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Eating Out In Cheltenham
Published by Karen in Cheltenham and the Cotswolds · 27/3/2017 19:18:00
Tags: B&B, Cheltenham, Bed, Breakfast
Tags: B&B, Cheltenham, Bed, Breakfast
Photo by Doktor Katze
At our busy bed and breakfast accommodation in Cheltenham (Alice Guest House) we are frequently asked by our guests about where to eat and drink. Whether it be working people on a company budget or couples out for a leisurely weekend break looking to spend a bit more, Cheltenham offers an exceptional range of cafes, bars and restaurants to suit all tastes and pockets.
Known as the food capital of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham is home to many types of dining including fast food, brassiere & bistro, buffet, fine dining, al fresco, traditional pub food and many ethnic restaurants such as Indian, Chinese, French and Italian. In addition to this, there are a multitude of cafes and coffee shops if you fancy a quick bite and a drink.
Below, we have featured a few of our favourites tried and tested.
Gianni's (Italian)
Gianni's restaurant, a reasonably small establishment is one of our favourites offering some of the finest Italian food in Cheltenham. The menu features a large range of dishes from traditional pasta', pizzas and steak's to some rather unusual dishes such as swordfish. We have not tried every dish on the menu but can honestly say what we have tried was cooked to perfection and well presented. The only downside we found to this restaurant is that a lot of tables are crammed into a small area and it can be rather noisy.
Website: http://www.giannicheltenham.com/
Lumiere (British)
Contrary to the name, Lumiere is not a French restaurant but rather an award winning British restaurant with a passion for producing some seriously good food with excellent service. Lumiere consistently present their dishes beautifully with a focus on bold flavours together with an extraordinary use of unusual combinations and ingredients to produce some amazing dishes all made in house.
The menu at Lumiere changes frequently due to the use of seasonal foods that are sourced from local farms and regional suppliers. Early booking advised!
Website: http://www.lumiere.cc/
Prithvi (Indian)
Prithvi has been voted one of the top 3 Indian restaurants in the country offering sophisticated fine dining that presents a fusion of reinvented Indian and Bangladeshi dishes. Delivering enhanced versions of all your favourite classics, Prithvi also features many 'chef's specialities' including a 5 course tasting menu. A little more pricey than your standard Indian restaurant, you will probably need to book well in advance to get a table.
Website: http://prithvirestaurant.com/
Simpson's Fish and Chips
Located a couple of miles from the town centre, Simpson's was voted the best fish and chip shop in the UK by the National Fish and Chip Awards. Not only is it a restaurant but it also has a takeaway side of things that is only slightly more pricey than your standard chippy but you can be guaranteed a top quality, non greasy dish.
Website: http://simpsonsfishandchips.com/
Thai Emerald
Not only does this restaurant deliver some seriously good food but the setting is something else! This elaborately decorated establishment features some amazingly authentic and lavish Thai decor together with ornate picture carvings and tropical plants. According to their website, their philosophy is to provide a unique dining experience which embraces all of the senses. The Thai Emerald restaurant in Cheltenham offers a lunch menu as well as an A La Carte menu during the evening to include a range of desserts.
Website: http://www.thaigroup.co.uk/thai-emerald-cheltenham.php
L'Artisan (French)
L'Artisan in Cheltenham is not part of a chain, but a standalone restaurant run by a passionate French couple who believe that each dish should be a work of art, appealing not only to the taste buds, but to the eyes and nose also. They present an a la carte menu with a variety of authentic, traditional cuisine as well as other creative French dishes. To compliment that, the drinks menu offers a range of carefully selected wines. Visitors to the restaurant will notice that the interior decor is charmingly French with a relaxed and peaceful ambience. L'Artisan have been rated number 4 on Tripadvisor for 'top restaurants in Cheltenham' for their first-class cuisine!
Website: http://lartisan-restaurant.com/
Whether you come to Cheltenham specifically to sample the food from one of the restaurants or just need a comfortable place to stay on your visit, Alice Guest House B&B offers a range of different rooms to suit your needs. Take a look at the room types and price list on our homepage for options.
Planning a short break in Cheltenham? Hotel or Bed and Breakfast?
Published by Karen in Cheltenham and the Cotswolds · 25/3/2017 14:21:00
Tags: B&B, Cheltenham, Town, Centre, bed, breakfast
Tags: B&B, Cheltenham, Town, Centre, bed, breakfast
Log Cabins at Alice Guest House B&B in Cheltenham
Before you rush out to book a hotel, why not consider a bed and breakfast? Bed and breakfast type accommodation (frequently shortened to B&B) is usually a smaller establishment, often family run and owned, that provides quality, comfort and more of a personalised service. In fact, many travellers prefer B&B's to hotels, due to friendly service and homely environment. B&B's have evolved over the years to offer good facilities and clean well kept rooms, making them great value for money.
A few reasons to choose a B&B:
1. Cheaper Prices
Bed and breakfast accommodation in England often comes in cheaper than hotels and larger establishments. In the past B&B's have generally been seen as the budget option but over the years B&B's have increased significantly and standards have been raised to that of hotels or higher, providing excellent value for money. Nowadays, many more bed and breakfast establishments have sprung up, especially in and around the city centres and at beach resorts due to the influx of visitors to these areas.
2. Breakfast Options
Since a bed and breakfast is a smaller establishment, food is usually cooked to order so you can be sure that your breakfast will fresh and not been sitting in an oven or food warmer (designed for large numbers of guests) for a long time. Need a gluten free breakfast? Most b&b's will adapt a breakfast to meet your dietary needs if notified in advance, something you don't get from many hotels. Also, if you can't make it for breakfast, many B&B's offer a takeaway breakfast for those on the go.
3. Free Amenities & Extra's
Wi-Fi
How many times have you stayed at a hotel to find that Wi-Fi comes at an extra charge? No doubt, you will find that most B&B's include this in the room price so no extra hidden costs for what is now a basic necessity in this day and age, especially for working people on the move.
Didn't bring your iron or bottle opener?
At a B&B, owners are usually only too happy to lend these items for free. Since the bed and breakfast accommodation is usually their home also, many of these small necessities can be borrowed free of charge.
Need to know how far it is or how to get to your destination?
Many bed and breakfast owners are local people who can provide you with useful information you may need to know about the local area since they live there. Not only that, they will usually be happy to recommend good restaurants, pubs and places of interest.
4. Themed Experience
Rather than being the bog standard hotel room, many B&B's provide individually decorated or themed rooms with attention to detail so you can really feel like you have escaped to another place. Alice Guest House B&B in Cheltenham offers themed rooms in several styles including traditional, Moroccan, Kenyan and Kath Kidston style amongst others.
The service at a bed and breakfast can exceed many people's expectations, not just providing a bed for the night but with a truly personalised service, providing those little extra things that make all the difference. Since many B&B owners regard people as guests and not just customers, you won't just be a room number! So whether you are a solo traveller or staying as a group, a B&B can make an excellent choice.
Cheltenham Spa
Published by Karen in Cheltenham and the Cotswolds · 22/2/2017 16:22:00
Imperial Gardens Cheltenham - Photo by Julie Anne Johnson
Cheltenham Spa is said to be the most regency town in Britain with its elegant terraces and architecture. It gets its name as a spa town from the late 18th century when medicinal waters were discovered that were thought to heal and cure a whole range of illnesses. Spa's were created for wealthy visitors and the town soon became known as one of England's leading spa's. With this legacy, Cheltenham maintains much of its original culture that still continues to attract tourists from all over the globe with its stylish shopping areas, annual festivals and of course the horse racing that is held at the famous Cheltenham racecourse. The town also benefits from being a centre of excellence in education.
Attractions
The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum is home to a wide variety of artefacts from history over the generations together with a considerable collection of fine art. There is also a broad spectrum of events, workshops and educational courses throughout the year for all ages from children to adults.
Gustav Holst Birthplace Museum is a regency house dedicated to the composer Gustav Holst, which comprises part memorial to his work and part museum of regency life. The museum has been open since 1975 and is host to a wide range of events including concerts and educational talks during the year.
Theatre - Cheltenham is fortunate enough to have a few venue's for theatre enabling visitors to enjoy a whole calendar of entertainment all year round. Theatre lovers can savour all manner of performances from musicals to pantomimes. The main Everyman Theatre in the town centre is an elegant building that has been described as an architectural masterpiece!
Pittville Pump Room at Pittville Park Cheltenham - Photo by Jayt74
Gardens
Pittville Park is an ornamental park that is home to the gloriously imposing pump room. The park features areas of woodland with lakes that are perfect for a summer stroll, a picnic or even fishing during the season. But that's not all, the park also has a play area for children, tennis courts, a skate park and a pitch and putt golf course. In addition to this, there are aviaries where visitors can see birds and rabbits.
Pittville Lake Capturing the Rain by Julie Anne Johnson
The Montpellier Gardens is located close to the town centre and is a principal piece of Cheltenham's regency setting with its surrounding listed buildings. The entire area covers over 600 hectares making it one of the biggest in the country. Throughout the summertime, visitors can enjoy regular concerts held in the bandstand as well exhibitors displaying their work.
Festivals - Cheltenham plays host to many annual festivals during the year that attract many visitors to the town. See our festivals page for more information.
The Brewery Quarter - Recently re-developed, this entertainment hub features the IMAX Cinema, a gym, a bowling alley and Lost World Golf together with a variety of restaurants and cafes and to suit all tastes.
Cheltenham has always been a favourite weekend break destination, whether it be for the shopping, theatre, nightlife or for the many festivals held throughout the year.
Accommodation
Alice Guest House bed and breakfast in Cheltenham offers a variety of rooms for those looking for somewhere to stay, whether it be for 1 night, a weekend break or long term at very competitive rates. Our b&b is situated conveniently less than 10 minutes walk from the town centre and all amenities so you won't have to travel far to enjoy all Cheltenham has to offer. To make a booking, take a look at our homepage for prices and contact information.
The Cotswolds
Published by Karen in Cheltenham and the Cotswolds · 22/1/2017 15:58:00
The Cotswolds is an area of natural beauty located in south central England which covers nearly eight hundred square miles running through the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire. Rolling grassland, picturesque villages and historic buildings are just some of the things that make the Cotswolds a popular place to visit with British tourists as well as international visitors.
Towns and Villages
The Cotswolds is home to many historic towns and charming little oldie worlde villages with traditional tea rooms, country pubs and narrow streets that would appear that had time stood still for hundreds of years. One of the prettiest villages to visit in the Cotswolds is Bibury that was once described by the poet and artist William Morris as the most beautiful village in England. Bourton-on-the-Water is also another popular choice for tourists with many attractions and shops. The river Windrush runs through this picturesque village with its many bridges. Stow-on-the-Wold and Moreton-on Marsh are two small towns popular with tourists. Stow is an historic market town with an key shopping centre that features many fine antique shops, art galleries and boutiques.
Historic Buildings
If historical buildings are your thing, we have listed a few of the most amazing must-see listed stately homes that can be visited in the Cotswolds.
Snowshill Manor - Snowshill, Gloucestershire
Rodmarton Manor - Near Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Sudely Castle - Winchcombe, Gloucestershire
Stanway House & Water Gardens - Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Seizincote House - Gloucestershire
Gardens
Within the Cotswolds, are many beautiful gardens, some attached to stately homes that are open for the public to visit. Some of the most popular include:
Hidcote Manor Garden
Highgrove Gardens
Sudeley Castle & Gardens
Westonbirt Arboretum
Batsford Arboretum
Sports
Many sporting activities, including cycling, water sports, ballooning and horse riding are available for visitors to enjoy that will allow people to really discover the area and appreciate the beautiful scenery of the Cotswolds. For those who love cycling, there is a good network of off road cycle tracks that will allow passage to area's inaccessible by car. The well known Cotswold Way Walk runs from Chipping Campden right through to the City of Bath. The route trails through attractive rural landscape and villages with facilities and services never too far from hand.
Thinking of visiting the Cotswolds?
Cheltenham Spa is said to be the most complete regency town in England, makes a perfect base for visiting the Cotswolds. This stylish and cosmopolitan town has been welcoming tourists and visitors from all over the globe for many years. It has a remarkable range of cafe's, bars and shops as well as beautiful landscaped area's such as the Pittville Park and the Montpellier gardens.
Accommodation
For those looking for accommodation during a visit to Cheltenham, Alice Guest House B&B is situated very close to the town centre and all amenities. The Brewery Quarter is just a 7 minute walk from Alice Guest House and provides a range of restaurants, bars and entertainment close by for all the family. Cheltenham Spa train station can be reached on foot within 20 minutes as with the Cheltenham Racecourse.