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Hello, from Nigel

Hello, from Nigel
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Hello, from Nigel

Firstly, may I thank you all for your continued support for us all at the Luttrell Arms and the Porlock Weir Hotel and for taking time to read this.

I have been asking myself “What am I going to do with myself now that nearly all the leaves have blown off the trees  in the garden and I will soon have no leaves to sweep up …? “  The answer of course is ‘plenty’.  I have enjoyed much of the latest lockdown which necessitated being at home, gardening - mainly weeding actually and if the garden doesn’t look ‘ship shape’ now it never will do I assume!  A highlight has been planting bulbs accompanied by Georgia, my youngest granddaughter.  We can already see green tips emerging from the soil and promising a new colourful time ahead …which is more than we can say about the ongoing Corona virus pandemic, although thankfully the vaccines on the horizon are now heralding a new season of hope for the world.

 Enough about me … I am sure everyone is more interested about the hotels…

 It’s strange how those involved in the building trade and plumbers, electricians  etc. don’t seem to be viewed by the government as being so likely to be in danger of catching Covid as the rest of us other mortals -  for this we are extremely thankful!  We are capitalizing on this enthusiastically  at the Luttrell Arms  and getting on rapidly with some jobs that couldn’t possibly  be contemplated whilst the hotel was open to guests.

Hurrah! A new system for hot water and heating!  
Remedial work to the fire escape which will smarten up the Stable Courtyard.
Investigating fully and sorting out a damp patch in the middle of the floor in the main bar!! (we know we haven’t struck oil but we don’t know why it won’t go away!!).
New flooring in the kitchen …… all rather tedious and expensive things that some think ‘people don’t appreciate’, that is according to the females in my family!

In addition, we are investing in the more glamourous aspects by creating a new vaulted ceiling Garden Room which will lead directly to the ‘Champagne Terrace’ where the new pods will be open.   We are also busy decorating several bedrooms and corridors, laying new carpets in some bedrooms, in the Residents Lounge and part of the Dining room.  Thank goodness the tradesmen are all fit and healthy and keeping to a very tight deadline for us!

We hope all this will be ready Christmas! Anne and Becca Way are also using this time as an opportunity to titivate the bedrooms individually and to swap furniture around whist we have no guests to disturb.  
 
Meanwhile at Porlock, Miguel has used his legendary multi-tasking talents to diversify from being Manager and Head Chef and is honing his skills as a landscape gardener. He is labouring away out in the garden at Porlock so by the time you return in spring the garden should be completed!! Hopefully complete with steps accessing the new residents Car park and also the orchard with water feature as well as lawns and flower borders beginning to become established. A couple of fire pits and benches to enjoy and contemplate the view will create a great backdrop for small events, afternoon teas and alfresco dining, and at last, we will be able to also make use of our dining pods !!!

In conclusion, whilst we have no money coming in we have plenty going out!! My wife and daughter keep quoting that one needs to ‘speculate to accumulate’ but having said  that we are proud to have kept all our staff on Furlough and made only a few redundancies in spite of the difficulties economically. We and our skeleton staff are working on promotions, new menus and ideas and preparing to welcome people back to two even greater hotels very soon.

  ‘Getting ready’  for who knows what …I will say a little ray of light is that you can purchase some cracking Christmas gifts from the hotel and The Mews beauty salon from our website! 

Unfortunately I have been made to withdraw what I think would have been the best seller – Nigel’s Homemade Spicy Pickled Onions as ‘they’ tell me there would have been issues with postage!!

Latest news, just heard from Boris - We will in fact reopen now on the 2nd December at the Luttrell Arms and a week later at Porlock Weir (we can get the new carpets done then!).

Meanwhile I can see the high winds have brought down the last of the leaves and I have some more sweeping up to do …..

Look forward to seeing you soon!

Nigel

What our guests say...

Happy Hotel

I rarely feel compelled to give reviews, but this hotel is worth one. It occupies a charming old building of great character with a good garden. In keeping with its age, it has stairs but no lift. The bedrooms are clean, bright and with good modern accommodation. The dining room is very attractive, and the restaurant menu is excellent. The staff are competent, friendly and helpful. It is a happy hotel...
Mr Fletcher

The staff really go the extra mile

We’ve been staying here on and off for over 18 years and it just keeps getting better. Fantastic location for Exmoor, the west Somerset coast and Dunster. The staff really go the extra mile and are superb, the rooms are original and comfortable and the food is good. Lots of different public rooms to explore and relax in, two bars both with open log fires plus lots of character plus lovely gardens...
James F

A perfect lunch

We stayed here earlier in the year and returned just for lunch today.We weren’t disappointed. My wife had the roast beef and I chose the seafood chowder. Though quite different both of these meals were delicious.A beautiful location, friendly service and great food! What more could you ask for?...
Billyboybud

Terrific hotel, great gardens

Loved this hotel. Lots of nooks and crannies. Nice welcoming bar, would be very nice in the winter if imagine, because there is a grand, big fire place. Garden is beautiful, great to relax in on a summer day. Highly recommend although a Little expensive, but worth it for a treat....
Bob962

Amazing staff

My wife and I stayed two nights recently here with our young son to attend a wedding in the village...the hotel was very busy throughout the weekend due to the annual music festival, and yet all the hotel staff went out of their way to make us feel so welcome....
Nigel2222

Pulled out all of the stops

My Partner and I had a really great stay with the dog. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff. They really pulled out all of the stops to ensure a carefree stay with the dog. We found the whole set up and inclusive treatment for dog owners to extremely well done and a real home from home with all the old world charm of a historic building in a historic and idyllic country setting. We will definitely...
Andrew W

Our favourite hotel

We had such a lovely time at this hotel. 2nd visit and we shall definitely return. Everything is just so. Hotel rooms, service, staff is just lovely and food delicious. We couldn't fault it at all. The main bar area just makes you feel like you want to spend the rest of your day sitting by the fireplace sipping on your drink and reading the paper. Our favourite hotel and we would highly recommend ...
DanaO

Quirky in the right sense

Lovely clean room and bathroom. Super public rooms and spaces with fires. Quirky in the right sense and not as a euphemism for inconvenient. Great location for walking and touring. Wonderful food both breakfasts and evening meals. We felt thoroughly pampered...
Sarah P

The hotel is a gem

My wife and I booked in for a birthday trip in November. Dunster is a charming small town / village destination with a great castle. We stayed for two nights with dinner on one night and afternoon tea on the second. The hotel is a gem, with lovely old bars and lounges plus a main bar very popular with the locals-four real ales and a selection of ciders and lagers. Staff were excellent. Dinner was ...
Peter T

Helpful Staff

Great hotel and location. The food was very good particularly the breakfast. The staff were very helpful especially when we had to amend the booking. Dunster castle was within walking distance and along with the mill is worth a visit....
Roger5757
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