When In Canterbury...

What will you do? Even more importantly why should you visit us here and not go somewhere else? Well we can help answer that for you as we have a list of the 10 top attractions to visit whilst you are here, all perfectly suitable for couples, individuals, groups and families!

(This list I should point out has been voted for by you the public... the visitors who come to Canterbury and post their comments on Trip Advisor.)

Attraction Number 10 – Westgate Towers Museum. Already written about in a previous blog, myself and our general manager Christine Cooper went for a visit to this fabulous museum. Now open in the Summer months, it is certainly worth a visit. Find out about the lives of the jailers and the prisoners from way back when. Make sure you head to the top of the towers to take in the roof top view of Canterbury!

Attraction Number 9 – St Martins Church. This is the oldest church in the English speaking world and still has its doors open for worship. It was at this very church that St Augustine set up his mission to convert the English when he arrived from Rome in 597 AD.

 

Attraction Number 8 – Greyfriars Chapel and Franciscan Gardens. This chapel is the only building now remaining of the first English Franciscan Friary built in 1224. Entry to this attraction is free, however donations are appreciated to help with the up-keep of the building.

 

Attraction Number 7 – RSPB Reserve Blean Woods. This is a fabulous place to go for quiet walks in ancient woodland, with 5 trails up to eight miles long. In the summer keep your eyes peeled for damselflies, dragonflies and butterflies. If you are lucky you might spot the fritillary butterfly and perhaps some nightjars, woodpeckers and nightingales.

Attraction Number 6 – Gulbenkian Cinema. Located up at the University of Kent, this cinema offers a unique viewing experience. With a whole selection of films showing regularly, some in 3D, you can be sure there will be something on for everyone. We at the hotel can even offer you a reduced ticket price for certain films if you are staying with us, simply enquire at reception when you are checking in :)

Attraction Number 5 – Westgate Gardens. The gardens can be found close to the City centre, next to West Gate Tower. These 11 acres of public gardens provide an ideal setting for a stroll along the banks of the River Stour. If you would rather sit back and relax, there are plenty of places to sit and watch the world go by as well as take in the beauty of the garden and its wildlife. Look out for swans, ducks and the moorhens!

Attraction Number 4 – Canterbury Heritage Museum. This is a must visit attraction especially for the families! The museum has over 30 hands on activities including being able to write your name in Viking Ruins, sniff medieval poo, investigate like an archaeologist, try on Elizabethan costume and listen to wartime memories!

Attraction Number 3 – Howletts Wild Animal Park – Howletts is a 90 acre adventure located in ancient parkland, perfect for great days out with the whole family. Keep your eyes peeled for the Siberian Tiger, Snow Leopard, Sumatran Tiger, Elephants, Gorillas, Black Rhino, Brazilian tapir and much much more. (I can't possibly list them all, this blog will be far too long!)

Attraction Number 2 – Eastbridge Hospital. A hospital in the old sense of the word, a place of hospitality. Since its foundation in the 12^th Century, the Archbishop of Canterbury has been the patron. The Eastbridge Hospital welcomes visitors and offers tours of the Chantry Chapel, the Undercroft with Gothic Arches, the Refectory with an early 13^th Century mural and the Pilgrims Chapel.

 

Attraction Number 1 – It was only ever going to be Canterbury Cathedral! Pilgrims and visitors have made their way to the Cathedral since the Middle Ages and is still one of the most visited places in the country. Visitors are always welcome and a trip to this famous Cathedral is highly recommended!

So, still need convincing...?

 

Lost Property

Managing lost property is an interesting one at a hotel. When something is found it is logged in our lost property book, with the date, time, where it was found and by whom. We will then wait for the phone call from the owner who has forgotten to pack or mislaid their item, be it keys, a phone charger (quite a lot of those), make-up, perfume and other such items. We then take a description, make sure it's definitely theirs and then we will arrange for the item to be returned...

Over the years we have had a lot of the usual suspects, some of which have already been mentioned, but I want to share with you some of the other, more 'unique' items should I say, that get left behind. Some of which get claimed and some that don't. As you can imagine, the items that remain lost are usually a bit too embarrassing to ring and ask for.

The normal lost property items...

Books, phones, laptops, chargers, house keys, clothing, radios, soft toys, suitcase, fancy dress costumes, photo albums, and toothbrushes.

The more memorable ones...

False teeth, glass eye, bicycle wheel, artificial limb, inflatable sheep, wig, toupee, underwear, handcuffs, rampant rabbits and other such cheeky items! Use your imaginations!

We have also discovered over the years...

Pet stick insects, a wedding dress, life size skeleton, a single shoe, and how about this one... A portable douche complete with rubber tube!

Having searched the internet for other hotels stories about lost property, here are a few more things that you managed to leave behind recently...

Breast implants, pilots manual, pet python, 200 Queen Elizabeth masks, Persian kitten, diamond encrusted dentures, £50k Rolex watch, £10k engagement ring, stamp collection worth £250k, winning Euro millions ticket, pop up spray tanning booth and keys to a Bugatti.

I would like to confirm that all of these items were returned to their rightful owners, but how on earth do you manage to leave this all behind? Perhaps it's because you are too busy squeezing our towels in to your suitcase?? ;o)

What do you like to take home when you have stayed at a hotel?

According to the latest survey by MyVoucherCodes.com not all of us Brits are as honest and trustworthy as we make out. In fact a huge 69% of you admitted to stealing items from hotels when staying away!

This survey does represent the most popular items to be taken and I thought I would share it with you. So here it is... the top ten things that you like to smuggle out when staying with us.

At number 10, it's The Bible! Now then, what does the 8^th Commandment say... “Thou shalt not steal.”

Coming in at number 9, it's the books from our library...15% of you do this and that's all very well, but perhaps to keep it fair you might consider in future leaving the one behind, just to even it up...

At number 8, it's the kettle. I hope you emptied the water out before you tucked it into your suit case. 19% of you admitted to this one!

In at number 7... The curtains! Apparently 27% of Britons admitted to this. We are flattered you like how we have dressed the rooms, but surely they will be too big or too small? How on earth did you get them out without being noticed?

Number 6 is the artwork. People wonder why we started screwing our paintings to the wall and nailing the sculptures down. No longer can we make use of the traditional picture rails, you simply can't be trusted ;o)

Number 5 is slightly more concerning...It's the picture frames. A little bit strange, but hey, who are we to judge!

Over half way through the list and number 4 is the cutlery. 45% of you admit to taking the cutlery from the hotel you are staying in. I want to know, did you manage to pinch a whole 8 piece set before you got caught?

Coming in at 3^rd place is food and drink. Over 51% of you admitted to stealing from the buffets, mini bars and stocking up in case you got hungry before lunch.

The runner up and in 2^nd place is the batteries and light bulbs...57% of you like to nab these. Question...Did you get the bulbs back in one piece?

The winner however at number 1 is the towels and the linen...Fluffy dressing gowns, slippers, fluffy bath towels, bed sheets, cushions and blankets. A whopping 68% of you openly admit to taking these!

Something to bare in mind, if you come to us, and we notice these things have gone walk about once you have checked out of your room... You will be charged.

It's the little things...

Working in a hotel can be hard work but we love it and it is a pleasure for us to meet and greet all of the new people that walk through our doors.  

Every guest that visits our hotel has different needs and expectations. Our job is to ensure that they have a great first impression from the moment they check in and that everything runs smoothly until they check out.

You see it's the little things that we need to look at. Yes the big things are hugely important from the décor of the bedrooms, bathrooms, lounges, bars and restaurant to the sofas, comfort of the beds and the table cloths but it's the little things that in the long run can give our guests a great first impression and a lasting one when they leave.

We all do housework and we know how frustrating cobwebs are, there is always a build-up of dust behind the lights, the cushions forever need plumping and those wet footprints that leave a mark by the front door when it's been raining... These are the little things.

The picture that isn't quite hanging straight, the wedding photos of couples who have chosen to get married with us that need to be in just the right place, the curtains that need to be gathered just so around the windows and the way the towels are folded in the bathroom.  It's the folded toilet paper and the way the tea tray is presented, the location of the remote and the way the decorative cushions are placed just so on your bed.

The salt and pepper pots that are always full in the restaurant and the way the napkin is folded. 

The smile from the waiter and warm welcome from the receptionist. It's the offer of help with your luggage and when you are a regular, remembering what you always like to drink with dinner.

These small things end up being one large memory that we strive to deliver for all our guests. 

There is a large team working hard to serve you and whilst you won’t meet all of them during your stay, they are there and they are working every day to make your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

Wedding Saving Tips

You are engaged! Congratulations, what great news! Now all the planning can begin...

Think of all the fun you will have finding that dream wedding venue, booking the Church or the Civil Ceremony, buying all the wedding magazines you can lay your hands on that will help inspire your big day. Imagine all those wonderful looking wedding invitations, the beautiful flowers, the fabulous dress and the perfect shoes to match.

However, have you thought of the cost for all this...Do you have the budget for your dream wedding?

Planning the dream wedding can spiral out of control and before you know it you have a wedding that could set you back over £25,000. Therefore it is so important that you sit down and work out what you can afford. If you are lucky enough to have family offering to help with the cost of the day, it is important that you know how much they are looking at giving you.

If you are not so lucky and haven't saved or don't have family that are in a position to help you pay for the wedding, have you considered getting a loan? I think everyone would agree that if you can avoid borrowing you should. A huge amount of marital problems and break ups are over financial hardship. Do you really want to start married life owing thousands to the bank that could take you up to 10 years to pay back, all for one day? Unlike property or a financial investment, your special day will only give you a return of memories (all be it fabulous ones!). Weddings are expensive so if you do need to take out a loan to cover your costs, you might want to make sure that you won’t still be paying it off in 5 years’ time. Ultimately, wherever your cash is coming from to pay for the day, work out your budget before you do anything else and whatever you do, stick to it!

Write a “must have” list. A list of all the things that you definitely need to spend money on, for instance the church, the venue, the rings, insurance, the registry fees, (remember the venue can take around a third or even up to half of your budget). Write another list, alongside the “must haves” of additional things you want that are important to you both. You may both have your hearts set on a string quartet or feel you must have an oversized chocolate fountain and a professional wedding photographer followed by a two week African Safari Honeymoon.

Just because it’s the “in” thing, doesn’t mean there aren’t better options out there for you. Some years ago, it was fashionable to get married in a marquee on a field, nowadays converted barns are all the rage. These options often come with venue hire fees followed by higher costs from a separate outside caterer and other hidden extras that you and your guests might not be expecting. A barn which may be miles away from a town with hotels could mean that all of your guests have to pay for an expensive taxi journey to and from the venue on top of the cost of their hotel which can put some people off given the current economic climate. Why not consider holding your wedding in a fully serviced hotel instead? Many hotels will waver the venue hire fee if you’re spending with them for food and drink already and add value by offering your guests a discounted rate to stay which also means that they could stay up celebrating with you until the early hours (if you haven’t collapsed exhausted in your honeymoon room already by then)! Hotels are a great way to still have that luxury experience for your wedding day, dealing with one person to organise your venue, food, drink, service, accommodation and all without breaking the bank. You can even cut out the cost of the church and get married in the hotel holding your entire day under the same roof!



Following some of these tips will help you see how far your budget will stretch, it also shows you where you may need to make compromises. Perhaps that live band could be a disco instead? Alter your wedding to match your budget, don't increase your spending amount.

We’ve also seen a great suggestion to help you increase your wedding budget by cutting out something you buy every day that you could do without. An example if you cut out spending £2 each day at the work vending machine on a soft drink and snack you could potentially save £520 over the year.

Now you know what you want and what you can afford, the fun can begin! Time to get to some venues and some wedding fayres!

With thanks to Doug Harman, Sally 4 Cakes and Lipstick, Powder & Lace for their images.

Our Spell in Gaol!

Not only is Canterbury a great City to visit because of all it's history and of course the local wild life parks, the shopping and the world famous Cathedral to name but a few. There are also some great little museums and quirky cafés where you can stop for a warming hot chocolate, a creamy latte and some delicious cakes!

It was at a place just like this that I thought, people should be coming to Canterbury just for this one experience! I have to blog about it!

I was invited to join a colleague for coffee one afternoon at the The Old City Gaol & Café which opened back on the 28th July 2011 after an extensive and painstaking restoration of the Old City Gaol.

We picked a table and enjoyed a delicious coffee each and a white chocolate and raspberry muffin (they were ENORMOUS)! Sitting in this café, looking out over the river that runs by,  under a roof of glass covering what used to be the old felons  exercise yard, doing some people watching and just soaking up the atmosphere that Canterbury has this time of year was just what the doctor ordered. Being a busy period at the hotel for office Christmas parties, weddings, accommodation and various other events it was lovely to spend some time watching other people rush around!

The café looks amazing, with a Vivienne Westwood Union Jack on the wall and various other historic images from when the towers were a Gaol way back when. They show the officers that used to work there and keep the felons in check, along with maps of Canterbury and photos of how it used to be. One wall in fact is completely covered in what looks to be a modern wall paper, but upon closer inspection you find it is actually out takes from the wardens diary from back in the 1800's and makes such interesting reading! I could have stood for hours trying to get through it all!

We then ventured up to the museum, access to which is under the Towers (which in case you weren’t aware is the largest remaining medieval gateway in the UK), and up the stone spiral staircase. We arrive in the main part of the museum, which houses armours from the Civil War, and much more. Lots to read and look at and the staff really know their stuff!

We then ventured through to the cells, meeting James, a felon who was only 15 or 16 when he was confined in the Gaol in 1793. According to the local newspaper the Kentish Gazette, he made ingenious efforts to escape from his cell. With his extraordinary strength he had repeatedly broken the iron manacles on his hands and legs. New and stronger shackles were put on his arms and legs and secured to the wall of the cell, but he remained defiant and would not give up his efforts to escape.

Seeing this cell that James would have had to share with up to 8 others and then moving through to the Victorian cells it was amazing to see the difference, and to appreciate how lucky later felons were as the cells for them seemed much more civilised!!!  They had a bed and a toilet each! (I have to say though, the bed didn't look comfortable!)

Finally up another flight of spiral stairs and we were on the roof, able to look around and take in the breathtaking views of Canterbury were you can see the New Marlowe Theatre clearly and the Cathedral. Some say it looks like the Marlowe is doffing its cap to the Cathedral, but you can make up your own mind!

The stairs from the roof brought our tour to an end and back in to the café! Such an interesting visit and just another of the many reasons why people need to come to this magical city and spend some time discovering hidden gems like this.

We are located within easy walking distance to all of Canterbury's major attractions in the town, so why not book yourself a short break in January or February to cheer yourself up and  enjoy what Canterbury has to offer.  We would love to see you!!!!

A Debtor's Despair.

A place there is, of ancient date

Entering the city, called Westgate.

Here felons lodge, and each poor debtor

Who cannot pay for lodging better.

To be in debt is sure a curse

The fear it causes, ten times worse.

How many honest men now rot

In jails, for debts of trifling note?

Denied the power to maintain

Their helpless wives and infant train.

No pity's show, but there must lie

Perchance until the wretches die.

Thus vexed and fretted at my luck

Some words I had with Master Ruck.

And he too falling in a rage

Secured me safely in the cage.

From whence, at nine, my tower mounted

Some hundred steps I believe I counted.

They ushered me into a room

Whose countenance bore a dismal gloom.

When struck with wonder at the sight

And siezed with terror and affright!

I threw myself into a chair.

The only on sure ever there.

In all the horrors of despair!

(Dated at Mr Ruck's West-Gate, Canterbury, Saturday July 10th 1773)

The Battle of the Stars

What images come to mind when someone tells you, that you are booked to stay in a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 star rated hotel?

Do you imagine the 1 & 2 star hotels are dark, unclean, not refurbished and offers poor service and food?  Do you imagine the 5 star can provide you bright, big, spacious rooms that are well furnished, with perfect service, gourmet food and a chocolate on your pillow?  Do you feel that hotels without a star rating are not even worth considering?  Do you even understand the star rating system?

Perhaps another question to ask is, what is important to you when booking a hotel?  Is it the location, the room size, how well furnished it is, or is it actually just a room to sleep in? People use the word quality, they want quality, so what does that mean?

The general idea behind a star rating is this.  The more stars, the higher the overall level of quality you can expect to find.  However all properties have to meet an extensive list of minimum standards before they are even considered for a rating.

Some hotels choose not to participate in the rating system, it can be quite costly, yet actually the absence of a rating does not indicate poor quality of amenities or service.

When it comes to trying to work your way through the hotel star rating system, it can be quite complicated.  Star ratings vary from global region to global region, country to country and occasionally within countries.  Within Europe, hotel stars are assigned if properties have leisure facilities and lifts, not always on when the last refurbishment was done and its current state.

The UK star rating system dates back to 1912, when Automobile Association's Secretary, Stenson Cooke hit on the idea, and the 3 star classification system was born.  Today in Great Britain, the AA works on a 5 star system and after years of confusing tourists and Britons, a standardised system was launched in 2007.

Cost comes into where you can afford to stay.  If you are on a tight budget and need somewhere for less than £70 a night, you might consider the likes of a 2 star or lesser rated properties, perhaps if you can afford a little more you will find yourself looking at 3 & 4 star hotels.  If you are the lucky ones who can afford the 5 star and deluxe hotels, you are in for a treat, but don't bank all your expectations on those shiny gold stars next to the hotel name, sometimes they disappoint and you are left wondering how they got it.

Bathroom size, a night porter, 24 hour hot room service, bed size and more all come into it. Sometimes you might surprise yourself and stay in a 3 star hotel that can offer you 5 star furnishings, and service, but because the bathrooms can't be increased in size they can't benefit from the higher rating.  If you think a nice fluffy towel and slippers will guarantee a perfect stay, it might, but don't always bank on it.

Many hotels nowadays are starting to move away from the star ratings, especially branded hotels such as Holiday Inns.  They feel that the brand projects and guarantees what the customer can expect better than the star rating system.  You may well find in the future, less and less hotels opt for a star rating for this exact reason.

Baring all the above in mind, try not to disregard a hotel purely because it lacks a pool, or because it is only rated 2 or 3 stars, or even if it doesn’t have a brand above the door. Brands certainly offer consistency so that a room in one branded UK hotel looks identical to a room in one of their Tokyo hotels, however some might argue that this also results in a lack of character compared to unbranded hotels that are unique in their own right.  If you’re adamant that you want to stick to a brand though, my suggestion would be to choose one like Best Western, who don’t own any of their hotels. All Best Western hotels are independently owned, so you can feel safe in the knowledge that you will experience consistency in the standards you would expect from the brand, whilst still having the unique experience that comes from a country house retreat or even a castle!  Who said you can’t have your cake and eat it too ;o)