Review: Ellenborough Park hotel

We were heading off to the International Air Tattoo at Cheltenham (aka an air show) last weekend, and thought it would be a good idea to stay overnight somewhere on the way. This little hotel is a gem of a historical find, so I thought I would post a quick review!

Ellenborough Park is in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. The building on the site was known as Southam Manor in the 1500's, and the land was owned by Henry VII and leased by a farmer called Thomas Goodman. On one of the windows there were even some stained glass panes commemorating Henry VII and his wife, Elizabeth of York. It remained unfinished when it passed on to Sir John Huddleson, and remained in his family until the 1800's.

At this point, it passed to Edward Law; a distant relative who was also the Governor General of India. He made the house what it is today (minus the modern parts obviously) and was also the first Earl of Ellenborough. It's worth checking out the website for the backstory on Edward's scandalous wife, who had numerous affairs and a grand total of four marriages!

The house became a renovated modern hotel in 2008, as it had been a girl's school and a hotel before.

The house is in a perfect place for anyone wanting to explore. Nearby is a Roman Villa, but also Sudeley Castle. The Castle is where Catherine Parr (the last wife of Henry VIII) is buried. I was absolutely gutted we didn't have time to see it!

Hopefully I can make up for it with my review.....

As you can see the hotel itself is absolutely beautiful when you first see it. The old manor contains some of the bedrooms and the main reception, so you get to see all of the preserved history even if you're not lucky enough to have a suite!

We were housed in the 'newer' part of the hotel, which was styled to make it look like the old part. For me, the best part of the hotel were the grounds:

Some of the old buildings were still incorporated....

Despite how beautiful the outside was, it was the afternoon tea we NEEDED to sample! Sadly there were two events on at the hotel at the same time, so the service wasn't as good as we had hoped. I thought that the pretty tea set made up for it though (I'll never be a complainer!)

After we had a look at the teas on offer by smelling them from little vials then choosing, the cakes arrived. The scones weren't just scones, they included about 4 different varieties including chocolate and raspberry.

The 'cake' plate included trifles, strawberry and white chocolate mousse, mini tartlets and carrot cake. I felt so sick afterwards, but it was so worth it:

The room was likely the old chapel or a reception room, as it included two fireplaces, a viewing gallery and these lovely windows:

So, on offer at this lovely hotel is:

- A great afternoon tea

- A heated outdoor pool

- History, history and more history

- Proximity to Sudeley Castle and the beauty of the Cotswolds

For us the only downsides were the price and the service. It was a bit more expensive than I would have liked, and the service was a bit slow (understandably). Otherwise, it is a great way to spend a weekend!

http://www.ellenboroughpark.com

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Wedding gifts for book lovers

It's wedding season!

Summer weddings are always lovely, but gifts are a dilemma if there happens to be no wedding list or you're on a budget. I was inspired by an article I saw on Buzzfeed about literature-themed weddings. So, here are my recommendations for presents to give to the book-loving couples you know.

With any couple getting hitched, crockery is usually on the list for a new home (or an updated one). Why not get them a set of mugs to make their mornings that bit better?

Featuring Jack Kerouac, Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, Pride and Prejudice and Lord of the Rings

Or go full out with Whittards lovely Alice in Wonderland collection

Other homewares include these fantastic candles, which are perfect for snuggling up with and creating an atmosphere for reading:

Find them here

If their house is already full, jewellery or cufflinks are always a nice touch:

Pride and prejudice bangle, happily ever after necklace and book cufflinks

 Alternatively, one of the best gifts for any book lover is a first edition (or just really old) version of their favourite book. You can buy a set or just a single volume. Etsy and Ebay are great places to start, but there are lots of book stores specialising in first and second editions too!

Finally, if you don't have the money for a gift but would still like to contribute to the wedding day, why not splash out on some confetti made from the pages of Romeo and Juliet:

See here

Books are such romantic things!

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The Great Yorkshire show 2014

In my quest to become the ultimate history lover, I am always on the lookout for experiences to recommend! Recently I went to the Great Yorkshire Show, which until recently was the country's greatest agricultural show. But now? It has grown into a mass of food, crafts and loveable yorkshire ale that was a delight to behold!

I have always been proud of my Yorkshire roots, and as a matter of fact I'm looking at buying this teapot to prove it:

I had a great time at this show, and as always, here are both the photos and some independent shops to have a look at.

The first place we headed to was the food tent. It's fair to say there were samples galore! Using the typical "pretend you're interested" technique, we tried almost everything on offer (not ashamed). 

It's well worth stocking up on food at these shows as opposed to in supermarkets. Do your shopping right and you could end up with about 4 chorizo sausages for £10! Above is a picture of a historic Bavarian sausage stall, who had the best offers I had ever seen on fresh chorizo.

Next were the "shows". The cheese show actually had a "best in show" cheese. Seriously. 

The flower show was pretty beautiful too. Places like these are the best way of showcasing the associations round the country; there is literally one for every kind of flower. These associations ("the British daffodil society") usually have a rich history behind them, and are nationwide. To be honest, I was just in it for the displays:

Next was the arts and crafts. Although there wasn't as much there as some other shows, it was worth a look. This tent was the Country Living one, complete with Laura Ashley fabrics: 

I took full advantage of the tikki huts on display, although the wine wasn't for consumption:

Next was the fashion show, showcasing bits and pieces from Hobbs, maxmara and local colleges. 

My favourite bit of the show had to be the livestock believe it or not! A true Yorkshire history lover to the end ;) 

My grandmother used to have two highland cows when I was growing up, and they were her pride and joy. So I made a beeline for the ones on display here:

And some more little baby cows!

Goats and pigs were on display too:

The judging for each breed takes place on the first day of the show, and the rosettes are displayed throughout the rest of it. So apart from the above, there were also the pigeons. I found this a bit odd, and immediately my view of the humble Trafalgar Square pigeon was changed! They ranged from the bizarre to the ridiculous:

So cute! 

I'm at serious risk of overloading this post with photos, but there were also cars and every tractor imaginable, making it an amazing, informative and thoroughly northern day. What more could you ask for?

Some shops to keep an eye on:

Lalabuds - this woman will ask you for your story (be it a family trip, the story of how you met, or even just a special moment) and draw it for you. I fell in love with her designs.
Top Collar - The subscription box for dog treats! They have all kind of flavours (I bought sunday roast for mine) and are completely homemade and healthy.
Rosydale - If you send this lady a picture of your home she will sew a tweed version, for a cushion or a frame. Very Yorkshire chic.
Rose Cottage Pantry - The VERY BEST pork pies. Eating one was like magic in pastry.

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