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Best holiday parks, hotels and pubs in England 2025 revealed – with soft play, safari lodges and floating pods

Best holiday parks, hotels and pubs in England 2025 revealed – with soft play, safari lodges and floating pods

The Irish Sun05-06-2025
VISITENGLAND has revealed the best holiday parks as well as hotels and pubs across the UK for 2025.
Polmanter Holiday Park in St Ives has won 'Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year'.
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Polmanter Holiday Park won Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
Credit: Polmanter Touring Park
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Inside is soft play, games room, and kids' areas
Credit: Polmanter Touring Park
Run by the Osbornes for over fifty years, the campsite in Halsetown is just a three-minute drive to the middle of
One of the reasons for its popularity is the many on-site activities, from golf on the putting green to tennis on the all-weather tennis
courts
, a football pitch and plenty of walking routes.
For any keen walkers, you can pick up the famous Salt Path (South West Coast Path) from St Ives, or towards Zennor.
There's also a heated outdoor swimming
pool
open from May until mid-September.
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The 20m long
pool
has the room for serious swimmers, as well as a shallow end to splash about. On the banks are plenty of sun loungers to laze about on when the sun shines.
Outside are also two playgrounds, one designed for younger children with a wooden camper van and tractor. The second for slightly older kids with a zip wire and wooden pods.
And recently added to the site is an outdoor playground and indoor soft play area.
There's areas dedicated to kids of all ages from toddler area to a teenage hangout in
the games
room.
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When it comes to food and drink, there's The Stable Bar is open from 9am, with food available until 9pm (8pm on Sundays).
During the week, there's entertainment in the bar from bingo and quiz nights to live music sessions from local musicians.
Award-Winning Campsite Has Floating Hideaways
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There's plenty to do for kids outside like have a go on the climbing frames
Credit: Polmanter Touring Park
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The award-winning holiday park is minutes away from the coast
Credit: Polmanter Touring Park
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Pitches welcome tents, caravans, campers and motorhomes with all pitches are self-catered with views across the Atlantic.
Anyone who doesn't fancy pitching up, but wants to stay on the site, can also stay in the two luxury self-catered apartments that sleep up to four people.
Or there's the two country cottages that each sleep up to six, and each has its own hot tub.
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Hippersons Boatyard was the holiday park in third place
Credit: Hippersons Boatyard
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The holiday
park that came in second place was Mendip Basecamp, Somerset.
The site has glamping safari tents, nomandic bell tents and an activity centre with over 20 activities to book from archery to snowsports.
In third place was the
The self-catering, holiday destination in Beccles, is known for its houseboats and pods that sit on the river.
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Mallory
Court
Country House Hotel & Spa
in
It boasts luxurious accommodation and is set in 10 acres of grounds.
While Summer Lodge Country House Hotel in the village of Evershot in Dorset got gold for Small Hotel of the Year.
Visitors can stay in the main hotel, or in the private cottages - and use the on-site spa.
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The Farmers Arms in Devon scooped up Gold for 'Pub of the Year'.
Here are more
And more of
Full List of VisitEngland Winners Revealed
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award :
GOLD - Eureka! Science + Discovery, Merseyside
Silver - Marsham Court Hotel, Dorset
Bronze - The Courtyard, Herefordshire
B&B and Guest House of the Year:
GOLD - Sunnyside Guest House Southport, Merseyside
Silver - Abbots Grange Manor House, Worcestershire
Bronze - Boscastle House, Cornwall
Business Events Venue of the Year:
GOLD - Keele University Events and Conferencing, Staffordshire
Silver - Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement, Cheshire
Bronze - The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Tyne & Wear
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year:
GOLD - Polmanter Touring Park, Cornwall
Silver - Mendip Basecamp, Somerset
Bronze - Hippersons Boatyard, Suffolk
Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award sponsored by Sykes Holiday Cottages:
GOLD - Sunnyside Guest House Southport, Merseyside
Silver - The Quiet Side, Cumbria
Bronze - Battlesteads, Northumberland
Experience of the Year:
GOLD - Cow Cuddling, Dumble Farm, East Riding of Yorkshire
Silver - The Wizard Walk of York, North Yorkshire
Bronze - Introduction to Sailing, Mylor Sailing School, Cornwall
International Tourism Award:
GOLD - The Beatles Story, Merseyside
Silver - World of Wedgwood, Staffordshire
Bronze - St Mary's Guildhall, West Midlands
Large Hotel of the Year sponsored by Ecclesiastical:
GOLD - Mallory Court Country House Hotel & Spa, Warwickshire
Silver - Sandburn Hall, North Yorkshire
Bronze - Titanic Hotel Liverpool, Merseyside
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year sponsored by Raw Charging Network Ltd:
GOLD - Black Country Living Museum, West Midlands
Silver - National Space Centre, Leicestershire
Bronze - Liverpool Football Club Tours & Experiences, Merseyside
Pub of the Year:
GOLD - The Farmers Arms, Devon
Silver - The Blind Bull, Derbyshire
Bronze - The Griffin Inn, Leicestershire
Small Hotel of the Year:
GOLD - Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Dorset
Silver - Seaham Hall, County Durham
Bronze - The Montagu Arms Hotel, Hampshire
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year:
GOLD - No.1 Royal Crescent, Bath
Silver - King Richard III Visitor Centre Leicestershire
Bronze - Sculpture by the Lakes, Dorset
Taste of England Award:
GOLD - The Cavendish Hotel, Derbyshire
Silver - Searcys at The Pump Room, Bath
Bronze - The Riverside at Aymestrey, Herefordshire
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Polmanter Touring Park is VisitEngland's best holiday park
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Why booking a 3-star hotel could be better than a 5-star especially abroad in Spain
Why booking a 3-star hotel could be better than a 5-star especially abroad in Spain

The Irish Sun

time15-07-2025

  • The Irish Sun

Why booking a 3-star hotel could be better than a 5-star especially abroad in Spain

WHEN looking for a hotel, we seem to quickly jump to the conclusion that more stars equal better accommodation; however, this isn't always the case. Hotel star ratings don't actually come from one place. 7 Hotels can get their star ratings from multiple places often making it confusing when you come to book accommodation Credit: Getty Instead, there are a myriad of companies and bodies that give out stars, which means the hotel you're staying in can technically have more than one rating. And then things get even more complicated when you head to Europe, as hotels there are rated differently between countries. We explain what this means for your trip - and how a three-star hotel could end up being much better than a five-star. UK According to Read more on travel inspo Inspections are conducted by the AA Hotel and Hospitality Services, Visit England , Visit Wales and other partner bodies. Since 2006, these bodies have all worked under Common Quality Standards, which means they all award the same ratings to the same hotels. Previously, to even get one star, a hotel had to offer breakfast and have a TV in every bedroom, although the AA Hotel and Hospitality Services no longer give one and two star ratings. Instead, hotels sign up to a scheme that rates them towards three stars and up to five stars - or if not achieved, they receive a 'Quality Assessed' award. Most read in News Travel Under this scheme, hotels have a full inspection with all the In addition to this scheme, there is an entry-level alternative called 'Visitor Ready'. Avoid these common holiday booking mistakes for a stress-free vacation 7 And these awards range from three to five-stars or a 'quality assessed' award Credit: Getty This scheme allows hotels to display a 'Visitor Ready' digital badge to show that they have met all the mandatory legal requirements and that it is a safe and trusted The requirements for the AA Hotel and Hospitality Services' three-star hotels include a minimum of five bedrooms as well as a self-service breakfast buffet, and on-request luggage assistance and ironing facilities. 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Since 2009, hotels in 21 countries have signed up to the same rating system known as Hotelstars. All the countries that are signed up to Hotelstars SOME popular European destinations, such as Spain, have not joined the Hotelstars scheme. But these countries have: Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belgium Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Slovenia Sweden Switzerland Hotelstars' standards are similar to the British system, but there are some differences worth noting. In For two-stars, hotels must have a reading light in each room. For three-stars, hotels must offer laundry and ironing services. Then, four-star hotels must provide bathrobes and slippers for their guests when asked. To be at the top end of the ratings and gain five-stars, hotels should offer personalised greetings for each guest, fresh flowers or a gift in the room and a turndown service. 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Best holiday parks, hotels and pubs in England 2025 revealed – with soft play, safari lodges and floating pods
Best holiday parks, hotels and pubs in England 2025 revealed – with soft play, safari lodges and floating pods

The Irish Sun

time05-06-2025

  • The Irish Sun

Best holiday parks, hotels and pubs in England 2025 revealed – with soft play, safari lodges and floating pods

VISITENGLAND has revealed the best holiday parks as well as hotels and pubs across the UK for 2025. Polmanter Holiday Park in St Ives has won 'Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year'. Advertisement 6 Polmanter Holiday Park won Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year Credit: Polmanter Touring Park 6 Inside is soft play, games room, and kids' areas Credit: Polmanter Touring Park Run by the Osbornes for over fifty years, the campsite in Halsetown is just a three-minute drive to the middle of One of the reasons for its popularity is the many on-site activities, from golf on the putting green to tennis on the all-weather tennis courts , a football pitch and plenty of walking routes. For any keen walkers, you can pick up the famous Salt Path (South West Coast Path) from St Ives, or towards Zennor. There's also a heated outdoor swimming pool open from May until mid-September. Advertisement Read More on Holiday Parks The 20m long pool has the room for serious swimmers, as well as a shallow end to splash about. On the banks are plenty of sun loungers to laze about on when the sun shines. Outside are also two playgrounds, one designed for younger children with a wooden camper van and tractor. The second for slightly older kids with a zip wire and wooden pods. And recently added to the site is an outdoor playground and indoor soft play area. There's areas dedicated to kids of all ages from toddler area to a teenage hangout in the games room. Advertisement Most read in Family When it comes to food and drink, there's The Stable Bar is open from 9am, with food available until 9pm (8pm on Sundays). During the week, there's entertainment in the bar from bingo and quiz nights to live music sessions from local musicians. Award-Winning Campsite Has Floating Hideaways 6 There's plenty to do for kids outside like have a go on the climbing frames Credit: Polmanter Touring Park 6 The award-winning holiday park is minutes away from the coast Credit: Polmanter Touring Park Advertisement Pitches welcome tents, caravans, campers and motorhomes with all pitches are self-catered with views across the Atlantic. Anyone who doesn't fancy pitching up, but wants to stay on the site, can also stay in the two luxury self-catered apartments that sleep up to four people. Or there's the two country cottages that each sleep up to six, and each has its own hot tub. 6 Hippersons Boatyard was the holiday park in third place Credit: Hippersons Boatyard Advertisement The holiday park that came in second place was Mendip Basecamp, Somerset. The site has glamping safari tents, nomandic bell tents and an activity centre with over 20 activities to book from archery to snowsports. In third place was the The self-catering, holiday destination in Beccles, is known for its houseboats and pods that sit on the river. Advertisement Mallory Court Country House Hotel & Spa in It boasts luxurious accommodation and is set in 10 acres of grounds. While Summer Lodge Country House Hotel in the village of Evershot in Dorset got gold for Small Hotel of the Year. Visitors can stay in the main hotel, or in the private cottages - and use the on-site spa. Advertisement The Farmers Arms in Devon scooped up Gold for 'Pub of the Year'. Here are more And more of Full List of VisitEngland Winners Revealed Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award : GOLD - Eureka! Science + Discovery, Merseyside Silver - Marsham Court Hotel, Dorset Bronze - The Courtyard, Herefordshire B&B and Guest House of the Year: GOLD - Sunnyside Guest House Southport, Merseyside Silver - Abbots Grange Manor House, Worcestershire Bronze - Boscastle House, Cornwall Business Events Venue of the Year: GOLD - Keele University Events and Conferencing, Staffordshire Silver - Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement, Cheshire Bronze - The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Tyne & Wear Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year: GOLD - Polmanter Touring Park, Cornwall Silver - Mendip Basecamp, Somerset Bronze - Hippersons Boatyard, Suffolk Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award sponsored by Sykes Holiday Cottages: GOLD - Sunnyside Guest House Southport, Merseyside Silver - The Quiet Side, Cumbria Bronze - Battlesteads, Northumberland Experience of the Year: GOLD - Cow Cuddling, Dumble Farm, East Riding of Yorkshire Silver - The Wizard Walk of York, North Yorkshire Bronze - Introduction to Sailing, Mylor Sailing School, Cornwall International Tourism Award: GOLD - The Beatles Story, Merseyside Silver - World of Wedgwood, Staffordshire Bronze - St Mary's Guildhall, West Midlands Large Hotel of the Year sponsored by Ecclesiastical: GOLD - Mallory Court Country House Hotel & Spa, Warwickshire Silver - Sandburn Hall, North Yorkshire Bronze - Titanic Hotel Liverpool, Merseyside Large Visitor Attraction of the Year sponsored by Raw Charging Network Ltd: GOLD - Black Country Living Museum, West Midlands Silver - National Space Centre, Leicestershire Bronze - Liverpool Football Club Tours & Experiences, Merseyside Pub of the Year: GOLD - The Farmers Arms, Devon Silver - The Blind Bull, Derbyshire Bronze - The Griffin Inn, Leicestershire Small Hotel of the Year: GOLD - Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Dorset Silver - Seaham Hall, County Durham Bronze - The Montagu Arms Hotel, Hampshire Small Visitor Attraction of the Year: GOLD - No.1 Royal Crescent, Bath Silver - King Richard III Visitor Centre Leicestershire Bronze - Sculpture by the Lakes, Dorset Taste of England Award: GOLD - The Cavendish Hotel, Derbyshire Silver - Searcys at The Pump Room, Bath Bronze - The Riverside at Aymestrey, Herefordshire 6 Polmanter Touring Park is VisitEngland's best holiday park Advertisement

Aldi Ireland fans rushing to buy new camping staples in middle aisle perfect for festivals – with prices from €14.99
Aldi Ireland fans rushing to buy new camping staples in middle aisle perfect for festivals – with prices from €14.99

The Irish Sun

time05-05-2025

  • The Irish Sun

Aldi Ireland fans rushing to buy new camping staples in middle aisle perfect for festivals – with prices from €14.99

ALDI Ireland shoppers are set for a frenzy over its new camping staples which will make camping at festivals a breeze. The Advertisement 5 Aldi Ireland set to sell a range of camping staples Credit: Getty 5 The range will be available to purchase in stores from May 11 Credit: Aldi 5 The prices start from €14.99 Credit: Aldi The The first item in the range is the must-have Lightweight Camping Chair for just €16.99. It is designed for people to sit comfortably whilst camping without the fear of tipping over. And it includes a stability mat that attaches to the base for a more secure, relaxed feel. Advertisement READ MORE ON SHOPPING The chair is lightweight and easily foldable, which fits into a compact carry bag, making it travel accessible. It is ideal for camping, picnics and outdoor activities such as Shoppers can bag it in a gorgeous blue or green colour. Next up in the range is the Portable Gas Cooker for €16.99. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous The must-have item is easy to light and safe to use, ideal for It is easy to carry due to its lightweight and compact size, and it is piezoelectric automatic ignition, meaning it does not require matches or lighters. The exact date Aldi's sell out wooden garden day bed returns to stores As part of its safety feature, it will automatically shut off the gas cooker in the event of overpressure, which ensures maximum safety while cooking. Moving on, campers would need the Folding Camping Table, which is retailing at €19.99. Advertisement The perfect ideal space saver for your camping or festival trip as everyone can still have a place at the table. It's ultra-light, making it travel accessible. ESSENTIAL CAMPING STAPLES Shoppers can pick it in a round or square table style. Lastly, the most essential item of all in the range is the Ultralight Sleeping Bag for just €14.99. Advertisement It is designed to keep campers cosy and snuggle down for the night in the super lightweight yet warm sleeping bag. Campers can choose from Mummy or Envelope styles in blue or grey. However, shoppers are warned that the product is "running a little bit late" as they are urged to check their local stores to see if they have the stock or not. 5 The table is ideal for camping and picnic events Credit: Aldi Advertisement 5 Shoppers are warned that sleeping bags may arrive in stores a bit later than planned Credit: Aldi THE HISTORY OF ALDI The German discount supermarket chain came to Ireland in 1999. Aldi's first few shops opened in November 1999, with locations in Sandyford, Dublin, and Ballincollig, Cork. By the mid-2000s, Aldi bosses had opened numerous stores, focusing on providing high-quality products at low prices. As the recession hit 2008-2012, Aldi's popularity grew as consumers became more price-conscious. The supermarket giant continued it's expansion in Ireland between 2013-2018, while refurbishing existing stores. By 2018, Aldi had over 130 shops throughout the country. The chain began to focus on expanding its range of Irish-made products and supporting local producers. In 2023, Aldi had over 140 stores in Ireland. The store invested in sustainability initiatives, such as reducing plastic packaging and increasing the availability of organic and eco-friendly products. Aldi chiefs said: 'At Aldi we are committed to supporting Irish suppliers. Developed in partnership with Bord Bia, Grow with Aldi is designed to help the very best Irish suppliers develop their brand. 'To date, we've invested €10 million in our Grow with Aldi development programme in a bid to find the very best Irish suppliers. 'As a result, for a limited time only there are over 47 new products, from 27 Irish suppliers available in store.' Aldi have introduced technological advancements with self-checkout systems and contactless payment options.

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