Hand Picked Hotels champions the UK holiday with new tailormade experiences and specially curated stays for guests
Hand Picked Hotels' chairman and CEO Julia Hands announced this week the re-opening of the hotel group on 4th July with the introduction of a new offering of custom-designed and curated stays for guests. This is great news for those that are desperate to venture beyond the four walls of their home but are still mindful of safety and social distancing measures.
A home-away-from-home country house hotel experience, Hand Picked is inviting couples, groups of friends and family, colleagues and individuals to have their ideal break tailor-made as lockdown eases. Each party will have a dedicated 'Hand Picked Host' looking after them throughout their stay, adhering to the highest standards of service, safety, cleanliness and comfort possible.
In contrast to the traditional dinner, bed and breakfast stay, stays at Hand Picked will be completely bespoke in all areas of hospitality. From the type of food guests desire to the recreational activities they want to pursue and whatever the makeup of their party Hand Picked will cater for all tastes, ages and group sizes to enjoy any length of stay - from a two-night romantic weekend to a month-long tour of the historic highlights of the British Isles.
Guests will be able to enjoy their choice of dining, from à la carte menus to more informal options served in the restaurant, on the terrace, in their bedrooms, in designated lounges or their own private dining room. Cinemas and lounge areas will be available for film screenings, and activities such as walking, yoga and Pilates will be offered alongside the use of pools and fitness centres once open.
As each of the 16 historic hotels in the UK and three Channel Island resorts are unique, the offering will be tailored to each destination, and proposals delivered to best match the guest requirements in their desired location. At the same time, Hand Picked is introducing "In Safe Hands" - an enhanced set of stringent health, safety and security measures designed in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, yet without compromising the service quality guests have come to expect. These include enhanced cleaning protocols, social distancing measures, contactless check in and check out, dedicated dining areas, certification from experts in health and safety plus a fully-flexible full refund booking policy should customers need to cancel due to Covid-19 concerns or issues.
Julia Hands, Chairman & CEO of Hand Picked Hotels commented: "I am looking forward to re-opening Hand Picked Hotels in a way that provides our guests with the freedom and the space to enjoy a truly memorable time within the beautiful countryside of the United Kingdom and the seascapes of the Channel Islands, knowing they are in safe hands whilst staying with us. "As we re-open our doors, we aim to raise the bar with regard to what country house hotels can provide through delivering a personalised service that makes guests really feel at home." Hand Picked Hotels will be launching custom-made guest experiences at all of its hotels from for stays up until December 2021. For more information visit https://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk
Iconic British brand Dualit presents a curated selection of wedding gifts designed to be cherished for years, and in some cases, generations to come. From romantic, café-style mornings to shared moments over hot chocolate, each gift will be enjoyed well beyond the wedding day. A thoughtful gift for couples who love to bake and a must have for every kitchen. The Dualit Hand Mixer is a firm favourite among top chefs and seen on TV, combining high performance and a chic retro design, this versatile tool is available in Copper or Chrome finish.
READ ARTICLE
Cardiff-based pet carer celebrates 20 years of trusted service
The owner of Petpals Cardiff, Maxine Neal, is celebrating two decades of pet care across the city, having looked after more than 500 animals while building lasting relationships with the people behind them. What began as a simple ambition has grown into one of Cardiff's most trusted pet care services, with Maxine becoming a familiar and reassuring presence for hundreds of local pet owners. "When I started back in 2006, I just knew I wanted to work with animals and be outdoors," she said. "It didn't feel like a traditional 'career path' at the time – it was more about doing something I genuinely loved every day."
READ ARTICLE
Tagvenue Reveals Its 2026 Event Predictions
As the events sector continues to evolve, 2026 is set to mark a clear turning point for UK venues. Leading event booking platform Tagvenue has released its predictions for how the UK events and hospitality sector will evolve in 2026, pointing to a decisive shift away from scale, standardisation and fixed packages, and towards experience-led formats, wellbeing and clearer communication of value. Drawing on booking behaviour across thousands of UK venues, alongside insights from independent hospitality operators, Tagvenue predicts that the most successful event spaces in 2026 will be those that combine strong identity with flexibility, visual appeal and transparency around pricing and experience.
READ ARTICLE
Experts Warn Against Using AI for Wedding Vows
With peak wedding season approaching, experts are warning couples not to rely on AI to write one of the most personal parts of their big day – their vows. A survey by jewellers Queensmith has revealed that more than half (55%) of UK brides and grooms are now using AI tools to help write their wedding vows and speeches, raising questions about authenticity, originality and even potential legal grey areas. The findings come amid a growing debate around AI-written vows after a registrar in the eastern Netherlands saw a marriage called into question when AI was used to help write the ceremony script. In the case, the District Court of Overijssel ruled that "no marriage has been established" after it emerged the registrar had relied on ChatGPT to draft parts of the ceremony. The case has sparked wider concerns that AI-generated wording could unintentionally mirror existing vows or scripts found online, raising questions about originality and authenticity.
