Latest news with #TheDolderGrand
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Inside England's luxury Zurich base with private spa and stunning views as Lionesses prepare for Euros semi-final showdown with Italy in style
Perched high on a hill above Zurich, overlooking the postcard-perfect city, its sparkling lakes, and the snow-dusted peaks of the Alps, stands one of Switzerland's most remarkable buildings. Welcome to The Dolder Grand Hotel, as opulent as its name suggests. For a cool £13,500 a night, you can book the most lavish suite in the house – complete with butler service, a grand piano, sauna and steam shower, and panoramic views across Switzerland's largest city. For something a bit more active, £55 an hour grants you access to the Lacoste clay tennis court, tucked away in the surrounding forest. Upon arrival, you're handed a Lacoste bag with rackets, balls, and towels where you can step, quite literally, into Novak Djokovic 's shoes. In need of relaxation? Head to the award-winning spa for a body scrub or unwind in the serene meditation room. Hungry? Take your pick from four restaurants, including the two-Michelin-starred flagship, where the four-course lunch menu on offer will set you back £220. The turreted fairytale castle is a fitting residence for the reigning queens of European football – even if their dominance has wavered at times during this tournament. But as they say, a little challenge is the mark of a healthy reign. Everyone from Winston Churchill and Leonardo DiCaprio to Nelson Mandela has stayed here – and during their time, England have even overlapped with popstars Kylie Minogue and Justin Timberlake. This is, without question, the most luxurious accommodation the Lionesses have ever experienced – with their own private wing, no less – and it's a world away from the more modest lodgings of previous tournaments. In Australia, England's Terrigal basecamp was an hour-and-a-half away from the nearest city Sydney while here in Switzerland, the Dolder may look and feel like a tranquil escape, but it is also only a seven-minute funicular ride into town. The players have been embracing the upgrade, often spotted around Zurich enjoying moments of downtime with friends and family whenever the schedule allows. Back at the hotel there's a terrace with deckchairs and a small net for keepy-up challenges, all, of course, adorned with the Three Lions crest. Inside, a poster featuring childhood photos of the players in their grassroots kits adds a personal touch, while even Sarina Wiegman has been joining in a darts competition. Everything has been tailored to the finest detail, with the FA even bringing in a feng shui expert to adjust chairs, lighting and table arrangements to optimise the players' behavioural patterns. The training ground is just a 15-minute drive away, where the squad have benefited from a portable cryotherapy chamber to aid muscle recovery. With facilities like these, it's clear the expectation isn't just comfort – it's silverware. The environment around the Lionesses isn't just world-class, it's built for champions. As for Wiegman, she has been taking more of a relaxed approach in terms of her squad bonding than in years past – meaning there's nothing along the lines of a seating plan at dinner time. 'When I was a schoolteacher I would do those things, but now it's so intense,' the Dutch coach said. 'The players travel so much, playing at the highest level, they need to find some space away from training sessions and meetings where they can just sit with who they want to sit with. 'If it's always the same and that gives a player that headspace and relaxation, that's good for the team. It's different when something becomes a clique but that's absolutely not the case. I would want to organise when I started as a coach, but it's less organised now.' Ironically, this looser structure has drawn the squad closer. Earlier in the week captain Leah Williamson described how this year's group has spent more time together than ever – starting with a team boat trip across Lake Zurich. Williamson even joked that she tried to live 'a day in the life of Beth Mead': 'It meant I didn't go back to my room and was very sociable, but I slept well at the end of the day. In 2022, I slept every moment I wasn't on the pitch, so it's a bit different this time.' After Thursday night's dramatic, late victory over Sweden, the players wound down by watching an episode of Love Island – a favourite in the team camp. One familiar face was missing from the villa, though. Alessia Russo's brother, Giorgio Russo, who had been a contestant this season but was dumped from the show earlier in the week, just before England's quarter-final. The players have been focused on rest and recovery, with a weary-looking Esme Morgan admitting she's still catching up on her sleep since the drama of the penalty shoot-out. Alessia Russo's brother, Giorgio Russo (right), had been a contestant in love Island this season but was dumped from the show earlier in the week 'Everyone who played significant minutes had a recovery day to be able to just sort of reset, get moving again. The finishers went to train and had a really intense session. But yeah, it's just a case of getting off feet, bringing yourself back down to earth, even mentally, just to have a chilled day to reset after all of the excitement of the night before. 'Just everyone being able to relax, switch off a little bit, ready to then turn our full focus to the Italy game and be ready to go with full energy into that.'
Scottish Sun
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Inside England Lionesses' luxury Euro 2025 hotel with butler service, stunning pool and 2 Michelin star restaurant
ENGLAND are looking to defend their European Championship title this month in Switzerland. The Lionesses were on home soil when they made history by winning Euro 2022 three years ago. Advertisement 6 England will stay at the luxurious Dolder Grand resort for Euro 2025 Credit: The Dolder Grand 6 The stunning hotel is located in Zurich and boasts stunning views Credit: The Dolder Grand 6 It also has a 4,000 m² spa with a large pool and gym Credit: The Dolder Grand 6 It is a five-star resort Credit: The Dolder Grand They travel to Switzerland this week as one of the nations to beat, alongside world champions Spain. And in a bid to prepare in the best way possible, Sarina Wiegman and Co will remain based at a stunning five-star Zurich resort. The Dolder Grand offers incredible views of Switzerland's biggest city, Lake Zurich and the Alps. It has 175 luxurious rooms, a 4,000 m² spa with a large pool and gym, and four award-winning restaurants - one of which has two Michelin stars. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Deutsche MarC Bayern 'consider shock Rashford move' as Man Utd's asking price revealed Some rooms and packages even offer a butler service. The Lionesses will be training daily at Sportanlage Au, a sports complex in the nearby municipality of Opfikon around 10km away. FA Chiefs believe that both venues will offer England players the "best environment to maximise their full potential" at the tournament. A decision was made on the hotel and training complex following a year-long search which saw staff members visit 23 hotels and 24 pitches. Advertisement CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS When looking for the perfect base, England have a list of non-negotiables. Officials look for a place that has elements of privacy but also "a bit of life around it" for a sense of normality. England Lionesses announce squad for Euro 2025 after THREE withdrawals 6 The hotel has four award-winning restaraunts - one of which has two Michelin stars Credit: The Dolder Grand Advertisement They also seek for a hotel with 'logical flow', meaning players and staff members can get from A to B as efficiently as possible. Finally, a place with plenty of outdoor space is always prioritised. On the choice of hotel and training base, Anja van Ginhoven, the senior team general manager of England women, said: "About a year ago, for the first time, I stepped into the door of the Dolder and we could just feel the excitement of the hotel staff. "One of the first things they said to us – similar to The Lensbury for the last EURO and in Terrigal for the World Cup – they said: 'we want to be part of this.' Advertisement "We also took Sarina out there and a couple of other members of staff – we thought we had found a hotel that ticks all of the boxes that we want. It's a beautiful place. "We feel super welcome and very supported. All they want to do is give us a great home away from home in the summer."
The Irish Sun
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Inside England Lionesses' luxury Euro 2025 hotel with butler service, stunning pool and 2 Michelin star restaurant
ENGLAND are looking to defend their European Championship title this month in Switzerland. The Lionesses were on home soil when they made history by 6 England will stay at the luxurious Dolder Grand resort for Euro 2025 Credit: The Dolder Grand 6 The stunning hotel is located in Zurich and boasts stunning views Credit: The Dolder Grand 6 It also has a 4,000 m² spa with a large pool and gym Credit: The Dolder Grand 6 It is a five-star resort Credit: The Dolder Grand They travel to Switzerland this week as one of the nations to beat, alongside world champions Spain. And in a bid to prepare in the best way possible, The Dolder Grand offers incredible views of Switzerland's biggest city, Lake Zurich and the Alps. It has 175 luxurious rooms, a 4,000 m² spa with a large pool and gym, and four award-winning restaurants - one of which has two Michelin stars. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Some rooms and packages even offer a butler service. The Lionesses will be training daily at Sportanlage Au, a sports complex in the nearby municipality of Opfikon around 10km away. FA Chiefs believe that both venues will offer England players the "best environment to maximise their full potential" at the tournament. A decision was made on the hotel and training complex following a year-long search which saw staff members visit 23 hotels and 24 pitches. Most read in Football CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS When looking for the perfect base, Officials look for a place that has elements of privacy but also "a bit of life around it" for a sense of normality. England Lionesses announce squad for Euro 2025 after THREE withdrawals 6 The hotel has four award-winning restaraunts - one of which has two Michelin stars Credit: The Dolder Grand They also seek for a hotel with 'logical flow', meaning players and staff members can get from A to B as efficiently as possible. Finally, a place with plenty of outdoor space is always prioritised. On the choice of hotel and training base, Anja van Ginhoven, the senior team general manager of England women, said: "About a year ago, for the first time, I stepped into the door of the Dolder and we could just feel the excitement of the hotel staff. "One of the first things they said to us – similar to The Lensbury for the last EURO and in Terrigal for the World Cup – they said: 'we want to be part of this.' "We also took Sarina out there and a couple of other members of staff – we thought we had found a hotel that ticks all of the boxes that we want. It's a beautiful place. "We feel super welcome and very supported. All they want to do is give us a great home away from home in the summer." 6 It also has 175 stunning rooms Credit: The Dolder Grand
ITV News
30-06-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
The Swiss castle from where the Lionesses will plot a route to Euros glory
The FA looked at 23 base camp options, before settling on a luxury hotel in Zurich. ITV News Midlands Correspondent Stacey Foster and Reporter Chloe Keedy have the story The turreted hotel that the Lionesses will call home, as they prepare to defend their European title, is certainly more swanky than previous England basecamps. When Manager Sarina Wiegman and her squad check into The Dolder Grand in Zurich on Monday, their names will be added in its guest book to those of Winston Churchill, the Rolling Stones and King Charles. The five-star resort, which stands on the wooded Adlisberg mountain overlooking Lake Zurich, and where rooms usually costs around £800 a night, is certainly a cut above the anonymous chain hotel selected by the FA during the last major tournament. Two years ago, before England lost to Spain in the final of the 2023 World Cup, the Lionesses had been sequestered on a quiet stretch of Australia's sunshine coast, in the town of Terrigal (population 12,000), where the players could stroll unbothered down the beach, notwithstanding the odd TV crew. Not that England are likely to have to put up with much in the way of unwanted attention in Zurich. When ITV News contacted The Dolder Grand asking for an interview with the manager, the hotel publicist quickly said ''yes'', which changed quicker still to a ''no'', due to ''confidentiality commitments during this particularly sensitive period". This is Switzerland after all. ''We're very confident we have found another basecamp that will meet all our needs,'' said Sarina Wiegman, when the Lionesses confirmed their hotel pick back in January - and it's not hard to see why. The FA recced 23 base camp options, before settling on the Dolder Grand, with its 4,000 square meter spa complex, Michelin star dining, and palatial rooms, for the 55 players and staff. England will train at the nearby Sportanlage Au, a less grandiose set-up, run by the local authority. Crucially, this sports club is just a 20 minute drive from the hotel. And with the Lionesses playing their first two Euro 2025 fixtures at Zurich's Stadion Letzigrund, and their last group stage tie against Wales just 50 miles along the road in St Gallen, there will be no need for the onerous flights the men's team took between their golf resort in central Germany and their matches at last year's Euros. Fittingly, the Lionesses' temporary home was rebuilt in 2004 by Norman Foster, the legendary British architect responsible for Wembley Stadium. Can their sumptuous Swiss surroundings help Wiegman's team replicate the triumph they achieved under that famous arch, three years ago?
What's On
17-06-2025
- What's On
6 art hotels around the world worth travelling for in summer 2025
We travel for so many different reasons. Some people travel to fuel their love of food, seeking out food cities that offer mind-blowing culinary adventures. Some travel for people, nourishing their soul by sharing stories and culture with people they've never met before. Some travel for the luxury, some travel for the beauty of this world and then we have some who travel for art. If you're an art enthusiast, these art hotels need to be on your travel list this summer. The Silo, Cape Town Watching over the iconic V&A Waterfront in one of South Africa's three capitals, The Silo is a masterpiece of art and design, both from the inside and out. With stunning views stretching from Table Mountain to the Table Bay harbour, this is where you need to go to discover Africa's largest collection of contemporary African art. The accommodation sits above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), and is a pinnacle of luxury spanning six floors. From the outside, the pillowed glass windows make the hotel impossible to miss and difficult to ignore. @thesilohotel_ El Fenn, Marrakech 42 rooms and jaw-dropping visuals, that is El Fenn for you. This boutique property on the cusp on medina and souk brings to life all the 19th-century glory of the building, in the wrought iron, the carved wood, the graphic prints, the marble fountains – a mix of the old and the new with a healthy smattering of avant garde artwork and some mid-century modern works in colours of the land. The property has the romance of the creative, with a library, five inner courtyards and cosy alcoves inviting you to escape. This may just be Marrakech's most stylish hotel. @elfennmarrakech The Ned, Doha Spotlighting Middle Eastern female creatives, The Ned in Doha is housed inside Qatar's former Ministry of Interior. Inside, art enthusiasts can find themselves in the presence and power of over 350 artworks by over 100 Middle Eastern artists, most of them women. The collection is sprinkled across the hotel and is permanent. The collection has been curated by Wadha Al-Aqeedi and Elina Sairanen, the co-founders of Mathqaf Arab Museum of Modern Art. On the outside, the architecture will take you back to the brutalist design of the 1970s. Art, inside and out. @theneddoha The Dolder Grand, Zurich The Dolder Grand's art collection is an impressive list of names the likes of Salvador Dali, Keith Haring, Takashi Murakami, Joan Miro, and Sylvester Stallone (niche). The beauty of this collection is the variety, more than 100 works from over 90 artists spanning decades and movements. Stay-wise, the views are beautiful, pristine, snowy Alps and a crystalline Lake Zurich await guests. The property itself has undergone expansions that brings together the influence of different eras. The art collection also has a digital guide that will take you deeper into the art history. @thedoldergrand Bushman Cafe, Abidjan The most eclectic of this list, this little establishment is championing art, culture and chocolate from the Ivory Coast. Bushman Cafe houses a guesthouse of just 8 rooms, a restaurant, a cafe and a multi-use space. This is a hotspot for not just creatives in the Ivory Coast, but also from around the world, and is home to an exquisite collection of treasures like art, antiques, sculptures, designer lamps and some of the country's finest chocolate; Africa supplies about 70%of the world's cocoa beans – you can see why this matters. @ Chao, Beijing Championing arts is what Chao is all about. Located in the heart of the Chinese capital's entertainment district of Sanlitun, this hotel features a massive 30,000-square-foot art center, on-site , no less, and puts up a fantastic avant-garde cultural program all year long. Think sensory exhibits, talks and so much more. The state-of-the-art print shop is one of China's few high-end printmaking studios – a nod to the hotelier's background in art printmaking – with workshops on etching, silkscreen, woodcutting, and more. It continues to produce limited edition prints and guests are welcomed for a private tour. @chaobeijing Images: Socials > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
