FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY 22ND JANUARY 2016
CHEWTON GLEN 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
- AN ENGLISH ORIGINAL -
In the competitive world of hospitality, lasting success is often measured in months
rather than years. So a hotel which has been at the top of its game for an entire halfcentury is a rare and special thing indeed. 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of this iconic
English hotel. Chewton Glen’s origins as a country house date back to the 1700s, buts its
journey to success as a five-star hotel began in 1966, when it was bought by two
passionate and dynamic brothers: Martin and Trevor Skan.
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On Friday 15th January 2016, Chewton Glen paid homage to some of the key individuals
responsible for this outstanding success, at a black-tie dinner held at the property. The VIP
guest list included TV celebrities including: Raymond Blanc, Mary Berry and Chris Evans;
hospitality industry luminaries such as James and Tamara Lohan; Philippe Gombert, Harry
Murray, and Willy Bauer; together with current and former Managing Directors and senior hotel
figures such as Andrew Stembridge, Peter Crome, Robin Hutson, Gerard Basset and of course
Martin Skan and current hotel owner Ian Livingstone.
Commenting on his tenure, which represents one quarter of the hotel’s 50 years, Managing
Director Andrew Stembridge said: ‘Over the past five decades there have been numerous
amazing talents involved in the evolution of Chewton Glen, I am immensely proud to be at the
helm in such an exciting year for the hotel. Two of the most significant initiatives that I am
thrilled to have been part of, which have taken Chewton Glen to new heights, literally, are the
creation of the inspirational Treehouse Suites, which have been such a phenomenal success
and the hotel becoming recognised one of the leading resorts in the United Kingdom for
families.”
“I am also thrilled to share the exciting news that last week, we received planning permission
for the construction of a fabulous cookery school and ‘tasting floor’ at Chewton Glen, which will
be partnered by our good friend and celebrity chef James Martin, who together with former
chefs, Jean Christophe Novelli, Pierre Chevillard and our own Executive Chef, Luke Matthews
have prepared such a wonderful celebration banquet for you this evening,” continued Andrew
Stembridge.
In a video prepared to celebrate the 50th Anniversary and shown for the first time on Friday
evening, James Martin paid homage to the hotel by saying that “without a shadow of a doubt,
without his time at Chewton Glen he would not be in the position he is in today, the hotel
represents real quality and it is second to none, Chewton Glen is ‘pure class’,” said James
Martin.
Chewton Glen has been the blueprint for so many other successful properties over the years.
When Martin Skan bought the house in January 1966 there was nothing comparable in the
English countryside, Martin’s vision and foresight created a true ‘English Original’, coincidentally
the name of a commemorative book which encapsulates the five decades of Chewton Glen in a
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series of interviews and anecdotes with key people involved its evolution over the years, the
book also contains recipes from the kitchen of today’s Executive Head Chef, Luke Matthews.
Chewton Glen has always been a nurturing ground for young talent and some of the industries
greatest champions started their careers at this hotel. This legacy continues today with a 275strong team of hospitality professionals. The importance of a great team was highlighted by
former Managing Director Peter Crome when he described “the magic of Chewton Glen as
being its people, their natural charm, and welcoming friendly nature, stressing it really is what
makes a great hotel.” Celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, who worked at the hotel under
the direction of Pierre Chevillard, described Chewton Glen as a ‘perfect recipe’ and he
considered himself enormously privileged to be part of its extended family.
James and Tamara Lohan, founders of ‘Mr & Mrs Smith’ reminisced that they first visited
Chewton Glen 13 years ago when looking for properties for their hotel collection, in their view
the hotel has real substance, mixed with some of the best style, now Chewton Glen is one of the
‘Hero Hotels’ in their portfolio. It holds a special place in the memory of so many of its guests,
who have remained loyal to the property over the past five decades and, of course, to its former
management stars such as Robin Hutson, who said “the hotel holds a special place in his heart,
the fundamental values of Chewton Glen are all about excellence.”
In addition to celebrating 50 years of great hospitality, the anniversary evening also marked 10
years since Chewton Glen’s founder Martin Skan, handed over the chains of ownership to Ian
Livingstone who is immensely passionate about Chewton Glen and actively encourages
investment and improvements ensuring the hotels future is secure and looking very bright
indeed.”
For further information please contact:
Angela Day
Head of Public Relations at Chewton Glen
Tel: 01304 617755
Mobile: 07785 619294
E.mail: aday@chewtonglen.com
www.chewtonglen.com
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Editor’s Note:
Chewton Glen is a five-red star privately-owned luxury country house hotel, located on the edge
of the ancient New Forest National Park in Hampshire and just a few minutes’ walk from sea.
Featuring an award-winning restaurant, world-class spa and leisure activities, luxurious
accommodation and modern meeting facilities, the hotel has 70 individually designed bedrooms
and suites including the 12 tree-house suites, a nine-hole par three golf course, croquet lawn,
indoor and outdoor tennis courts and a spa which has been voted the best in Europe.
We have pleasure in sharing with you some facts and memories:
WHAT’S IN A NAME: From the 1100s the Chewton Glen estate was known as ‘Cheventone’,
‘Chyveton’, or ‘Chewghton’ and the first document mentioning the house appeared in 1732, with
its early occupants the Dale and Spencer families.
LITERARY LINKS: Colonel George Marryat purchased Chewton Glen in the 1800’s and his
seafaring younger brother, Captain Frederick Marryat, used his visits to see George to write the
enduring children’s novel: ‘The Children of the New Forest’. Many of the rooms in the hotel
today are named in honour of the captain’s novels and characters.
HOUSE TO HOTEL: We have to thank Colonel Edward Tinker for the remodelling the exterior
of Chewton Glen at the turn of the 19th century and adding the mellow red brickwork, doorways
and gabled projections that are seen today. Sadly following the death of his widow Lady Tinker,
the house and estate was sold in the 1950’s and the slow transformation into a hotel began.
There were a number of false starts until one cold December morning in 1965 Martin Skan and
his brother Trevor decided to invest their inheritance in Chewton Glen.
JUST ONE GUEST – With a guest list of just one and a learning curve of amazing proportions
Martin Skan and family, until his retirement, created the blueprint for the perfect country house
hotel, one that today is still the benchmark for excellence. His innovative, open minded
approach to hospitality, service and quality has left a tremendous legacy.
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SPA TIME:
In 1990 Chewton Glen opened its Spa, the first of its kind in the UK, the spa
currently boast 12 treatment rooms, a 17-metre indoor swimming pool, large well equipped
gymnasium, dance studio, steam and sauna rooms, spa grooming lounge, a hydrotherapy spa,
whirlpool, Pool Bar lounge and relaxation areas and a range of fabulous treatments and
products.
FAMOUS FIVE:
For five decades five Managing Directors, including Robin Hutson, Peter
Crome and currently Andrew Stembridge have shaped Chewton Glen; their influence and
imagination has taken the hotel from its origins as an eight bedroom, one bathroom country
hotel, to an internationally renowned luxury destination with 70 bedrooms and suites, including
12 Treehouse Suites.
FOOTPRINT: With over 130 acres of woodland, gardens and parkland, the Chewton Glen
estate now extends to the edge of the New Forest National Park and down to the Solent
coastline, where you can leave your own footprints in the golden sand.
CROSSING THE LINE: The border between Dorset and Hampshire follows the path of the
stream that flows through the Chewton Bunny; a valley in the grounds of Chewton Glen. Once
popular with smugglers taking their contraband into the New Forest, nowadays our guests cross
the border to play tennis in Dorset and sip their pre-dinner cocktails in Hampshire.
TAKE TO THE WATER: With miles of stunning coastline just minutes’ walk from the hotel, you
can enjoy plenty of water-based activities. But if you prefer something more relaxing you can
take to the water in our 17m ozone treated indoor pool, splash around in the outdoor heated
pool, bubble your troubles away in the whirlpool or the relax in the UK’s largest hydrotherapy
spa.
FAMILY TIME: Children receive a great big Chewton Glen welcome when they come to stay.
With the Kids Club at weekends and school holidays, the adventure garden, story time in the
Tepee; special kids swimming times in the indoor pool and a myriad of others things to do
including tennis, golf, croquet, cycling, not to mention for the less sporty, face painting, puzzles
and computer games and a trip to the Five Star Bug Hotel, it is no wonder we have so many
happy grown-ups chilling out at Chewton Glen.
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JUST BUZZING: Bees, lots of them! In fact we have more than 50 working hives of very well
behaved bees cared for by Bee Keeper, Rob Oliver and Estate Manager, Darren Venables,
producing more than enough honey to supply the hotel, with plenty left for guests to take home
to enjoy on their toast, until their next visit to Chewton Glen.
HARVESTING: A fabulous array of vegetables, fruit, herbs and edible flowers are harvested
each year from the Walled Kitchen Garden, Orchard and Nursery, we even have a team of
volunteers now helping our gardeners sowing seeds and potting-up. With the chefs popping
over to pick something delicious for lunch, we don’t have air miles to contend with, we just have
too many Chefs in the Garden!
THE DINING ROOM – With fabulous fresh ingredients and a flexible approach to dining, the
restaurant is spread across five rooms, including a wonderful Wine Room and the newly
constructed Summer House, The Dining Room offers settings to suit all dining occasions,
seasons or times of the day. The service matches that of the hotel, welcoming yet refined,
attentive yet unobtrusive. From a light lunch or supper, to a wine tasting dinner hosted by our
Chef Sommelier, or a relaxed dinner with family and friends, we aim to exceed our guests’
expectations with flexibility and style.
TAKE TO THE TREES: 2012 saw the opening by Olympian Ben Ainsley of Chewton Glens
innovative Treehouse Suites. Located in a secluded wooded valley, the Treehouses appear to
float in the tree top canopy. Complete with wrap around balconies, floor to ceiling windows, hot
tubs, log burners and the luxury of your breakfast hamper being delivered silently by buggy to
your Treehouse whilst you sleep, you might have to be encourage to leave at the end of your
stay!
Chewton Glen has been awarded some fabulous accolades over the past five decades. Some
of the highlights have been:

AA 5 Red Star Rating, held continuously since 1993. Also awarded ‘AA Inspectors’
Choice Hotel’.

Condé Nast Johansens 2015, ‘Best Hotel for Families’.
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
Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards 2014, ‘Best UK Holiday Hotel’.

Beautiful South Awards for Excellence 2014-2015, ‘Large Hotel of the Year’.

Condé Nast Traveller 2014, ‘Top 10 – Best UK Spa’.

Catey’s ‘Accessibility Award 2012’

Conde Nast Traveller 2012 – ‘Best Hotel for Service in the World and placed in the 2012
Gold List.’

International Hotel Awards 2012 – ‘Best Hotel Architecture UK’ and ‘Best New Small
Hotel Construction & Design UK.’

Conference & Incentive Travel – ‘Gold Award – Best UK Incentive Hotel 2011’.

Relais & Chateaux 2010 – ‘Award of the R&C Corporate Trophy’

Walpole Awards for Excellence 2009 – ‘British Luxury Service Brand’.