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Thomas Hardy's Ghost inspires writing weekend

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:23:22 +0000

Four very different writers will gather in a historic country house hotel, which may or may not be haunted by Thomas Hardy, for a weekend of literary discussion. Sounds like a good start for a whodunnit by Agatha Christie!

The idea, however, is far from bumping each other off (whilst leaving a host of fascinating clues, plausible motives, dodgy alibis and smoking red herrings). The purpose is to entertain and enlighten guests by sharing the secrets of their writing success.

"Summer Lodge has close associations with Thomas Hardy," explains General Manager Charles Lötter. "He lived nearby and the hotel is at the very heart of the Wessex landscape he immortalised. The village pub, the Acorn Inn is featured in his novel 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' as 'The Sow & Acorn'. What's more, in his capacity as an architect, Hardy was asked to design the upper floor and the drawing room of Summer Lodge by the 6th Earl of Ilchester in 1893. So you could say the house is haunted by him - although I've yet to bump into him myself".

This gave the team at Red Carnation Hotels, the luxury collection of five and four-star family-run boutique hotels that owns Summer Lodge, the idea for the Writers' Weekend. Guests will have the opportunity to learn the tricks of the trade from four very different practitioners.

Roger Collis is an actor, broadcaster, writer and master raconteur who has earned world-wide recognition as a business travel guru through his weekly column, 'The Frequent Traveler,' in the International Herald Tribune

Marcelle Bernstein is a much acclaimed novelist, nonfiction writer and journalist. Several of her novels, such as "Body & Soul" and "Sacred & Profane", are best-sellers and were made into into successful feature films and television dramas.

Eric Clark is a respected investigative journalist who has delved into the seedier aspects of crime and drugs. His gripping thrillers "Black Gambit" and "Chinese Burn" have proven particularly popular.

Jim O'Connor is an advertising copywriter who has promoted everything from boutique hotels to fork lift trucks, Clover Low Fat Spread to Palmolive Soap, Cornish Pasties to Australian rum.

The two-night Writers' Weekend package, starting on 23rd April 2010, includes:

Two nights accommodation in a Classic Double Room
Full English Breakfast daily
Welcome Champagne and Canapés
Attendance at three Writer Workshop sessions over two days
Three-course dinner on the Saturday evening
Teas and coffees during workshop sessions
Complimentary signed-copy of a book by Eric or Marcelle

Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa, set in four acres of perfectly maintained gardens, is the epitome of the English country house in the picturesque Dorset village. This luxurious 24-bedroom five star hotel has swiftly earned a reputation as one of England's finest country house hotels. With a world-class spa - including indoor heated pool and rejuvenating body and beauty treatments - and an award-winning restaurant and extensive wine list created by one of the world's best sommeliers, this hotel is the perfect short break getaway. Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa is a member of Relais & Châteaux.

Gourmet Cookery Demonstrations at Summer Lodge

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:33:16 +0000

The five-star Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa has just announced a series of cookery demonstrations conducted by award winning Executive Chef Steven Titman. Guests who've tasted his wonderful creations will now have the opportunity to serve some of his impressive signature dishes in their own home.

His menus not only meet and exceed the exacting requirements of the Relais & Châteaux's gastronomic standards - Summer Lodge has just been named in the recently announced Condé Nast Traveller Gold List 2010, one of the best three hotels in the UK for food. The listing for Summer Lodge praises Steven for producing "... fine-tuned classic English cuisine using local produce: Dorset lamb, pan-seared sole, pot-roasted guinea fowl, and his signature dish, shepherd's pie." Shortly before this, Summer Lodge was also named Best Restaurant in Dorset at the Taste of Dorset Awards 2009.

Following on from this success Steven will be hosting three cookery demonstrations, on the 20th January, 24th February and 24th March, where he'll share some of his culinary secrets. He'll show guests how he uses local produce, such as Lyme Bay scallops and Dorset lamb, as well as vegetables and herbs grown in the kitchen garden, to create some of his most popular signature dishes. He comments, "There can be few places in England with such an enormous variety of delicious food so readily available from local farmers, fishermen, game keepers and cheese makers."

Steven explains that the demonstrations will be "... almost like a 'chefs table' concept, but guests will be dining in the restaurant. Each menu is a surprise, and focuses on ingredients currently in season, but guests can advise me in advance of their particular preferences and dietary concerns." Guests have a choice - they can attend a two-and-a-half-hour morning demonstration followed by apéritifs and a three-course lunch with wine, coffee and petit fours, or they can choose the residential package. The latter includes all of the elements above plus one night's accommodation the night before the demonstration, Full English Breakfast the next morning and use of the hotel's gym and spa.

Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa, set in four acres of perfectly maintained gardens, is the epitome of the English country house and is in the gorgeous village of Evershot in Dorset. This luxurious 24-bedroom five-star hotel has swiftly earned a reputation as one of England's finest country house hotels. With a world class spa - including indoor heated pool and rejuvenating body and beauty treatments - and award-winning restaurant and extensive wine list created by one of the world's best sommeliers, this hotel is the perfect short break getaway. Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, and Spa was recent voted "Most Outstanding Service" in the Condé Nast Johansens Annual Awards for Excellence, UK and Ireland and is a member of Relais & Châteaux.

Summer Lodge Voted one of the Best Hotels For Food on the latest Condé Nast Traveller Gold List

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:48:32 +0000

The five-star Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa was named one of the best three hotels in the UK for food in the 2010 Condé Nast Traveller Gold List.

The Gold List, described by Condé Nast Traveller as, ". . . our ultimate guide to the world's best hotels. . .", is just that - highly selective. It picks the very best three hotels, across six regions of the globe, under the headings of service, location, food, rooms, leisure facilities and ambience & design.

The listing for Summer Lodge praises Executive Chef Steven Titman for producing, ". . .fine-tuned classic English cuisine using local produce: Dorset lamb, pan-seared sole, pot-roasted guinea fowl, and his signature dish, shepherd's pie." And adds, ". . .the wine list, by sommelier Eric Zweibel, is excellent."

Steven works very closely with local producers to find the very best the region has to offer, commenting, "Over and above the quality of the foods we are buying, we are interested in their provenance. There can be few places in England with such an enormous variety of delicious food so readily available from local farmers, fishermen, game keepers and cheese makers."

Charles Lotter, General Manager at Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa, adds, "Steven is absolutely passionate about the menus he prepares, and guests are hugely complimentary. This recognition is nothing more than he deserves and will come as no surprise to his loyal fans."

Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa, set in four acres of perfectly maintained gardens, is the epitome of the English country house and is in the gorgeous village of Evershot in Dorset. This luxurious 24-bedroom five-star hotel has swiftly earned a reputation as one of England's finest country house hotels. With a world class spa - including indoor heated pool and rejuvenating body and beauty treatments - an award-winning restaurant and extensive wine list created by one of the world's best sommeliers, this hotel is the perfect short break getaway. Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa was recently voted "Most Outstanding Service" in the Condé Nast Johansens Annual Awards for Excellence, UK and Ireland and is a member of Relais & Châteaux.

Legendary Wines at Summer Lodge - New Season

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:07:40 +0000

Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa has just announced its latest programme of wine dinners - hot on the heels of being named to the exclusive Condé Nast Traveller Gold List 2010 as one of the best three hotels in the UK for food.

The Condé Nast listing praises Executive Chef Steven Titman for producing "... fine-tuned classic English cuisine using local produce: Dorset lamb, pan-seared sole, pot-roasted guinea fowl, and his signature dish, shepherd's pie." Shortly before this, Summer Lodge was also named Best Restaurant in Dorset at the Taste of Dorset Awards 2009.

Steve has teamed up with Cellar Master Eric Zwiebel, recognised as one of the four best Sommeliers in the world, to make a superb combination - these special wine evenings will provide a series of extraordinarily enjoyable experiences that draw connoisseurs of fine wine and exceptional cuisine from far and wide.

Focusing on a selected house or style, with a guest speaker to inform and entertain diners, each evening begins at 7.00 pm with an introduction to the particular wines. The dinners include a delicious four-course menu specially created by Steven Titman to complement the five different wines (including apéritifs) showcased during the evening.

2 March 2010 - Mochel, Alsace, France ~ £90 per person
Director of Vine Trail, Nick Brookes, will be presenting a range of wines from one of Alsace's leading Domaines, Domaine Frédéric Mochel.

1 June 2010 - Moët, Champagne, France ~ £110 per person
During the reign of Louis XV the clientele included nobles, aristocrats and the King's favourite mistress, Madame de Pompadour. In 1792 the grandson of the founder Jean-Rémy Moët expanded the business, buying the vineyards of the Abbey of Hautvillers, where Benedictine monk Dom Pérignon perfected double-fermentation for creating Champagne.

3 August 2010 - 5 Sommeliers ~ £115 per person (black tie)
A firm favourite for the last five years, this is an evening of fun and laughter, learning and competition. Hosted by Eric and a team of his friends, some of whom are among the best sommeliers in the country, the wines featured vary from the traditionally famous, to the new and innovative. Early booking advised!

5 October 2010 - Delas, Rhone Valley, France ~ £90 per person
Founded in 1835, Delas Fréres controls vineyards in all of the major Rhône appellations. Delas Frères wines have won several awards in recent years, including three Gold medals for their Saint Joseph Tournon, Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette and Côte Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron at the International Wine Challenge 2005.

The hotel offers a special accommodation package, including one night in a Superior room, the full wine dinner for two and Full English Breakfast the next morning.

Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa, set in four acres of perfectly maintained gardens, is the epitome of the English country house and is in the picturesque Dorset village of Evershot. This luxurious 24-bedroom five-star hotel has swiftly earned a reputation as one of England's finest country house hotels. With a world-class spa - including indoor heated pool and rejuvenating body and beauty treatments - an award-winning restaurant and an extensive wine list created by one of the world's best sommeliers, this hotel is the perfect short break getaway. Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa is a member of Relais & Châteaux.

Summer Lodge Voted Number One For Most Outstanding Service

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:17:20 +0000

Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa, tucked away in the heart of Thomas Hardy's Wessex, has just won the award for "Most Outstanding Service" in the Condé Nast Johansens Annual Awards for Excellence, UK and Ireland.

The award was presented on the 9th of November at Johansens 28th Annual Awards Dinner and the launch of their 2010 guides at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower in Knightsbridge, London.

Condé Nast Johansens remains the most comprehensive illustrated reference to annually inspected, independently owned hotels, and merely getting into the guides is an achievement in itself. The dedicated and highly trained Inspectors only admit about one in ten properties to the finished publication - the final selection represents, quite simply, the crème de la crème of accommodation for independent travellers.

The Inspectors describe Summer Lodge in the following glowing terms, "Set in four acres amid picturesque Dorsetshire countryside in the pretty village of Evershot, this charming twenty-four-bedroom Relais and Châteaux property ranks amongst the finest country house hotels in England."

The awards themselves are based on responses from guest nomination forms, guest survey reports, and the Regional Inspector reports drawn from the luxury hotels featured in the most recent guides.

Charles Lotter, General Manager of Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa, comments, "I'm delighted to receive this prestigious award on behalf of the great team here. They work tirelessly to make guests feel truly at home and find extra ways to exceed our guests' expectations."

Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa, set in four acres of perfectly maintained gardens, is the epitome of the English country house in the picturesque Dorset village. This luxurious 24-bedroom five star hotel has swiftly earned a reputation as one of England's finest country house hotels. With a world class spa - including indoor heated pool and rejuvenating body and beauty treatments - and an award-winning restaurant and extensive wine list created by one of the world's best sommeliers, this hotel is the perfect short break getaway. Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa is a member of Relais & Châteaux.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please contact Arnelle Kendall: USA: (561) 659-2174; UK: 0791 770 8666; email: akendall@rchmail.com

Fancy a Spot of Mushroom Foraging?

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:25:05 +0000

Lovers of the countryside and fine food will have a field day on the 10th October during a Mushroom Foray at Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa. Guests will accompany celebrated wild-mushroom hunter John Wright as he forages for edible delights in the chalk downlands and leafy woods around the gorgeous village of Evershot, deep in the heart of the Dorset countryside immortalised by Thomas Hardy in his Wessex novels.

The rolling hills of Dorset provide some of the best mushroom hunting grounds in England, and there's no better guide than John. As well as writing the River Cottage Mushroom Handbook he has led around 250 fungi forays over the years and is a wonderful ambassador for the joys of this fascinating pursuit.

With John leading the foray, absolutely no previous experience is required. There will be two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The morning session will start at 9.30am with a short talk by John, followed by a few hours of busy exploring and foraging in the chalk downlands just a few miles from the hotel. Once everyone has worked up a hearty appetite they'll retire to the delightfully traditional Acorn Inn for a well-earned pub lunch and to enjoy mushroom dishes such as Chanterelles, Leek, Parmesan Gnocchi, Artichoke Cream and Celeriac and Spinach Risotto, Roasted Ceps and Tarragon, starting from GBP12.95 per person. Before everyone tucks in, John will review the morning's harvest - some of which may then be cooked up and devoured!

The afternoon session will again start with a talk from John at 2.30pm. Then he'll take his merry band of foragers away from the downlands, into the woodlands where several other varieties of edible mushrooms can be found. At 6.30pm everyone will gather in the hotel to examine all the different types of mushrooms, toadstools and fungi collected during the day. John will identify the mushrooms and discuss each in turn, before dinner is served in the Conservatory.

Steven Titman, the Head Chef, is preparing a special mushroom-themed menu that may well include some of the specimens collected during the foray. Depending on the day's harvest, he may be able to include Ceps, Black Trompettes or Chanterelles, or perhaps even rarer varieties. A mouth-watering five-course fungi extravaganza at Summer Lodge is priced at £65 per person and will showcase dishes such as Roast Breast of Wood Pigeon with Caramelised Shallot Tart, Shallot Puree and Black Trompette; and Loin of Venison with Chanterelle Risotto, Roasted Butternut Squash and Madeira Jus. Eric Zwiebel, world-renowned Sommelier and 'Best Sommelier of The World Competition' runner-up, will also team up with Steven to give a short talk about which wines are most appropriate for the feast that awaits.

Any guests staying in the hotel on Friday or Saturday night are welcome to come on the forage; both sessions are complimentary and open to non-residents. Participants may decide to forage in the morning, or the afternoon, or both. Lunch and dinner are optional, but as they will be very much part of the experience it is expected that most will decide to sample the delights of the Acorn Inn and Summer Lodge's highly regarded kitchen and wine cellar. Those who participate in this unusual event will also have the opportunity to buy signed copies of John's fascinating books about the edible delights of the countryside and seashore.

John comments, "Foraging for your food is a joyful enterprise, but it is in the nature of such things that sometimes one's prey will not co-operate. The weather may have been too dry or too cold and the fungi may be keeping their heads down. I have chosen the date to give us the very best chance and I think we should do well - my best guess is that we will find around 40 species including up to 10 edible ones."

Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa, set in four acres of perfectly maintained gardens, is the epitome of the English country house in the picturesque Dorset village. This luxurious 24-bedroom 5-star hotel has swiftly earned a reputation as one of England's finest country house hotels. With a world class spa - including indoor heated pool and rejuvenating body and beauty treatments - and award-winning restaurant and extensive wine list created by one of the world's best sommeliers, this hotel is the perfect short break getaway. Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, and Spa is a member of Relais & Châteaux.

The Telegraph's Hotel Guru, Fiona Duncan on Summer Lodge

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:00:40 +0000

Summer Lodge, a hotel I've known for 30 years, is going to the ball, descending the stairs in a rustle of silk, a cloud of perfume and a new perm.
Under its previous ownership, this was a low-key country house hotel with lawn tennis and a pool in the garden. Then, in 2006 after a two-year stint in the beauty parlour it emerged as Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa, with a world-class sommelier, electric buggies for the luggage, and an injection of decorative Botox.

This is Hardy country, and the man himself, as a local architect, enlarged the 18th-century manor for his friend the 6th Earl of Ilchester in 1893. As we sat over breakfast in the conservatory, we glimpsed the author's elemental Dorset landscape beyond hotel grounds that are full of artifice: reclining nudes in the shrubbery, plus fountain, parterre, pond, hanging baskets, sundial and signposts, not to mention a glass-covered indoor pool and beauty treatment rooms. For us, a jarring contrast, but oh, the comfort.

You are enveloped by this place. Complete refurbishment and a great deal of money has resulted in a profusion of patterns: on the carpets, the fabric-draped ceilings, and the padded, fabric-covered walls. There are gilt mirrors, brass fenders, drinks trolleys, globes, paintings of dogs, illustrated books, needlepoint cushions, pleats, swags and fringes galore. A fulsome cream tea is laid out in the afternoon. Hardy-esque, Summer Lodge is not; luxurious, it most certainly is.

If the public rooms were too fussy for our taste, the bedrooms were supremely comfortable and very pretty, with huge, softly-sheeted beds and every conceivable extra. Fleece-covered hot water bottles warmed our beds - a lovely touch -and we slept like logs, which is hardly surprising considering what we had consumed at dinner that night.

For connoisseurs of drink, Summer Lodge is hard to beat. Two years ago the new owner, Beatrice Tollman, poached award-winning sommelier Eric Zwiebel from Cliveden for her pet Dorset project and gave him carte blanche to build his dream cellar. Now stocked with well over 200 whiskeys, armagnacs and cognacs and 1,000 wine bins, Zwiebel's cellar is notable for its energetic eclecticism. On his advice, we drank a wonderful montrachet followed by a subtly sweet riesling from Washington State and a fine Austrian blaufrankisch. The cooking of Steven Titman squared up well to the nectar in our bulbous glasses - my fillet of brill with lobster sauce and ginger risotto was divine.

Whether you fall for Summer Lodge's fancy finery or not, you are sure to feel spoilt and rested when you leave. Though I'd prefer elegant simplicity in the depths of Hardy's Dorset, especially in a house with which he was so closely associated, I defy you not to be won over by the solicitous attention and extremely high standards you'll find among the cushions, ornaments and silver teapots in Summer Lodge. We certainly were.

Evershot, Dorset (01935 482000; www.summerlodgehotel.com) Doubles from £205 per night, including breakfast and tea. Access possible for guests with disabilities

Rooms (out of five) TTTTT
Gorgeous, with no detail spared.

Service TTTTT
Immaculately presented staff make guests feel special.

Character TTT
An evocative house that's too fussy by half.

Food and drink TTTTT
Exceptional cellar which the food lives up to.

Value for money TTT
Spoiling service comes at a price; ask about the three-nights-for-two offer.

Relax and rejuvenate at the Summer Lodge Country House Hotel and Spa

Mon, 18 May 2009 11:05:11 +0000

It's time to leave the everyday world behind – to treat yourself to a rejuvenating burst of inner peace and outer radiance. Or maybe both. For this is the health, beauty, and all-round feel-good break that your mind, body, and soul deserve. It's unashamed me-time in the tranquil surroundings of Dorset.

Summer Lodge Hotel Country House Hotel and Spa, in the depths of delightful Dorset, is a perfect spot cast aside the mobile, unplug your laptop and let someone else do the work. That's what we're good at, making guests feel like a million dollars. Hidden away in the heart of Hardy country it is an oasis of luxury and indulgence that’s far from the madding crowd.

Famed for its fabulous cuisine and luxurious accommodation this little gem of a hotel is offering a fantastic spa package, perfect for a weekend away with girlfriends, or a treat for someone special.

Our beauty therapist will restore the balance between body and soul. They'll calm your thoughts, slow your pulse, and put your mind at ease. They'll rub you, anoint you and massage you, put a spring in your step and a glow in your cheeks.

Our two night Spa package includes:

Luxury accommodation in a beautifully appointed bedroom
Full English breakfast daily
Elemis Taster Facial
Full Body massage - 60 min
Tea, coffee or smoothie on arrival
2-course lunch at spa

Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa set in four acres of perfectly maintained gardens is the epitome of the English country house in the picturesque Dorset village. This luxurious 24 bedroom 5 star hotel has swiftly earned a reputation as one of England’s finest country house hotels. With a world class spa including indoor heated pool and rejuvenating body and beauty treatments together with an award-winning restaurant and world class wine list created by one of the world’s best sommeliers, this hotel is the perfect short break getaway. Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa is a member of Relais & Châteaux.

A Stylish Way To Celebrate In Dorset

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:45:44 +0000

Some occasions don’t just demand a suitably grand setting – they also call for a little more. That’s why we’ve designed this special Celebration Package. We want to make sure, whether you’re celebrating an anniversary or an achievement, a birthday or any other special event, that it will be fondly remembered for many years to come.

So where better than Summer Lodge Country House Hotel and Spa, deep in the heart of the Dorset countryside immortalised by Thomas Hardy in his Wessex novels? Nothing can match it for the sheer get-away-from-it-all charm and tranquillity.

Driving up the pretty tree-lined drive, and seeing the house sitting comfortably in its own immaculately maintained gardens and grounds, immediately lends the essential sense of occasion that’s required. But that’s just the beginning – this special package offers more…much more.

The Celebration Package includes:

A night in a beautifully appointed bedroom
A bottle of Champagne on arrival
Three course dinner in the award-winning Dining Room restaurant
Full English Breakfast
A ½ hour neck, back and shoulder massage in the Spa per person

Prices start from £350 per room per night (inclusive of VAT), based on two people sharing a Superior Room.
This offer is available until 18 December 2009, excluding the months of July and August, and is subject to availability
To book call + 44 (0) 1935 482 000, email: summer@relaischateaux.com or book online at http://www.summerlodgehotel.com