| I can't help it. I'm a traveller. I'm hooked. I have | | | | service. |
| itchy feet. But, after a full day's excursion and | | | | And the brasserie? Ah, yes, the brasserie. Well, |
| exertion, there's nothing I enjoy more than | | | | the classic definition of a brasserie is "a restaurant |
| returning to my hotel for a fine meal, a glass (or | | | | serving beer with food." Many boutique hotels |
| two) of my favourite tipple and a luxurious night's | | | | have excellent brasseries serving excellent food |
| rest nuzzling deep under the duvet in my warm, | | | | using fresh, organic ingredients. Forming part of |
| comfortable room. Bliss. | | | | the brasserie are bars filled with a wide selection |
| Just lately I've sampled the delights of a few | | | | of alcoholic delights. "Mine's a scotch, ta." |
| upmarket boutique hotels and guess what? | | | | Recently I had the pleasure of staying in a superb |
| They've all had an excellent brasserie. Slips off the | | | | boutique hotel, The Harrogate Brasserie Boutique |
| tongue quite nicely doesn't it? Boutique hotel and | | | | Hotel located in the centre of this beautiful |
| brasserie. But what exactly is a boutique hotel? | | | | Yorkshire town. They have sixteen stylish rooms |
| And a brasserie? | | | | - each individually decorated to enhance the |
| Well, we have to go back a little, to the 1980's ... | | | | building's Victorian charm. All have en suite |
| where a new trend of hotel, the boutique hotel, | | | | bathrooms, remote television, direct dial phones |
| began appearing in cities like New York, London, | | | | and hair dryers. Being in the middle of town |
| and Paris. Twenty five years or so later you can | | | | there's a vibrant hustle and bustle about the place |
| now find them in most cities and larger towns | | | | and guests can experience a host of attractions |
| around the world. Normally boutique hotels are | | | | and browse the many upmarket stores. |
| intimate and luxurious with no more than 60 | | | | The Royal Baths, Valley Gardens, Betty's |
| rooms or so. They're often privately owned which | | | | Café Tea Rooms, the International |
| means guests enjoy a more personal experience | | | | Conference Centre, the newly refurbished Royal |
| than they would at a hotel chain and are made to | | | | Theatre and The Great Yorkshire Show are just |
| feel very special with first-class service tailored to | | | | a few of Harrogate's favourite place to see. |
| meet their individual needs. | | | | The owner of the Harrogate Brasserie Boutique |
| Décor and furnishings range from classical | | | | Hotel, Richard Finney believes they've brought |
| to the more avant garde. Each room is invariably | | | | new meaning to the word 'brasserie' for, in |
| eye-catching and unique, with its own look and | | | | addition to their fine menu and range of wines and |
| feel. There are differing approaches when it | | | | ales, they've also introduced live jazz bands. The |
| comes to facilities on offer. Some go with the | | | | cool sounds of jazz over dinner makes for a rare |
| latest technology in the form of satellite television, | | | | and memorable evening experience. |
| bar fridges, fax and the internet, whilst others | | | | And then it's to bed with my favourite duvet. Ah, |
| prefer to focus on a more hushed and luxurious | | | | more bliss! |
| atmosphere, concentrating instead on impeccable | | | | |