DEPARTURES
Reality check HOT E L : F O U R SE ASO NS HAM PSHIR E THE HOTEL
This hotel and spa is in a
Wilton carpets, a walk-in closet, and a
restored Georgian manor house set in
spacious bathroom with bath and walk-
500 acres of pristine parkland and
in shower. All rooms have the famous,
paddocks, 11 miles east of Basingstoke,
luxurious Four Seasons’ Sealy Bed with
an hour’s drive from central London
squishy pillows and high-tech
and a 35-minute drive from Heathrow.
headboards with USB and power points
All staff wore
COVID STRATEGY
facemasks and guests were instructed
and reading spotlights. THE BUSINESS
The hotel has
to do the same in public areas. Hand
introduced a new Work at Leisure
sanitiser and disposable masks were
programme with services and amenities
available in our room.
designed for working guests, such as
THE CHECK-IN
We arrived in the dark
express lunches, ergonomic desk chairs,
and struggled to find our way from the
monitors, Bluetooth printers, wireless
guest car park. We ended up entering
mouse and keyboards on request.
the hotel via the adjacent spa, which is
THE FACILITIES
The hotel’s crowning
connected via a glass-encased walkway.
glory is its spa, with a stunning glass
evening menu changes according to the
After checking in at the cosy reception
atrium housing a 20-metre pool linked
season. Burgers, salads and fish and
we were escorted to our bedroom on
to a heated outdoor hydrotherapy pool,
the first floor, admiring the classy
plus saunas, steam rooms and a gym.
Christmas decorations on our way.
For families there's Sharkie’s Reef, with
THE ROOM
The hotel has 133 guest
a slide and bubble jets, plus plenty of
ROOMS DIFFER IN DESIGN BUT FOLLOW AN ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE THEME
chips are served in the adjacent bar. Service was extremely attentive. THE VERDICT
An elegant rural retreat
that's fantastic for work and play.
rooms, including 22 suites, all recently
outdoor pursuits including horse riding
refurbished. Rooms differ in design and
and a highwire adventure. The main
Chalky Lane, Dogmersfield, Hampshire
decor but follow an English countryside
restaurant Wild Carrot is also where
RG27 8TD; fourseasons.com/hampshire
theme. Our room, a Heritage Deluxe,
breakfast is served – buffet or à la carte
had sage green walls, sumptuously soft
– from an open kitchen. The extensive
THE DETAILS
Dogmersfield Park,
Rooms from £540 inc VAT
Bev Fearis
HOTE L: R ADISSO N R E D L O NDO N G R E E NW ICH T HE O 2 THE HOTEL
A short walk from North
artwork hanging above the bed. The
Greenwich DLR station and five miles
king-size bed was super-comfortable
from London City, this ultra-artsy and
and the spacious bathroom featured a
style-savvy 70-room hotel is decorated
rain-effect shower and RED-branded
by splashes of red, a theme which
bathroom amenities. A 55-inch flat-
apparently helps "amplify the worlds of
screen Chromecast TV was built into the
art, fashion and music".
wall and there were useful bedside USB
COVID STRATEGY
The hotel operates
ports. Triple-glazing kept traffic noise to
under the Radisson Safety Protocol
a minimum. There was also a desk, mini
Programme in partnership with SGS, an
fridge and Nespresso machine.
inspection, testing and certification
THE BUSINESS
There's free Wi-Fi
company that verifies Covid health,
throughout the hotel and on-site
hygiene and cleanliness.
parking. There are plenty of 'social
THE CHECK-IN
The reception area sits
in an industrial-styled lobby area that
spaces' throughout for ad hoc meetings. THE FACILITIES
A 'grab and go'
could best be described as 'urban
cupboard in the reception offers snacks,
rooftop Shisha lounge offers drinks
funky'. The area also has a huge 'touch
water, wine, deodorant, toothpastes,
with a view. There's also a small gym.
screen' that allows you to search for
etc. The large Manhattan-style bar has
local attractions, although the two
craft beers and a barman keen to show
friendly staff also had helpful
off his cocktail-making skills. An all-day
suggestions for nearby restaurants.
restaurant serves pizzas, burgers,
THE ROOM
My 'superior' room was
chicken wings, and salads. A very
BOLD AND PLAYFUL, THIS IS A STYLE-CONSCIOUS HOTEL WITH ATTITUDE
THE VERDICT
Bold and playful, this is
a style-conscious hotel with attitude that offers an ultra-relaxed alternative to other more staid London hotels. THE DETAILS
Radisson RED, London
modern, super-clean, sleek and clearly
generous breakfast was cooked to
aimed at millennials (of both age and
order. A 'lounge area', with big sofas
mind). Bold red decor featured via an
and a pool table, leads into the
radissonhotels.com. Rooms from £120
old-fashioned dial telephone and
restaurant. A large glass-covered
Steve Hartridge
28
Greenwich 02, 228 Tunnel Avenue, London, SE10 0PL; 0208 054 1950;
THEBUSINESSTRAVELMAG.COM
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