11 minute read
SUMMER STAYCATIONS
SUMMER OF STAYCATIONS
We chat to some prominent local fi gures about why the UK is the ultimate staycation location.
Lorna Ballard National Director Northern Ireland at Action for Children
I moved back home to Northern Ireland in January 2020 with my husband and three kids after having lived away for a number of years, so planning a staycation was a great way to revisit all the beautiful spots where I spent time growing up. We day-tripped up and down the gorgeous Antrim and Causeway coast and took the ferry from Ballycastle to Rathlin Island to see the puffi ns. We did an exhilarating hike along the cliff at Fair head led by my Action for Children colleague and mountaineer Paul Kellagher who had spent the previous night sleeping on a cot suspended over the cliff 196 metres above the sea as part of our annual Boycott Your Bed fundraising event. My son was delighted to fi nd tiny frogs in the marsh, weave reeds and learn about the rock formations and ancient lake settlement of Coolanlough. We rounded off our staycation with a drive through the stunning Mourne Mountains, a visit with Alpacas in Kilkeel and a day in Newcastle. We feel fortunate to have all this on our doorstep and thankful for the delicious chips and ice cream that fuelled us along the way. You can follow Action for Children NI on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or visit actionforchildren.org.uk to see how you can get involved.
Melanie Harrison Owner of The Harrison Hotel
A very special place for me is Castle Leslie in Glaslough just on the Monaghan border. The Castle has been in the Leslie family for 300 years and at the helm is the wonderfully funny and warm hostess Sammy Leslie. Her charm wears off on all staff as no matter who you talk to, they are chatty, helpful and friendly. This makes me feel so relaxed and I love to imagine being a house guest back when the Castle was in full swing.
Not only are the Castle and grounds jaw droppingly beautiful but there is no end to the stories behind the castle walls. I never tire of hearing about the colourful family history with its eccentric characters. I love to hear of the visiting dignitaries of old and the celebrities who have slept in the opulent rooms. People like Jonathan Swift, Jackie Kennedy, Mick Jagger, Marianne Faithful and Paul McCartney to name but a few.
Staying in the Castle feels like such a treat. Steeped in history, each room has a fascinating story about the Leslie family. Four poster beds, baths the size of a small swimming pool and thrones for toilets! What’s not to love?
I love horse riding and the estate has an excellent cross country and a stable of great horses that you can take out across the stunning estate with its boating lake and own Chapel. The grounds are well cared for and are a joy to walk around (if you don’t fancy careering around at top speed) and stop for a quick picnic. If relaxing is your thing you can unwind in the Victorian Spa.
Glaslough is voted one of the best places to live in Ireland. It is full of old-world character and charm. Wright’s pub is worth a visit for a bit of craic with the locals and Castle Antiques sells some beautiful pieces.
I am heading back to Castle Leslie again soon as it is only an hour from Belfast and I really think of it as my happy place. Each time I visit I have a different experience and it truly never disappoints. Opulent, relaxing yet full of personality and tongue in cheek humour, it’s the recipe for the best break.
FALL BACK IN TOUCH THIS AUTUMN
However you want to reconnect with loved ones, welcome nature’s descent into hibernation with a getaway to the Isle of Man.
Just a stone’s throw away from Ireland (with flights and/or ferry connections from Belfast and Dublin), experience the Island in all its autumnal glory. Reconnect with the dazzling colours of its picture-perfect scenery, explore the natural wildlife along its dramatic windswept coast, or hunker down on a foodie heritage trail that will satisfy even the fussiest of travellers.
Celebrated on the 31st October, Hop-Tu-Naa is the Manx equivalent of Halloween and marks the beginning of the Celtic New Year and the start of winter. With a wide selection of Hop-Tu-Naa and half-term events and activities set to take place, it’s the perfect location to fall back in touch with friends, family and loved ones, having fun and celebrating.
Discover your autumn getaway at visitisleofman.com.
HOTEL MOTEL
Chris Sherry spends a weekend at the Aparthotel Adagio, Stratford, London.
When is a hotel not a hotel? When it’s an aparthotel, duh. For the perplexed, the term is a portmanteau word i.e. a blending of the words apartment and hotel, and it is becoming an increasingly popular concept in hotel accommodation. So instead of the traditional model of just a bedroom with a bathroom, you also have a living room and small kitchen. In addition, you also have the key services that you would expect from a hotel such as reception, a basic, fastfood style breakfast, drinks, luggage storage etc – you just don’t have the usual bars and restaurants, rather, you can collect a limited selection of food and drinks from the reception area for consumption in your room or the common room. Of course, you are in London and there are numerous excellent bars/restaurants/coffee shops etc on your doorstop.
We visited London in late July. It was a great time to be there as the city was just starting to get back on its feet again. We were there a couple of weeks after “freedom day” and could feel the vibrancy returning to this great city. Long may it continue.
The Concept
In the Adagio Aparthotel Stratford there are 100 two-person studios and 36 flats designed to accommodate up to four people, each with a fully equipped kitchen. This property only opened in May 2021 so everything is brand spanking new. The concept really appealed to me and I will definitely be seeking out the brand on my next trip around the UK. The Aparthotel Adagio chain has six other branches in cities across the UK, e.g. Liverpool, Birmingham and Edinburgh. On a family city break we don’t tend to spend much time in our hotel so the priority is a comfortable room that is centrally located. The Adagio aparthotel is this and then some. The rooms are bright, airy and have a contemporary design. Reception staff were extremely friendly and informative.
Stratford
Although I have visited London on countless occasions (I even lived there for two years, many moons ago) I had never, until now, been to Stratford. The area has seen massive redevelopment over the last decade or so. It is now home to the Westfield Stratford Shopping Centre and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, built for the 2012 Olympic Games. With over 250 shops and 70 places to dine, Westfield is the largest shopping mall in Europe. The shopping centre opened in 2011 and is just a few hundred yards from the aparthotel. So if you are a hardcore shopper, you will love it. The danger is that you will not make it to any other parts of London, which would be a pity, given all that the city has to offer. After several hours at the Westfield we managed to drag ourselves away to visit the British Museum and Covent Garden, which is only 20 minutes or so by tube.
This area was also home to the iconic 2012 Olympics and as a result has some great new facilities. The Lee Valley Velopark, London Stadium (home to West Ham United football club) and London Aquatics Centre are all located in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which is a short walk from the hotel. In addition, the area has hundreds of acres of parkland with numerous walking and running trails – a great place to explore after the bustle of central London.
In summary
I could not recommend the Aparthotel Adagio Stratford highly enough, especially when travelling with children. Also, if you are staying in London for an extended period and would rather not stay in a conventional hotel, I would suggest this property. By day three we were tired of eating out and it was great to have our little apartment to return to for dinner. There is a well-stocked supermarket just below the hotel so you can easily pick something up and cook it back in your very own London apartment. It feels a lot more homely than a hotel room. I really enjoyed staying in this property and was interested to see a part of London that I had never been to before.
Fact File
Pricing per night starts at under £80 for two guests or just over £100 for four guests.
Aparthotel Adagio 42 Celebration Avenue Penny Brookes Street Stratford London E20 1DB Tel: 0204 524 7900 Web: adagio-city.com
MY
SAMANTHA LIVINGSTONE
1. What do you love most about your job?
I love the variety and creativity of the job. No day, week, or month is the same. I love meeting new people and getting my teeth into developing new campaigns, then watching them come to life.
2. What has been your career highlight to date?
Setting up Rumour Mill Creative Communications in 2013 and watching it grow. It has been a lot of hard work but so rewarding. I am very lucky to have a great team and amazing clients. Together we have achieved so much and not just by adding to the trophy cabinet, but seeing real, meaningful results of our work on a client’s business.
3. What are your favourite hobbies/ activities outside of work?
I have two dogs, Dotty and Alfi e, so spending time walking with them is great. I love to eat out and explore Ireland with my fi ancé, Tim.
4. What is your daily routine?
Once I manage to coax myself out of bed, I get the dogs walked. Once dressed and ready for work after a quick cuppa, I take the dogs to day care and then off to work. Every day is diff erent, but I am either in meetings, organising or drafting campaigns, having a laugh with the team and planning client work. I collect the dogs and head home to get dinner. I go and see my niece for a few hours and then go home to watch TV and relax.
5. Do you have a fi tness regime?
I used to be very active at the gym, but since lockdown the main exercise I do is walking the dogs.
6. Do you have any tips for staying positive?
My tip is not to get too focused on the negative, as that will pass – always look for the rainbow after the rain. Plus with every challenge comes a time to refl ect, learn and grow.
7. What do you think is the best thing about living in Northern Ireland?
I think Northern Ireland has some beautiful places to explore. There are so many hidden gems and when you fi nd them it is a real treat.
8. What is your mantra or favourite quote that you live by?
“Keep Swimming” – like Dory says – just keep moving forward.
9. Who has been your biggest infl uence?
My family have been a massive infl uence in my life. They have showed me how working hard pays off . They encourage me to do my best and love me so much for just trying. I am where I am today thanks to them.
10. FAVOURITE
Movie: Predator Band/Musician: Walking on Cars Book: Tennison by Lynda La Plante Restaurant: Square Bistro, Lisburn Holiday Destination: Gran Canaria Drink: French Martini Meal: Christmas Dinner
Chelsea with Villarreal during Wednesday nights UEFA Super Cup fi nal at the National Stadium at Windsor Park, Belfast.
Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso with Villarreal’s Daniel Raba.
UEFA SUPER CUP
Belfast took centre stage as it hosted the fi nal of the UEFA Super Cup at the National Football stadium at Windsor Park. The Super Cup, which sees the winners of the Champions League take on the winners of the Europa League took place on Wednesday 11th August in front of a crowd of 13,000 spectators. Champions League winners, Chelsea managed to clinch a victory against Spanish side, Villarreal after a 1-1 draw, which ended in penalties.
Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante with Villarreal’s Etienne Capoue.
Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech celebrates scoring against Villarreal. Chelsea fans during the UEFA Super Cup fi nal.
Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso kisses the UEFA Super Cup. Villarreal fans during the UEFA Super Cup fi nal in Belfast.
