More men own knitting needles and a sewing kit than a filleting or carving knife, and Scottish dads are the most competitive in Britain, Best Western Hotels GB has uncovered.

Men in the West Midlands are more likely to own a muffin tray or tin than a compass or filleting knife and despite Norfolk being home to Bernard Matthews, males in East Anglia are least likely to be able to prepare a turkey.

Best Western Hotels GB commissioned research into the skillset of the 21st Century man and discovered that whilst the ability to complete “grooming” skills such as wet shaving and knotting a tie are commonplace, traditional dad skills such as gutting a fish and locating the North Star are endangered.

Now in a bid to bring back the “Lost Dad Skills” Best Western is offering packages for men to learn the skills of their forefathers.

Boning a bird, dry-stone walling, gutting a fish and navigating by the stars are all experiences available at select hotels.

The hotel brand, which has 276 properties across the UK, asked 2,000 men if they could complete 14 basic skills.

These included boiling an egg and sewing a button on a shirt, to putting up a shelf and changing a car or bike tyre.

Despite 65% of men stating they could change a bike tyre, just 45% of men own basic tools needed to change it such as an inner tube and bike pump.

What is on the increase however is confidence. Today's dads are confident they know more than their fathers and their sons.

Ahead of Father's Day on the 15 June, Best Western is highlighting various Lost Dad Skills packages at properties across the UK. Full details on each of the packages can be found online at www.bestwestern.co.uk/brochure/lost-skills.

For more information or to book visit www.bestwestern.co.uk or call 0844 387 6670.

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For more information please contact Amy Skelding, Tryphena Greenwood and Steele Paulich at bestwestern@brightergroup.com or phone 020 7326 9880.

Other regional observations
• Men in Scotland are more likely to own a needle and thread over a trowel or spade
• Men in the East Midlands are more likely to own a whisk than a car jack
• Men in the South West are more likely to own essential tools such as a hammer and nails or car jack over anywhere else in the country

About BEST WESTERN Hotels GB
The Best Western Hotels GB logo is instantly recognisable; with a blue crown motif sitting proudly on 276 properties across Great Britain.

From humble beginnings in 1946 when MK Guertin took his family on a journey across America and was inspired to create a co-operative of hotels, Best Western Hotel is now the largest collection of independently owned and managed hotels globally.

The look and feel of every Best Western hotel is totally different; each has its own character and story to tell. From a spirit historian to whiskey and porridge for breakfast in the Lake District to hotels with vineyards and chocolatiers. For further details on the brand and the properties visit www.bestwestern.co.uk.  

For hotel owners, Best Western offers a broad range of operational support, including sales, marketing and distribution, with online, mobile and social media booking capabilities. The award-winning Best Western Rewards® guest loyalty program also has 15 million members.

To speak to one of the award-winning reservations team call 0844 387 6670.