The AA has announced the winners of the six categories at the annual AA Bed and Breakfast Awards ceremony held at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London, including the new title of Friendliest Bed and Breakfast of the Year.

The AA has been inspecting and rating accommodation for 100 years this year and for almost two decades now it has also been celebrating the country’s best guest accommodation with the AA Bed and Breakfast Awards.   The awards, presented at the annual ceremony, include guest accommodation for England, Wales, Scotland and London as well as the award for Funkiest Bed and Breakfast.  To mark the centenary and to reflect the more modern image of a British B&B, the AA has changed the main award title.  Previously known as the Friendliest Landlady of the Year Award, this year will see the inaugural AA Friendliest Bed and Breakfast of the Year Award.

Simon Numphud, AA Hotel Services Manager, said, “The AA Bed and Breakfast Awards are a key opportunity for us to recognise the dedication and hard work of our BandB owners across the country.  In a year such as this with so many patriotic events taking place the Great British BandB is a true national treasure.”

The winners of the AA Bed and Breakfast Awards 2012 are:

AA Friendliest Bed and Breakfast of the Year sponsored by eviivo

Rains Farm, Allerston, North Yorkshire

Rains Farm Bed and Breakfast, run by Lorraine Allanson, was selected from 25 finalists who had all been nominated by the AA’s team of Hotel Inspectors who inspect and rate over 3,000 Bed and Breakfast establishments. 

Lorraine, has lived at Rains Farm all her life and now welcomes guests, with help from her mother, to either her comfortable Bed and Breakfast rooms or self-catering cottages.  With enviable views of the Yorkshire countryside, guests at Rains Farm can relax and unwind while receiving the attention to detail and local knowledge provided by Lorraine. 

Over the years Lorraine has frequently gone the extra mile – quite literally in some occasions such as driving Australian visitors round the sights of Heartbeat, their favourite TV programme.  Lorraine believes that the warm Yorkshire welcome, her locally sourced breakfast produce and wonderful home cooked bread keeps guests coming back again and again.

Speaking of her win, Lorraine said, “I always believe that the best memories for guests are the ones imprinted by their host, and then the accommodation.  Many guests give me a friendly cuddle as they leave and that is when I know I have succeeded in my quest and they have truly enjoyed their stay.  Winning an award like this makes all the hard work so worthwhile and I am so proud to be able to say we are the Friendliest Bed and Breakfast.”

AA Funkiest Bed and Breakfast of the Year

Dragonfly, Chester

Dragonfly, in the heart of Chester, blends contemporary interiors with the original Georigan features of the building displaying modern art and vintage pieces throughout.  The high quality chic rooms are individually designed with a modern fresh minimalist look featuring design classic furniture pieces.  The distinct style, service and attention to detail provide a unique and memorable experience for guests.

Dragonfly owners Kelvin Elliot and Lucie Shipp commented on their win, “It is a great honour to receive this award.  It is our mission to offer excellence in every aspect that our guests experience, providing all of our guests with a true boutique hotel experience.”

AA Guest Accommodation of the Year for England

East House, Broadway

East House, in the High Street in Broadway, is run by Lauren O’Hara.  East house is a beautiful 18^th Century luxuriously furnished, period property in the heart of Broadway.  Lauren has been welcoming guests to East House for almost three years having previously worked in the City.  Guests comment that attention to detail is second to none which is probably why they arrive as guests and leave as friends.

AA Guest Accommodation of the Year for Wales

Crug-Glas Country House, Solva, Pembrokeshire

Crug-Glas is run by Janet and Perkin Evans, who both have a family connection to the house.  Janet’s mother was brought up at Crug-Glas, moving out when she was 13 when Perkin’s family moved in.  Coincidentally Janet and Perkin then met and married and Crug-Glas became their family home.  When their children started leaving home Janet and Perkin opened their home to guests and have been welcoming visitors to Crug-Glas for over a decade. 

Situated in 600 acres of farmland near the Pembrokeshire coastline, Crug-Glas offers guests a relaxed atmosphere in tranquil surroundings.  Each room is luxuriously individual and locally sourced produce creates delights at both breakfast and dinner.

AA Guest Accommodation of the Year for Scotland

Arden Country House, Linlithgow

Run by Beth Cruickshank, Arden Country House is set in the grounds of Belsyde House and Farm in Linlithgow.  The rural, farmland setting provides an idyllic country retreat where guests can get away from it all.  Ideally located for visiting Edinburgh and Glasgow and the surrounding areas guests at Arden Country House can be sure of a warm welcome and beautifully presented, freshly made food. 

AA Guest Accommodation of the Year for London

Marble Arch by Montcalm

A little slice of elegance, ideally located at the top of Park Lane, the Marble Arch by Montcalm is a tranquil retreat in the midst of London’s vibrant buzz.  The five star boutique accommodation offers a serene tranquillity ensconced in a wonderful ambience of modern comfort.

We are pleased to share with you important travel related information, from the ‘Transport for London’, related to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend.

As you are no doubt aware, a series of events are planned in London between Saturday 2 June and Tuesday 5 June to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  The celebrations will take place at various locations across London over the extended weekend and we have put measures in place to cope with the large, expected influx of visitors as well as keeping the city moving over this period.

Central London will be unusually busy throughout the weekend and we advise that anyone intending to be there at this time to plan their journeys ahead of travel, to use public transport and to keep updated with the current travel situation. Please visit www.tfl.gov.uk/diamondjubilee

Below is general advice for those moving around London over the weekend and detailed advice for the busiest days.

Pan-weekend transport changes

Road Closures

There will be road closures around central London, please plan your journey in advance and check live traffic news or follow us on Twitter @TfLTrafficNews for real-time updates.

Tube

There are no planned engineering works over the weekend and the Tube is running a Saturday service on Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 June.

For real time service updates follow your Tube line on Twitter. Stations around Hyde Park and the river will be busier than usual at points over the weekend so plan your journey and check before you travel.

Bus

Many roads around central London will be closed to traffic, with a number of bus services diverted or not running their full routes.  Please visit www.tfl.gov.uk/buses

Barclays Cycle Hire

Although most docking stations will remain available, due to expected congestion in central London it may be difficult to replenish some stations as necessary.  Customers are advised to check the cycle availability by visiting Docking stations status on our website.

Sunday 3 June – River Pageant

We are expecting hundreds of thousands of visitors to central London for the River Pageant.  The event also requires significant road closures.  We advise motorists to avoid central London for all but essential journeys.  Access across the River Thames will be limited between 07:00 – 20:00.

Road Closures

Many bridges between Battersea Bridge and Tower Bridge will have restricted access between 07:00 – 20:00.

Vauxhall Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, Southwark Road Bridge and London Bridge will be open to vehicle traffic for most of the day with full closures between 15:30 – 17:00.  Capacity at these bridges will be limited.

The Piccadilly Big Lunch street party means that Piccadilly will be closed to traffic from 07:00 to at least 18:00.

Bus

Buses will not cross the river 07:00 – 21:30 between Battersea and Tower Bridge.

Instead a number of ‘bus hubs’ will be established at or near transport interchanges either side of the river.  Bus hubs will be located at:  Liverpool Street, Aldgate, Battersea Bridge Road, Chelsea World’s End, Elephant & Castle, Farringdon, Finsbury Square, Holborn, London Bridge, Piccadilly, Tottenham Court Road, Tower Bridge Road, Vauxhall and Victoria. The full list of bus services affected is available at www.tfl.gov.uk/buses.

Tube

Stations along the river and around Hyde Park, St. James’s Park and Green Park will be busier than usual.

River services

River boat services will not be running.

Tuesday 5 June – Thanksgiving Lunch

A ceremonial event starting late morning and finishing mid afternoon means areas around Hyde Park, St. James Park, Green Park and the Mall will all be very busy.

Road closures

Many roads around central London will be closed to traffic, particularly in the Westminster area, with a number of bus services diverted or not running their full routes.

Motorists are advised to avoid central London.

Other events

Due to other major events, stations near Emirates Stadium and Wembley Stadium may also be busier than usual over the weekend.

It promises to be an exciting weekend of celebrations that with appropriate journey planning can be enjoyed by all.

The British Hospitality Association has been selected to inform the Hospitality Industry of public safety & security and other need to know issues before, during and after the Olympic games period – For more information click HERE

This information is intended to act as an aide-memoire to the Hospitality & Tourism Industry ‘Preparing for the Games’. We have also provided links to many other sources of reference and help available.

• Communications and Advertising
• Concierges Beware Selling Tickets
• Deliveries
• Lodgings during the Olympic
• “Play it Safe” campaign – Food Standards Agency toolkit
• Road freight
• Security & Access
• Temporary Staffing
• Transport and Travel

The dilemma for hotels is that they are open to the general public at all times, they are places of hospitality but this summer security needs to be stepped up and visible.

Security staff need to be visible and whilst there is a balance to be kept between vigilance and allowing bona-fide guests to enjoy their stay, it is in guests’ interests to ensure that they and their property are protected.

Invisible security is not a deterrent. Official venues like the Olympic Stadium and transport hubs such as airports and railway stations will have heightened security presence; hotels & restaurants are – and always have been – soft targets and attacks on hotels & restaurants across the world have brought widespread publicity over the years.

Staff should be made aware of the need to be extra vigilant in the lead up to and during the Games. Some hotels are adopting a completely different ID system for staff and visitors during the Games (so that ex-employees cannot use old ID, badges or pass them on to others for example). Without upsetting guests you should adopt a “challenge culture” especially back of house. Hold some training sessions to increase alertness – look out for suspicious people, packages, vehicles etc.

Useful Links

Hotels & restaurants should have up-to-date crisis plans and test them.

• Sign up to Neighbourhood Link in order to receive updates on security issues in your postcode area. www.neighbourhoodlink.met.police.uk
• Use the Vulnerability Self Assessment Tool on the National Counter Terrorism Service website www.nactso.gov.uk.
• Visit the website www.cpni.gov.uk where you will find some very useful guides into preparing staff and protecting your business against all kinds of threats including terrorism. www.cpni.gov.uk/threats/terrorism/

The BHA Recommend the following:

Staff and visitors should wear identification badges.

Underground and under-croft car parking is particularly vulnerable as “vehicle borne improvised explosive devices” could be used with devastating results.

Meetings and conference rooms not in use should be locked. All store rooms must be locked.

Increased signage warning guests of the need to take care of their possessions to be used during the Games period.

Office staff in hotels should also adopt a greater level of security:

• CCTV systems should be serviced and working – maintenance should not be left until just before the Games.
• Front of house staff in particular must be more vigilant and ensure guests do not leave unattended items or baggage.
• Staff should know how to deal with suspected prostitutes and ticket touts as hotels areobvious gathering places.

Dartington Hall opens its doors for leisure breaks

Award – winning Dartington Hall, a 14^th century country estate near Totnes in Devon, which operates as a not-for-profit social enterprise, has launched itself as a leisure break destination following a major upgrade to its accommodation.

Already a much sought after venue for weddings and conferences, Dartington Hall is a magnificent mansion with famous formal gardens, set in 1,200 acres of South Devon countryside that includes rolling farmland and an ancient deer park. 

Promoting itself as ‘one of the most stunning B&B locations in the UK’,  the Hall has 50 guest bedrooms set around a mediaeval courtyard, including singles, twins, doubles and suites, all furnished to offer a mix of modern day comfort and country heritage.  Breakfast is served in the estate’s own pub/restaurant, The White Hart, which can also be booked for lunch and dinner.

B&B rates range from £64 for a standard single room up to £209 for a suite.

Dartington Hall is managed by Dartington Hall Trust, a pioneering charity which runs the entire estate as ‘a place of experiment, enterprise and education where the arts, social justice and sustainability come together.’ Proceeds from its various commercial enterprises, go to support its charitable programmes. It was recently awarded the Sustainable Hospitality and Corporate Social Responsibility award in the Conde Nast Johansens 2012 Awards for Excellence.

The estate offers a host of facilities and puts on special events almost every week which attract more than one million visitors each year. In addition to The White Hart pub, there is the Great Hall, which is used for weddings and conferences; the Roundhouse café; Barn cinema; an arts centre and a range of shops selling everything from crafts, home wares and fashion wear to food and drink, stationery and giftware.

Dartington Hall’s general manager Deborah Heather commented: “Dartington Hall is a magical place to stay, the surroundings are fantastic and there’s masses to do whatever your interests. And at the same time guests are contributing to some very worthy causes.”

Deborah continued: “We’re so pleased with the result of our upgrade, which has seen all of our bedrooms keep their special and unique character whilst being overhauled to a high standard. No two of our bedrooms are the same but every single one of them offers fantastic quality accommodation and all the comforts you’d expect.”

“Our guests can also enjoy the award winning food and drink at the White Hart pub.  All of our delicious seasonal menus are made up of the finest West Country produce we have right on our doorstep.”

“There’s so much going on here at Dartington; with our year round film programme at the Barn Cinema, regular art exhibitions and performances and a full Summer programme of festivals and events – including our annual Food Fair over the Diamond Jubilee weekend – we really do have something for everyone.”

To find out more, visit www.dartingtonhall.com

The public transport system will be under additional strain during the Games at peak times of the day. Certain underground stations, mainline stations and bus routes will be affected especially those with links to the different venues – it isn’t just Stratford, Earls Court, Hyde Park, Horse Guards Parade and other London venues are being used. And it is also not just the Games that take place during the period – Notting Hill Carnival, Ramadan, World Pride and the Jamaican Independence Day 50^th Anniversary will all impact on travel.

Some tube stations will be severely impacted and you should make sure your staff know that they may need to make alternative travel arrangements. Buses might be a good travel alternative during the Games, however, some routes will be diverted and/or disrupted due to road closures when road events are taking place, and other operational measures will be in place, such as banned turns and clearway restrictions.

The Olympic Road Network (ORN) and Paralympic Road Network (PRN) comprise a number of roads that link all competition and other key venues and accommodation “clusters” to provide smooth journey times for the Olympic “family” – officials, athletes, media and sponsors. Temporary Games Lanes will be used on the busiest routes (about 30 of the total 109 miles of routes) and this will cause disruption and delays. Please visit HERE for more information.

Availability of temporary staff will be more limited than usual. Catering providers at the Olympic Park will need to get their staff from somewhere and will be offering keen rates of pay.

Extended F&B times for service of meals/snacks to guests particularly early breakfast and late night snacks/drinks– a more flexible approach needed during the Games period.

Staff may have more difficulty in getting to work, help them with information for their journey to and from work to enable them to adapt their travel plans.The website www.getaheadofthegames.com provides useful interactive daily maps for staff to use to see which stations will be most affected.

Existing staff may request leave either to act as volunteers or to watch. Non-operational staff
should be encouraged to take annual leave.

There could be higher levels of absence through “sickness”.

Avoid meetings and non-essential travel

LAINSTON HOUSE HOTEL, WINCHESTER

IS UPGRADED TO AA FIVE BLACK STAR QUALITY RATING

Lainston House Hotel near Winchester has been upgraded from a four red-star hotel to a five black star property by the official AA Hotel Services rating.

AA Hotel Services have been recognising accommodation since 1908 and first introduced the star rating scheme in 1912, rewarding establishments for the quality and range of their services and facilities. The AA inspectors visit all hotels to evaluate and give a quality score to all aspects of the accommodation and service and it is the total of all these scores which establishes an overall percentage score for quality.

Just some of the standards a hotel must meet to achieve the five star rating include offering excellent staffing levels with well-structured and dedicated teams, exceptional levels of proactive service and customer care with all areas of the operation meeting the Five Star level of quality for cleanliness, maintenance and hospitality as well as for the quality of physical facilities and delivery of services including enhanced services such as valet parking, escort to bedrooms, ‘concierge’ service, 24-hour reception, 24-hour room service and full afternoon tea.

General Manager, David Connell said, “We are absolutely delighted with this award which recognises the unrelenting dedication and hard work of each and every one of the team here. We are a family and we take great pride and enjoyment in providing the best possible experience for all our guests.”

Just two miles north-west of the ancient cathedral city of Winchester, Lainston House is a breathtakingly beautiful 17^th century William and Mary Country House nestling in 63 acres of stunning Hampshire countryside offering 50 luxurious and individually designed bedrooms and suites and the 3 AA Rosette Avenue Restaurant.

Lainston House Hotel, Woodman Lane, Sparsholt, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 2LT

T: 01962 776008   E: enquiries@lainstonhouse.com / W: www.lainstonhouse.com

Denny’s Uniforms, the UK’s premier professional catering and corporate wear supplier have prepared for the Olympics by ensuring that an extra 50,000 of their most popular aprons are ready on the shelf.  Denny’s are known for their legendary stock of aprons; the depth of their range is unbeaten in the UK.

In addition, as a direct result of this summer’s Olympics, Denny’s Uniforms have received unprecedented demand for banqueting wear and waiters’ gloves.  As London takes centre stage for hospitality, sport and tourism, a leading contract caterer has placed an order for 15,000 black cotton serving gloves from Denny’s.

The client chose the DW13C serving gloves because they look smart and have rubber grips to guard against slips and trips, an important consideration when working in a busy environment.  The gloves are also heat resistant to warm plates.

Nick Jubert Denny’s Uniforms managing director explains: “There has been an increase in the number of luxury venues, hotels and restaurants placing orders for front of house tailored wear as well as banqueting uniform and matching gloves.

Nehru jackets in black are slightly more popular than the traditional white, partly due to changing fashion trends which are also influencing chefswear too.  However the uplift in sales of front of house and banqueting uniform is mainly due to increased numbers of black tie events being held this summer.”

“Caterers, hoteliers and restaurateurs generally understand that first impressions count.  Your staff  represent your brand image and, as a result, they make a big impact on the overall customer experience.  Uniform needs to be smart and reliable, especially when worn in front of VIPs from around the world.”

DW13C Black Pack of 12 one size

DW13   White Pack of 12 one size

Simon Kossoff, Chief Executive Officer, Carluccio’s, will take to the stage as guest speaker at the Arena networking lunch on Tuesday 17 July 2012 at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel, London.

The summer Arena lunch is an incredibly popular event.  Senior professionals from across the hospitality industry seize the opportunity to interact with business colleagues and contacts before the holiday period.  They also enjoy the informative, interesting, and often inspiring, post-lunch talk given by the carefully selected speaker.

This year attendees will gain a fascinating insight into the motivations and philosophies of Simon Kossoff, the man that has steered the creation and development of one of the UK’s most successful restaurant groups, Carluccio’s.

Born out of a chance meeting with Priscilla and Antonio Carluccio, the now famous Carluccio’s brand has grown steadily since inception in 1999.  Under Simon’s expert guidance it has grown from a solitary venue in central London to a national, £90million plus, 59-strong restaurant group.

Join us and fellow industry colleagues to find out more about Simon, his hospitality career that really took off in the early eighties when he became assistant manager at a then fledgling Pizza Express, and what it was about the Carluccio’s caffé and deli concept that really captured his attention and imagination.

Simon will reveal the Carluccio’s story so far and the strategy he has put in place to stimulate and sustain growth, and ultimately reach the target of opening 100 UK stores and developing a wider international plan for the business.

The not-to-be-missed event starts at 12pm with a lively networking drinks reception, followed by a spectacular three-course lunch and Simon’s enlightening address.

Tickets cost £135 plus VAT for Arena members and £175 plus VAT for non members.

For further information and tickets visit www.arena.org.uk or contact Lorraine Wood on lorraine@arena.org.uk / 0203 087 2378.