Hilton Hotel in Reading, UK

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Last week I was on a business trip in Reading and I stayed at Hilton Hotel.

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Location:

Hilton Reading hotel is located 2.5 miles away or 15 minutes drive from the Reading train station in a quiet residential area. 

Facilities:

Hilton Reading hotel has a 24-hours reception and Business Centre, guest laundry, a restaurant and a room service. Wi-Fi is also available throughout the property at no extra charge. If you like to stay fit during your travels then the hotel offers complimentary 24-hour fitness center with a heated swimming pool. You can also relax in the sauna or steam room to rejuvenate after a day at work.

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During your stay you can dine in The Larder restaurant that serves a range of International and British dishes. I had some beef brisket for my dinner and it was better than expected.

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Room:

I stayed in a Queen Guest Room which was spacious and had a contemporary decor.

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My room had floor-to-ceiling windows, WiFi, mini-fridge, work desk and ergonomic chair. I addition, there was a large 32-inch LCD TV.

The room had one queen Hilton Serenity bed which was comfortable and easy to fell asleep in.

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The bathroom had a white décor and some basic toiletries were provided.

Overall:

Hilton Reading hotel provides a place to unwind or to catch up on work after a long day at work so if you travel to Reading on business I would definitely recommend it. Its amenities will to help you relax and rejuvenate during your stay. 

Address:

Drake Way,

Reading,

RG2 0GQ

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Competition time! Win an amazing suit from Dobell Menswear!

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Starting from today, I have an amazing competition running in partnership with Dobell menswear for all my Twitter and Instagram followers based in EU!

Dobell Menswear is the home of stylish, high quality and affordable formal and smart menswear.  Their products, value and service are 3 things they really pride themselves on. Their website features a great range of elegant menswear ranging from casual suits to tuxedos and tailored fit wedding suits in addition to some accessories.

Would you like to win a suit from the picture below? If your answer is ‘yes’ then read on:

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From 14th until 17th of May 2017 all my new and existing Twitter followers from EU enter a competition for their chance to win a suit if they follow @dobellmenswear and @1stclasslounge and like the photo either on Twitter or Instagram. Winner will be announced at 10pm Wednesday 17th May 2017.

Terms and Conditions:

  1. The competition is run on Twitter and Instagram by Firstclasslounge.net
  2. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
  3. The competition is open ONLY to residents of EU aged 18 and over as at the time of the competition opening. Failure to comply with any part of this clause will disqualify the respective entry from the competition.
  4. Only one entry per person will be accepted.
  5. Entrants must like both the photo on either Instagram or Twitter, and follow @Dobellmenswear and @1stclasslounge on either Instagram or Twitter, to qualify.
  6. Obscene or inappropriate entries will not be accepted and FirstClassLounge.net reserves the right to reject any entries for any reason at its sole discretion.
  7. The winning prize is a Men’s suit from the Dobell suit range, available on www.dobell.co.uk. Winner will be contacted via direct message on Wednesday night, and will be required to provide suit sizes needed, and postal address. Suit value will not exceed £165.
  8. The promoter (FirstClassLounge.net) will not be liable for any failure of receipt of entries. The promoter takes no responsibility for any entries which are lost, delayed, illegible, corrupted, damaged, incomplete or otherwise invalid.
  9. Prizes are non-negotiable, non-transferable and non-refundable. No cash alternative is available.
  10. In the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond the promoter’s reasonable control, the promoter reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the prize draw competition or these terms and conditions, either in whole or in part, with or without notice.
  11. These terms and conditions and the competition prize draw are governed by English law and subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
  12. Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.
  13. The promoter’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
  14. This promotion is in not sponsored, endorsed or administered by Twitter or any other Social Network.
  15. The promoter’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
  16. If the winner cannot be contacted or do not claim the prize within 14 days of notification, we will pick a replacement winner. The winner will be selected at random and announced on Twitter at 10p.m. on Wednesday, 17th of May 2017 for all entries received from 8 A.M on 14th of May until 17th of May 2017 at 9:59 PM.

Good luck everyone!

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Pauline

Pinetum Gardens, St. Austell Bay, Cornwall

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Some of you might already know that I was recently in Cornwall for a Bank Holiday break with my husband. I love nature that’s probably a reason why James proposed to me last year in gardens. We decided to visit a few during our stay. Today I would like to tell you about our afternoon at the Pinetum Gardens.

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The Pinetum Gardens are based at Pinetum Park just a short drive away from St. Austell town. They are spread over 30 acres and feature ten different gardens:
1.       Woodland Walk
2.       Old Garden
3.       Cottage Garden
4.       Arboretum
5.       Pinetum
6.       Winter Garden
7.       Lake
8.       Japanese Garden

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9.       Courtyard Garden
10.     Water Garden

I really enjoyed walking around and admiring the largest collection of plants in the county featuring over 6,000 different plants.

Pinetum gardens aren’t too busy so you can enjoy a romantic walk or sit down and admire the surroundings on one of many benches while experiencing the tranquillity of the gardens.

I loved the picturesque Japanese Garden and there were also a series of cabinets located within the park which invite visitors to open drawers and discover poetic and inspiring phrases taken from the books.

After a relaxing scroll around the gardens we went to the café to enjoy some Cornish Cream tea which was delicious. I really enjoyed having fresh, warm scones that were complimented by some Cornish cream and jams.

The Garden Café also serves some other traditional dishes which are all reasonably priced.

Website:
www.pinetumpark.com

Address:
Pinetum Gardens,
Holmbush,
St Austell, Cornwall,
PL25 3RQ

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Dinner at Talland Bay Hotel’s Terrace Restaurant

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As some of you might remember, I recently stayed at the 4 star Talland Bay Hotel based on the corner of South East Cornwall. During my stay, after full days of sightseeing I dinned at the hotel’s restaurant. It is headed by chef Nick Hawke and it was recently awarded two Rosettes from The AA. As I am a massive foodie and the restaurant is among the best places to eat in East Cornwall, I decided to check it out.

Location:

The Terrace Restaurant has a perfect cliff-top setting at Porthallow between Looe and Polperro and is just yards from the South West Coast Path and Talland Bay beach.

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Atmosphere:

We booked our table for 7:00 p.m. When we arrived there were already a few dinners sitting down. We were greeted by a friendly waiter who took us to our table in the corner of restaurant and made us feel welcomed. Throughout the evening there were a few different waiters attending our table and they were all friendly and professional.

The restaurant has a cozy decor featuring beautiful cream and pink chairs.

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Each table had a small fresh flower arrangement and there were lots of sea-side inspired accessories and arts displayed. Most tables also have a sea-view.

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There was romantic music playing in the background.

The menu:

The menu at The Terrace Restaurant offers a nice selection of dishes that are all built around the best produce from the area. The Head Chef-Nick Hawke provides his dinners with a high quality, traditional cuisine with a twist that is based on a fresh and locally sourced ingredients.

We started our meal with some Prossecco and some Cornish Pilsner beer.

Starters:

To start with I decided to have some signature Roasted Cornish Scallops. I saw them on the hotel’s Facebook page and as I love seafood it was a really easy choice to make. They were divine and presented beautifully.

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My husband had some Cornish Cider Pork Belly with Hogs & Black Pudding Terrine served with some parsnips, smoked apple, crackling and parmesan. It was cooked to perfection.

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Mains:

There was a nice choice of mains but I decided to have a Wild Sea Bass that was accompanied by some smoked Bacon, caramelised cauliflower, potatoes, capers and toasted almonds. It was mouth watering.

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My husband had a West Country Beef Roasted Sirloin served with glazed cheek croustillant, Pomme Puree, some smoked garlic and salt baked root Vegetables. It was delectable and he cleared the plate in no time which is always a good sight.

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Desserts:

I have a bad sweet tooth and having a dessert is always my favorite part of any meal. There were quite a few great desserts to choose from but I decided I decided to have Cornish Strawberries with a twist. I really enjoyed my little treat and it was delicious.

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My husband ordered a cheese board and honestly speaking it was the most generous portion of cheese I’ve seen in a very long time.

Overall experience:

We both had a lovely time at The Terrace Restaurant. You should definitely go there if you wish to discover and enjoy some local cuisine and admire an utterly unforgettable view of the Cornish coastline. All dishes were presented beautifully, service was flawless and atmosphere was romantic so we couldn’t have asked for more. I will definitely visit it again whilst in Cornwall.

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Website:

For more information and to book visit:

http://www.tallandbayhotel.co.uk/cornwall-restaurant

Address:

Polperro Heritage Coast, Porthallow, Looe PL13 2JB

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

PAIRFUM London Large Bell Reed Diffusers

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I love when my flat smells nice so I always buy nice scented candles and reed diffusers. You probably know that fragrance can transport us to our happy place…

I have recently received PAIRFUM London Large Bell Reed Diffuser as a gift and I really like it. My house smells lovely and it looks very luxurious and elegant.

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On another note, every blend reed diffuser will fill your house with 3-5 months of exquisite fragrance based on natural and organic essential oils.

Scents:

The enticing variety of unique perfume oils in the PAIRFUM Collection has 19 scents to choose from including:

  • Anise and Black Vanilla
  • Cedar Noir
  • Neroli & Olive
  • Pink Grapefruit
  • Pink Lavender
  • Pink Powder & Violet
  • White Lavender
  • Black Orchid
  • Linen & Orchid
  • Trail of White Petals
  • Blush Rose & Amber
  • Cognac & Vanilla
  • SPA
  • Innocent Vanilla
  • Bergamot & White Tea
  • Magnolias in Bloom
  • Orangerie Blossoms
  • Rich Spices
  • White Sandalwood

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Price:

£21.50 for 100 ml of fragrance oil.

Website:

https://www.pairfum.com/product/reed-diffuser-tower-classic/

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Bank Holiday stay at the Talland Bay Hotel in Cornwall

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Last weekend, I was with my husband in Cornwall for an extended Bank Holiday weekend. We decided to stay at the Talland Bay Hotel based on the corner of South East Cornwall.

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Atmosphere:

The Talland Bay Hotel has a very informal atmosphere. All members of staff were extremely friendly and made us feel welcomed as soon as we checked-in. The hotel is also dog-friendly and hotel’s décor features paintings and sculptures of cats and dogs which made me believe that the owners of this retreat must love animals. What’s more, we discovered that you can even dine with your dog in the conservatory brasserie.

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The hotel offers bed and board for pets which includes a cosy blanket, feeding mat and bowl and even a complimentary doggie treat. Simply amazing for anyone travelling with their four-leg companion 🙂

Location:

The Talland Bay Hotel has a perfect cliff-top setting at Porthallow between Looe and Polperro and is just yards from the South West Coast Path and Talland Bay beach. Great to go to for a picnic or a bit of sunbathing.

Facilities:

The Talland Bay Hotel has received a bundle of awards including taking Silver in the ‘Small Hotel of the Year’ category at the Cornwall Tourism Awards 2016/17 and Gold in the Taste of the West Awards. In addition, it also has a great restaurant onsite which is headed by chef Nick Hawke. It was recently awarded four Stars and two Rosettes from The AA. I am a massive foodie and I decided to have a couple of dinners in there and I wasn’t disappointed -everything we chose from the menu was delicious.

All visitors can relax at the guest lounge with an extensive mix of furnishings and beautiful art or have a drink at the bar. It offers a wide choice of drinks including Cornish Pilsner that my husband loved, a range of gins and a selection of cocktails.

I am a massive fan of any outdoor green spaces and the hotel grounds have a lot of beautiful features. There are lots of interesting sculptures decorating the grounds, in addition to footpaths and sunny terraces overlooking the coast path and the sea.

Room:

This small, privately-owned luxurious, boutique hotel has only 20-rooms. We stayed in a sea view suite (no. 1) which was simply stunning.

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I loved its white, modern décor combined with some timeless seaside theme inspired accessories.

The interior of each of the bedrooms and reception is diverse and individually designed.

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Our bedroom had a flat screen TV, massive and very comfortable king-size bed, coffee table and a couple of couches to relax on after a day of sightseeing. We also had a small make-up desk and a massive mirror to help anyone to get ready.

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What I liked the most was the view… It was simply breath-taking! After we arrived at the hotel I sat at the window frame and just admired how stunning it was.

Our bathroom was spacious and it had a simple white décor. Some soft towels, bath robes and White Company toiletries were also provided.

Overall experience:

We had a wonderful time during our stay at the Talland Bay Hotel. I travel a lot and it was one of the coziest hotels I’ve ever stayed in. The room was beautiful, the views were breathtaking and the service was faultless so I would recommended it to anyone who travels to Cornwall.

Website:

For more information visit:

www.tallandbayhotel.co.uk

Address:

Polperro Heritage Coast, Porthallow, Looe PL13 2JB

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

 

 

Holiday destinations: Berlin, Germany

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Berlin is one of my favourite capitals. Last time I stayed there was during a week-long business trip and even though my spare time was limited, I made sure that I spent it discovering the hidden germs of this beautiful city.

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Berlin is the capital of Germany and has a population of approximately 3.5 million people. It is located in north-eastern Germany on the banks of Rivers Spree and Havel.

So what should you see if you were there only for 24 hours?

There are a number of different historical points worth visiting in Berlin: Unter den Linden and the glorious Brandenburger Tor speak of the city’s Prussian heritage, the Topography of Terror is a chilling reminder of its brutal Nazi years, and the East Side Gallery is a colourful tribute to a once divided city (and the largest remaining section of the Berlin Wall still standing).

In addition, Berlin has over 200 museums, from world-class collections of Classical art at the beautifully restored Neues Museum, to the striking Liebeskind-designed Jewish Museum and plenty more irreverent affairs. What I was fond of the most is the fact that it is a very green city and around one-third of its area is composed of forests, parks, gardens, rivers and lakes.

I hope you enjoyed reading this post!

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Pauline

Tried and Tested: Freshious Life & Beauty, New 5-A-Day™ skincare

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Today I would like to tell you about the new 5-A-Day™ skincare from Freshious Life & Beauty.

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We all know that eating at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day is a necessity.  Freshious Life & Beauty have created 5-A-Day™ Nutritional Skincare Plan for the Face which is based on the unique blend of five organic superfood ingredients to cleanse, tone hydrate and protect your skin. The range was shortlisted as a finalist under the ‘Best Organic Beauty Product’ category so I decided to try it and see for myself.

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Ingredients:

The Freshious Life & Beauty range is packed with wholesome ingredients to ‘feed’ the skin with vital vitamins and minerals. What’s worth a mention is the fact that all the products are vegan friendly, gluten free and non GMO, containing only nutritious ingredients such as pomegranate, green tea, carrot, avocado and rose hip to provide premium skincare.

Products:

The Freshious 5-A-Day™ range comprises of day, night and eye cream, cleansing milk and a facial serum:

  • Freshious 5-a-Day™ 2-in-1 Cleansing Milk 100ml 
    • Facial cleanser enriched with lemon, mandarin and pomegranate;
    • Gently cleanses for smooth fresh skin;
    • Ingredients stimulate cell renewal and fight dullness.
  • Freshious 5-a-Day™ Certified Organic Facial Serum 30ml
    • Certified organic facial serum;
    • Enriched with white grape seed, avocado and green tea;
    • Light enough for fast absorption and non-greasy feel.
  • Freshious 5-A-Day™ Radiance Day Cream 50ml
    • Day cream enriched with apricot, carrot seed and mandarin;
    • Packed with skin softening nutrients;
    • Vitamins A and C nourish and protect from the environment.
  • Freshious 5-A-Day™ Radiance Night Cream 50ml 
    • Night cream enriched with Rose hip, pomegranate and green tea;
    • Ingredients stimulate cell repair;
    • Boosts collagen and elastin.
  • Freshious 5-A-Day™ Radiance Eye Cream 15ml
    • Eye cream enriched with green tea, carrot seed, avocado, and pomegranate;
    • Helps to refresh, smooth, firm and tone;
    • Light application and fast absorption.

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Result:

I was looking for a high quality and performance natural skincare that was full of the antioxidant rich ingredients that work. I’ve been using the Freshious 5-A-Day™ range for almost a month now and my skin looks and feels great. It is radiant, smooth and my fine lines look less visible. I am obsessed with my skin and always look after it well so the concept of ‘feeding’ my skin with a new skincare range really appealed to me:

“Because if you want healthy, radiant and youthful skin, you’ve got to feed it just as much minerals, vitamins and antioxidants as your body does. Skin really does feed from what you put on it”.– Freshious life & Beauty

All Freshious 5-A-Day™ products are made from the highest quality ingredients and are reasonably priced so I would recommend them to anyone who wishes to give their skincare routine a boost.

Website:

To purchase your Freshious 5-A-Day™ range head to Holland & Barret or order directly from Freshious’s website:

http://freshiouslife.com/

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Hilton Garden Inn, London Heathrow

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2 weeks ago, I was traveling with my husband for Easter to visit my parents. As we had a very morning flight, we decided to stay at Hilton Garden Hotel near Heathrow airport.

Location:

Hilton Garden Inn Hotel is located on Eastern Perimeter Road, 5 minutes walk from Hatton Cross station (Piccadily line).

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Facilities:

Hilton Garden Inn Hotel has a 24-hours reception and Business Centre, complimentary fitness center, guest laundry, baggage storage, a full-service restaurant and a room service. Wi-Fi is available throughout the property at no extra charge. You can also use Foreign Currency Exchange and 24 hr Pavilion Pantry Market.

When we arrived to check in at 9 p.m. there was a long queue of guests waiting to be checked-in so it seemed to me like the hotel management was facing some staffing issues…

Room:

The room had a simple décor and there were some pictures of famous London monuments displayed in various places around it. We had a flat-screen TV, safe, mini-fridge and blackout curtains and coffee & tea making facilities. Our double bed was comfortable and there was also a small coffee table and chair to sit down or relax after a busy day.

The bathroom also had a minimalist, white décor and some toiletries were provided.

Overall:

Hilton Garden Inn Hotel has a good location for anyone catching an early flight or arriving late at the Heathrow airport. It is located around 40-minutes drive from the central London so it is not ideal if you wish to do a bit of sightseeing though. 

Address:

Eastern Perimeter Rd,

Hatton Cross,

London, TW6 2SQ

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline

Tried and Tested: TheraPearl Eye-ssential Mask

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Today I would like to tell you about Therapearl Eye-ssential Mask that I tried last week.

You can use this mask both hot and cold and depending on the temperature you choose you will get a different effect:

  • Use Therapearl Eye-ssential Mask to help with eyelid hygiene, especially for the management of blepharitis, conjunctivitis or styes when used warm.
  • Also try cold for relief of headaches and cosmetic procedures such as eye brow waxing. I had a horrible headache a few days ago and it definitely helped.

Price:

The TheraPearl Eye-ssential mask is available from Sugerdrug for £7.99.

Result:

The TheraPearl Eye-ssential mask is a great beauty must-have. It is re-usable and moulds to the curvature of your face so for a small investment you will be able to use it over and over again.

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

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Pauline