London, United Kingdom (February 19, 2010) – botonics, London-based cosmetic surgery specialists who employ some of the most experienced medical professionals in the field, announce that they have employed a new registered nurse who is expertly trained in medical aesthetic treatments.

Naruschka Henriqués has been involved in the beautification industry since 1999 and is extremely passionate about helping people to look their best. She initially trained as a make-up artist before qualifying as a registered nurse and has a keen eye for symmetry and aesthetics.

Naruschka feels that she has a natural affinity with clients thanks to her easy-going nature and approachability, and commented: “I love working with clients, because they come to you to feel special, and you create magic with what you do! It’s like giving a gift!” Naruschka’s specialties lie in anti-ageing and rejuvenation techniques, and she is an expert professional when performing dermal filler lip and cheek enhancements.

“Naruschka is a natural and has already become a vital member of our team in her short time here, both staff and clients alike have really taken a shine to her,” says Bill Green of botonics. “Naruschka’s relationship with clients is one that is very individual and personalised – one size does not fit all. She loves to help people to discover other sides to themselves, helping them gain a sense of confidence and freedom. That feeling is just as important as any other in our cosmetic surgery techniques, and that personality helps set us apart from the competition.”

To find out more about botonics and the cosmetic surgery solutions they provide, visit their website at http://www.botonics.co.uk/ or telephone 0845 680 1964.

About botonics:

London-based cosmetic surgery clinic, botonics, have an excellent reputation for clinical care and offer innovative practices and services, which is complemented by skilled specialists in the field of providing medical beauty treatments. They offer free consultations by trained practitioners who will provide realistic advice regarding the treatments and procedures you are looking to have. botonics can provide treatments such as botox, breast enlargement, liposuction, Vaser and more.

Contact:
botonics Ltd.,
10 Harley Street
London,
W1G 9PF
Tel: 0845 680 1964
Email: [email protected]

The weather has been very cruel to the United Kingdom this Winter but why let that stop you enjoying Christmas festivities.

For the last two weeks, Cumbria – the Lake District has been the main focus on all the news networks. This beautiful location may have been battered and bruised by the weather but it is still one of the most beautiful areas of the United Kingdom and fully open for business.

And Christmas is an ideal time to visit the Lake District with its warm hospitality, endless real fires and top quality local produce.

The Castle Inn Hotel and Spa near Bassenthwaite, Keswick have a small number of places available for their luxury Christmas break. This special Christmas break commences on Thursday the 24th of December right through to Sunday 27th December. The mix of organised events and time alone to explore the area or visit the health spa has been perfectly combined.

Set overlooking some of England’s highest fells and Bassenthwaite Lake, the Castle Inn Lake District Hotel is in a beautiful location, just 8 miles from Keswick.  They are ideally situated for those wishing to explore Bassenthwaite, Keswick and the Lake District. The Castle Inn Hotel is one of the finest Keswick hotels offering a warm welcome and the ideal location for relaxing after a busy day discovering the beauties of the Lake District.

Those requiring further information on the festive Christmas break at the Castle Inn Hotel & Spa should visit http://www.castleinncumbria.co.uk or telephone 017687 76401.

The BBC 2 Wake up to Wogan show lunches “Things that Money Cant Buy” auction for Children in Need on Monday 16th November with a Wainwright walking package staring Julia Bradbury and The Skiddaw Hotel in Keswick.

The Wainwright walks have been popularised by Julia Bradbury who often stays at the Skiddaw Hotel when filming in the Lake District. This unique package is set to appeal to walking fans who enjoy bracing walks, fresh air, beautiful surroundings and a touch of glamour too!

The package gives the final bidder and a friend the chance to join presenter Julia Bradbury and the production team from Skyworks TV for a day’s walking in the Lake District some time next year.

The guests will spend the first night as special guests at the Skiddaw Hotel in Keswick, before walking in the footsteps of the famous walker Alfred Wainwright. The walk may be filmed for TV broadcast, but at the very least, the winning pair will have their own private film of their walk – as well as signed DVD’s photo’s and memorabilia from the series.

Kevin Curran, General Manager of the Skiddaw Hotel, part of the Lake District Hotels Ltd group said “The hotel is very popular for walking holidays and we already have a walking break named after Julia Bradbury and Wainwright  – it includes a copy of Wainwright’s Northern Fells book and a bathroom experience pack for relaxing after a days walking on the fells!

Julia likes to stay with us when she is filming in the Lake District, so we were delighted when she mentioned the opportunity to link in with Terry Wogan’s “Want Money can’t buy” auction. Fingers crossed for the bidding on Monday morning.”

A full list of the opportunities up for auction can be seen on the BBC 2 website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/wake-up-to-wogan/terrys-children-in-need-09-auction/monday/

It was pamper time at the Lodore Falls Hotel this week at a networking event organized by the Cumbria Chamber of Commerce.

The event was a sell out in only a few days and more than thirty ladies enjoyed an afternoon of relaxed networking between treatments and afternoon tea.

The Cumbria Chamber of Commerce has been organizing a variety of different events for members and this is the second time they have gathered at the Lodore Falls Hotel this year. Earlier in May the Chamber hosted an event at the hotel which was aimed at women. The positive feedback from that evening lead Suzanne Caldwell, the Chambers Enterprise & Development Manager to organize this Spa pamper networking event.

Suzanne said “We recently held a golf day which was mainly attended by men so we thought SPA networking afternoon would be perfect for businesswomen who can use the day to meet new contacts and take time to address their work life balance. The Lodore Falls Hotel is a fantastic venue, they are used to catering for groups and events and the food is always first class. The facilities are excellent and we have been well looked after – we enjoyed afternoon tea in our robes and felt very comfortable doing so!”

Kit Graves, Director of the luxury Lake District Hotels Ltd Group said “Christine Bibby our Spa Manager has worked hard to make sure our Chamber guest had chance to experience SPA treatments in peace and tranquility – there were a lot of treatments and it was important to us that they didn’t feel rushed. They were certainly very relaxed when they enjoyed their afternoon tea and I am sure a lot of networking was done too – just in a more informal way!”

Anyone interested in finding out more about organizing group Spa Days at the hotel should contact Christine at the Lodore Falls Hotel on 017687 77285 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/spabreaks. For more information about events held by the Chamber of Commerce in Cumbria visit http://www.cumbriachamber.co.uk/

The Borrowdale Hotel steps back in time with an exhibition of old photographs depicting life in the Borrowdale valley hundreds of years ago. The exhibition is set to run until the end of October.

The display, by kind permission of Patricia Roscamp, is made up from historical photographs that have been hung in the Borrowdale Hotel bar. It is quite fitting that the photographic exhibition is being held at the Borrowdale hotel in the Lake District – built over 140 years ago it was the first purpose built hotel in the valley.

General Manager Stephen Wilcock is also marking the occasion by introducing a luncheon and dinner menu that is representative of the 1800’s. Dinner guests can choose from today’s a-la-carte menu, or choose dishes from a menu available to guests in the 19th century. The menu is as close to tradition as possible, but certainly doesn’t go as far as Heston Blumenthal’s Tudor feasts shown on TV last autumn. Diners can choose from two, three or four courses which includes Victorian favourites like ‘Ham Hock Terrine with pureed peas, roast goose and an old fashioned desert of Lemon Posset with almond brandy.

Head Chef Peter Starauscheck has tried to replicate 19th century dishes wherever possible, but knows tastes have changed! “Local ingredients and seasonality have always been important, but Chef’s in 1800 would have goose on the menu any time of the year – today geese are generally available around Christmas, so we had to place a special order to ensure we could include Goose on the menu. Once the Pheasant season begins we will be introducing a three bird roast of goose stuffed with a chicken and pheasant.”

Lunch time visitors to this Lake District hotel can sample the ‘Bygone Days two or three course luncheon’ while they peruse the photos and history of the valley; potted salmon with pink peppercorns, egg, lemon, peppers and a tomato vinaigrette, or chunky vegetable and bacon soup, followed by slow braised shoulder of mutton served upon stewed pearl barley and vegetables. Proper puddings were certainly fashionable in the early 1800’s and a rhubarb and Bramley apple crumble mixed with oats and nuts would be warmly welcomed – then and now.

Stephen Wilcock said “we have completed most of the hotel refurbishment and thought the exhibition would be a good opportunity for local people to come and have a look. We have mounted the old pictures and hung them in the bar so visitors can see how the valley used to look while they enjoy lunch afternoon tea or dinner. Adding a 19th century dinner menu certainly tested Chef – but like today, they would have used as many local lake District ingredients as possible and diners will be delighted when they see what we can offer.”

For more details on the exhibition and details of the 19th century dinner menu at the Borrowdale Hotel please contact the General Manager – Stephen Wilcock on 017687 77224, http://www.lakedistricthotels.net or http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/borrowdalehotel/index.htm.

London, UK ( pressreleasestudio ) August 7, 2009 – It’s certainly something lots of marketing experts are talking about, but just how small businesses should go about building an online community is harder to understand. Ben Dyer has built a 10,000 member community for his business and he shares the lessons he’s learned in a new article on Marketing Donut.

Dyer says that while a community is a powerful way to engage with your customers, building one requires patience and perseverance.

“For every community I have seen fail due to lack of traffic, two have the plug pulled because of a perceived lack of progress” he says.

Dyer says the other key ingredients of success are: leadership, ground rules, taking criticism on the chin, and making sure the community caters to everyone, not just the “fanatics”.

“Running a community is hard work, but it can be a fantastically rewarding experience for both you and your customers. The reality is that if you have a successful company, product or service, your customers will be talking about you anyway. What you need to decide is whether you are willing to facilitate the conversation.”

Backed by Google and Royal Mail, Marketing Donut is a free marketing resource that’s been developed specially for small business. Practical and no-nonsense, Marketing Donut covers all aspects of small business marketing, from branding through to internet marketing, from direct marketing through to generating PR for your business.

Further information:

* The Marketing Donut is at http://www.marketingdonut.co.uk

Contact details:
Mick Dickinson
BHP Information Solutions
tel: 0117 904 2224
[email protected]

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Golfers helped raise nearly £2,000 for charity during BAE Systems Submarine Solutions’ charity golf event.

Organised as part of the company’s Five Day Global Charity Challenge, it saw 60 employees and members of its supply chain play Ulverston Golf Club.

Perfect conditions contributed to a day of quality golf with Craig MacGranthin crowned the eventual winner. Craig also won the nearest to the pin competition.

Stuart Moscrop, from local company PKA, was the competition’s runner-up, and he also came second in the nearest to the pin. Colin Mahon hit the longest drive.

The day ended with a presentation in the clubhouse with prizes handed out by St Mary’s Hospice fundraising manager Zoe Guest.

In total £1,960.40 was raised, with £500 going to Sue Ryder Care, and the remainder to St Mary’s Hospice.

Every 18 months BAE Systems nominates a partner charity for its Charity Challenge, when over that time it commits to raising funds for a particular organisation. Its current partner is St Mary’s Hospice and already the company is well on the way to raising another substantial amount.

Recently it has:
• Donated £17,500 to 25 separate local charities via its Give As You Earn scheme in which employees give a percentage of their monthly earnings.
• Supported more than 200 charities in various projects and initiatives.
• Backed national campaigns, such as Wear it Pink Day and Red Nose Day, raising thousands of pounds in the process.
•  The annual Keswick to Barrow Walk is organised with the help of BAE Systems employees and in 2008 raised more than £200,000 for charity.
•  Organised other events including quiz nights, golf competitions, bingo evenings, bag-packing and much more. The Charity Challenge team is continually looking for new fundraising ideas.

For more information on the latest charity events go to http://www.worklifebarrow.co.uk

Grove Cottages, the Lake District cottages company with properties in Ambleside, announce the launch of their new website.
www.grovecottages.com has been refurbished and updated to fully promote the refurbishments and upgrades of the five properties on Grove Farm. The new website offers much clearer and informative details on each cottage, the environment, farm and location. An online booking system has been integrated allowing quick and easy real time availability and booking of each cottage. More images have been included which enlarge when clicked.

Grove Farmhouse is the latest addition to the four holiday cottage lets already on the farm. This new renovation comfortably accommodates 8 – 10 people. Grove Farmhouse has been finished to a very high standard and contains all the modern conveniences expected from a luxury holiday let without compromising the original features of the farmhouse. Grove Farmhouse has two lounges each with log burning stoves, wireless broadband access and in the kitchen, a traditional Rayburn cooking range. A total of three bathrooms make this property an excellent choice for a large group.

The luxury Lake District cottages lie in the beautiful Stock Valley in Ambleside. They are reached by a private drive from Ambleside, which runs past Stockghyll Falls and nature park, climbing to 700 feet to offer some of the finest Panoramic views in the Lake District. Each of the Cumbrian cottages has been lovingly converted from a traditional Lakeland barn. Guests are invited to relax in the secluded gardens, or explore the farm and its wildlife. The latest development on the farm is Grove Farmhouse which was released earlier this year. This new renovation comfortably accommodates 8 – 10 people. Grove Farmhouse has been finished to a very high standard and contains all the modern conveniences expected from a luxury Lake District self catering holiday let without compromising the original features of the farmhouse.

Andrew Howard together with his brothers Max and Ross, took over the running of Grove Farm in the summer of 2008.Their family has been farming for over 150 years on the edge of Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. Grove is a typical Lakeland hill farm, running to some 160 acres of grass and woodland on the slopes of the Stock Valley. The pastures on the farm are home to the Howard’s herd of pedigree Dunn Galloway cattle. The cattle are sold to local speciality butchers.

For further information and to check availability go to http://www.grovecottages.com or telephone 015394 33074.

There are several new experiences at the Lodore Falls Hotel which are proving popular with visitors and locals too.

There’s the new ‘Café Culture’ at the Leisure Club, new treatments for men in the Beauty Salon, a new hot tub with stunning views across the lake and Cat Bells – and finally a new life enhancing club called ZEST!

The whole ambience at the Lodore Falls is one of relaxation and a chance to spoil yourself – and with a number of local people using the facilities, the ZEST experience was an obvious next step.

Zest is a new club that offers a schedule of treatments over 3, 6 or 12 months. It entitles you to a range of half hour or full hour treatments at greatly reduced prices and is very simple to use. The longer your membership the greater the discount on treatments.

It’s not just the ladies that are making use of Zest. Christine Bibby, Salon Manager said “treatments for men are now very popular. We wanted to make sure we can appeal to gentlemen too, so we have launched new facials as well as Turkish wet shaves and massages. It is important that we keep looking for new ideas and the new treatments for men are certainly a hit.”

Kit Graves, Managing Director of Lake District Hotels said “If you have ever thought ‘I would really like some me time’, then Zest is perfect for you and we are pleased to see that more and more local people are making use of the hotel facilities too.”

Leisure facilities at this luxury Lake District hotel are constantly being improved with two more new additions  -  the new Café Culture recently opened in the Leisure Club, providing morning coffee, light lunches or simply a cool drink after a workout in the gym, a swim in the indoor or outdoor pool. The second enticing addition to the facilities is the new outdoor Hot Tub!

The hot tub boasts stunning views across Derwentwater, and sits alongside the river running from the famous Lodore Falls. General Manager Stephen Johnson said “The tub is attracting a lot of attention and many Spa guests are enjoying the hot tub experience with a glass of chilled bubbly – so it’s no wonder our champagne sales have gone through the roof!”

Anyone interested in finding out more about Zest or any of the leisure and Beauty facilities should contact the Lodore Falls Hotel on 017687 87722 or visit http://www.lakedistricthotels.net/lodorefalls/

Applegarth Villa Hotel and Restaurant in Windermere, the Lake District, announce the completion of five refurbished rooms.

The five rooms have all been individually designed in collaboration between the owners of Applegarth Villa their interior designer. The rooms are part of the ongoing development of Applegarth Villa which last year saw JR’s Restaurant refurbished along with the outside terrace. The newly refurbished rooms have been fitted with all the facilities expected by today’s hotel guest; power showers, 32 inch flat screen televisions, Egyptian cotton sheets, Wifi and ipod docking stations. Two of the rooms have even been fitted with flat screen televisions in the bathroom!

The guest rooms are not the only refurbishment at the Applegarth. This week sees the launch of their new website. The new site has been designed to be easy to navigate and reflect the continuing development of the hotel and its brand. Showing images and details of the new rooms along with links to their restaurant and Windermere lake cruises websites, the new site is a comprehensive online brochure and information resource. With online sales such a large proportion of a hotel’s revenue, updating a website is as important as the updating of the hotel itself.

Applegarth Villa and JR’s Restaurant has been owned by Alan and Suzanne Mumford since 2001. Applegarth Villa is a magnificent Arts and Crafts period property set in a quiet area of Windermere Village within easy walking distance of the train station and shops with the unique benefit of free and private off road parking. Elegantly appointed, Applegarth Villa offers a choice of Windermere accommodation from classic double rooms to luxury four-posters with views over the Lakeland fells. Alan and Suzanne have created a classic Lake District hotels experience whilst offering a modern twist with the contemporary design and technology. In continuation of their quest to meet the needs of the modern hotel guest, Applegarth Villa offer luxury Windermere lake cruises on their 50 feet Sealine T50 Flybridge cruiser. The boat, located on Lake Windermere, can hold up to 12 people and can be chartered out for half or full day cruises complete with refreshments throughout. It is the largest motor yacht on Lake Windermere and offers total luxury.

For further information on the refurbished rooms, availability and cruises, go to http://www.lakesapplegarth.co.uk or telephone 015394 43206.