Hotel goers looking for the very best in UK accommodation need search no more: LateRooms.com has announced the winners of its fifth annual Best Kept Secret Awards.
The 13 hotels, nominated by the Great British public and judged by travel experts, have proved themselves to be the best in a variety of quirky categories from Comfiest Bed and Best View, to Best Breakfast and Best Spa. This year LateRooms.com has also introduced two new categories to search for and reward a Perfect Porter and Marvellous Maid working in UK hotels.
2,000 nominations
The 2014 Awards saw over 2,000 nominations made by hotel-loving guests, and featured shortlists packed full of accommodation from quirky B&Bs to large chains from all over the UK.
The newest categories offered up stiff competition, but the Perfect Porter accolade went to the ever-professional Eamonn Phelanat The Stanneylands Hotel in Wilmslow. Guests praised Eamonn for his candour and demeanour. The second of the new categories, Marvellous Maid, was won by Domini Bennett from Sketchley Grange Hotel in Leicester. Domini was applauded by guests for her efficiency and positive attitude.
The all important Comfiest Bed category was won by the deserving Hotel Indigo in Edinburgh, which boasted perfectly comfortable rooms, guaranteed to give a great night’s sleep.
The Best Breakfast award was highly contested, but the scrumptious local produce at Lancers House in Salisbury, Wiltshire tipped it into first place.
What could be more important on a short break than service? The staff at the Overwater Hall Hotel in Ireby, Cumbria scooped this year’s Best Service award for having a great ‘over and above’ attitude, and going the extra mile for guests.
Stunning picturesque coastal views of the Imperial Hotel Torquay, perched on a manicured cliff top, ensured it beat off the competition to be awarded the title of Best View.
The tranquil decoration, bespoke plush treatments such as mud rasul therapy and the amazing range of facilities including a thermal pool and tepidarium put The Daffodil Hotel and Spa, Grasmere, top of the list for Best Spa.
Best for Dining was a close call, but the sub-Continental menu of the Noel Arms Hotel, Chipping Campden proved a worthy winner, with the bold flavours on offer winning over the judges.
Tortworth Court Four Pillars Hotel, Gloucestershire, won the Best Gardens category due to its lush foliage, 30 acres of wooded parkland and beautiful orangery. With cosy sitting rooms and a glass-roofed bar, it’s certainly designed to withstand the unpredictable British weather! The Best Interiors category was won by The Grand Brighton, for its luxurious cream decor, plush carpets and super-sized beds.
The only PGA branded course in England, The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, topped the Best for Golf category. Following its recent £26 million refurbishment, the three courses provide a fantastic experience for any keen golfer.
With environmental issues a must for any business, eco credentials have never been more important, and LateRooms.com was delighted to see Lowe Farm in Leominster’s carefully thought out strategy to stay green, landing them as winners of the Best Eco-Credentials category.
Lastly, the Tylney Hall Hotel in Hook, Hampshire (pictured top), won the Facebook Fans’ Hotel of the Year award, thanks to its charm and warmth and glorious parkland surroundings.
“Every year our Best Kept Secret Awards showcase the wide range of excellent hotels on LateRooms.com, and 2014 has been a particularly strong year,” comments Georgina Crosswell, LateRooms.com’s Head of Marketing. “The introduction of two new categories really shows the popularity of the awards, and we are pleased to showcase a fantastic selection of UK hotels, to meet customers every need.”
Full list of winning hotels
| Category | Winning hotel |
| Best Interiors | The Grand |
| Best Breakfast | Lancers House |
| Best For Dining | Noel Arms |
| Best View | Imperial Hotel |
| Best Eco Credentials | Lowe Farm |
| Best Spa | Daffodil House |
| Best Garden | Tortworth Court Four Pillars Hotel |
| Best Service | Overwater Hall Hotel |
| Comfiest Bed | Hotel Indigo (Edinburgh) |
| Best For Golf | The Belfry |
| Marvellous Maid | Sketchley Grange |
| Perfect Porter | Stanneylands Hotel |
| Facebook Fans’ Hotel of the Year Award | Tylney Hall Hotel |
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