Virus rocks the Petwood Hotel after awards ‘double’

Two weeks ago, the phone at the Petwood Hotel in Woodhall Spa never stopped ringing.
Emma Brealey (right)  with Petwood Hotel staff and the latest awards. Photo: John AronEmma Brealey (right)  with Petwood Hotel staff and the latest awards. Photo: John Aron
Emma Brealey (right) with Petwood Hotel staff and the latest awards. Photo: John Aron

Most calls were from people congratulating the hotel on another prestigious award.

The next day and the phone still didn’t stop ringing... this time from people wanting to cancel bookings.

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It was hardly the best hangover cure for director Emma Brealey and her staff.

One minute they seemed to be toasting success and looking forward to a busy season- and the next they were putting up the ‘closed signs.’

The Petwood Hotel won two awards – the Best Hotel in Lincolnshire and the Best User of Local Produce’ in Lincolnshire.

Ms Brealey added: “We were looking forward to the national finals of the Visit England awards in June but I doubt they will go ahead.”

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In the meantime, expensive but vital renovations – £20,000 for new curtains in a function suite – have to be paid for.

“It’s amazing how things changed so quickly,” explains Ms Brealey.

“What happened was actually spread over two or three days but it seemed we went straight from celebrating the awards to worrying what we going to do next.”

Bookings had already started to dry up after Boris Johnson’s announcement last Monday to avoid public places.

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During the next 24 hours, Ms Brealey admits the hotel lost more than £20,000 of business from corporate bookings to weddings, glitzy dinners and even tables for two in the restaurant.

The looming menace of coronavirus meant business was already ‘mixed.’

Contingency plans had been drawn up...but then came Friday’s bombshell.

Ms Brealey adds: “Of course, we understand and fully support that decision. Isolation seems to be the only way we will beat this.

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“Everyone is very apologetic when they cancel but it (the situation) is hugely worrying.

“Perhaps the hardest decision is having to let staff go.

“They fully understand the situation,” says Ms Brealey, “but that doesn’t make it an easier.”

The hotel has launched a takeaway service with afternoon teas already a favourite.

Basic foods parcels are also available and Ms Brealey stresses the hotel is determined to be part of any community efforts.

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Ms Brealey adds: “Like everyone, we are having to play a waiting game. No-one knows when this will all end.

People really have been very kind. We had one couple staying with us who wanted to stay on for another couple of days, just to help. It’s that generosity which is so heartening.”

Events - like weddings, can be re-arranged. Some people are already booking dates later this year - and in 2021.

Businesses know it will be tough, as Ms Brealey says: “It is very confusing but people aren’t going to have the money to spend on socialising. It will take a time for the economy to recover . Forget success. Survival is the name of the game.”