Latest news with #PremierInn
Times
a day ago
- Business
- Times
Premier Inn owner sets sights on Germany
The Premier Inn located in the back garden of Messe Frankfurt, the city's trade fair, has a different buzz about it compared with a typical British branch of the budget hotel chain. Dozens of cycling fanatics from around the world, including the United States and China, have descended on the hotel's plush bar to enjoy happy hour-priced steins of cold beer and cocktails before the five-day Eurobike festival taking place at Messe this week. It's an exciting event for Dominic Paul, the self-confessed cyclist and motorbike enthusiast who is chief executive of the Premier Inn owner, Whitbread, and has placed a big bet on the FTSE 100 group's growing German business. The hotel chain, originally called Travel Inn, was launched by Whitbread in 1987 in Basildon, Essex, two years after the launch of Travelodge by the old Forte Group catering empire.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Enough of the Bognor bashing – I think the seaside town is one of the UK's best
And the new Butlin's attractions and Premier Inn coming to town BOG OFF Enough of the Bognor bashing – I think the seaside town is one of the UK's best Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BASKING in the sunshine on Bognor's pebbly beach, watching my boys skim stones into the sea, I found myself wondering if there could be a more picture-perfect snapshot of a trip to the British seaside. I've been visiting this south coast resort since I was tiny and now my boys love heading to the Sussex seaside just as much as I do. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 I love Bognor Regis - and am sick of all the hating on it Credit: Alamy 6 I've been visiting Bognor since I was a kid 6 Its now a place I take all my kids on holiday So I couldn't believe my eyes when Bognor was named the worst seaside town in this year's Which? survey, with some visitors branding it dirty and rundown. It only scored 36 per cent overall, with visitors rating its beach two stars out of five. Its seafront, food and drink, tourist attractions, scenery, shopping, parking, peace and quiet and value for money only received one star each. Despite this depressing result, it's nonsense to suggest that Bognor is bottom of British beach breaks, as far as I'm concerned. There's a reason why it's been a family favourite for generations and why British holiday institution Butlin's has had a presence in the town for almost a century, despite closing lots of other locations around the country. For a start, the Met Office records show that Bognor averages around 1900 hours of sunshine a year, making it a good choice if you want to turn your great British staycay into a raycay. Maybe the shingle shoreline isn't everyone's cup of tea, but paddling on pebbles does mean you're not finding sand in all your nooks and crannies for weeks after your trip to the coast. We usually stay at Butlin's and it's just a short walk along the prom to get to the town, passing the pier and the greenery of Waterloo Square before heading further on to Marine Park Gardens. Or you can catch the little land train that ferries visitors along the shoreline, costing £1.50 for adults and £1 for children. We like to stroll along, admiring the seaside architecture glinting white in the sunlight as we go. I tried the new Gladiators event at Butlin's with some of the TV stars… and my kids were obsessed And there's the Play on the Beach playground for little visitors on this stretch of the esplanade too. Another highlight of any trip to Bognor is a visit to Hotham Park, where I remember taking a trip on the miniature railway as a child. It's still a lovely place to visit and now my boys can take a turn around the tracks while I get nostalgic about childhood summers and fun in the sun. For me, I love going back to the town to see what has stayed the same and what is new and exciting. I can't wait for the £15million transformation of the Alexandra Theatre when it is unveiled next year. And there's a new £13million Premier Inn due to open nearby later this year. Butlin's has also had plenty of investment in recent times, with a £40million pool opening in 2019 and the £15million Playxperience offering digital versions of family favourites like darts and crazy golf. 6 It has so many exciting new investments 6 A new Playxperience attraction opened at Butlin's Bognor Regis Credit: Butlin's Even better, you can just pop in for the day if you're staying elsewhere in Bognor, with day passes from as little as £1 for children during term-time. With all this money being spent on accommodation and attractions, it would be a mistake to write off this seaside spot as not worth a visit when it feels like it's on the up and being brought bang into the 21st century with all these new openings. Every year, when Which? releases the results from surveying its 4000 members on seaside trips they've taken the previous summer, I shake my head with a wry smile at whichever much-loved traditional seaside resort has ended up being named and shamed this time. It's been Skegness, Clacton, Mablethorpe and Bangor in recent years, but none of those deserved to be bottom either. You can't really compare a resort that focuses on family fun and lots of laughs, with arcades, pubs, chippies and ice cream stalls aplenty, with somewhere like Bamburgh in Northumberland, which consistently comes top of the list. Its amazing castle and unspoilt beach are definitely a winning combination, but you can't beat the bustle of Bognor or Bangor for offering budget-friendly best-of-British breaks with something to keep all ages happy. It's almost 100 years since King George V visited Bognor to convalesce and gave it the royal seal of approval by allowing the town to add Regis to its name. As far as I'm concerned, it's still a jewel in the crown of the South Coast, sparkling in the sunlight for all to see. It should be basking in its title of sunniest seaside spot, instead of being bashed for its beach or buildings.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Premier Inn takes on McDonald's with new burgers & cocktails – we tried the whole menu including Big Mac dupe
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PREMIER Inn has launched a huge new range of burgers this summer - and we tried them all out. The budget hotel's Battle of the Burgers sees seven different burgers go up against each other, with the winner being a permanent feature on the menu. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Premier Inn has seven new burgers - and we tried them all out Ranging from Korean and Japanese inspired chicken burgers, to classic American steak burgers as well as an Indian veggie option, choosing the best one was a hard task. They explained: "I think the whole point of it is to create a little bit of fun with kind of things that are trending and actually what guests want to see." Not only that, but they also have four new cocktails as part of their Clash of the Cocktails range. So we headed down to our nearby Premier Inn and took on the task of trying them all out - here's our lowdown. The Classic Cheese and Bacon When it comes to classic burger lovers, Premier Inn has three beef options to choose from. The simplest was the cheese and bacon, with just one steak patty, as well as crispy bacon and melted cheese along with tomato, onion, lettuce and burger sauce. This is the one that feels like a classic McDonald's burger, just slightly pimped up. And perhaps surprisingly, this one came out on top of the beef options. Travel Report Alice Penwill said: "I loved the crunch of the bacon, meaning the burger had great texture. "Sometimes a classic done well is better than anything too fancy - and I loved the coleslaw on the side". 7 The Classic was surprisingly our favourite of the steak burgers I tried Premier Inn's new Next Evolution rooms The Smokey Big Stack The Smokey Big Stack is a crowd-pleaser for anyone who likes all the frills for their burger. This means two steak patties, with cheese, BBQ sauce and gherkins, along with lettuce, red onion and onion rings. It was certainly a lot, so you will need to bring an empty stomach for this one. And the flavour of the sweet BBQ sauce and gherkin was praised as well - but we definitely struggled to finish it. 7 You'll need an empty stomach to finish the Smokey Big Stack The Tex-Mex One of least favourites was the Tex Mex, sadly. This is also with two steak patties and cheese, but having chipotle mayo as well as tomato salsa, sour cream and tortilla chips. The concept is great, and nachos with all the dressings are always a crowd pleaser. However, it sadly paled in comparison to the other two burgers, and you have to eat quick to avoid the nachos going soggy. 7 The Tex-Mex was sadly our least favourite of the beef burgers The Korean Crunch For fried chicken fans, the new burger range has two options to choose from. The Korean Crunch is a crispy chicken breast with chilli sauce, lettuce and an Asian crunchy slaw. While it may not sound like much is in there, the chicken was extremely juicy and soft, with enough coating without feeing overwhelming. And the slaw and chilli sauce means anyone who likes a bit of spice will be pleased. This was a favourite of our Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski who said: "I like the raw slaw in the burger, as it cuts through what can often be a heavy burger. "It has a nice level of spice, and felt really fresh compared to the others". 7 If you like something zingy, the Korean Crunch is for you The Kickin' Katsu The other chicken option is the Kicken' Katsu, also with a crispy chicken breast and mayonnaise, with lettuce, pickled red onions and signature curry sauce. Think Wagamamas in a bun, dipping the burger into the popular curry sauce made it a stand out burger. Head of Travel Lisa Minot said: "I like that it's not a big wedge of batter on the chicken, it is lightly coated so you still get enough of the juicy chicken itself. "And the pickled red onions are a lovely addition for a an extra hit, while that curry sauce is perfect for dipping the chips too." 7 The Kickin' Katsu was just like a Wagamama in a burger The Big Bombay Vegetarian's don't have to worry as there are two choices on the menu for them. The Big Bombay is an Indian take on a burger, with an Indian spiced bean burger with potato, pumpkin and pea, as well as yoghurt slaw ,lettuce, pickled red onion and a mango and tomato chutney. The flavours were amazing, but we were left down by the texture. Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding explained: "Despite being a coated bean burger it was still extremely soft so could have done with some thing for a bit of crunch. "I did like the slaw on the side though, that was a nice addition, but it definitely needed some more oomph in the burger itself." 7 The taste of the Big Bombay was there, but not the texture The Gourmet Vegan The only vegan option on the menu, the Gourmet Vegan has a plant-based protein GARDEN GOURMET® Sensational™ burger with a Violife slice as well as lettuce, gherkins, red onions and burger sauce. This one took us by surprise - not only could you barely tell it was a meat-free option, but it was much less greasy as well. Travel Intern Jenna Stevens said: "It's better than a Big Mac to me! "it was so satisfying even without the meat, and the pickle was delicious with it." Premier Inn's Clash of the Cocktails ALONG with the new burgers, Premier Inn has also rolled out four new cocktails as part of the Clash of the Cocktails. This includes: Star Sign: Double shot of rum with watermelon syrup and Schweppes Tropical Soda. Moonlight: Double shot of vodka with passion fruit syrup and Schweppes Tropical Soda. Sweet Dreams: Double shot of dry gin with raspberry syrup and Schweppes Ginger Ale. Pillow talk: Double shot of vodka, with lime sherbet syrup and Schweppes Tropical Soda. Our favourite? Pillow Talk was our favourite, being one of the least sweet options, although if you love the idea of a mix of Aperol Spritz and Pimms, opt for the Sweet Dreams. So what's the winner? The resounding winner was the Kickin' Katsu, with three out of seven testers saying it was their favourite. However, The Gourmet Vegan also deserves a shout out - it wasn't just a winner with our vegetarian testers, with even our meat-eaters also impressed with it. The Battle of the Burgers is running until September, to which the winning burger will be a permanent option on the menu. The burgers are included in the hotel's £29.99 meal deal, which includes a two course dinner and drink, as well as unlimited breakfast. A new food menu is being rolled out this September, with more 'global inspired' choices including gyoza, filled ravioli and Middle Eastern nourish bowls. And keep your eyes peeled this winter, with suggestions of a follow up Festive Battle of Burgers. In the mean time, we also tested out the new Wetherspoons burger menu. And here is what to expect from the Greggs burger menu.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Premier Inn takes on McDonald's with new burgers & cocktails – we tried the whole menu including Big Mac dupe
PREMIER Inn has launched a huge new range of burgers this summer - and we tried them all out. The budget hotel's Battle of the Burgers sees seven different burgers go up against each other, with the winner being a permanent feature on the menu. 7 Premier Inn has seven new burgers - and we tried them all out Ranging from They explained: "I think the whole point of it is to create a little bit of fun with kind of things that are trending and actually what guests want to see." Not only that, but they also have four new cocktails as part of their Clash of the Cocktails range. So we headed down to our nearby Read more on Premier Inn The Classic Cheese and Bacon When it comes to classic burger lovers, The simplest was the cheese and bacon, with just one steak patty, as well as crispy bacon and melted cheese along with tomato, onion, lettuce and burger sauce. This is the one that feels like a classic And perhaps surprisingly, this one came out on top of the beef options. Most read in News Travel Travel Report Alice Penwill said: "I loved the crunch of the bacon, meaning the burger had great texture. "Sometimes a classic done well is better than anything too fancy - and I loved the coleslaw on the side". 7 The Classic was surprisingly our favourite of the steak burgers I tried Premier Inn's new Next Evolution rooms The Smokey Big Stack The Smokey Big Stack is a crowd-pleaser for anyone who likes all the frills for their burger. This means two steak patties, with cheese, BBQ sauce and It was certainly a lot, so you will need to bring an empty stomach for this one. And the flavour of the sweet BBQ sauce and gherkin was praised as well - but we definitely struggled to finish it. 7 You'll need an empty stomach to finish the Smokey Big Stack The Tex-Mex One of least favourites was the Tex Mex, sadly. This is also with two steak patties and cheese, but having chipotle mayo as well as tomato salsa, sour cream and tortilla chips. The concept is great, and However, it sadly paled in comparison to the other two burgers, and you have to eat quick to avoid the nachos going soggy. 7 The Tex-Mex was sadly our least favourite of the beef burgers The Korean Crunch For fried chicken fans, the new burger range has two options to choose from. The Korean Crunch is a crispy chicken breast with chilli sauce, lettuce and an Asian crunchy slaw. While it may not sound like much is in there, the chicken was extremely juicy and soft, with enough coating without feeing overwhelming. And the slaw and chilli sauce means anyone who likes a bit of spice will be pleased. This was a favourite of our Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski who said: "I like the raw slaw in the burger, as it cuts through what can often be a heavy burger. "It has a nice level of spice, and felt really fresh compared to the others". 7 If you like something zingy, the Korean Crunch is for you The Kickin' Katsu The other chicken option is the Kicken' Katsu, also with a crispy chicken breast and mayonnaise, with lettuce, pickled red onions and signature curry sauce. Think Head of Travel Lisa Minot said: "I like that it's not a big wedge of batter on the chicken, it is lightly coated so you still get enough of the juicy chicken itself. "And the pickled red onions are a lovely addition for a an extra hit, while that curry sauce is perfect for dipping the chips too." 7 The Kickin' Katsu was just like a Wagamama in a burger The Big Bombay Vegetarian's don't have to worry as there are two choices on the menu for them. The Big The flavours were amazing, but we were left down by the texture. Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding explained: "Despite being a coated bean burger it was still extremely soft so could have done with some thing for a bit of crunch. "I did like the slaw on the side though, that was a nice addition, but it definitely needed some more oomph in the burger itself." 7 The taste of the Big Bombay was there, but not the texture The Gourmet Vegan The only vegan option on the menu, the Gourmet Vegan has a plant-based protein GARDEN GOURMET® Sensational™ burger with a Violife slice as well as lettuce, gherkins, red onions and burger sauce. This one took us by surprise - not only could you barely tell it was a meat-free option, but it was much less greasy as well. Travel Intern Jenna Stevens said: "It's better than a Big Mac to me! "it was so satisfying even without the meat, and the pickle was delicious with it." Premier Inn's Clash of the Cocktails ALONG with the new burgers, Premier Inn has also rolled out four new cocktails as part of the Clash of the Cocktails. This includes: Star Sign: Double shot of rum with watermelon syrup and Schweppes Tropical Soda. Moonlight: Double shot of vodka with passion fruit syrup and Schweppes Tropical Soda. Sweet Dreams: Double shot of dry gin with raspberry syrup and Schweppes Ginger Ale. Pillow talk: Double shot of vodka, with lime sherbet syrup and Schweppes Tropical Soda. Our favourite? Pillow Talk was our favourite, being one of the least sweet options, although if you love the idea of a mix of Aperol Spritz and Pimms, opt for the Sweet Dreams. So what's the winner? The resounding winner was the Kickin' Katsu, with three out of seven testers saying it was their favourite. However, The Gourmet Vegan also deserves a shout out - it wasn't just a winner with our vegetarian testers, with even our meat-eaters also impressed with it. The Battle of the Burgers is running until September, to which the winning burger will be a permanent option on the menu. The burgers are included in the hotel's £29.99 meal deal, which includes a two course dinner and drink, as well as unlimited breakfast. A new food menu is being rolled out this September, with more 'global inspired' choices including gyoza, filled ravioli and Middle Eastern nourish bowls . And keep your eyes peeled this winter , with suggestions of a follow up Festive Battle of Burgers. In the mean time, we also tested out the And
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Premier Inn takes on McDonald's with new burgers & cocktails – we tried the whole menu including Big Mac dupe
PREMIER Inn has launched a huge new range of burgers this summer - and we tried them all out. The budget hotel's Battle of the Burgers sees seven different burgers go up against each other, with the winner being a permanent feature on the menu. Ranging from Korean and Japanese inspired chicken burgers, to classic American steak burgers as well as an Indian veggie option, choosing the best one was a hard task. They explained: "I think the whole point of it is to create a little bit of fun with kind of things that are trending and actually what guests want to see." Not only that, but they also have four new cocktails as part of their Clash of the Cocktails range. So we headed down to our nearby Premier Inn and took on the task of trying them all out - here's our lowdown. The Classic Cheese and Bacon When it comes to classic burger lovers, Premier Inn has three beef options to choose from. The simplest was the cheese and bacon, with just one steak patty, as well as crispy bacon and melted cheese along with tomato, onion, lettuce and burger sauce. This is the one that feels like a classic McDonald's burger, just slightly pimped up. And perhaps surprisingly, this one came out on top of the beef options. Travel Report Alice Penwill said: "I loved the crunch of the bacon, meaning the burger had great texture. "Sometimes a classic done well is better than anything too fancy - and I loved the coleslaw on the side". 7 I tried Premier Inn's new Next Evolution rooms The Smokey Big Stack The Smokey Big Stack is a crowd-pleaser for anyone who likes all the frills for their burger. This means two steak patties, with cheese, BBQ sauce and gherkins, along with lettuce, red onion and onion rings. It was certainly a lot, so you will need to bring an empty stomach for this one. And the flavour of the sweet BBQ sauce and gherkin was praised as well - but we definitely struggled to finish it. 7 The Tex-Mex One of least favourites was the Tex Mex, sadly. This is also with two steak patties and cheese, but having chipotle mayo as well as tomato salsa, sour cream and tortilla chips. The concept is great, and nachos with all the dressings are always a crowd pleaser. However, it sadly paled in comparison to the other two burgers, and you have to eat quick to avoid the nachos going soggy. 7 The Korean Crunch For fried chicken fans, the new burger range has two options to choose from. The Korean Crunch is a crispy chicken breast with chilli sauce, lettuce and an Asian crunchy slaw. While it may not sound like much is in there, the chicken was extremely juicy and soft, with enough coating without feeing overwhelming. And the slaw and chilli sauce means anyone who likes a bit of spice will be pleased. This was a favourite of our Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski who said: "I like the raw slaw in the burger, as it cuts through what can often be a heavy burger. "It has a nice level of spice, and felt really fresh compared to the others". The Kickin' Katsu The other chicken option is the Kicken' Katsu, also with a crispy chicken breast and mayonnaise, with lettuce, pickled red onions and signature curry sauce. Think Wagamamas in a bun, dipping the burger into the popular curry sauce made it a stand out burger. Head of Travel (Print) Lisa Minot said: "I like that it's not a big wedge of batter on the chicken, it is lightly coated so you still get enough of the juicy chicken itself. "And the pickled red onions are a lovely addition for a an extra hit, while that curry sauce is perfect for dipping the chips too." The Big Bombay Vegetarian's don't have to worry as there are two choices on the menu for them. The Big Bombay is an Indian take on a burger, with an Indian spiced bean burger with potato, pumpkin and pea, as well as yoghurt slaw ,lettuce, pickled red onion and a mango and tomato chutney. The flavours were amazing, but we were left down by the texture. Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding explained: "Despite being a coated bean burger it was still extremely soft so could have done with some thing for a bit of crunch. "I did like the slaw on the side though, that was a nice addition, but it definitely needed some more oomph in the burger itself." The Gourmet Vegan The only vegan option on the menu, the Gourmet Vegan has a plant-based protein GARDEN GOURMET® Sensational™ burger with a Violife slice as well as lettuce, gherkins, red onions and burger sauce. This one took us by surprise - not only could you barely tell it was a meat-free option, but it was much less greasy as well. "it was so satisfying even without the meat, and the pickle was delicious with it." Premier Inn's Clash of the Cocktails ALONG with the new burgers, Premier Inn has also rolled out four new cocktails as part of the Clash of the Cocktails. This includes: Star Sign: Double shot of rum with watermelon syrup and Schweppes Tropical Soda. Moonlight: Double shot of vodka with passion fruit syrup and Schweppes Tropical Soda. Sweet Dreams: Double shot of dry gin with raspberry syrup and Schweppes Ginger Ale. Pillow talk: Double shot of vodka, with lime sherbet syrup and Schweppes Tropical Soda. Our favourite? Pillow Talk was our favourite, being one of the least sweet options, although if you love the idea of a mix of Aperol Spritz and Pimms, opt for the Sweet Dreams. So what's the winner? The resounding winner was the Kickin' Katsu, with three out of seven testers saying it was their favourite. However, The Gourmet Vegan also deserves a shout out - it wasn't just a winner with our vegetarian testers, with even our meat-eaters also impressed with it. The Battle of the Burgers is running until September, to which the winning burger will be a permanent option on the menu. The burgers are included in the hotel's £29.99 meal deal, which includes a two course dinner and drink, as well as unlimited breakfast. A new food menu is being rolled out this September, with more 'global inspired' choices including gyoza, filled ravioli and Middle Eastern nourish bowls. And keep your eyes peeled this winter, with suggestions of a follow up Festive Battle of Burgers.
