Trick or Treat yourself at The Balmoral this Halloween

September 26, 2011 – Rocco Forte’s The Balmoral will be offering a bewitching treat this October to celebrate the history of Halloween. Most would consider Halloween to be an American tradition but delve a little deeper into the history of All Hallow’s Eve and you will find the annual festival has its roots firmly based in Scotland.

Halloween, as it is known today, originates from the festival of Samhuinn which marks the end of Summer and the Celtic New Year. It is believed that 31st October was the night of the dead and a time for the spirits of the departed from the previous year to pay one last visit to their relatives before departing for the other-world forever.

Guests at The Balmoral can start their haunted experience by getting into the spirit of the occasion in the rich surroundings of the hotel’s Palm Court with a special Halloween Afternoon Tea. Created to tickle the taste buds and appeal to families and adults alike, guests can indulge in sweet treats such as pumpkin meringue tarts, crunchy candy toffee apples or pistachio witches fingers before moving onto savoury fresh and smoked salmon on black bread.

Finish the devilish treat with home-made treacle and cinnamon scones with lashings of Devon clotted cream and choose from a wide range of teas and infusions. Guests and visitors can appeal to their wicked side by adding a glass of Champagne to their Halloween Afternoon Tea before they set out to explore Edinburgh’s historic haunted sites from the heart of the city.

Start your tour of the haunted city at the imposing, gothic Edinburgh Castle which with its long, and often brutal, history is thought to be haunted by countless ghosts, the most infamous being that of a headless drummer boy. 

The most haunted place in the city is said to be Mary King’s Close.  Leading off the world-famous Royal Mile, the close was bricked up during the plague.  Since its re-opening there have been countless sightings of the ghost of a young girl. 

Families can experience the spine-tingling Edinburgh Dungeon and bring Scotland’s horrible history to life. Learn about the world famous Burke and Hare or experience the Labyrinth of Lost Souls - a dark and terrifying maze of catacombs that stretches beneath the Royal Mile.

Guests will also enjoy the spectacular torchlight procession of music, folk dance and theatre which illuminates the city’s Royal Mile every Halloween to celebrate the Samhuinn festival.  

All that ghost-hunting is sure to work up quite a thirst and The Balmoral’s guests and visitors can settle their nerves with the very best in cocktails at the award-winning Balmoral Bar.  At Halloween the experienced bartenders really go to town creating fizzing, smoking, too good to drink potions for adults only.
The Balmoral’s concierge team can arrange guided tours of many of Edinburgh’s eerie sites and some of the city’s most bloodcurdling venues for guests.

Rooms start from £175 per night based on a classic room. Halloween Afternoon Tea will cost £23 per person and will be served from 1.30pm to 5.30pm from Friday 28th to Monday 31st October.

For further information on The Balmoral or to make a reservation call 0131 556 2414 or email reservations.balmoral@roccofortehotels.com

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Notes to Editors

The Balmoral
Part of Rocco Forte Hotels since 1997, The Balmoral is a luxury hotel in the true sense of the word. The 188-bedroom hotel with its majestic clock tower is located at 1 Princes Street in the centre of Edinburgh. The Balmoral boasts Scotland’s only Bollinger Bar; Michelin-starred “number one” restaurant, presided over by Executive Chef, Jeff Bland; a luxurious spa and ten function rooms accommodating up to 450 people, nearly all of which enjoy fantastic views of Edinburgh Castle.

Media Enquiries:
Lauren Meldrum
PR & Marketing Manager
The Balmoral Hotel
T: + 44 (0) 131 556 2414
Email: lmeldrum@roccofortehotels.com

Rocco Forte Hotels

Rocco Forte Hotels is a family of 12 individual hotels and resorts. Each property has a unique style, reflecting its nationality and location, but all share Rocco Forte Hotels’ trademark attention to detail, high quality and immaculate service.

Established by Sir Rocco Forte in 1996, Rocco Forte Hotels comprises: Hotel de Russie, Rome; Hotel Savoy, Florence; The Balmoral, Edinburgh; The Lowry Hotel, Manchester; Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg; Hotel Amigo, Brussels; Brown’s Hotel, London; Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt; Hotel de Rome, Berlin; The Charles Hotel, Munich; Augustine Hotel, Prague; Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sicily. Future openings: Abu Dhabi 2011; Jeddah 2013; Marrakech 2014; Cairo 2014; Luxor 2014.

www.roccofortehotels.com

Media Enquiries:
Anna Martin/Ilse van Steen/Natasha Berg
Rocco Forte Hotels
Tel:  +44 (0)20 766 3107/3137/3113
Email:  pressinformation@roccofortehotels.com