UTP has offices in three different locations: Hastings, Manchester, and Reading.

Each location has its own history, characteristics, and beautiful attractions. After researching and asking for staff recommendations, we have compiled a list of attractions, restaurants, and hotels that we believe are a ‘must-visit’ if ever in the area!

If you are resident in any of the mentioned locations, and are interested in working for UTP, check out our Careers page!

Hastings

Hastings is historically and most famously known for the Battle of Hastings, which took place between King Harold and William the Conqueror in 1066. Nowadays it is commonly known for being a seaside town, holding the UK’s largest beach-based fishing fleet, home to lovers of art, culture and independent and quirky shops and restaurants.

Previously known as The Jerwood Gallery, Hastings Contemporary is an award-winning gallery, showcasing different exhibitions and activities throughout the year. At the opposite end of the seafront is Hastings Pier. A hotspot for live music events, vintage fairs and beach hut-inspired food and drink kiosks. Throughout the year, Hastings Pier holds multiple events geared towards all age groups and is extremely popular in the summer months.

Monellis Sourdough Gourmet Pizza is an authentic Italian, family run restaurant found in Hastings Old Town. Beautifully decorated with homely touches, the restaurant has won multiple awards, including’ Restaurant Guru’s Top 100 Best Pizza Restaurant’ 2 years running. The Monellis family are incredibly proud of importing quality ingredients from their hometown of Pulgia in Southern Italy and take pride in the texture and flavour of their pizza due to their fermentation process.

If not from a commutable location, or for those wanting to venture to Hastings for an overnight stay, No.5 The Lawn is an equally beautiful and romantic place to stay. The suite features a luxury pool accompanied by surround sound, an outside jacuzzi bath complete with multicoloured lights, and an indoor cinema. Perfectly decorated, the open plan apartment features a fully stocked kitchen, which then leads onto the king-size 4 poster bed.

From our team in Hastings, our Digital Marketer Rhiann recommended that if visiting Hastings, a great place to dine is Salsa Street. Decorated with leaf walls and neon lights, Salsa Street offers fresh Mexican street food, with a variety of vegan and vegetarian options to suit every dietary need.

Manchester

Manchester is commonly known for its association with football, as it is home to both Manchester City, and Manchester United’s football grounds, as well as the first ever football league being implemented there in 1888. Manchester is also home to the longest-running television soap, Coronation Street, which started running in December 1960. A lesser-known fact about Manchester is that it was the world’s first industrialised city, with the world’s first ever working canal and railway line.

John Rylands Research Institute and Library is a picturesque neo-gothic building that is home to the world’s finest collection of books and archives. The library was originally founded in 1900 by Eriqueta Rylands in the memory of her late husband John Rylands and was a gift to the people of Manchester. The library is both architecturally grand and beautiful and holds more than 250,000 printed volumes and several rare artifacts.

For those who enjoy fine dining, The Midland hotel offers a ravishing luxury restaurant, titled Adam Reid At The French. Adam Reid is an award-winning chef, winner of the BBC 2 series The Great British Menu, who specialises in small sized multi-course dinners. The furnishing of the restaurant is extremely grand, with gigantic chandeliers sitting above plush pistachio-coloured booths, and detailed charcoal walls.

From our Manchester office, Kieran recommends the National Football Museum, which is home to the world’s largest collection of football objects and archives. The museum has seasonal festivals and exhibitions, which is perfect for returning visitors or people with specific football passions.

Reading

Reading is a large town in southern England, and it is commonly known for its annual Reading Festival and its growing arts and culture community. Reading is home to a plethora of award-winning country side pubs, all with beautiful scenery, breweries sand vineyards.

Forbury Gardens links Reading to its Royal Abbey, and is home to the famous Maiwand Lion statue and a bandstand, on which bands play every weekend during the summer. The gardens are the perfect retreat for family days out, with kiosks serving coffee, ice-cream and light lunches.

The London Street Brasserie is next to the river Kennet in the heart of Reading, and has been voted restaurant of the year and won both critical acclaim and Michelin recognition. The restaurant sells local produce and is a favourite among locals, due to their friendly and attentive customer service and outstanding food. Despite the celebrity diners, the food remains responsibly priced and is a must if planning a visit to Reading!

Known for its spectacular attention to detail and bespoke luxurious experience, the Roseate is a must for those planning to spend multiple days in Reading. The hotel offers 55 charming rooms and suites that vary in detail for those minimalistic or antique lovers, as well as offering three different dining experiences for guests and visitors. The Roseate has won multiple awards year-on-year, including ‘best hotel’ from numerous comparison sites.

Helena, from our office in Reading recommended multiple things to do and see in and around the town. The Reading Run in Thames Valley Park is held every Saturday morning and holds a real sense of community with everyone spurring each other on. The Thames Lido is a beautiful pool, spa and restaurant, which is perfect to celebrate a special occasion or to treat someone. Packages can be brought at a reasonable price, including a ‘swim and afternoon tea’ and ‘twilight spa’ experience, or you can choose to simply dine in the stunning restaurants.

At UTP we take great pride when we make a purchase from a business that uses our card terminals. Therefore, if you are a business and looking to save 20-30% on your monthly card transactions, don’t hesitate to contact us!

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