Long working days, commutes and completing household errands can have a massive impact on your body and your mind. It’s important to take some time out away from this to unwind, relax and enjoy some you time. One way to really let loose and rid all of those bad toxins from your body is to head to the Spa! Here you can enjoy a range of treatments from massages to beauty treatments to leave you feeling incredible. To celebrate #NationalSpaWeek, we thought we’d take a look at some of the reasons why spa-ing is just what you need.. Let yourself destress… One of the main reasons people opt for massages is to allow them to slow down, take some much needed alone time and most importantly, allows them to de-stress. It’s proven to be good for blood circulation as it delivers oxygen and nutrients to the cells around the body. Rejuvenate your skin One of the more popular treatments that are being enjoyed in Spas around the world allowing the body to be replenished with nutrients and elements that are lost. As a result, it will have a great impact on moisture in the skin, helping rejuvenate it. Enjoy healthy food Many spas are now complete with a healthy menu, perfect for a light bite before or after treatments. In most, there are nutritionists available who can offer advice on changing to a healthier lifestyle choice. Be pampered If you’re in need of some TLC, enjoy a beauty or spa treatment. Relax and let someone else pamper you which will leave you looking and feeling amazing. Let us know why you love Spa-ing over on Twitter #GBLOVES
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For many, bonfire night is about wrapping up warm, setting off some fabulous fireworks in the back garden - and cooking up some delicious warming foods for friends and family to enjoy! We’ve pulled together our top ultimate food picks that you can enjoy this year… Hot Dogs Obviously a classic bonfire favourite is the good old hot dog - but why not spice it up this year with new delicious flavours and toppings? Marinate them in mixtures such as cider, bbq or beer to give it that refreshing taste. And if you’re looking to go all out, why not try one of Aldi’s amazing new food delights - the foot-long hot dog which has just been released in time for bonfire night- a must try! Marshmallows over the fire One of our favourite delicious treats HAS to be toasting marshmallows on the fire. All you need is a bowl filled with melted chocolate, marshmallow and some wooden skewers - simply pop your marshmallows onto the skewers and toast them onto the flames to enjoy! Bonfire Hot Chocolate The perfect way to warm up on a cold November night is with a milky hot chocolate that’s finished with plenty of whipped cream, marshmallows and chocolate sprinkles! Why not shake it up this Bonfire night and add a touch of Autumn into your hot drink with Pumpkin puree? What foods will you be enjoying this bonfire night? Let us know over on Twitter #GBLOVES Pasta is one of our favourite foods - it’s the perfect diet, comfort food or snack that we just can’t get enough of! This Thursday 26th October 2017 marks on of the best days of the year, National Pasta Day! Pasta lovers across the globe can celebrate this special day by indulging into their favourite dish - we have the Spaghetti Bolognese at the ready! In preparation for this, we thought we’d take a look back at the history of our beloved pasta, explore its roots - and of course throw in some fun facts along the way… Where did Pasta originate from? If you didn’t know already, then we are sorry for breaking this to you but Pasta is NOT from Italy despite it being synonymous with Italian cuisine *sob*. One theory suggests that pasta was first brought to Italy by Marco Polo from China way when he visited in the 13th Century. He wrote about it in his book ‘The Travels of Marco Polo’ with reference to a plant that produced flour which the Chinese used to make pasta like dishes - there’s even one that he describes as lasagna. However, many food critics have been quick to criticize this theory arguing that other countries had already been producing similar products during this time Food historians actually believe the Arabs (from Libya) brought the pasta along with other essential foods such as spinach and the sugarcane to the Mediterranean as they referenced this food in the 5th century in the Talmud and it said that many Italians learned from their cooking methods and this how their gained their knowledge - and expertise in cooking pasta today. Here are some of favourite pasta facts that you can never forgetti… Ditch the spoon! Apparently, you are not supposed to eat Spaghetti with a spoon - this started off as an American habit. In Italy, you are supposed to use only a fork and twirl it against the dish How much Pasta? Despite it not being traditionally Italian, every one of them will eat around 26 kilos of pasta a year - that’s from small babies to the elderly It’s all in the name… If you’re eating any pasta dish, I’d probably look away now just incase. In Italian, Spaghetti names don’t sound too good. Did you know that Spaghetti actually means strings, vermicelli are small worms, farfalle are butterflies and linguine little tongues? What pasta dish will you be enjoying for #NationalPastaDay? Let us know over on Twitter #GBLOVES The hospitality world has plenty of roles for everyone - from being front of house, to working behind the scenes. It’s an exciting industry where no two days are ever the same! It’s a career that has the opportunity for everyone to grow, and progress - and offers new skills and challenges every day. If you are passionate about learning and providing a great customer experience for your guests, then being a hospitalier will also be very rewarding for you. If you’re looking to become part of it, here are our top three tips on how you can break into the industry… Consider the role for you Before sending your CV off for any role, consider what it is you are applying for - and if you’re skillset is strong enough for this role. Be true to yourself, will you be able to handle assisting with front-of house operations or would you be more suited to a commercial or strategy role? Even if it’s not always the dream role you’ve always wanted, there’s always the opportunity to move round and experience other departments. Remember, every role you do undertake is an opportunity learn and discover more about the industry. Gaining experience If you’ve always wanted to be part of the industry, then gaining experience within this field will always be one of the most vital parts of achieving this goal. One of the key aspects of this is to show that you understand your guest - and are experienced and natural at making them feel welcome. You need to be able to be ready to take on any challenge, delicate situations and most importantly be able to work in a team. To gain experience, why not undertake an internship, take on a part time job waiting or working on the bar, or helping out with charity events? It shows you care, and that you are passionate about people and the industry. Skills and Education With many roles in hospitality, you may not necessarily need a degree for every single role but a qualification in hospitality, leisure and tourism might help guide you in the right direction and help you with you career progression. It will also show that you are dedicated to this industry, and want to learn as much as you can. You will need an array of skills for this chosen career, including strong communication skills, teamwork skills, commercial knowledge and be passionate about your work. Share your top tips on how your career in hospitality began on Twitter #GBLOVES The hospitality industry is ever changing, there’s always new trends, new and improved ways of working and new developments. It’s important for those working within the industry to stay up-to date with the latest happenings as these may possibly have an impact on their business, whether that’s competitor research or top tips at improving their service for example. There are numerous ways to stay up to date, from hospitality magazines, social media - and our favourite source of information - the web! It’s important for those working within the industry to remain aware of the latest news and we thought we’d share with you our top three blogs that we follow... BigHospitality A varied and interesting online publication is BigHospitality continous to share the latest news, and advice for those working or interested in the industry, and share views and interviews from some of the industry's key names and businesses which are insightful - and also really enjoyable to read. You can sign up for their newsletter which shares the latest breaking industry news - or follow them on social media where they are super active. Hospitality Times A perfect read for all - from educators to those who are new to the industry. The Hospitality Times site is produced and written by student and staff at Switzerland's’ Hotel and Tour Management Institute who share their knowledge and experience on everything hospitality related - from trends, management and events. Luxury Hospitality Magazine As you may already be aware, the GB Team LOVE luxurious things so it may come as no surprise that we love to browse Luxury Hospitality Magazine (daily)! It’s a great source that keeps us aware of what’s happening, events, new openings and new, beautiful design trends that we’ll start to see in hospitality establishments around the world. If you work in hospitality, let us know what blogs you follow over on Twitter! #GBLOVES Fresh Autumn air, cripsy leaves breaking under your feet and wrapping up warm. Autumn is a fantastic time of year to get out and about and enjoy some of the region's most beautiful scenery walks and the exciting trails. Even more exciting, is that Halloween is just around the corner and we’ve all been chatting about the most spooky places to visit in the North West according to good old folk tales. We’ve pulled together a list of our most frightening and spooktastic walks below to help you plan your October Autumn Walk… Pendle Hill Famous for its Witches is the stunning Pendle Hill that’s complete with pretty villages that tell stories of witchcraft which have taken place for over 400 years. Today, the trail of the Pendle Witches has become a tourist attraction with many people flocking in to experience it. You can begin the walk at the Pendle Heritage Centre and follow the route the Pendle Witches took through the Ribble Valley to the Lancaster Castle where they were trialed. Take in some of the most beautiful scenes from the hill of the Lake District, and the sea. Rivington Pike Folklore leads us to believe that Rivington Pike is haunted by a headless horseman who today still romans around. It’s one of the best viewing points within the U.K. which offers views of the North West. Complete with lots of romantic windy paths and interesting sights such as the Japanese Garden and the Lever Bridge, there’s something for all to enjoy. Samlesbury Hall Apparently one of the most haunted places in the U.K. is Samlesbury Hall which is set to be home to a number of spirits including the White Lady, Dorothy Southworth who died of a broken heart who has been spotted in the hall and around the grounds. Many TV shows have been set here searching for ghosts, including Most Haunted. Where will you be heading for your October Autumn Walk? Let us know over on Twitter #GBLOVES The scariest night of the year is fast approaching and each year, the U.K. seems to be embracing Halloween more and more. Local farms are producing pumpkins galore, supermarkets are lining the aisles with scary costumes - and houses around the country are prepared with goodies for those trick or treaters! This Halloween, if you’re feeling brave, why not enjoy one of these spooky activities… Farmaggedon Feel like you’re in a real life horror film at Farmaggedon. Experience ghouls, clowns and the dead in this truly terrifying experience. Endure a walk around five scare attractions including contagion, the meat locker, terror on the farm, the foundry and zombie outlaw. It’s set in the countryside so no one will hear you scream. Will you be able to handle the fear on the farm? Address: Farmaggedon, Farmer Ted’s Farm Park, Flatmans Lane, Downholland, Ormskirk, Lancashire. L39 7HW The Halloween Grotto ‘Double, double toil and trouble’; if you’re a fan of Witches then you must visit Ordsall Hall to see the witch in her grotto. Guests can enjoy some spells and join in with riddles and receive a gift (well, if you make it)! There’s also a series of real life ghost hunting taking place where the team there go looking for spirits in the walls. Address: Ordsall Hall Ghost Hunts, Ordsall Hall Museum, Ordsall Lane, Ordsall, Salford, M5 3AN Halloween Drive-in Cinema Lock those doors and cosy up tight, and enjoy a truly unique experience at Manchester’s Halloween Drive-in Cinema. With a choice of films to watch including The Exorcist, Texas Chainsaw Massacre - and the lovely Hocus Pocus - it will be a Halloween to remember forever. If you’re brave enough to sit outside in the dark that is…. Address: The AJ Bell Stadium, Stadium Way, Eccles, Manchester M30 7EY How will you be spending Halloween? Let us know over on Twitter #GBLOVES If you’re not boomeranging, filtering or hosting live videos on your Instagram channel, you could he be missing out new opportunities to engage with a new audience who might be interested in your product, or service. In the last few months, Instagram Stories has been a phenomenal success, with every leading fashion retailer, make-up artist and celebrity turning to Instagram story to reveal what their day-to day lives actually entail, or to see a sneak peak behind the scenes at a new collection - or launch. If you don’t already know, Instagram stories are images and videos that are are somewhat pinned to your profile which will remain there for 24 hours. You can edit, write text on them or filter them to get your message across directly to your desired audience. And in the last few days, Instagram now lets us add polls into the story to really see what the audience are thinking. What’s even better than this is that you can see who is watching the stories so you can have an understanding on which can indicate what people are interested in. If you’re not already active on Instagram Stories, here are a couple of tips on how you can maximise your posts…
Are you using Instagram Stories? Let us know your thoughts over on Twitter! #GBLOVES Curry has become one of the nation’s favourite dishes over the last century, and we thought with it being #NationalCurryWeek that we’d take a little trip down memory lane to see where this delicious concoction first began - and share with you some fun facts that you might not have known! What is National Curry Week? Similar to many other national days or weeks, National Curry Week is promoted to raise awareness, and money, for charities that focus on malnourishment and poverty. The week begins today, the 9th October and runs until the 15th October encouraging everyone to rejoice in all things curry that everyone can get involved in; from showcasing those cooking skills in the kitchen to your friends or being waited on in a restaurant participating in the week. Where did Curry originate from, and why is so popular here in the U.K? The first documented Curry recipe here in the U.K was featured in a cookery book written by Hannah Glasses in The Art of Cookery which was published in 1747 that featured a range of recipes for curries, although they were much milder than the ones available here today. Over the years, people started introducing new flavours - herbs, peppercorns and such to create new flavours; which certainly spiced things up! The first ‘curry’ restaurant to open here was back in 1809 by Dean Mahomed who served guests spicy meat and vegetable dishes while they enjoyed coffee or smoking hookah pipes in his Hindostanee Coffee House. Top 5 Curry Facts 5. The ‘curry’ Capital of Britain is Bradford which has been awarded the title for the past six years 4. In the U.K., we are home to over 9000 ‘curry’ houses 3. The world’s biggest curry was cooked in Singapore - it was an incredible 15.34 tonne! 2. The word curry was used as a verb in the late 13th century. However, this actually meant to rub down a horse with a comb 1. Here in the U.K., we spend over £250 million pound a year on Indian food How will you be enjoying National Curry Week? Let us know over on Twitter! If you’ve been on Twitter this week, you’ll have already seen fish puns galore to celebrate National Seafood Week which is taking plaice from Friday 6th October to Friday 13th October. The annual campaign is now in its third year with the aim of encouraging more and more people to eat fish across the U.K - and different species of fish will be celebrated on each day. If you’re tired of trawling the net for great seafood dishes to enjoy, then we hope we’ve caught your attention - hook line and sinker. Here are some of our top dishes that you should enjoy this week... Fish & Chips Fish and Chips, a classic British dish perfect for a cosy Friday night in, or the perfect treat after a day at the seaside. It’s probably one of our favourite dishes that we’re going to list on here, and one of the most common meals that will be enjoyed this week! If you’re looking for the best Fish and Chip shop in the U.K. then head to Plymouth’s Kingfisher Fish and Chips who were voted number one earlier this year by the Seafood authority. The competition takes places each year and the top ten shops have been nominated; check them out here! Fish Soup Autumn is here and if you’re looking for a nice warming dish, why not enjoy a fish soup? There’s so many online recipes that are easy to recreate and are super tasty. Some of our favourite fish soups include Gumbo soup made with Shrimp or Crab, Spanish Seafood dish, Sopa Marienera which consists of oysters, clams, seashells, crab, oyster and a plenty of spices, and of course a spiced haddock chowder. Fin-tastic. Smoked Salmon Whether you’re enjoying it for breakfast, or in a fancy restaurant, Smoked Salmon is one of the most amazing fish dishes around. Not only does it taste incredible, it’s also really good for you as it’s complete with omega 3 to keep your body healthy. Right, we’ll stop carping on now and leave you to it. Do make you sure head over to Twitter and follow us for some top fish bants! |
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