Hotel focus

What do independent hotels offer?

Think pink: if you want a break from beige, try Clontarf Castle 

Global brands and hotel groups are great – but don’t forget the independents. DialExpotel takes a look at the latest individually owned hotels to join the Expotel Collection

Planning a trip, but want something that little bit different? There’s no question that Expotel has an incredible range of hotels in its portfolio, from the consistent and reliable global brands to fantastic country piles, but what if you want to shake things up a bit?

If the individuality of an independent hotel appeals, why not check out the Expotel Collection? Consisting of more than 100 hotels and venues, each property offers an out-of-the-ordinary experience, be that sublime location, incredible sporting facilities or just achingly good looks and a bucket-load of charm.

So, feast your eyes on these sensational Expotel Collection hotels, all with first-class USPs.

If you want the best in golf… St Mellion International Resort, Cornwall

To experience what 18 times Major winner Jack Nicklaus described as “potentially the finest golf course in Europe”, a trip to Cornwall is in order – to St Mellion International Resort, to be specific. Bristling with pride after a £20 million revamp, this four-star resort (host to next year’s English Open, no less) offers golfers of all abilities something to feel good about. Even if it’s only to be found in the gorgeous Elemis spa afterwards…

If you want to live (and eat) like a king... Clontarf Castle Hotel, Dublin

If your barometer for acceptable accommodation starts at luxurious and extends upwards to totally extravagant, make like a princess (or prince) at Clontarf Castle Hotel in Dublin. Gorgeous, glamorous suites, breathtaking lounges and a restaurant you’d be quite happy to die in (after pudding, of course…) make for a gothic gem that’ll make you wish your home was this castle.

If you’re a water baby… Cotswold Water Park Four Pillars Hotel, Gloucestershire

Surrounded by more than 140 lakes, Cotswold Water Park Four Pillars Hotel is the perfect base for anyone with aquatic aspirations. From wakeboarding and waterskiing to the gentler arts of fishing and boating, let the magnificent Gloucestershire countryside, and this four-star haven of lakeside luxury, be your hosts.

If you love great design… Penta Hotel, Reading

If you’re after something a little unorthodox and design-led, then the Penta Hotel in Reading will fit the bill. With an interior littered with amusing little touches that will bring a smile to your face, this funky, laid-back, Italian-designed hotel is the perfect antidote to English starchiness.

If you’re after something grand… Rudding Park Hotel, Harrogate

If Grade-I status is top of your accommodation wish-list, head to Rudding Park Hotel in Harrogate, which offers a beguiling combination of tasteful Regency grandeur and contemporary flair. To drive the point home, this Yorkshire gem boasts a clutch of impressive awards, and its Clockwork restaurant is particularly lauded.

This feature was written by DialExpotel for Expotel, the UK’s leading hotel, travel and venue booking agency. To find out more about Expotel or any of the hotels mentioned, please call 0844 793 7300.

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