Something For The Weekend

Win a weekend at the London Hilton on Park Lane

The fashionable London Hilton on Park Lane hotel is situated in the heart of Mayfair and overlooking Hyde Park, this hotel has a health club and treatment rooms. There are also a variety of places to eat and drink within the hotel. Such a variety, in fact, that you might not need to leave the hotel all weekend!

Galvin at Windows restaurant:
Enjoy 360° views of the city from this renowned restaurant on the 28th floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane hotel. Enjoy seasonally inspired modern French haute cuisine and à la carte dining in elegant surroundings. Take a seat in the raised central area for even better views.

Podium:
Sample seasonal modern European cuisine at Podium, situated in the Lobby of the London Hilton on Park Lane hotel. Contemporary burnished pewter and bold citrus tones forms the backdrop for you to enjoy a relaxed dining experience.  The top-to-toe refurbishment has almost finished and the sparkling, new-look restaurant will be open again next week.

Pop Bar:
Savour Pommery Champagnes served in mini bottles at this vibrant bar. Decorated with bubble glass and elegant gold tones, admire the work of Pop Art's Sir Peter Blake while relaxing with friends and guests of the London Hilton on Park Lane hotel.

Trader Vic's Restaurant and Bar:
Trader Vic’s is a London institution and home of the Mai Tai cocktail. Sample French Polynesian-style cuisine like Szechuan Butterfly Prawns and admire the traditional Tiki carvings adorning the walls of this tropical bar at the London Hilton on Park Lane hotel.

Zeta bar:
If you've a thirst for a refreshing cocktail, this is the bar to head to, because cocktails don't come fresher than at Zeta. No concentrated juices are used, in fact with all the fresh fruit and the calm sanctuary inspired décor, you might even be able to convince your conscience that drinking is good for you.

Of course it's not just about the food and the drink, staying at a Hilton means the highest standard of service and beautiful decor throughout. It's a five-star hotel, and from the moment you step through the doors to until you reluctantly dawdle out again you'll notice the quality in every aspect of your stay.

If you like the sound of the London Hilton, just email us with your name, address and daytime phone number to be in with a chance of winning a weekend stay.

Or if you'd rather not leave it to chance, book your stay here.

Please note that comments on this blog will not be counted as entries to the competition.

August bank holidays that made history

When it comes to momentous events, the August bank holiday has had its fair share over the years. Remember any of these?
(If you remember 1784, please don't come knocking for us... and stop leaving occult symbols in our cornflakes too.)

2000
Millennium festival – Mardi Gras, motor sports, processions and performances took place all over the UK as part of the year long millennium festival.

1997
A Cambridgeshire family who sold everything to sail around the world are rescued from their crippled yacht by the Royal Navy in the Bay of Biscay.

1995
In London, the Rugby Union authorities announce that the amatuer game is turning professional.

1979
Lord Mountbatten, cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, is killed by an IRA bomb planted on his boat Shadow V off the coast of County Sligo, Ireland.

1966
English yachtsman Francis Chichester leaves Plymouth Harbour to begin a solo voyage around the world aboard his boat, Gipsy Moth IV.

1962
US spacecraft Mariner II is launched on a voyage to the planet, Venus.

1960
A quartet comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Pete Best (later replaced by Ringo Starr) performs as "the Beatles" for the first time in Hamburg, Germany.

1940
Bombs fell at Shiremoor, Broomhill, Holy Island, Hepscott, New York and Netherton in Northumberland, South Shields, Sunderland, Shincliffe, Warden Law, West Hartlepool, Ryhope and Stockton in Co Durham and Hull in Yorkshire.

1883
The most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history occurs on Krakatau, a small, uninhabited island located west of Sumatra in Indonesia. The explosions caused 120-foot tidal waves and could be heard more than 2,000 miles away in Australia.

1939
In Germany, a jet-propelled aircraft, the Heinkel 178, makes its' first flight at Marienehe in north Germany.

1912
The story of Tarzan of the Apes, written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, first goes into print as a serial in a magazine.

1900
In South Africa, the Boer army commanded by Louis Botha is defeated by the British at Bergendal.

1859
The world's first commercially productive oil-well is drilled at Titusville, Pennsylvannia, by Edwin Drake.

1813
130,000 French troops, commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte, defeat a 200,000 strong Austrian Army at the Battle of Dresden.

1784
The first British balloon ascent is made by James Tytler at Edinburgh.

Win a weekend at the Marlin Apartments (Empire Square)

Picture the scene: you want to cook a romantic dinner for someone, someone you really need to impress... but you know that your rickety Ikea futon and a kitchen full of your flatmate's dirty dishes just aren't going to cut it when it comes to playing culinary Casanova. Wouldn't it be great if you didn't live with the real-life equivalent of Spike from Notting Hill? If maybe instead of a semi in Bromley you actually lived in a swanky pad in the heart of the city? Well... we'd never encourage fibbing, but you could always "pretend".

The Empire Square Apartments are eight floors of classy living 2 mins from Borough tube station. Rather than staying in a hotel, you can hire out an apartment for anything from one night to a few weeks. As well as flat screen TVs, stylish, muted furnishings, wooden floors, sparkling bathroom and a fully fitted open plan kitchen, you get a welcome basket of necessities (including some quick-fix food in case you've arrive in the middle of the night) and Molton Brown toiletries.  Of course, if you're really trying to pass off the luxury life as your own, you'll want to stock up the fridge a bit and put some clothes in the built-in wardrobes or your date might think you're a bit OCD.

Right in the centre of the city, it's a great place to spend a weekend, with the shared garden area, the local pub The Royal Oak which does a proper Sunday roast and Borough Market just around the corner. Bookings are taken until 7pm on the day you want to stay, so you can make-like-a-millionaire with pretty short notice.

If you think you like the sound of the Empire Square Apartments, just email us with your name, address and daytime phone number to be in with a chance of winning a weekend stay.

Or if you'd rather not leave it to chance, book your stay here.

This competition is now closed.

Get our Andy to Hollywood

Eagle vs Shark

 

You'll giggle and you'll cringe. Eagle vs. Shark is the bizarre, yet touching story of two socially awkward oddballs and their journey through the uninspiring social wilderness of suburban New Zealand to find love and acceptance; through free french fries, video game fight-offs and a rich tapestry of pointless lies. And who said romance is dead?

When Jared sets off on his revenge mission to thwart a childhood foe, Lily follows him to his hometown as his faithful sidekick. They might not be as dynamic as Batman and Robin, they give them a run for their money when it comes to their outfits.

Eagle vs Shark released 17th August

lastminute.com in conjunction with Vue Cinemas has decided to bring cinema prices back to proper prices with this great deal for just £4.25. Click here to buy your ticket - available from £4.25 (Mon-Thu)

Who's got the best prices? We do!

Wicked
Wicked based on Gregory Maguire’s acclaimed novel, this spellbinding musical transports audiences to a spectacular fantasy world of wizardry, witchcraft, sorcery and spells to tell the captivating untold story of an extraordinary friendship between two girls: the blond and popular Glinda and the misunderstood green girl, Elphaba, whose destiny is to become the Wicked Witch of the West.

Best prices online from £15*

Lord of the Rings
The magic of The Lord Of The Rings comes to life in a stunning new onstage spectacle with over 70 actors, singers and musicians. An amazing live event, filled with jaw-dropping theatricality, that transports you to Middle-earth as breathtaking special effects, thrilling music and dazzling performances fill the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Best prices online from £20*

The Sound of Music
The world’s best-loved musical, The Sound of Music is breaking all box office records in this dazzling new production at the London Palladium. The Sound Of Music stars the recently discovered bright new talent of musical theatre, Connie Fisher, voted to play the part of Maria by the British public on the top-rating BBC TV programme How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?

Best prices online from £30*

The Lion King
A spectacular visual feast, this adaptation of Disney's much-loved film transports audiences to a dazzling world that explodes with glorious colours, stunning effects and enchanting music. At its heart is the powerful and moving story of Simba - the epic adventure of his journey from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands.

Best prices online from £27.50*

*at time of writing. Prices are subject to change.

Win a weekend at the Park Plaza, Cardiff

Tucked well away from the giggling hoards of "bras and belts" tottering down St Mary's Street, right near the beautiful Bute Park, the castle, the New Theatre and seconds from the shopping centres and arcades, when it comes to Cardiff locations this hotel couldn't be in a better place.

From the outside the building looks fairly ordinary, but inside it's seamlessly stylish from the gleaming foyer to the crisp sheets on the beds. There are 129 bedrooms, meaning that this isn't exactly a boutique hotel and you won't find quirky little touches like seashells by the hand-basin. What you do get at the Park Plaza is a sumptuous, contemporary décor with state-of-the-art facilities and professional service from the friendly team of staff.

The Laguna Restaurant and Bar offers a fresh and original mix of local and international flavours. So whether you want the honest flavours of roast Welsh lamb, or you'd rather something lighter like a paella, you'll find something to treat yourself with.

As if that weren't enough, the good-looks and charm of the Park Plaza are topped of with a top of the range gym and spa. Alongside the 20 metre, virtually chlorine-free swimming pool, there's also a Jacuzzi, steam room, class studio and 8 massage & treatment rooms. So if you truly want to indulge, or just distract yourself from the lure of the mini-bar, you'll find plenty to do.

If you think you like the sound of the Park Plaza Hotel, just email us with your name, address and daytime phone number to be in with a chance of winning a weekend in Cardiff.

Or if you'd rather not leave it to chance, book your stay here.

Please note that comments on this blog will not be counted as entries to the competition.

This competition is now closed.

Win a weekend at The Clarence, Dublin

It's not every day you get to stay at a hotel owned by a pair of international rock stars. The Clarence, though, is no ordinary hotel. Bono and The Edge, half of the world-famous band U2, used to stay here in the 70s when the iconic Dublin hotel was a hang out for the artists, musicians and writers of Temple Bar. It was that heyday of bohemian glamour that the pair wanted to restore when they bought it in 1992 and began renovating.

The hotel now has a five-star polish on its already handsome arts and crafts look. The glam octagon bar is the place to hang out if you want to get a taste of the rock and roll atmosphere, prop up one of the eight sides of the bar under the stained glass dome or hire out the “snug” for yourself and a few friends.

The rooms themselves have a surprisingly traditional air of quality about them. Despite the celebrity of the owners, there’s absolutely nothing gimmicky about the place. On the contrary, The Clarence is a stalwart Dublin treasure. Each room is unique, with Shaker-style furnishings, custom-made beds and a decadent array of colour schemes in the different rooms (crimson, royal blue, amethyst, gold and chocolate) adding the finishing touch.

The hotel’s owners, who must’ve stayed in hundreds of different hotels in their years touring, have used their own experiences as a yardstick. They’ve made it the kind of hotel they would stay in themselves with everything from the warm hospitality down to the Egyptian cotton sheets absolutely top-notch. So… if you still haven’t found what you’re looking for -  this is it!

If you think you like the sound of The Clarence, just email us with your name, address and daytime phone number to be in with a chance of winning a weekend by the Liffey.

Or if you'd rather not leave it to chance, book your stay here.

Please note that comments on this blog will not be counted as entries to the competition. This competition is now closed.

Win a weekend at the Red Lion, Henley

On a bright spring afternoon, the red brick frontage of the Red Lion Hotel looks leafy and inviting – like something from an Enid Blyton story. The hotel is a picturesquely rambling hotch-potch of 15th, 16th and 17th century architecture, with wisteria clambering over the bare bricks. You can imagine those fresh-faced little nippers (and their dog) finding secret passageways and sneaking midnight feasts here. Right on the Thames, it’s the perfect place to go for riverside walks or even to hire a rowing boat nearby and spend the afternoon messing about on the river. You could even up the Famous Five factor by having one of the day-trip picnics the restaurant will pack for you (though, maybe without the lashings of Ginger Beer).

But, as we all know, you can’t count on the British weather… when fifteen minutes of morning sunshine turns into an afternoon’s drizzle you have to make your own fun. Luckily, the individually designed bedrooms at the Red Lion are more than comfortable. Tastefully decked out with antique art and traditional furnishings, it would be easy to while away hours tucked up in one of the four poster beds, watching DVDs or just snoozing among the duck feathers. If you don’t fancy being a lazy bones, though, the library with its open fire and collection of literary tomes is the perfect retreat from the drizzle. There’s also free wifi, so you can take your laptop and surf for as long as you like without worrying about the cost (complimentary wifi coverage also extends to the bedrooms).

If you want maximum relaxation, you should make a beeline for the “body and soul” room. There, you can sweat out the day’s stresses in the gym or just lay back and take it easy in the Jacuzzi and wet room.

Once you’re clean, steamed and totally chilled out, you’ll be for a few drinks, perhaps a locally brewed beer in the aptly named Snug Bar or an evening feast in the restaurant. Head chef Stephan serves up classic French dishes with a British influence and style.  You can enjoy a Anglo-Gallic delight from the constantly changing menu among the rustic décor and exposed beams with a beautiful view of the Henley bridge out the window. Or, if the weather has decided to pull its socks up you could even go al fresco on the beautiful terrace.

If you think you like the sound of The Red Lion, just email us with your name, address and daytime phone number to be in with a chance of winning a lovely weekend by the river.

 

Or, if you'd rather not leave it to luck - book your stay at the Red Lion Hotel

Please note that comments posted on this blog will not be considered as competition entries.

This competition is now closed.