A feast for fiances at the White Horse in King’s Sutton

By Erica Crompton My fiancé and I recently visited the White Horse in King’s Sutton in the Cotswolds for lunch together, and it turned out to be exactly the kind of relaxing lunch we’d been hoping for en-route to the chaos of Heathrow from our home in Staffordshire. The pub

ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL: And just like that, I got engaged at the W Sao Paulo!

By Erica Crompton My stay at the W São Paulo was unforgettable, not only because of the hotel’s vibrant energy but also because of how thoughtfully it handles accessibility. As a wheelchair user, I felt genuinely considered at every turn. The entrances are wide and flat, the elevators spacious, and

ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL: The Sheraton Grand, Rio

By Erica Crompton Nestled on the fringes of the tropical Leblon beaches, between a favela, the mountains and the south Atlantic sea, is the Sheraton hotel. A tall, white statue of luxury piled on luxury, where we were fortunate to stay for our engagement trip to Brazil this spring. Each

ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL: I took my wheels around the Grand Hyatt, Rio

By Paul Nicholls The Grand Hyatt Rio delivers an experience that blends luxury, accessibility, and the unmistakable charm of Rio’s beachfront lifestyle. Travelling as a wheelchair user, I found the hotel not only welcoming but thoughtfully designed – the entrance is step-free, the pool has rails and there’s even a

The compelling new book on childhood trauma from the States

Childhood trauma kills 1,401 Americans every day. That’s one death every 61 seconds — more than tobacco, more than car accidents, more than diabetes. It’s the number one cause of addiction, suicide and incarceration. And until now, no one connected the dots. Michael Menard did. In his new book, Greater Than

Welcome to Winter 2025-2026 Hopezine!

Editor’s letter In this special winter edition, we’re focussing on beating addictions with tips from people who have stayed sober for good, to myself knocking a 40-a-day smoking habit on the head. Experts also share their tips on beating all kinds of addictions, and we’ve even discovered beautiful necklaces to

ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL: The Magic of Marrakesh

By Paul Nicholls I’m Paul Nicholls, and Marrakesh was one of the most memorable trips I’ve taken as a wheelchair user. The city is a whirlwind of colours, sounds, and scents, and navigating it with wheels brings both challenges and unexpected joys. The highlight of my stay was the Park

Craigatin House & Courtyard

By Erica Crompton A stone’s throw from all the action at The Enchanted Forest and set on the fringes of Pitlochry’s lively-yet-quaint grey stone village, finding The Craigatin House & Courtyard is like discovering hidden treasure. Amid pine trees, red-spotted toadstools and a backdrop of Scotland’s most majestic mountains, lies

I beat drinking to become a personal trainer

By Paul Tomkins The warning signs were there early. Growing up in an alcoholic household, I started drinking at 14. It seemed to give me confidence I didn’t naturally have – socialising without it was impossible. But it was also escapism, and I’d drink to blackout throughout my teens. Alcohol