ★★★★★ | The Wensleydale Heifer

    They say no-one expects the Spanish Inquisition. They would probably also not expect a rather splendid fish restaurant and boutique hotel in the landlocked Yorkshire Dales.

    Nestling in the ample bosom of the picturesque Dales, the Wensleydale Heifer is admittedly off the beaten path, situated in the tiny village of West Witton, but it’s well worth the drive to experience what is one of the finest dining experiences my partner and I have had in a long time.

    The hotel itself comprises a number of themed bedrooms all playfully but tastefully decorated. We had the Whiskey Room for our night’s stay, which was pleasantly warm and inviting, incorporating distillery memorabilia around the walls with tartans and a wee dram of complimentary whiskey which greeted us on arrival (not a great whiskey fan I instead devoured the marvellous complimentary home made cookie and pondered what delights the people in the next door Chocolate Room were enjoying. Would they ever leave the room?)

    Dinner was in the fish restaurant after making our menu selections in the informal warmth of the lounge. A nice touch when we reached the table was the two small hors d’oeuvres to whet our appetites. Service was good and what they very occasionally lacked in professional finesse they made up for in attentiveness.

    My starter was Japanese panko crusted goats cheese fritters with jam, pine nuts and rocket salad. My partner had Whitby crab, gravalax, potato, shallot and chive tian, salmon, pink grapefruit vinaigrette and salad. Both were excellent, well presented with a nice contrast in taste. For mains I had tarragon and white truffle crusted hake with parmesan and rocket risotto and shallots and my partner had Roast Cornish turbot fillet, tagliatelle of Venus clams and brown shrimp, white wine and garlic fresh pea shoots and pea oil. We loved both. You could tell that this is a restaurant that loves its fish. The wine and garlic cream gave the latter a nice body without it being too heavy and both mains were excellently presented with lovely flavours. The hake was fresh and though it’s very easy to over serve risotto, they got the quantity just right.

    Looking forward to dessert I plumped for the ice cream brownie and my partner the stem ginger parfait, both of which were very good.

    After retiring for the night we had the English breakfast that though didn’t quite match the fine dining of the night before, was still very welcome.

    Overall The Heifer is highly recommended whether you fancy a few days retreat in exclusive and quirky surroundings or just booking a classy meal out. Even if you don’t think you’re a fish fan you can’t fail to be bowled over by the combination of flavours and styles in each dish which, combined with a stylish contemporary setting and excellent accommodation should put it on every foodie’s menu.

    To book the Wensleydale Heifer call: 01969 622322 or visit: http://www.wensleydaleheifer.co.uk