Decoration

It takes an entire week for the team to decorate for the festive season, which includes a huge 24-26ft Christmas tree in the entrance hall. Sometimes the tree is so tall that they have been forced to chop a little bit off the top in previous years!  The housekeeping team doesn’t take decorating lightly, and a whopping total of 400m of fairy lights are used throughout the hotel.

Celebrations

Christmas may be a busy time of year for the hotel team, but it’s one of the highlights too.  

“It brings a whole new atmosphere, and everyone gets involved in the festive prep, whether it’s a cocktail or a seasonal dish,” owner Rebecca Perry said. “The festive spirit is always strong at the hotel.”  

Throughout December, the hotel’s Christmas parties have become a tradition for many local businesses, who come dressed in their finery to party the night away with DJ Wazza. The hotel serves upwards of 800 Christmas meals each year – that’s a lot of sprouts!

Community

Aside from the parties, there is always something going on during the season. It’s a particularly busy time for the bedrooms, with a lot of last-minute bookings due to breakdowns on the A30, or due to unexpected snowy conditions on the roads. If it’s weather related, it often means that the hotel team gets stuck in it too! Bill Perry has had to put his Land Rover to good use on some occasions, saving stranded staff.

Christmas Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year. Although front of house has to continue the festivities at the bar, the kitchen team gets to finish after lunch service to have a head start on their own family celebrations, before returning refreshed and ready on the 27th December.

Picture: David Perry