New luxury hotel at Sentosa makes the Prix Versailles World's Most Beautiful list just 3 months post-opening
First started in 2015, Prix Versailles is a prestigious annual architectural and design award that puts the spotlight on the best and most stunning buildings from all over the world – including museums, stadiums, school campuses and airports. One could say it's akin to the architectural version of the esteemed La Liste food awards.
This year's Prix Versailles award-winners list names a total of 16 hotels, of which only five are from Asia: Mandarin Oriental Qianmen from Beijing, China; MGallery Sosei Sapporo from Japan; Ran Baas The Palace from Patiala, India; Namia River Retreat from Hoi An, Vietnam; and our very own new entrant Raffles Sentosa Singapore, the sole winner from Singapore on the list. The list does not come with any particular sort of ranking.
Being an all-villa establishment where every sprawling residence comes with its own private pool, terrace and garden, this hotel near Palawan Beach will have you lounging in the lap of luxury throughout – whether you're basking in your poolside cabana, dining at one of its swanky in-house restaurants, or getting a much-deserved massage at the spa.
Of course, such extravagance comes at a price. Rates start from around $1,620 for a one-bedroom villa, inclusive of taxes and fees. That said, when divided amongst the maximum capacity of four occupants, we'd say this nightly rate of around $400 per person is very reasonable – considering the fact that you're sure to be in for an unforgettable getaway with signature Raffles hospitality.
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North Wales Live
02-08-2025
- North Wales Live
I visited the bakery with queues out the door and it was worth the wait
Apparently, bakery tourism has become quite the trend with people planning excursions across the country in pursuit of the ideal honey bun, loaf or croissant. I can definitely understand the appeal, particularly as we gazed at a counter overflowing with delectable-looking cakes. Read about another award winning North Wales bakery with long queues here. Popty'r Dref Barmouth serves as the smaller sibling to the acclaimed Dolgellau establishment, which earned recognition as one of the world's finest following La Liste's 2024 Pastry Awards. After that triumph, they launched this considerably more compact bakery on Jubilee Road in the bustling seaside town of Barmouth. The coastal resort of Barmouth in North West Wales is reportedly "bouncing back" as a holiday hotspot. House prices have soared dramatically and numerous fresh eateries and shops have emerged in the beloved seaside destination. You can easily understand why the location is thriving when you witness the spectacular coastal panoramas as you navigate the winding road into the charming town. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here The expansive beach is flanked by palm trees and there's ample car parking available close to the seafront promenade. The bakery may be compact but it's simple to locate, as you'll spot a line of eager tourists gathering outside, reports North Wales Live. We queued patiently and observed an array of magnificent baked treats displayed enticingly in glass cases and across shelves. This isn't merely any ordinary bakery, as they also offer an extensive selection of hot and cold dishes. Salad boxes for scorching weather or hearty comfort fare like Bala butchered foot-long hot dogs or their renowned Chinese chicken curry. You can order a slice of pizza or enjoy a Sunday lunch option of ham or turkey, served in a giant Yorkshire pudding with all the trimmings. Nonetheless, we had come here for the baked goods and boy, what a choice they had. The bakery featured millionaire profiterole pots, filled with cream, caramel and chocolate sauce along with brownies, flapjacks and almond tarts. There were buns galore with Chelsea, Belgium, Custard, Blueberry or even Biscoff variations up for grabs. There were Sourdough bloomers, baguettes or just plain fresh bread trying win your attention in the middle of a sensory overload of crumbs and carbs. We weren't too sure where to start but then I saw an old school classic. I remembered cornflake cakes from the seventies and this delightful cake combined the classic flavors of rich, gooey syrup with the irresistible crispiness of cornflakes. There was a layer of strawberry jam underneath the crunchy flakes and on top of the crumbly pastry casing. One nostalgic bite is all it took for me to fall in love once again. I also picked a 'Pwdin Bara" as it looked a little different to what I have had before. Bread pudding is a traditional cake, and was called "poor man's pudding" at one pint of time, as it was an inexpensive easy way to use left over bread. Kind of perfect for a bakery. The bread pudding was packed with spice, fruit, ginger and cherries. It tasted a bit like a cross between bara brith and a Parkin cake. It was very moist and very morish. One of the bakery's top sellers and a draw for bakery tourists is their renowned honey bun. Honey buns are crafted from a yeast-based dough that is fried, giving it a unique texture. It's essentially an iced bun, but with a sweet honey glaze instead. It was pleasant, but I'm not certain about journeying halfway across the country for one. Finally, we couldn't resist the mint aero tray bake. I'm fairly certain it gave me a cheeky wink. The cake was a massive chunk of chocolate, crushed biscuits and mint bubbles. It had a satisfying bite and crunch with a zingy aftertaste of mint chocolate. The thick and fudgy filling was divine and I proclaimed that I would likely travel across the country for this chocolate mint slice of heaven. That's the beauty of cakes; we all have our favourite. We all have our preferred bakery as well. We enjoyed our delicious baked goods by the seafront, with the blue and green hues of the sea glistening in the distance. You may scoff at the concept of bakery tourism, but at this moment, I can't think of a better place to enjoy my cakes. The Facts Price: Cornflake Cake £3, Honey Bun £1.50, Mint aero chocolate slice £3.50, Pwdin Bara £3.50, total £11.50. Atmosphere: Bun appetite! Car Parking: Ample car parking spaces available in the large car park near the beach. Disabled Access: Takeaway only. Service: Plenty of patience from the staff, as we deliberated over which sweet treat to choose. In summary: The prize-winning bakery that's causing a stir with its buns, sparking the latest 'bakery tourism' trend.
North Wales Live
02-08-2025
- North Wales Live
I tried the seaside bakery with queues out the door and fell in love after one bite
Apparently, bakery tourism is now a popular thing with people arranging trips, around the country, in search for the perfect honey bun, loaf or croissant. I can certainly see the attraction, especially as we stared at a counter, heaving with gorgeous looking cakes. Popty'r Dref Barmouth is a little sister bakery of the one in Dolgellau, which was crowned as one of the worlds finest, following La Liste's 2024 Pastry Awards. Following its success, they opened this much smaller bakery on Jubilee Road in the bustling town of Barmouth. The seaside town of Barmouth in North West Wales, is said to be "bouncing back" as a holiday destination. Property prices have increased tremendously and a number of new restaurants and shops have popped up in the popular seaside town. You can certainly see why the place is booming, as you see the stunning coastal views, as you follow the narrow road into the picturesque town. The massive beach is surrounded by palm trees and there are plenty of car parking spaces near the front of the promenade. The bakery is small but easy to find, as you will see a queue of hungry tourists forming outside. We waited our turn and saw a collection of glorious baked goods, laid out temptingly in display cases and on shelves. This isn't just any old bakery, as they also serve a lot of hot and cold food as well. Salad boxes for when the weather is sweltering or warming comfort food like Bala butchered foot long hot dogs or their famous Chinese chicken curry. You can order a slice of pizza or pop in for a Sunday lunch option of ham or turkey, served in a giant Yorkshire pudding with all the trimmings. However, we were here for the baked goods and boy, what a choice they had. We saw millionaire profiterole pots, filled with cream, caramel and chocolate sauce along with brownies, flapjacks and almond tarts. There were buns galore with Chelsea, Belgium, Custard, Blueberry or even Biscoff versions on sale. There were Sourdough bloomers, baguettes or just plain fresh bread fighting foe your attention among a sensory overload of crumbs and carbs. We weren't too sure where to start but then I saw an old school classic. I remembered cornflake cakes from the seventies and this delightful cake combined the classic flavors of rich, gooey syrup with the irresistible crispiness of cornflakes. There was a layer of strawberry jam underneath the crunchy flakes and on top of the crumbly pastry casing. One nostalgic bite is all it took for me to fall in love once again. I also picked a 'Pwdin Bara' as it looked a bit different to what I have tried before. Bread pudding is a traditional cake, once known as 'poor man's pudding' as it was an inexpensive easy way to use left over bread. Kind of perfect for a bakery. The bread pudding was packed with spice, fruit, ginger and cherries. It tasted a bit like a cross between bara brith and a Parkin cake. It was very moist and very morish. One of the bakeries biggest sellers and bakery tourist attraction is their famous honey bun. Honey buns are made from a yeast-based dough that is fried, giving it a characteristic texture. It's basically the same as an iced bun, but with a sweet honey glaze instead. It was nice but I am not sure about traveling half way across the country for one. Last but not least, we couldn't resist the mint aero tray bake. I am pretty sure it winked at me. The cake was a huge slab of chocolate, crushed biscuits and mint bubbles. It had a satisfying bite and crunch with a zingy after taste of mint chocolate. The thick and fudgy filling was glorious and I declared that I would probably travel across the country for this chocolate mint slice of heaven. That's the thing with cakes; we all have our favourite one. We all have our preferred bakery as well. We ate our yummy baked goods by the seafront with the blue and green of the sea shimmering in the distance. You may all scoff at the idea of bakery tourism but at this moment in time, I can't think of a better place to eat my cakes. The Facts Price: Cornflake Cake £3, Honey Bun £1.50, Mint aero chocolate slice £3.50, Pwdin Bara £3.50, total £11.50 Atmosphere: Bun appetite! Car Parking: Plenty of car parking spaces in the large car park near the beach. Disabled Access: Takeaway only Service: Plenty of patience from the staff, as we tried to make our minds up re what sweet treat to choose. Overall: The award-winning bakery selling buns behind the latest 'bakery tourism' craze.
Scottish Sun
29-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Top UK airport opens huge new departures lounge with interactive Lego store and street food market
The new lounge is part of a multi-billion renovation TAKE OFF Top UK airport opens huge new departures lounge with interactive Lego store and street food market Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE largest airport outside of London has opened a new departures lounge as part of its ongoing £1.3 billion transformation. Manchester Airport's redeveloped Terminal 2 departures lounge has opened to the public with a number of new shops and eateries. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Manchester Airport has opened its new departures lounge at Terminal 2 Credit: Manchester Airport 3 There are six new shops at the airport including a Lego store and Pandora Credit: Manchester Airport The upgraded facility now boasts six new shops, including a Lego store which promises an "interactive, family-friendly experience". Other shops for passengers to explore include Pandora and Rituals. For dining and refreshments, passengers can stop off at well knwon brands such as Starbucks, Upper Crust and Joe & The Juice. The departures lounge is part of the airport's decade-long project, which will more than double the terminal's size. The new opening follows the opening of a terminal extension back in 2021. In addition, the airport expects the Terminal 2 building to be completed soon. And there will be even more shops expected to open later in the year, with luxury fashion brand Chanel, WH Smith and a Fever Tree cocktail and champagne bar. This is in addition to the Great Northern Market - a food court with a number of street food options. Once the terminal is fully complete it will also have 13 areas where aircraft will park and boarding gates and Terminal 1 will close. Manchester Airport anticipates that over 70 per cent of passengers will use the new facilities. The new £7billion mega terminal opening at Changi Airport Chris Woodroofe, managing director at Manchester Airport, said: "Manchester and the North are woven through the fabric of this terminal building, from the worker bee and honeycomb motif in the terminal's design, to the many Northern brands operating shops and restaurants in our departures lounge." The airport also recently opened its new security hall - which will eventually be linked via a walkway to the departures lounge. This new facility features advanced scanners which will eventually allow passengers to keep liquids within their hand luggage, and it includes 10 new lanes along with updated check-in desks Over 30million passengers have already used the terminal extension since it opened four years ago. And last year it was celebrated for its design with a UNESCO-backed Prix Versailles award. Manchester Airport also announced a multi-million-pound investment in Terminal 3 a few months ago. Plans for Terminal 3 include a new terminal entrance, upgraded security equipment, additional seating, new shops and places to eat, a 500-seat bar offering airfield views and an expanded dining zone. Five ways to save money at airports NAVIGATING an airport with a young family without overspending can be tough, but these hacks can help. 'Free' sunscreen - Gather Advantage Card points by recycling beauty empties via the Boots app to spend on sunscreen after security. Reduced drop-off/pick-up - Check for resident discounts or use free long-term car park shuttles to avoid parking fees. In-flight food & drink - Pack sandwiches or pot noodles and reusable water bottles to save on expensive airport and airline refreshments. Cashback for meals - Use cashback sites like Quidco to get extra value on e-gift cards for airport restaurant meals. Double-duty luggage - Stuff neck pillow covers with soft items or use kids' booster seat backpacks for extra, often free, storage. A major UK airport has also revealed a huge 15-year masterplan with new long-haul flights and millions more passengers. Plus, a busy UK airport has opened a new £60million hub marking start of mega makeover – including bigger terminal and more restaurants.
