FRONT OF HOUSE > The Cottage in the Wood
and that will be in the coach house that
was built 14 years ago. To get the true
Cottage in the Wood experience guests
would try all three buildings to really get
a feel of what we are doing at the hotel.
The next phase of the refurbishment
will be looking at the rooms in the main
house, we will be looking to upgrade all
of the rooms, upgrade the bathrooms,
make them a bit more ‘boutiquey’ and
bring them very much in style with the
way we’ve designed the restaurant. We
have the same interior design team who
have done the whole hotel and that has
really worked well.
In terms of your role, how hands on
are you?
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I am very much on the business side of to also have a spa on the site as well. have the right team around you who
things, so I do all the contracts, business That is the ultimate goal and that will can deliver that consistent product
strategy and all of that kind of stuff. I really make us a destination hotel and that consistency is the biggest
don’t work front of house but Julia does where guests come and stay for a lesson for me.
rather enjoy that aspect of the business. number of days.
What are your future plans?
She works in the front of house as well
as working on the business strategy and Is the spa something you are In five years we see this project finished.
doing all of the marketing and PR side of working on at the moment? After that we see us potentially
the business. We are planning it but it’s not something opening a second property, and we
we are doing just yet. That will be the have business plans to own a couple of
final phase of the refurbishment. hotels and to create a hotel group with
How will the business have changed
since you first bought it?
a complete concept. That all depends on
Well I think the business will be busier It’s your first time in the industry, how The Cottage in the Wood does and
and I think the food offering will be how have you found the experience this property will be our template to get
slightly different. The overall plan is so far? all of those ideas in place.
It’s been good, it’s been stressful and
it has been busy. Julia and I both come
from very busy previous careers so
we are used to doing long hours and
pressured work but I think what makes
it more pressured is probably that it’s all
our own money now. It has been a great
experience and it has been a learning
curve for us because we have had to
learn the operational side of running
and owning a hotel.
What’s the most important lesson
you’ve learnt?
Making sure your customers are happy,
but that goes for every business really.
I also think having faith in your team
is crucial, you need to make sure you
www.hotelowner.co.uk
April 2017