Latest news with #AlicePenwill
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
One of the UK's best campsites has safari lodges, pet pigs and secret waterfalls
Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter Published: Invalid Date, THERE are thousands of campsites in the UK, but Top of the Woods in Pembrokeshire has been named one of the best. The site in Wales took the top spot when Time Out put together a list of the best campsites in the country. 5 Top of the Woods is described as a "nature retreat across 27 acres nestled by the stunning Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, surrounded by 325 acres of ancient & conifer Welsh woodlands, waterfalls, and close to wild beaches." The campsite inspires campers to get back to nature with eco-friendly accommodation. On offer are Safari Lodges, Nature Domes, or unique Pioneer Camps. Each of the glamping options includes self-catering amenities, cosy wood burners, BBQ and fire pits which are perfect for sitting by during the sunset. It's not just a camp site - there's also lots of activities like the 'Vintage Barn Cinema'. The Banquet Barn has been transformed into a barn cinema, with straw bale seating. It shows classic, family favourite films as well as the occasional more grown-up films every Saturday and Wednesday at 6pm and 8pm - which is entirely free for guests. There's also summer yoga classes so guests can start off their camping holidays calmly and well-stretched. Across the site there is table tennis, basketball, badminton, and a games meadow for the kids run around and play some football. There are also board games that can be taken away and played by campers throughout the day. The beachfront Croatian campsite set fo multi-million revamp 5 5 For anyone wanting to venture outside of the campsite, there's also a guide to a secret waterfall trail - which is a five mile round-trip. There's lots of wildlife around the campsite from owls to to woodpeckers and bats. But the campsite owners also have a family of pigs, two dogs and a Norwegian cat - all of whom like a bit of fuss according to the website. It's not just for family holidays either, the campsite also offers retreats for workplaces. It says "mix and match our indoor and outdoor spaces for work, presentations, networking, feasting, wellbeing activities and socials. "Digitally detox round the campfire - while benefiting from fast wifi in the work areas." The cheapest stay is if you bring your own tent and pitch it in the meadows which per adult is £16 per night. There's also a jumbo pitch option which can accommodate two tents for £15 per night. Here are the UK's best campsites that have 10/10 reviews. And the . 5
The Sun
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Butlin's launches new mega sale with four-night stays for £9.75 each per night
Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter Published: Invalid Date, ANYONE looking for a bargain family getaway should book with Butlin's now - as it's launched a huge sale. The Big Butlin's sale has savings of up to 40 per cent on term-time getaways and half term holidays in 2025 and 2026. 7 Butlin's is even offering stays across all three resorts in Bognor Regis Minehead and Skegness from £9.75pp a night. This is for the four-night family stay with Showtime Term-Time Midweek breaks, which costs £39 overall. On every Butlin's site, there is so much to do to keep children, and adults entertained. Along with accommodation and access to the pool, there are also live performances with celebrity headliners. Included in the price is soft play and unlimited goes on the fairground rides. At the Bognor Regis site, there's a new £1.8million soft play centre and playgrounds. On the West Sussex site, there's a state-of-the-art indoor activity centre PLAYXPERIENCE. Inside is nine immersive gaming experiences, including a galactic-themed Laser Tag and four different themed Escape Rooms. And in Minehead and Skegness, there are £2.5million SKYPARKs with climbing towers, slides and they even light up at night. Showtime Term-Time Midweek breaks are suitable for families with kids that are five and under - and start from £10 per person. I tried the new Gladiators event at Butlin's with some of the TV stars… and my kids were obsessed 7 7 There's lots of entertainment - including appearances from TV characters like Peppa Pig and Mister Maker. Butlin's own Skyline Gang will make an appearance too. The face of Saturday night TV, Stephen Mulhern will be making an appearance in the brand-new show, Out of this World. He's celebrating 25 years in showbiz with a special show full of illusions and games for the audience to enjoy. Another show to enjoy over the summer is The Masked Singer Live. Cricket, Dippy Egg, Piranha and Owl will be joining the live shows, which will be hosted by special guest presenters. A three-night summer break in Minehead during July, featuring performances from Stephen Mulhern, cost from £188 (£47 per person). Guests can catch the Masked Singer show for the final time in 2025 during October Half Term, when the resorts get a spooky makeover to celebrate Halloween. 7 7 During the spooky season, there will be late-night Scareground and monster-themed arts and crafts - Halloween breaks start from £168. Without wishing the rest of the year away, guests can also book for a Christmas break starting from from £41 (£11 per person). All three resorts transform into festive wonderlands with Christmas trees galore and a jam-packed schedule of festive shows and activities. Of course, there will also be a special appearance from Father Christmas. And breaks during the New Year cost from £416 (£104 per person). One Sun Travel writer recently tried out the Butlin's all-inclusive holidays where food and drink is free - she even said it was better value than a Spanish resort. And one Travel Writer has been visiting Butlin's for 40 years – here's how it's changed for better and worse. 7
The Sun
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
The insane training regime BA First Class flight attendants have to go through – with strict teapot and pillow rules
Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter Published: Invalid Date, BRITISH Airways has a unique First Service Specialist course for its flight crew and it has extremely strict training. The four intense days of lessons and assessments have been completed by around 1,300 crew members - and we spoke to some of them. 7 7 Tim Baxter is part of the team that co-created the First Service Specialist course. He also wanted to be a steward since he was six years old and has just celebrated 30 years with British Airways. Chatting with Sun Travel, he revealed that across four days, crew are grounded in order to learn what it takes to deliver five-star service in their First Class cabin. Tim added: "On the first day, we as the trainers serve breakfast to the trainees onboard in first class so they can experience it from a customer's point of view. "They need to taste the food and try the tea. Then the tables turn and we ask them to demonstrate their skills and knowledge which is where we find it could do with some refining and polishing." The crew learn about turndown service in which the pillows are only ever handled by the corners. It's all about the finishing touches too, the bed linen has a threat count of 400 and is made from recycled plastics. For the next stage the trainees go to head office where they spend a morning with the airlines 'Master of Wine ', Tim Jackson. The aim of the training is so that the BA crew can have an in depth conversation about the wine with their passengers which Tim said is always a "highlight" for the crew. British Airways serve a variety of prestige English sparkling wines in its First Class cabin. 7 7 After that, the recruits learn about plating, presentation and broaden their knowledge of the food they offer which changes depending on the season. In the summer and during Wimbledon season, passengers can expect strawberries and cream. British Airways is passionate about British food and Tim reveals favourite dish is the signature fish finger butty - although that's not how he would describe it. Tim added: "A lovely customer once asked me 'what is a butty?' and I explained that it was the most amazing breaded goujons of haddock with tartar sauce served inside a bread roll alongside potato crisps. "Then we focus on afternoon tea which is served on our Speedbird cake stand - it's one of our signature moments. "If you're not from the UK and afternoon tea isn't something you're used to or maybe you want to experience it, we offer something that you get at the finest hotels, at 35,000 feet." The course teaches the trainees that sweet desserts to go at the top of a tiered cake stand, and that knives and forks being arranged in a straight line. While service, the flight attendants must never turn their back to a passenger. Tea of course is quintessentially British and BA serve almost 40 million cups of tea on board every year. In First Class, you get nine variations of tea from your classic English breakfast to chamomile and lemongrass and ginger. Something that the trainees learn is what position the spout of the teapot should point at. 7 Shaw Milligan, who has been working for BA for two decades and has completed the course told us: "Everything technically should be at four o'clock, but because some crew members had trained so long ago, some were pointing at five or six - we needed consistency." The fourth day marks the final hurdle, where the staff return in their uniform at the Global Learning Academy using multi-million-pound simulators. Tim explained: "This is the point where they start to get a bit nervous but they're fine after some practice. We ask them to lay the table and we want them to just be able to do it, like muscle memory. "They need to be unconsciously competent. There are 32 stages to laying a table and we need our colleagues to be confident in knowing how to do it - like riding a bike." Shaw revealed that those working in the First Class cabin now receive a document before heading onto the flight. He told us: "I flew to Chicago yesterday, and the night before stepping onboard I was told which espresso we have onboard, which wines, and how to plate up the food. "We've got a system with the premium courses on how they are plated. There are a variations of starters, mains and desserts, and each one is very different." 7 The First Service Specialist course runs eight times a month, but there are only 12 places in each one. The application process is straightforward, but very competitive. To apply, trainees must have been working for a number of years with BA already, and already be a Club World service specialist. After that, crew can apply for the course and have to submit an essay on why they want to be there. Tim advised: "When there's a specialist in the name, there has to be a specialist in your game."
