Relais & Chateaux adds new members

Relais & Chateaux has added nine new members to its collection, comprising seven hotels and two restaurants.

The group said its latest members - which span England, Ireland, Denmark, Switzerland, Canada and France - have been selected for their focus on sustainability and wellness.

New properties include the recently-renovated Thornbury Castle in Gloucestershire, the only Tudor castle that operates as a hotel, formerly home to several royals; Ballynahinch in Connemara, set against the mountains of western Ireland; and the refurbished Brindos, Lac & Château, a floating retreat on a private lake near Biarritz, France, due to open in April 2022.

Other additions range from an adult-only chalet hotel in the mountains of Switzerland to a waterside retreat on the island of Als in Denmark, an eco-friendly hotel in Zürich to an art deco hideaway in the forests of Quebec, Canada.

Simone Arcucci, general manager of Thornbury Castle, said: "We are thrilled that Thornbury Castle has been invited to become a member of Relais & Châteaux and we very much look forward to introducing the castle to their discerning guests.”

Eoin Walsh, general manager at Ballynahinch Castle, commented: “We are proud and honoured to join the prestigious Relais & Châteaux family. The vision of Relais & Châteaux symbolises everything we do at Ballynahinch Castle; individuality, authenticity, and personable service.

“Our new partnership with Relais & Châteaux defines our hotel as one of the stand-out places to visit in the west of Ireland and we look forward to welcoming guests from near and far.”

New restaurant members meanwhile span Maison Décotterd in Montreux, Switzerland, overlooking Lake Geneva and run by two Michelin-star chef Stéphane Décotterd; and Restaurant Saisons in Lyon, France – a showcase for the Institut Paul Bocuse culinary arts school, headed up by three-star chef Florian Pansin.