As a father, I enjoy keeping up to date with what is happening in the sporting world. But I am sure that I am not alone in finding that most of my spare time is taken up with “family things,” leaving little time to watch live sports. Even so that doesn’t stop me from taking an interest in everything sports related. Everywhere I go, I am looking for sports connections and take particular interest in going to places which have been important in the history of sports, or places where famous sporting events have taken place. This Father’s Day I am looking at hotels that deliver just that. What a better way to spoil your dad than to treat him to a weekend away in a place that is important for the history of their favourite sport?
The beautiful game
Mercure Nottingham City Centre Hotel
Formally known as The George Hotel, this hotel reopened in 2011 as the Mercure Nottingham. The hotel was the birthplace of Notts County Football Club, the oldest professional football club in the world. The club was founded in 1862 and started playing casual matches between its members, who paid 5 shillings a year to play football on Thursdays. Located in the now trendy Lace Market area of the city, the George Hotel was used for meetings in 1864 between the clubs members, mainly due to large numbers of its members owning factories there! This is where it was decided, on the 7th December, that a football club should be formed. The club played its first official game the following day. Today, the Mercure Hotel is Nottingham’s newest boutique hotel offering guests modern facilities within a historic building. Despite the newness of the hotel, there are still many features of the original hotel including the original staircase and floors on a slant, which can be a little disorientating, especially, I can only imagine, after a few beverages in the hotel bar! The bar itself is decorated with wallpaper displaying the plans of the original hotel.
Propel dad into the premier league
Marriott Worsley Park Hotel, Manchester
Fast forward thousands of games from Notts County’s first match to a hotel which is now a very popular base for football teams when they visit Manchester to play against either of the city’s two Premier League football clubs. Time your stay with a match weekend and you run the risk of bumping into a Premier League star. Walls of the hotel are full of framed football shirts and other sporting memorabilia. Once you have got bored of looking out for football stars, you can continue your sporting stay by trying your luck on the hotel’s championship golf course. The hotel is within easy reach of both football clubs and the city centre so mum can visit the shops whilst dad is star spotting.
Help dad get into the swing
The Belfry, North Warwickshire
A golfing Mecca. Home to two stunning championship golf courses – The PGA National, England’s only PGA Branded course and The Brabazon, the spiritual home of the Ryder Cup. This has hosted more Ryder Cup matches than any other course. Follow in the footsteps of many of golf’s legends, such as Tiger Woods. If your golfing skills aren’t up to the challenge of the world famous championship courses there is still yet another course, The Derby; a shorter, more relaxed course suitable for players of all levels. The hotel itself is set in over 500 acres of countryside and is itself steeped in history dating back to the time of Edward the Confessor, but don’t worry the facilities have been given a modern upgrade since then. Also on the grounds is the Bel Air Night club so dad can participate in another of his hobbies – terrible dancing!
Father’s Day or bust
OK, so the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix has been and gone now, but how much cooler can you get than booking into a suite at the hotel overlooking the famous hairpin bend on the course? Not only that but one also looking out across perhaps the most famous yacht harbours in the world! Dad can feel like one of Formula 1 drivers whilst relaxing in or around the roof top pool, looking out across the Mediterranean Sea. Then he can try his luck at the in-house casino or take a trip to the legendary Casino of Monte Carlo with the dream of winning a fortune – so that he can afford his own yacht and live a life of luxury!
This hotel is a smash hit
Not really a sporting hotel or one with famous links to sport, but the hotel did set up a tennis court in 2005 so that Andre Agassi and Roger Federer could have a bit of a practice more than 200 metres above the ground on the hotel’s helipad! Not really where you would want to be playing a competitive match and running towards the edge chasing the ball for a game winning point! Especially as there was very little barrier to stop either from potentially falling off the edge. Repeatedly voted the world’s most luxurious hotel (the Burj Al Arab is referred to as the only 7 stars hotel in the world), it can offer Mercedes, Rolls Royce and helicopter transfers to and from the airport! With 9 world class restaurants and bars to choose from, 4 swimming pools, a private beach, private Butler services and amazing spa facilities to name but a few, this hotel is certainly luxurious and will make dad feel like a King.
Vegas baby
One of the greatest boxing venues in the world, the MGM Grand has hosted many famous world title boxing fights, perhaps even taking over from Madison Square Garden in New York as the most popular boxing arena. Mike Tyson held many of his fights here, including his infamous fight with Evander Holyfield, during which he was disqualified for biting a chunk out of Holyfield’s ear! Other famous fights include Oscar De La Hoya vs Floyd Mayweather Jr. It was also the venue of Frank Bruno’s final fight, when he was defeated by Mike Tyson. The MGM Grand was also the venue for the “fight” between Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko seen in the film Ocean’s 11. The hotel itself, in true Vegas style, is extravagant to say the least and is home to numerous shops, bars and restaurants and bars and several famous Las Vegas shows including the acrobatic spectacle KA by Cirque du Soleil and world famous Illusionist David Copperfield. There is even a wedding chapel should dad and mum fancy renewing their vows!
If that wasn’t all, lastminute.com also has a host of special deals for Father’s Day experiences. From driving a supercar to letting dad take aim and fire at a paintballing or clay shooting experience – whatever your dad loves doing, there will be something to treat him too. Go on – it’s only once a year!
