Stanwell House: a multi-million pound investment

What is the history of Stanwell House? Stanwell House is a privately owned boutique hotel situated in the centre of the Regency market town of Lymington, one of the south's most attractive and historic locations. Before we officially took over the property, it was previously used for doctors/dentists and solicitors. What do the refurbishment plans entail, and how has the process been so far? In terms of spend, the refurb project is currently in excess of £4m. There will be a full refurbishment of all rooms, public areas, offices and kitchen. The old bar will be turned into a reception, while the old bistro will be turned into a larger bar area, and we will also convert two former suites into event spaces. All in all, the process has been longer than anticipated due to delays in getting planning. Although the refurbishment is taking longer than expected, there are still positives as it means we are taking time to get it right. This is an investment for the long term, so it’s better to take longer to get it right, than to do it quickly and then need to redo elements in a couple of years. Will the hotel still be open to guests during the renovation? The refurbishment has been so extensive that it would not have been possible to stay open whilst the work was taking place. Therefore, the hotel has been fully closed since 2 January 2022. What inspired the hotel to undergo a refurbishment? The hotel has been under new ownership since May 2021 and it was always the plan on taking over the hotel. The hotel had become tired and some space didn’t work as well as they could, so we wanted to change some of the layout. We were keen to add some new additions which have been missing in Lymington, such as a cocktail bar, event/meeting space, and a stylish wine bar/pub. How will the new bar space, and new dining experiences, be different? The old bar at Stanwell House was very small, hence the new bar will be much larger, offering a more informal, relaxed style menu compared to a more fine dining style of a main restaurant. The Orangery will offer a cross-over between the two, plus offering afternoon tea in addition to a new bar in the Orangery which will offer cocktails. This is a great place for pre/post dinner drinks, both for guests dining in the hotel or dining elsewhere and looking for somewhere to come before/after. Has the hotel seen a greater demand for dining experiences? Guests are starting to want to go out more and more after the Covid-19 pandemic, hence why offering multiple dining options will hopefully encourage them to come back again and again. Being on the high street, we are also competing with all the other dining opportunities which guests have on their doorstep, compared to other forest hotels which are in more remote locations and have a more captive audience. By offering variety at the hotel, guests are more likely to dine multiple times during their stay. What will the new events space offer to guests? The new events space will have stylish and upmarket surroundings, which are perfect for private dining, meetings and small gatherings such as baby showers, family birthday celebrations. However, the space will not be suitable for parties with disco/dancing. How will the hotel keep with its Georgian style? Interior designer Jojo Macnamara created schemes that are sympathetic to the style of the building, taking influence from our Georgian design but with a modern twist. The new design will comprise beading and panelling, which is Georgian style but with more contemporary colours and patterns. Where do you expect to see the Stanwell House in the next two years? Stanwell House will be busy, thriving and successful in the next two years! We hope for it to be a loved venue with guests visiting from afar, and for locals to enjoy - all of whom will return time and time again.