Hotel group scores a hat trick in The Sunday Times Ultimate 100 British Hotels Guide 2015 and also in The Good Hotel Guide 2015 

The awards include:

1. The Sunday Times Ultimate 100 British Hotels Guide 2015

Three of Luxury Family Hotels' properties have been recognised as the ultimate hotels in Britain according to a leading national Sunday newspaper.

The Sunday Times Ultimate 100 British Hotels Guide 2015 recognises the UK's most unique and special hotels in the country.

As part of the judging, the usual pillars of hotel excellence were under scrutiny – comfort, good service, value for money – but the judges were also looking for flair, warmth and a genuine welcome.

Included and named in the paper's 'favourites' list are three hotels from the Luxury Family Hotel portfolio:

Polurrian Bay Hotel, Cornwall (recognised in the Seaside section)

Polurrian Bay Hotel is a luxury family hotel perched on the cliffs of the Lizard Peninsula, famous for being where inventor Marconi stayed when he sent the first transatlantic message in 1901. These days, the hotel's classic Edwardian beauty has been revamped into boutique seaside style, with sea-view lounges and restaurants, chic rooms and contemporary family rooms.

Following a visit from The Sunday Times' travel team earlier in the year, the Ultimate 100 British Hotel Guide says that, “Tall, white and teetering near the cliff's edge, the hotel seems to be craning its neck to check out conditions in the little cove below. And that's what you'll be doing over breakfast in its vast, glass-fronted Vista Lounge, as you ponder your options. Surfing? Sea kayaking? A cliff top walk? This is the Lizard, so it's all possible — with the promise of fresh fish in the restaurant, a movie in the private cinema, and lush white bed linen in your room when you return.”

The Ickworth, Suffolk (recognised in the Family section)

Just two hours from London, this country house hotel is set in 1,800 acres of National Trust parkland in the rolling Suffolk countryside.   The judges commented: “Occupying the east wing of a vast 18th-century stately home just outside Bury St Edmunds, The Ickworth is as close to heaven as most six- or seven-year-olds can get. It has an indoor pool, a fleet of bicycles, big lawns for footie and Frisbee, and 1,800 acres of deer-filled parkland to explore. The 27 rooms offer views of the Italianate gardens, the 100ft-high rotunda and the wider estate, while the Lodge — half a mile from the main hotel — offers larger rooms and flats.

Woolley Grange Hotel, Wiltshire (recognized in the Family section)

Nestled on the edge of the Cotswolds, the beautiful Jacobean manor house is surrounded by 14 acres of stunning grounds.  It offers indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa for much needed pampering, a chance to explore the grass maze and collect eggs from the hotel's ducks and chickens in The Good Life garden and for little ones to enjoy a range of activities in the OFSTED registered Woolley Bears Den.

The Sunday Times Travel team commented: “The welcome to kids at this charming Jacobean manor house east of Bath is warm and sincere. For their part, your offspring will sense the freedom immediately, roaring around the grass maze, dipping for tadpoles in the ornamental pond and swimming themselves to exhaustion in the two pools. They're even welcome in the Woolley Grange spa, where some of the treatments have been tailored to younger skin. When the grown-ups need some me-time, there's free Ofsted-registered childcare.”

Nigel Chapman of Luxury Family Hotels, said:  “We are very proud to feature in this prestigious list.  It's a real honour.  We pride ourselves on our guests having a comfortable stay, offering great food and drinks and a chance for families to kick back and really relax.  We're delighted to welcome all the family – whatever their age – and our teams are excellent in ensuring mums, dads, children and wider family and friends leave feeling they have had a genuine break and a chance to reconnect as a family.”

2. Woolley Grange Hotel receives top award from Mumsnet

Woolley Grange has long been dedicated to family friendly holidays.  Ever since it opened in 1989, the luxurious hotel has a home from home ambience, offering the perfect setting for all the family to spend quality time together, have fun, and most importantly relax.  As well as a 2AA rosette restaurant award, the hotel has being awarded Mumsnet Best Award 2015 (www.mumsnet.com).  This is only given to hotels which secure a series of four star reviews over the last 18 months. 

Nigel Chapman added: “Getting this award from Mumsnet means a great deal to us as mums are critical to our success. Ever since Luxury Family Hotels started, we wanted to provide mums and dads with a place for them to relax, catch up on their sleep, enjoy some great food and drink, a break from childcare with the use of our OFSTED registered crèches, as well as some precious family time together. They love the fact that they can do all this and life is made easier for them at any one of our eight hotels. 

3. Moonfleet Manor, Fowey Hall & Woolley Grange Hotels make it into The Good Hotel Guide

The Good Hotel Guide 2015 prides itself as the leading independent guide to hotels in Great Britain and Ireland. It is written for the reader seeking impartial advice on finding a good place to stay.

Three of Luxury Family Hotels' unique properties have made it into this year's Guide and also received the extra accolade of 'Editor's Choice'.  These are Moonfleet Manor in Dorset, Woolley Grange Hotel on the edge of the Cotswolds and Fowey Hall in Cornwall. 

4. TripAdvisor Award of Excellence 2015

The TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is awarded to properties that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel review site.  Moonfleet Manor, The Elms, Woolley Grange Hotel, Thornbury Castle and Polurrian Bay Hotel have all being awarded a Certificate of Excellence this year.

5. AA Rosettes

Following independent inspection of Fowey Hall and The Ickworth this year, both hotels have been awarded two rosettes for their food.  Thornbury Castle already has two stars and is aiming for three stars in the not too distant future.

For more information and how to book, please go to www.luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk or by telephoning the Central Reservations team on 0844 482 2152.

Follow Luxury Family Hotels on Twitter @LFHotels, Facebook www.facebook.com/luxuryfamilyhotels.

Room prices from:

The Ickworth Hotel: Double Rooms from £115, B&B

Woolley Grange: Double Rooms from £120, B&B

Fowey Hall: Double Rooms from £180, B&B

Moonfleet Manor: Double Rooms from £120, B&B

The Elms: Double Rooms from £100, B&B

Polurrian Bay Hotel: Double Rooms from £120, B&B

Thornbury Castle: Double Rooms from £170 B&B

New Park Manor: Double Rooms from £115 B&B

Ends 

For more information:

Maria Boyle                                      Suzanne Trisk

MB Communications Ltd                     MB Communications Ltd

0208 876 8444                                  0208 876 8444

0788 764 7855                                  07710 207164            

maria@mbcomms.co.uk                     suzanne@mbcomms.co.uk

Twitter: @mbcommsltd

Pictures: Images available on request at Luxury Family Hotels media photo library.  Please contact PR team to request access. 

About Luxury Family Hotels

Luxury Family Hotels is a group of eight luxurious country house style hotels across the UK. The properties in the group are:

•                The Elms, Worcestershire: an elegant Queen Anne mansion with 23 rooms, set in beautiful gardens and overlooking the Teme Valley

•                Fowey Hall, Fowey, Cornwall: an impressive Queen Anne mansion thought to be Toad's original 'Toad Hall', with 36 rooms, rambling gardens and spectacular views of the estuary and coastline

•                The Ickworth, Suffolk: a magnificent 18th century estate owned by the National Trust, surrounded by 1,800 acres of parkland with 27 bedrooms, 11 apartments in The Lodge and a three bedroom apartment in its Butler's Lodge

•                Moonfleet Manor, Dorset: a handsome Georgian manor overlooking Chesil Beach and the Fleet Lagoon with 36 bedrooms, extensive gardens and a magical setting

•                New Park Manor, The New Forest: a 17th century hunting lodge in the heart of the New Forest reputed to be King Charles II's favourite, with 21 bedrooms, an outstanding spa and wonderful views out over the surrounding wildlife and forest landscape

•                Polurrian Bay Hotel, Mullion, Cornwall: the ultimate family seaside hotel, with 41 rooms, outstanding views over Mounts Bay and beautiful gardens leading down to the sandy beach at Polurrian Cove below

•                Woolley Grange, Bradford-on-Avon: the original Luxury Family Hotel, a Jacobean Manor House which has 25 individually style bedrooms, a great spa and pool and 14 acres of gardens to enjoy, complete with tennis, an outdoor pool and lawns just perfect for cricket or football

•                In addition, Thornbury Castle is part of the group, but is recommended for couples and families with older children. Thornbury Castle, near Bristol; the only Tudor castle to be open as a hotel complete with turrets, winding staircases and Tudor Hall. Its 27 bedchambers include rooms slept in by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn and the largest four-poster bed in the country