Detailed plans for the next stage of the multi-million pound ‘The Sands’ development in Scarborough, have now formally been submitted to Scarborough Council’s planning department on behalf of developers Benchmark Leisure.

The latest plan for The Sands project, on the site of the former Atlantis waterpark, Mr Marvels and Kinderland fun parks, includes a new all-year-round water park – complete with giant ‘tornado slide’, a family restaurant and holiday homes.

As well seeing the return of a top quality attraction for both visitors and locals, it is believed that this new phase of The Sands development will create over 100 new jobs. Figures printed in Scarborough’s Evening News suggest that around 60 jobs will be created at the water park, 35 jobs at the holiday accommodation and 10 jobs at the new Scarborough restaurant.

The submitted plans state that the long promised water park is integral to the redevelopment of The Sands project in order to meet the aspirations for both tourism and the economy in Scarborough.

Once it is built the new Scarborough water park will replace the long defunct Atlantis water park attraction at Peasholm Gap which will see a major visitor attraction return to North Bay thus helping to regained the holiday resort characteristics which were lost following the original water parks demolition several years ago.

The new water park is expected to be the first element of the development to be brought forward, with construction hopefully beginning in late 2013. The rest of the development is then expected to follow with a staggered timescale over the next few years.

As well as a tornado water slide the water park is also to include an indoor wave pool, a children’s pool, an outdoor family pool, a lazy river and a spa.

The Mr Marvels site is will see the creation of The Bayview Holiday village, with the former Kinderland kid’s park becoming be the site of 29 Scarborough holiday lodges. Parking spaces for 492 cars will also be created on an overspill parking area just off Burniston Road.

The Yorke Arms

Think of British fine dining, and Michelin-starred restaurants in Yorkshire are not an obvious first thought. When many picture the finest restaurants that the country has to offer, they usually never make it past London. After all, the bustle and cosmopolitan nature of the capital put it hand-in-hand with fine cuisine and celebrated restaurants like Galvin at Windows. However, Yorkshire has rapidly become one of the dining hotspots in the country, boasting some of the very best restaurants in the UK . Yorkshire has 5 restaurants awarded the prestigious Michelin star, the most in any county in England.

The Yorke Arms

Inside an 18th-century coach house, The Yorke Arms was voted ‘Number 1 Restaurant in the UK’ by Good Food Guide for 2 consecutive years. There is a real air of British tradition, with roaring open fires and a menu that offers venison, game birds from the local moors, and fresh vegetables from the kitchen gardens. Innovation is always present on the menu however, with bold options like Autumn truffle risotto, with Nidderdale mutton and dandelion.

The Old Vicarage

The Old Vicarage in Ridgeway is Sheffield’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, and sits inside a beautiful Victorian country house. Combining British dishes with international additions, the menu is stunningly presented. Regional ingredients are used wherever possible, resulting is dishes like rack of Chatsworth lamb with a chervil and lemon crust, served with vanilla couscous and apricots. All cheeses on the menu come straight from nearby farms, ensuring freshness. As well as an atmosphere of classic elegance, live jazz, classical music events, and summer garden parties are all offered.

The Star Inn

The successful trend of using local ingredients and even produce grown and reared on-site is continued at The Star Inn. In the small village of Harome, this 700 year-old thatched building is the epitome of rural English charm. North Sea fish and shellfish are popular menu options, as is the game from local shoots.

The Burlington at The Devonshire Arms

Set on a 30,000 acre estate, The Burlington at The Devonshire Arms takes a leaf from the book of its fellow local Michelin-star winners, and fully shows off its setting in the natural splendour of the Yorkshire countryside. Boasting a restaurant, brasserie and bar, and cocktail lounge, there is also a superb wine list, with over 2500 rare vintages. Such a variety ensures there is always the perfect accompaniment to a meal – be it the halibut with shrimp and oxtail, or the Cumbrian venison loin.

The Box Tree

With acclaimed chef Marco Pierre White having worked here at the beginning of his career, and then returned to continue innovating, The Box Tree has a heritage of the very best in fine dining. Housed inside an 18th-century cottage with antiques adorning the walls, the menu changes daily, always making the most of the seasonal ingredients from the local area.

About The Author

John Murray is a London based editor who likes to get his food on. As well as discovering new and exciting restaurants, he enjoys travelling to find new dishes around the world. So far, nothing has beaten Californian Mexican cuisine. John’s current favourite restaurant is Beach Blanket Babylon in Notting Hill.

An aerial shot of the fire that destroyed 20% of the historic hotel

May 5th 2010 is a day etched permanently into Harrogate’s Majestic Hotel.

A fire ripped through the upper floors of the iconic building, destroying dozens of rooms and claiming the life of employee Nigel Butterfield.

The fire took 100 firefighters and eight hours to bring under control, 20 per cent of the building was destroyed forcing the hotel to close for the third time in it’s 111 year history.

This month, the Yorkshire hotel will officially re-open and to mark the event they will be hosting a special exhibition of hotel memorabilia over the past century.

Much of the memorabilia has been donated by members of the public, many of whom are Harrogate residents whose relatives worked at the hotel.

General manager Vince Johnson has been staggered at the treasure trove of objects amassed in the past few months, including old cabaret programmes, photographs of staff dating back to 1900, tickets for glamorous parties and even a Nazi map highlighting the Majestic as a bombing target during the Second World War.

He said.

” I got the call early in the morning last year saying there had been a major fire.”

“it was the phone call no hotel manager ever wants to get.”

” The fire left mayhem with 20 per cent of the building damaged and cutting through almost all our main services.”

” We were also devastated to lose a member of staff Nigel had worked here as a kitchen porter for 18 years and was well known.”

” The scars of that fire will carry on for a long time.”

The blaze destroyed 10 staff bedrooms, 29 guestrooms and the main dining room and forced the great hotel to close for four months.

Once described as the “Finest Spa Hotel in the World” the Majestic suffered a catastrophic fall from grace and it is only now that the hotel has fully risen from the ashes.

Mr Johnson added.

” It is a case of starting afresh and embarking on the next stage of our history.”

” We are fully open and want to now welcome people back to what has been a huge Yorkshire hotel for the past 111 years.”

The Majestic Hotel At It's Magnificent Best

]]> http://hoteldealsandotherstuff.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/rising-from-the-ashes-the-majestic-hotel-in-leeds/feed/ 0 MarkP7 _47781480_majestic_050510_helicopterpic The Majestic Hotel - looks better on outside than on the inside http://hoteldealsandotherstuff.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/thomas-cooks-chief-executive-resigns/ http://hoteldealsandotherstuff.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/thomas-cooks-chief-executive-resigns/#comments Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:12:14 +0000 William http://hoteldealsandotherstuff.wordpress.com/?p=863 ]]> Thomas Cook’s chief executive has resigned following a disastrous year for the holiday giant.

Manny Fontenla-Novoa took over in 2007 after Thomas Cook merged with MyTravel. Since then he has presided over three profit warnings in the last year as the firm’s UK business continues to struggle.

It is believed he accepted responsibility for the poor performance in the U.K , ultimately resulting in his resignation.

Europe’s second largest travel firm said deputy chief executive Sam Wehagen will run the business until a new chief executive is found.

Mr Fontenla Novoa joined Thomas Cook in 1996 after they brought his own travel operating company SunWorld.

He said.

” Thomas Cook and its people have a sound heritage and I have beeproud to have been part of the company.”

Thomas Cook’s latest profits warning last month showed profits would be some £60 million below expectations, stemming from the turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa as well as a squeeze in UK consumer spending and rises in fuel prices.

One theory that explains Thomas Cook’s demise in the UK is that the British public are choosing to holiday in England , rather than spending a fortune on foreign holiday’s, the British public are opting for a week in a Scarborough hotel.

The group has confirmed it is in the middle of a strategic review of its UK business as it looks at the mix of holidays it offers and the utilisation of its airline feet.

Archaeologist Mark Newman Explores The Floorboards Of Nunnington Hall

4,000 objects discovered under the floorboards of historical North Yorkshire stately home have gone on show.

The treasures were uncovered by National Trust archaeologist Mark Newman and the property team when excavating under five rooms at the 17th century mansion, near Helmsley.

Locals and holidaymakers staying in Yorkshire hotels have been able to view the objects at an event called Dusting Off the Treasures , an event part of the National Festival of British Archaeology and the National Trust’s conservation in action programme.

The objects found range from crab-claws and hazelnuts  to fragments of silk, jewellery and coins. The objects are unique in that they paint  a picture of life at Nunnington’s Hall over the last 400 years. They also uncovered rare 17th century embossed leather wall cladding and discretely hidden papers.

Mr Newman said.

” It’s been really amazing how many objects have found their way under the floorboards and how complex the stories that they can tell are once they’ve been fully studied.”

” In January this year we found almost 500 objects from just 2 foot of oak bedroom floor.”

” The wax seals, torn fragments of fine silk dresses , pen nibs and jewelery fragments seemed to be revealing a scene straight from Mills and Boon.”

Related Internet links

• Click Here To See The Video

Royal Armouries Is Amongst The Shortlist For A White Rose Tourism Award

A whopping 94 Yorkshire attractions have been nominated for the county’s 2011 White Tourism Awards.

The ceremony will be held at Doncaster Racecourse on Monday, October 10 and the event has been organised by Welcome To Yorkshire.

The finalists are made up of Yorkshire hotels, attractions and venues and is split into 16 different categories.

Amongst the finalists is the Royal Armouries in Leeds, The Harrogate Turkish Baths and Health Spa and The Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

The attractions will be trying to impress judges Peter Charlton, former editor of The Star, who now edits for the Yorkshire Post, Food and Travel Writer Elaine Lemm and former High Sheriff of West Yorkshire Roger Bowers.

Independent Chair of Judges Barbara Woroncow said.

” The judges always struggle to choose who should go through the awards.”

“Yorkshire has such an abundance of tourism gems, those who made the finalist list should be incredibly proud of themselves.”

Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Gary Verity said.

” Yorkshire’s tourism economy is booming and the finalist list of the White Rose Awards indicates why.”

” The level of high quality entries was outstanding and a firm indication that our tourism industry knows the importance of offering our visitors that extra special experience.”

Related Internet links

• More On White Rose Tourism Awards

Amaya Restaurant offers one of the most sophisticated dinning experiences in London with generous use of marble and high end furnishings. It is no wonder the place aspires to be the preferred choice for the contemporary diner looking for a chic setting with classical aesthetics. The huge kitchen showcases the various operations to the guests who get a birdís eye view of what goes into their dishes. The charcoal grill is also a perennial attraction.

Amaya Restaurant at Halkin Square was formed by the people who created the very popular Chutney Mary and Veeraswamy restaurants. Here, the talented chefs have modified classic Indian cuisine to suit global sensibilities. The indian cooking style for non-vegetarian dishes consists of coating the meat or fish with sharp marinades and spices followed by slow cooking in oil. At Amaya, you have the traditional meats and fish with some interesting twists like duck and scallop. But what stands out is the subtlety in flavors and new textures in the dishes served.

If you want a piece of China from the sugarcane fields of Cuba, head straight for Asia de Cuba. You cannot miss the warmth of the place, so characteristic of the immigrant experience. The furniture is Phillip Starck and there are large shelves with old books. This look is complemented by plain electric bulbs while the pointers to modern chic are the TV screens. The fare itself is interesting with a strong East Asian feel to the meats, textures and sauces. The succulent beef and crunchy fish in sauce leave guests craving for more. Chinese cuisine is famous for the variety of sauces and the unmistakable tingling of the taste buds. At Asia de Cuba, the chefs have given it an imaginative look and elegant flavor.

To summarise, Amaya Restaurant is great value for money for the connoisseur of Indian food. Check out Asia de Cuba for a fine evening of Chinese fare in a Cuban setting.

The New Holiday Accommodation Will Have Views Similar To This Picture

Redundant farm buildings in the seaside town of Scarborough could be turned into holiday accommodation for those looking to travel to the county who would usually stay in Yorkshire hotels.

The owners are looking to build 20 holiday cottages and warden accommodation 14 of which will be converted into farm building, they will be located in the village of Scalby.

The plans are currently been discussed by Scarborough Council’s Planning and Development Committee.

Mike Britton from the planning department said that the buildings will be lit by rooflights and will have extra security lighting, he said.

” We consider this to be a good development for the borough. It has a range of traditional agricultural buildings, predominately barns.”

New buildings have been designed to match the more traditional buildings at the site by using matching materials and are of a small domestic scale- except a large leisure building which has been designed to resemble a farm.”

However good the proposed holiday accommodation there is a few stumbling blocks , which some councilors have been more than willing to point out.

There main frustrations with the report lye in the fact that it says it’s within walking distance to Scarborough which they believe is misleading , they also feel the security lighting may lead to light pollution.

There has also been question marks raised over parking spaces with Cllr Dily Cluer believing there is too few for the scale of the project , she said.

” There are 20 cottages and there are 40 parking spaces, I question that.”

Some councilors were sympathetic towards the scheme Cllr Martin Smith said.

” It has definitely been well thought out and from a tourists point of view they will welcome it.”

Yorkshire seaside resorts enjoyed a tourist boost over the two bank holiday weekends

Thousands of sun lovers flocked to Yorkshire’s coast over the bank holiday period as April enjoyed record high temperatures.

Although sea fret shaved a few degrees of the inland temperatures , North Yorkshire hotels enjoyed great custom as resort towns welcomed an early season tourism boost.

Around two million people have travelled abroad for the holiday weekend but European hotspots are likely to see comparatively low temperatures to those at home.

The Met Office recorded a temperature of nearly 23c at Church Fenton in North Yorkshire on Saturday and the rest of the country has enjoyed temperatures above 20c and largely unbroken sunshine.

There was similar weather up and down the country apart from Scotland with Edinburgh experiencing chilly temperatures of 8c.

Forecasters are predicting more sunny spells and the sun has lead to tourist attractions in Yorkshire profit from the back to back bank holidays and exceptional weather.

A hotel owner in the seaside town of Bridlington believes it was the resort’s busiest Easter in more than 30 years.

and Michelle Wright an owner of an ice cream stall by Bridlington seafront described the town as absolutely heaving.

She said.

‘ This year we were actually dreading it because with the recession and people losing their jobs and everything. We were going into it with a little trepidation really.’

‘ However the sun came out and saved the day.’

Wayne Bartholomew Manager of The Hotel on Channel 4

For anyone involved in the running of a hotel in Yorkshire or beyond you may have thought the experience would be a good TV show, well not that thought is reality.

This Sunday will see the launch of the show on Channel 4 at 8pm.

Set in the Lake District at the three star Damson Dene,  the eight-part series , which broadcasters say’s will ‘re model’ the docusoap genre for the 21st century was filmed in the hotel over five weeks this summer.

Using the same fixed camera fly-on-the-wall filming techniques developed by Channel 4′s observational documentary series The Family and One Born Every Minute filming takes place in all areas including guest bedrooms.

Simon Dickson Channel 4′s Commissioning Editor and Deputy head of documentaries , said.

‘ This series is the hotel docusoap remodelled for the 21st century.’

‘ it will show viewers what goes on behind the ‘do not disturb’ sign on the bedroom door, providing a fascinating insight into people’s dreams when they book a weekend away in the country. It is classic upstairs, downstairs territory.’

‘ The guests arrive with high expectations and most of the staff have arrived from Eastern Europe. There is tenderness , culture clashes and some wonderfully flamboyant characters.’

Dragonfly’s Managing Director Sanjay Singhal said.

‘ Most people have stayed in a hotel at some point- this is an experience that we will all recognise. However, I don’t think we’ve ever sen such a comprehensive, 360- degree portrait of life in one before. ‘

Related Internet links

• The Hotel Website