How luxury Dorset hotel has prepared for guests' return

Summer Lodge, based in Evershot in North Dorset, currently boasts a five out-of-five rating based on 1,213 reviews on Tripadvisor.

Its reviews celebrate its ‘excellent food’, ‘outstanding service’ from its staff as well as the ‘beautiful’ and ‘immaculate gardens’ that surround the five-acre site.

The 25-room hotel, which employs more than 60 employees, has a spa, indoor pool, treatment rooms, restaurants and bars as well as a large garden and tennis courts.

Closed throughout 2021, the family-friendly hotel will be able to reopen on Monday, May 17 as per the Government’s lockdown map.

Managed by Alexandra and Jack Mackenzie for four-and-a-half years, they returned to manage the hotel and spa after originally working at the hotel as a receptionist and chef, respectively.

Mr Mackenzie, aged 47, said: “We are both have been in love with hospitality industry for a long time.

“This hotel is really special to me and I met Alex here when she worked here.

“We both left, we both worked some roles at other places and then to come back here as a management couple, it’s been the closing of a circle.”

During their tenure, the couple have made gradual changes and refurbishments to the hotel and spa to make it ‘better and better’ for its guests and staff.

Coronavirus outbreak 'scary' but guests 'responded well' to social distancing measures

Alex Mackenzie (left) and Jack Mackenzie (right) both manage the Summer Lodge in Evershot, Dorset. Pictures: Jack Mackenzie

The emergence of the coronavirus pandemic in the UK in March 2020 sparked an anxious response from Mr and Mrs Mackenzie, with fear of how it could impact its hotel and the wider hospitality industry.

He said: “It was scary. It was not knowing how things would pan out – watching people on TV get ill, seeing businesses close down due to people not going out and people being told to stay at home.

“There was natural apprehension. That settled down once the Government brought in the furlough scheme as there was a support structure there.

“Then we were trying to understand how long it was going to carry on for and the impact on our business and how it was going to affect our guests and staff.”

The hotel was able to reopen last summer with strict social distancing measures to protect its guests and staff – something Mr Mackenzie was nervous to see how people responded to.

“It was a massive relief to be able to reopen. It was nerve wrecking to do with Covid procedures as no one knew how the guests would respond to the procedures and fortunately for them, they rose to it and we welcomed people back to the hotel.

“The guests were able to embrace the hotel, despite the social distancing rules and to them, it felt it was like a place they could unwind.

“That was a key factor and relax as the whole process of the first lockdown was stressful for everyone.

“We ensured it had the same warm welcome it had before and then guests could relax and know they’re somewhere safe and welcoming.”

Why Summer Lodge remained closed in April despite rules tweak as bookings 'went mad' following roadmap announcement

Summer Lodge in Evershot in North Dorset is reopening its doors on Monday, May 17 after being shut throughout 2021 due to the Covid-19 restrictions. Pictures: Jack Mackenzie

The Summer Lodge has been closed throughout 2021, despite a charge in the coronavirus rules on hotels being able to host people from the same household in April.

But Mr Mackenzie said its staff have been ‘incredibly busy’ and carried out ‘a lot of maintenance work’ throughout the hotel, including the garden, refurbished and redecorated rooms, reception and restaurant as well as replaced its air conditioning system.

He explained why the hotel remained closed: “We looked at the roadmap and our interpretation of the Government’s guidance’s was that they had to be self-contained.

“We looked at our hotels and no one of them had kitchens so we felt best to leave it closed and wait for May 17.

“From the day of the lockdown announcement, that has been always our target date. We watched the numbers, cases in the area and any further updates.

“May 17 was always the target date when it was first announced and we have been working towards that ever since.”

Mr Mackenzie said bookings ‘went mad’ and phones ‘were ringing non-stop for about a month’ following the Prime Minister’s roadmap announcement in late-February.

“We have a load of regular customers coming back to stay”, he said.

“We had a lot of guests who were poised and they were ready to book and we have a lot of people looking to come for the first time.

“There was an initial flurry of bookings and we had to bring on more people to deal with the bookings.”

'Busy summer' anticipated as bookings full for next five months

 

 

 

 

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Summer Lodge is now expecting a ‘busy summer’ and set to be full for five months from Monday onwards.

He said: “We are full from the day our doors reopen and stays that way for five months.

“We are finding people are booking for longer stays. Last year we found that it was common for people to book for eight to 10 days and it’s the same trend now.

“It seems people want to come and relax in the Dorset countryside. They can unpack, put their feet up and relax and settle in.”

Speaking about its rating as the best hotel on Tripadvisor, Mr Mackenzie was humbled by the achievement – and said the secret to their success was ensuring the best stay possible for its guests.

He said: For us, it is a massively reassuring thing for us to be reminded in such an obvious way that the service that we provide is so good and it is a humbling experience.

“Everything we try to do here rotates around guest satisfaction and making sure that people are happy and feel comfortable and looked after.

“It is a personal experience for us and we tried to make it personal for customers and it is great to know that works and people want to come back.“