Australian hotel group to test UK market

Australian-based hotel group TFE Hotels is set to launch its first properties in the UK later this year, making its debut in the British Isles.

TFE is to open two Adina-branded apartment-hotels, The Hobson Cambridge by Adina and The Wellington Glasgow by Adina in Scotland.

Both properties are set to open in the northern hemisphere autumn, news portal Travel Mole reported.

TFE Hotels was established in 2013 as a joint venture between Australia’s Toga Group (1963), and Singapore’s Far East Hospitality Holdings.

Asli Kutlucan, CEO of TFE Hotels Europe, said: “Our arrival in Cambridge and Glasgow signals a confident step forward for TFE Hotels’ European strategy.

“These two properties align with our vision of offering flexible, design-led apartment-hotel experiences.”

TFE has grown its presence across Europe with existing Adina apartment-hotels in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland and Hungary.

Hobson Cambridge by Adina is housed in a former police station which retains heritage architecture. It will also feature a bar and restaurant.

The Wellington Glasgow by Adina is situated in central Glasgow within easy reach of the city’s conference hubs, shopping and nightlife.

Moritz Klein, head of operations EU & UK at TFE Hotels Europe, said: “Launching Adina Apartment Hotels in the UK is a significant operational milestone for TFE Hotels.

"Our teams have been working closely to ensure a seamless brand introduction.”

TFE Hotels brands include Adina Hotels, A by Adina, Vibe Hotels, Quincy Hotels, Travelodge and Rendezvous Hotels.

Image: The Hobson Cambridge by Adina

Meet the famous English city that wants to gouge tourists

Most cities see tourism as a positive factor; helping local businesses by providing extra income.

But some cities in the UK, which have long promoted themselves as being tourist friendly, now see visitors as a cash cow.

One example is the university city of Cambridge, which is considering imposing a tourist tax at hotels.

Cambridge City Council is looking at a £2 per night hotel tax per room per night for properties with at least 10 rooms.

It would then increase £3 nightly in the third year.

A feasibility study commissioned by the council, the tax could raise up £2.6 million per year. And lose goodness knows how much more in goodwill. Many tourists hate being nickled and dimed.

The city would apparently set up a special organisation that would would manage the collection of the hotel tax. At a cost goodness knows how much cost.

The proposed tax would not affect short-term rentals or colleges which rent out rooms outside of term times, Travel Mole and the BBC report.

“In order for the [organisation] to be established, there needs to be a ballot of the hotels within that catchment area. It’s not something the council can decide,” said Jemma Little, economic development manager at Cambridge City Council.

Manchester recently announced a £1 plus VAT per room, per night hotel tax.

If proposals are approved, the new Cambridge system could start as soon as next year.

Labour councillor Cameron Holloway said: "I think it's a great initiative and one that would be really positive for the city."

So there it is. Cambridge is ready to gouge tourists. It is hard to see two quid a night discouraging anyone from visiting, but it is probably enough to annoy visitors.  

Fortunately, there are lots of alternative places to stay. 

Where tourists are made welcome. 

  

Alleged pest banned from an entire region

Now here is a great idea.

A man who has been tagged as a serial pest has been banned from the entire English county of Norfolk.

Stepehn Cutts, 51, was given the court order after being accused of abusive behaviour and begging in Norwich city centre.

Cutts, from Surrey, was charged during the week with a public order offence.

He was released on bail but given conditions not to enter Norfolk unless to attend court or other pre-arranged legal appointments.

If only courts around the world would follow suit. 

Idiots banned from city centres because of silly haircuts. 

Loudmouths banned from the radio for having extreme views. 

Or being banned from downtown Melbourne for being a loud Collingwood fan. 

The possibilities are endless. 

Image: Norwich city centre. No pests allowed. 

How very English. A lighthouse tour and a pint of bitter

One of Britain's most important lighthouses is being opened for public tours - thanks to the local brewery.

Adnams Brewery has launched tours of the famous white lighthouse in Southwold, Suffolk, which has previously been open only on special occasions.

The brewer has partnered with Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority, to shine a light on an the important landmark in its home town.

As of this month, Adnams will begin conducting tours of one of Southwold’s most iconic buildings - but visitors will need to be fit to climb 113 steps to the top of the 31-metre tower to enjoy panoramic views out to sea, as well as looking into the Adnams brewery and distillery, both of which also host regular tours.

Nick Attfield, director of Adnams hospitality and retail, told the Eastern Daily Press: “This will be a real highlight for anyone coming to Southwold.

"The views are spectacular and it’s worth every one of the 113 steps to the top."

The lighthouse was built in 1890 and is still operational. The main lamp reaches almost 44km out to sea, providing an important guide for vessels navigating the North Sea.

The tours offer a chance for people to look behind the scenes of its daily operation and will operate from Adnams' tours centre, lasting around 50 minutes.

Good news for the thirsty tourist: lighthouse tours will include a voucher for a glass of Adnams beer at The Sole Bay Inn, which is just a few steps away, as well as a 10% discount voucher for the Adnams shop, where you'll find European favourites alongside wines like De Bortoli Noble One and Greywacke Pinot Noir.

for details see https://adnams.co.uk/products/lighthouse-tour

English sparkling wine takes on the traditional stars

English folk drinking Australian wine? Sure.

Australian consumers choosing English wine? Unthinkable until recent times.

While the UK is a major consumer of wine, it has always been considered a minor producer.

Too cold, too wet, too windy.

But the times they are a changing and leading UK sparkling wine producer Nyetimber is having a serious crack at selling its wines Down Under, having recently linked up with leading distributor Deja Vu.

Wine production in the UK is surging due to warmer summers and new technology, with sparkling wines from southern counties including Sussex, Essex, Kent and Hampshire getting some rave reviews.

Nyetimber is regarded as the leading producer of English sparkling wine - with a growing international presence.

The first Nyetimber sparkling wine, the 1992 Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs, was launched in the mid-1990s.

"Our vineyards share similar characteristics with the best sparkling wine vineyards in the world," says Nyetimber chief executive Eric Heerema, who purchased the business in 2006.

"Greensand and chalk soils allow our vines, in each of our separate sites, to flourish across the south of England. The climate here allows for the slow ripening of our grapes, allowing us to achieve the optimum levels of ripeness and acidity, as well as the complexity and finesse for which our exquisite wines are renowned."

Nyetimber uses only estate-grown fruit and the wines are made by head winemaker Cherie Spriggs, and her winemaker husband Brad Greatrix.

All the wines at Nyetimber are made using the traditional method (as in Champagne and Tasmania), ageing them for extended periods of time to build complexity and flavour.

The first vines were planted in 1988; chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier.

The estate vines spread across several separate sites in Sussex, Hampshire and Kent and Nyetimber has its own pressing centre and winery.

The non-vintage Nyetimber Classic Cuvee is now on sale across many Australian retail outlets for around $85 per bottle. 

My verdict:. Very pale, very fresh, very clean with a nice mousse and plenty of length. 

A cheeky bottle of English bubbles for Father's Day?

English wine used to be considered a joke. Like American intelligence, or Australian compassion for refugees.

No longer.

Global warming has seen the south of England (the warmest part) become an increasingly viable venue for growing cool-climate grape varieties including chardonnay and pinot noir.

At the last official count, the Wine Standards Board reported that there were just over 450 vineyards producing wine throughout England, most of them in Sussex, Kent and Hampshire, but including as far north as Norfolk. 

And while the English wine industry is still in its infancy, it is increasingly attracting attention from serious players, including Champagne House Vranken Pommery.

Louis Pommery England NV is produced from vineyards in Hampshire, where in 2014 Vranken-Pommery first put down roots.

The area contains the same vein of soil with chalk which runs through Champagne, offering the ideal environment to develop grapes for sparkling wine.

I shared a bottle served blind with my wine tasting group earlier this month. It gained almost universal approval with several expressing surprise that it was an English wine.

There is an impressive mousse with bitey citrus and stone fruit flavours to the fore. The wine is made in the traditional way with chardonnay and pinot noir blended with a small proportion of pinot meunier.

The only setback is the RRP of $99, which makes it very much a special occasion choice (Father's Day for any Pom Dads maybe), or the ideal selection for a mystery wine tasting competition like an Options Game. 

France further shuts the door to UK travellers

It used to be so easy for British folk wanting to travel to France. Hop on the Eurostar and a couple of hours later you were enjoying a pastis in a chic Paris café. 

Then along came Brexit, and Covid-19. All of a sudden Brits are persona non grata. 

Now, due to fears over the spread of the Indian variant of Covid-19, France will subject all travellers coming from the UK to quarantine for seven days.


The move takes effect from May 31 and travellers must be able to prove their reason for travel is essential.


This will likely be limited to reasons of health, family emergencies or business, the Travel Mole website reports.


England's Chief Medical Officer, Prof Chris Whitty said the Indian variant of Covid is expected to become the dominant variant in the country.


"There is a new situation with the progression of the so-called Indian variant in the United Kingdom. We will set up compulsory isolation for people coming from the UK," French Government spokesman Gabriel Attal said.


It is a blow to the struggling tourism sector as France welcomed about 13 million Britons each year pre-Covid.


Although they will be allowed to self-isolate at a residence of their own choice, there will be a fine of up to €1,500 for anyone caught breaking the quarantine.


Other countries, including Germany and Austria have this week imposed tighter restrictions on travel from the UK.