Category: Travel

The Bothy Yard

Designed in Edinburgh, The Bothy Yard is a home away from home for the modern explorer, combining the comfort and character of a boutique hotel with the buzz and social experience of a hostel. We chatted with The Bothy Yard’s founder Max Strzelecki to find out more about this innovative concept.

www.thebothyyard.com
Photos by The Bothy Yard

Could you please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your background?

My name is Max Strzelecki (str-let-ski). Edinburgh has been my home for five of the past seven years. My life here tends to revolve around people, waves, wind and building things… probably in that order. It’s easy to get the balance right here; you can enjoy the social buzz of city life and you’re also a stone’s throw away from the hills and the ocean. I’ve always enjoyed rich, simple experiences, whether it’s camping on the Isle of Tiree, hostelling in a surf town or cycling through Edinburgh’s side streets, there’s a lot to be said for the less-is-more approach.

How did the idea of The Bothy Yard come about? Could you tell us a little bit about the concept behind it?

It was the coming together of my love of experiencing the outdoors from the cosy comfort of a tent, and that of meeting new people and sharing stories from the road. I recently returned from 15 months in Australia, during which I spent a lot of time travelling and staying in hostels, mixing work (if you can call building Tough Mudder events “work”) and pleasure (being in the ocean).

I love the social element of the hostel experience; there aren’t many places where you are so strongly encouraged to approach a group of strangers and introduce yourself. That’s a beautiful thing, but I find communal dorm rooms very tedious. I know a lot of people who miss out on the social experience hostels offer because they don’t want to stay in a shared room. Knowing this and appreciating the unique cosy and protected feeling of camping in the wild, I had the idea of The Bothy Yard. The Bothy Yard is a hostel that offers each guest their own Bothy Box – a private sleeping and changing space with storage and all the other features a modern explorer needs, all behind a lockable door.

Who is The Bothy Yard for?

The Bothy Yard is for today’s explorers who want their days to be action packed, to meet new people, experience new places and really get in amongst it. At the end of the day when you’re tired and weary, you can close your Bothy Box door and have the peaceful, heavy, undisturbed slumber you deserve. We’re for people who want all of the social benefits of staying in a hostel, but with a bit of extra comfort and privacy.

You are launching a crowdfunding campaign in February, could you tell us more about it and the plans for the upcoming months?

This is a very exciting time for us! The crowdfunding campaign will be the first opportunity for people to book their stay at The Bothy Yard. We will be opening the doors of the first (mini) Bothy Yard in July of this year. The next few months will be filled with a lot of box construction, coffee, Frank Ocean and Tallest Man on Earth (our “getting stuff done” music). Edinburgh will be our home, but for now the exact location is a secret. Stay tuned for the announcement in the coming weeks. If you’re planning on visiting Edinburgh in the next year, be sure to follow our journey and book your stay!

February 6, 2017
Exploring Shoreditch with CitizenM

Located in the heart of East London’s most famous district, the new CitizenM Shoreditch has everything you need to explore all that this vibrant area has to offer. We stayed at this recently opened hotel and selected some of our favourite places in Shoreditch for this mini guide.

CitizenM Shoreditch

Designed by Amsterdam-based architecture and interior design firm concrete, CitizenM Shoreditch is the latest CitizenM hotel in London. The brand’s affordable luxury ethos is present in the 216 rooms and communal areas of the hotel, combined with a relaxed atmosphere and the lively streets of Shoreditch as a background.

The surrounding street art is extended into the hotel with a commissioned piece by AVAF located next to the hotel’s entrance. Art is also prominent inside the hotel, especially in the lobby area where several pieces are exhibited and limited editions at affordable prices can even be purchased. The hotel’s lobby is also home to the self check-in area, where you can easily select your room and its views, and the canteen where you can enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet in the morning or cocktails and craft beers in the evening.

Design is an essential aspect of CitizenM and you can find many pieces of furniture by Vitra, from chairs to lamps, throughout the hotel. The lobby’s shelves are filled with art, fashion and design books curated by MENDO, an Amsterdam-based bookshop considered one of the best in the world for design titles.

The hotel’s rooms are equipped with everything you might need for a short stay in London. One of the most interesting features is the big window, extending across the room’s width and providing amazing views of the area. The 2 x 2 metre bed is also impressive and we can guarantee you’ll have a good night’s sleep. Other details that make CitizenM different to other hotels you might stayed in include the moodpad from which you can control the entire room – from the colour of the lights and temperature to the TV and blinds – and the high pressure rain shower with AM and PM shampoo/gel designed by the talented noses responsible for creations by Comme des Garçons and Helmut Lang.

CitizenM Shoreditch – 6 Holywell Ln, EC2A 3ET

www.citizenm.com

Eat & Drink

Shoreditch is filled with restaurants, food markets, cafés and bars so you won’t really need to leave this area of the city to find exactly what you want.

To start your day with a hearty breakfast or brunch (breakfast is served all day), head to The Breakfast Club, an independent chain of cafés founded in 2005 with locations all across London. It can be quite busy but we can assure you won’t mind waiting for the Huevos Rancheros, the All American and other delicious choices from their menu.

The Breakfast Club – 2-4 Rufust St, N1 6PE

If you like food trucks and food markets, you’ll find plenty in Shoreditch. You can grab lunch at Ely’s Yard Food Market at The Old Truman Brewery, with vendors changing regularly and often included in articles about the best food trucks in London. For dinner try Pump, a former petrol station now home to a great selection of food trucks offering dishes from all around the world.

Ely’s Yard – 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL
Pump – 168 Shoreditch High St, E1 6HU

Finish your day with drinks at The Commercial Tavern, a pub with quirky interiors where you can enjoy a great selection of draft beers and also tasty pizzas at affordable prices.

The Commercial Tavern – 142-144 Commercial St, E1 6NU

Shop

From vintage clothing and books to homewares and the latest designer pieces, the shopping offer in Shoreditch is impressive.

The best way to start your shopping day in Shoreditch is to visit Boxpark, just across the road from CitizenM Shoretich. Opened in 2011, Boxpark is composed of refitted shipping containers offering affordable and flexible leases for lifestyle brands, cafés and galleries. A great place to discover new brands and buy something unique.

Boxpark – 2-10 Bethnal Green Rd, E1 6GY

A few minutes away from Boxpark you can find Labour and Wait, a general store selling a carefully curated collection of new and vintage items, celebrating functional design and ranging from stationery and clothing to kitchenware and outdoor products.

Labour and Wait – 85 Redchurch St, E2 7DJ

London brand You Must Create (YMC) has their flagship store in the heart of Shoreditch. The ethos behind the brand is to take a traditional item and rework it to create something modern, giving a timeless quality to its clothes.

YMC – 23 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR

If you’re interested in books and magazines don’t forget to pay a visit to Artwords, a bookstore specialising in contemporary visual arts and covering subjects including photography, fashion, architecture, graphic design, fine art and critical theory.

Artwords – 69 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY

Enjoy

Shoreditch is filled with street art by emerging and established artists (look for Banksy’s pieces on Rivington Street). Wander around the numerous lanes and streets to discover colourful and impressive pieces all across the area.

For an unrivalled cinema experience head to Electric Cinema, with screenings for up to 50 people. Enjoy your movie from a comfortable armchair with cosy cashmere blankets. The cinema is part of Barber & Parlour, a three-floor space where you can get manicures, haircuts, beard trims and even food.

Electric Cinema – 64-66 Redchurch Street, E2 7DP

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November 29, 2016
Green Rooms Hotel

Considered the UK’s first arts hotel and social enterprise, Green Rooms is designed to attract artists visiting and working in London. The hotel opened its doors in Spring 2016 and has already positioned itself as a creativity hub, working with local communities and artists on exhibitions, performances and events all happening at Green Rooms. We visited Green Rooms and stayed one night to experience what this new hotel concept has to offer.

Located in North London, just opposite from Wood Green underground station, the hotel is just 15 min away from King’s Cross on the Picadilly Line which makes it really easy to get to the city centre. The beautiful art deco building was constructed in 1925 for The North Metropolitan Power and Electricity Company and has been restored by London architects SODA, with interiors created by fashion brand Folk.

The idea behind Green Rooms is to engage with local and visiting artists, offering affordable rates – everyone is welcome at Green Rooms but you get a discount if you’re an artist or work in the creative industries. You can also choose a room type that best fits your budget: dormitory rooms and standard rooms with shared bathroom facilities or en-suite rooms (where we stayed) and studio apartments designed for extended stays.

Whilst at most hotels you just want to spend time in your room and avoid the lobby, Greem Room’s ground floor is welcoming and buzzing with guests and local creatives. An open space, nicely decorated, that houses the hotel’s reception, bar and restaurant and also serves as exhibition space for local artists. The hotel’s top floor is a multi-purpose space, which can be used as a gallery or for rehearsals, screenings and other private events.

The restaurant is an incubator project running rent-free 6-month residencies for emerging chefs that haven’t had experience running a restaurant before, offering also mentorship and a way to develop their own brand during their time at Green Rooms. A great and unique initiative that is currently helping the hotel’s first chef in residence, Esteban Arboleda from Colombian Street Kitchen. Esteban is on a mission to pioneer Colombian Street food as a mainstream cuisine in the UK and after having a delicious dinner with different dishes to share, we have no doubt that he will succeed.

To find out more about what makes Green Rooms different to any other hotel you might have been to, we chatted with Nick Wright, founder of Green Rooms, and Cathal McAteer, founder of Folk.

www.greenrooms.london

Could you tell us about how the concept for creating the UK’s first hotel social enterprise came about?

Nick: The concept for Green Rooms was something I’d been playing around with for a long time. The challenge was finding the right site. London is a brilliant city – arguably the best in the world – and a real cultural hub. But it’s also very expensive. There was a real gap in the market for a genuinely affordable, design-led hotel that encourages and fosters collaboration among guests. A lot of people who work in the arts don’t have much disposable income and can’t afford to spend £250 a night on a hotel room when they come to London. But by the same token they don’t want to stay in anodyne, formulaic budget hotels either. The sharing economy is obviously another option, and it’s a great model, but when you rent a room in someone else’s flat – no matter how beautiful it might be – you’re immediately isolating yourself.

Could you tell us about the different ways in which the local community can engage with Green Rooms?

Nick: We’re benefiting and engaging with the local community in lots of ways. The hotel has provided numerous job opportunities for local people fort starters, and Wood Green residents are using the communal spaces at the hotel – particularly the bar and restaurant. There wasn’t really a hang out like it before we opened. People are also also enjoying the performances, events, exhibitions and screenings that are being put on. We recently ran a month-long street art exhibition by the Turnpike Art Group that went down a treat, and moving forward we’ll be hosting a new exhibition every month. And there’s loads of other stuff too. Just last Saturday we had Bandante play in the top floor gallery space – they’re the new band from George Vjestica (ex-guitarist with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds).

British clothing brand Folk has designed some of the hotel rooms, how did this collaboration happen?

Cathal: Nick and I have been mates for ages. He explained the vision and then we went on site a few times and did a walk through. With such a wonderful building and the vision laid down, it was easy from there. For us the furniture has always come as something that is needed to solve an issue. Shelves because we needed shelves in our stores, a chair because we needed a chair for the Flushing Meadows Hotel. So it’s a range that’s grown out of necessity really. Some of these pieces grow into other products with the same design strain. For Green Rooms it was all about keeping things clean. Nice lines, sparse and simple. And everything had to be in harmony with the wider holistic vision for the project. Green Rooms is great for us because it means we can show the homewares products in situ. It makes more sense looking at one of our chains in a hotel room than it does in one of the shops.

We love the concept of the chef residency at the hotel’s restaurant, what are some of the characteristics you’re looking for when considering a chef to be part of Green Rooms?

Nick: There are a number of things. First off they’ve got to be good and cook amazing food! And then they have to be at a certain stage in their evolution. The whole project is about giving burgeoning restaurateurs a chance to run their own restaurant but we can’t take people who have just been cooking at home in their kitchens. They need to be a bit further on. Ideally they’ll have done pop ups, maybe had a successfully food truck, that type of thing. They also need to buy into the overall vision – that’s really important. We’re nice people, we’re trying to affect change in a positive way with Green Rooms. We’re not rapacious guys who are hung up on making money. Of course we want to be profitable, and we are, but there’s a way of going about things.

Could you tell us about what exhibitions and events guests and visitors can enjoy at Green Rooms in the upcoming months?

Nick: There’s loads going on in the next few months – it’s a veritable artistic feast. On November 12 we had the incredible ’12 Ensemble’ in for a performance. They’re London’s ‘Un-conducted string orchestra’ and do brilliant and accessible classical music pieces. Later that week we’ve got a life drawing class happening (November 17), then we’ve got a New Variety Lives! comedy show, we’ve got R-FT doing an artist-in-residence programme and we’ve got an exhibition from artist Sonia Pang. And this isn’t event the half of it!

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November 17, 2016
3 Incredible Destinations To Scratch That Wanderlust Itch

Some people are quite content with the routine of their life, adore heading to work every morning, love their job and are happy to take a two week holiday each year. However, for others, the wanderlust itch is ever constant. While you cannot always itch it, you can plan your time in an effective way to ensure that you can embark on some longer travel jaunts. While your boss may be a tad overbearing, if you ask for an unpaid sabbatical, the chances are that they will allow you this time off. People who are well travelled will often return to their roles feeling more refreshed, reinvigorated and eager to hit the ground running once again.

If you adore travel and you can’t get enough of immersing yourself in new cultures, sampling new cuisine and witnessing new vistas, then the chances are that you’re eager to hot foot it to somewhere new. The destinations that you might want to hit could be the traditional backpacker types like Goa, Vietnam or Thailand. Or perhaps you fancy a jaunt to South America. Or maybe a Route 66 style trip could help you get your wanderlust kicks. However, for those individuals who need something more from their travels, there are a whole host of places out there that are little explored. To get off the beaten track means going to a nation or two that don’t have the usual holiday resorts and high rise hotels. Take a look at these incredible destinations that can uniquely scratch that wanderlust itch.

Image by Pexels – CC0 Licence

Jordan

If you have fancied a trip to the Middle East but you’re concerned about the volatility of the region, you don’t have to be too concerned. You obviously won’t be taking a jaunt to Afghanistan, Syria or Iran, but you can venture to the region in a safe way. Organised trips like the Best of Jordan Tour can help you to experience the beauty and culture of the region without worrying about feeling unsafe.

Jordan itself is religiously and historically significant, and yet many people don’t travel here. You could take in the capital city of Amman alongside Madaba and the stunning desert of Wadi Rum. Here, you can stay in a traditional nomadic tent and feel privileged to observe the daily life of herders and farmers in the desert. For most individuals venturing to Jordan, Petra is the most significant tourist attraction. This UNESCO world heritage site and archeological park is best known for Al Khazna, the amazing facade to the mythical building set in rock that no one really knows why it was built.

Jordan is an incredible country, that is more liberal than its neighbours. Tourists are welcomed and travellers often describe their time in this great nation as unforgettable and the trip of a lifetime. There’s no better place to immerse yourself in an authentic culture that hasn’t changed for millennia. You can head into live archeological digs and see history being discovered. You could even scale Mount Nebo and take in the views of Israel and the surrounding skylines.

Image by Pexels – CC0 Licence

Japan

If you fancy a trip that takes in more of the Far East rather than the Middle East, you could do much worse the Land of the Rising Sun. Japan is a monocultural society that is proud of its heritage. While this might make it seem like an insular nation, this is a country that welcomes tourists and enjoys showing off its history, cities and culture. Some of the friendliest people in the world reside in Japan. If you are stuck hunting for your bullet train in Tokyo, you can expect a whole host of Japanese people to come to your rescue and escort you to the platform that you need.

Tokyo, Japan’s capital city, is a must for city slickers. Here, you can explore the retro gaming world of Akihabara, the high end shopping of Ginza district and the millennial vibe of Harajuku. Tokyo has many kooky eateries such as the robot restaurant where you are served by AI rather than human beings. If you want a view over the city, the top of the government and financial buildings offer the best views. On a clear day, you will even see Mount Fuji.

For food lovers, there’s no better place than Osaka. The iconic street of Dotonburi is full of delicious street food, such as shrimp on a stick, katsu pork and noodles by the bucket load. Ramen and soba noodle scents fill the air, and you can expect to spend an awesome night traversing the foodie streets as you sample the exquisite morsels.

For the history buff, Hiroshima can be a sobering city to visit, and yet it is a hopeful and vibrant place. Destroyed by an atomic bomb at the end of the Second World War, this city is now young, cosmopolitan and trendy. They have key memorials so to be sure that the world never forgets the people who died, but this is also a city that welcomes newness and is forward thinking. Take a trip to the atomic dome that is still standing and take in the symbol of hope that is the paper crane girl. You can even make your own origami crane and add your own message of peace to sit alongside others from across the world.

If you fancy temple hopping or heading to a part of Japan that is lesser visited, Miyajima could be perfect. This little island just a short boat ride from Hiroshima will allow you to stay in a ryokan, wear traditional Japanese robes and head up Mount Misen. Here, you can enjoy the wild deer and monkeys on your route. You might also fancy exploring the floating Torii gates in the sea. This amazing optical illusion looks even better as the sun sets over the island. For more temple hopping, you can venture to Shirakawago, a traditional and authentic village full of gassho houses and artisan traders. Or perhaps Kanazawa with its Buddhist and Taoist temples and shrines all within walking distance would be ideal.

Image by Pexels – CC0 Licence

China

For a different Far East jaunt that will allow you to immerse yourself in an even another unique culture, China is perfect. Here, you will see the sheer business and vibrancy of incredible cities. China is a vast geographical region that is a real land of contrasts. You could head to the capital Beijing, from which to base yourself for a week or more. From here, you could self plan your own tour to the Great Wall of China. Forget Badaling that is full of tourists and will prevent you from getting a clear view of the wall, and instead, head to Mutianyu. Get yourself to the central bus station, watch out for the scams, and enjoy a cable car up to the wall. Mutianyu is idyllic and relatively restored. You can walk through tower gates and see the vast views that show off the changing seasons of the region.

You might fancy a more historical experience. Go to Xi’an and walk along the city walls before heading to the Drum and Bell towers for some culture. Here, you are at the entrance of the Muslim Quarter, where you can sample some of the finest street food in the nation. Delicious vegetarian cuisine makes an appearance here from paprika potatoes to satay and chilli tofu on a stick. Don’t leave Xi’an without hot footing it to the Terracotta Warriors. This amazing live archeological dig houses three sites that show off the warriors in all their glory. Do them in reverse, and you will end your visit in the most impressive hangar of all, with thousands of warriors in a pit, stood up and staring back at you. While a little kitch, the exit is full of tourist tat, but this can be the perfect place to sample some amazing biang biang noodles.

If your wanderlust itch means that you need to head to the great outdoors, Emeishan national park can help you to venture to the most beautiful and mountainous region of the country. Temple hopping as you scale the mountain means that you will culminate with the grand Wannian Temple at the peak. With over a hundred and fifty temples to visit, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Just make sure that you have some waterproofs as its always raining in Emeishan.

China allows you to explore a range of environments from the rustic Chinese rural communities to the more cosmopolitan cities. Shanghai is a wonderful forward thinking and loud city, but the neighbouring town of Suzhou that is only twenty minutes away by train, is more sedate and gentle. Suzhou is a water town and can be the perfect base from which to see other small historical water towns such as Tongli, which has been called the Venice of China.

Chengdu is another part of the country that is worthy of a visit. Here, you can visit the Panda conservation centre and enjoy some of the finest Szechuan cuisine. This spicy food is great for one pot eating. Hotpot restaurants are on every street. You will sit at your table only to see a central grill emerge where a spicy casserole of meat, fish or vegetables will be cooked. You could even meet some fellow tourists or locals where you can learn some of the language and experience life as a local.

Bucket lists have become fashionable in recent years. If you are keen to really scratch that wanderlust itch, ensure that you consider these three awesome destinations.

November 12, 2016
5 Reasons a Staycation is Better Than Going Abroad

If you are still trying to decide whether to take a staycation this year or go abroad once again, read this article. There are many great reasons to choose a staycation over a holiday abroad, so we have selected five of them to look at more in-depth. Hopefully, this will help you to decide.

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Lower Cost

Staycations are great for lots of reasons, but one of them is the overall cost. Instead of buying a flight, accommodation, and tickets for excursions, you only have fuel and food costs to pay, which work out substantially cheaper. You can then re-invest the savings in your family.

Holidays abroad cost hundreds of pounds per person, which is money you can save with a staycation. Think of what you could do with hundreds of pounds in your family home. You could install an outdoor patio for the summer or energy-saving windows for the winter months.

Eco Friendly

A staycation is far more eco-friendly than a holiday abroad, so if you are interested in reducing your carbon footprint and passing those same values onto your children, then choose a staycation for your summer holiday. If you don’t have a campervan, you could always rent one.

Although a camper van is not the most eco-friendly option – especially if it’s powered by conventional gas – it is still substantially better than an international flight. Additionally, you will be spending less on food and supporting the home economy; it’s a winning situation all around.

Whole Family

It can be difficult to take the entire family on an overseas holiday; you need a pet sitter. Although it’s possible to take some pets overseas, it can be expensive and costly, but that is not a concern when you take a staycation instead. Staycations are easy and affordable to organise.

Imagine your favourite pet rising upfront with you in the passenger seat when you’re on your summer vacation, a happy tongue falling out of their mouth. It’s the best way to make lovely memories for the future and to give your favourite family member a holiday at the same time.

RV Storage

When you have a camper van for going on staycations with, you need somewhere to store it over the winter. Most people don’t travel in the winter for vacations, the weather isn’t great, and many of the attractions are closed. If you don’t have a garage, then you might need RV storage.

RV storage facilities are accessible, dry, and fully functional. If you need to charge your RV battery, for instance, you can plug it into one of the outlets; there is also 24-hour security to keep your vehicle safe. Use RV storage instead of parking the vehicle in front of your home.

Home Comforts

Another reason a staycation is so much better than a holiday abroad is the home comforts. Staycations allow you to stock your campervan full of all the things you love, including soft toys, entertainment, and food items. There is also no need to worry about water quality.

October 30, 2016