Best of British Hotels
by Patricia Montgomery, LincsMag Writer.
Date: 01 February 2011
One of the world’s largest travel sites, last month unveiled the very best of British hotels in its ninth annual Travellers’ Choice Hotel awards, that they say are often dubbed the ‘Oscars of the hotel world’.
The awards recognise the best hotels around the world across categories including best budget, best luxury, best B&B and best service. Unlike any other hotel awards, TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice awards are based on the experiences of millions of travellers from around the world.
Despite good news for Britain’s B&B industry, with the UK all but dominating this global category, the same cannot be said for those hoping for a value break – not a single UK property features in this year’s European Top 10 ‘Bargain Hotels’ category, despite a favourable exchange for most travellers coming to Britain this year.
“These awards celebrate the stars of the British hotel industry,” comments Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson. “Devon has performed extraordinarily this year, as have B&Bs across the entire country, but there is still work to be done to convince tourists that British hotels offer good value for money.”
Best of British
For the second consecutive year, Rudding Park Hotel in Harrogate, Yorkshire has been awarded the coveted accolade of Britain’s Best Hotel. Lauded for its “impeccable service” and “wonderful setting” by TripAdvisor travellers, one reviewer even describes it as “practically perfect in every way”.
Peter Banks, managing director of Rudding Park comments on his 2011 Travellers Choice Hotel award, “We are thrilled to receive the TripAdvisor Award for Best Hotel in the UK for the second year running, proving that an independent Yorkshire hotel can match and beat the most famous names in British Hospitality”.
The second best hotel in Britain this year is The Old Rectory in Exmoor, Devon and third place goes to Boskerris Hotel in St. Ives, Cornwall.
Star Service
The Boskerris has double cause for celebration after also scooping eighth place in the ‘Best Service’ in Europe category. Also victorious in this category is Abbott’s Brae Hotel in Dunoon, Scotland which was named seventh best hotel for service by TripAdvisor travellers.
Budget Blow for British Hotels
As VAT rises and the budget cuts take hold, budget-conscious travellers will be disappointed to hear that not a single British hotel made it into this year’s European ‘Bargain Hotels’ list, which was highly populated with Eastern European hotels.
“The recent TripAdvisor 2011 Travel Trends research revealed that fewer Brits are planning to take a domestic holiday this year, a trend which could be attributed to the perceived lack of high-quality, low-price accommodation in the UK made clear through the Traveller’s Choice Awards,” continued TripAdvisor’s Emma O’Boyle.
South West Joy
The South West is another clear winner in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Hotel awards, claiming five of the top 10 UK hotels. Devon in particular should be very proud, with seven of Britain’s 25 best hotels located in the county.
World-Class British B&Bs
The good old Bed & Breakfast is a UK institution so it’s fantastic news that Britain’s B&Bs are officially the best in the world, with six British properties ranking among the world’s top ten. Scotland’s The Old Manse in Invermoriston has been crowned number one in the world, while Saltcote Place in Rye, East Sussex; Riverside Hotel in the Lake District; Number One B&B in Deal, Kent; and The Twenty One in Brighton all contribute to the UK’s near domination in this global category.
London Left behind
While parts of the country, particularly Devon, excel in this year’s awards, the UK’s capital is not shining as brightly. With the 2012 Olympics on the horizon, the world’s eyes will soon be on London – a city conspicuous in its absence from the UK’s top 25 hotels.
This is the second consecutive year in which the capital failed to produce finalists in the top 25 UK hotels list. With only 18 months to go, it’s likely London’s hospitality industry will be working hard to make sure London performs as a world-class tourism destination next year.
Cool Britannia
The UK’s reputation as a trend-setter is reinforced in this year’s awards - with two of Europe’s Trendiest Hotels in the UK. Hotel Missoni in Edinburgh took an impressive second place, while Myhotel in Brighton came in fourth.
