The manager of a luxury health spa said the business had weathered the Covid-19 storm well, and was gearing up to allow more guests to safely come on site.
At the height of the lockdown Ragdale Hall had all but around 30 of its 500 staff on furlough, with those remaining helping maintain the property and get it ready for its August 9 reopening.
Now, with social distancing measures in place, the 93 bedroom retreat in the rolling north Leicestershire countryside is operating at around 50 per cent capacity.
Manager James Bowie said the property’s size had allowed it to reopen safely – a luxury not every hospitality venue could boast.
Ragdale has also just spent £500,000 on a new Twilight cocktail bar – a couple of years after investing in a new rooftop pool – which even with the latest 10pm curfew on bars and restaurants, is open and serving guests before and after dinner.
Mr Bowie, who was himself furloughed for nine weeks, said they started preparing to be Covid-ready prior to the March lockdown, and have carried out full risk assessments.
He said: “It’s been a real shock to the system, but we felt like we had done an awful lot right at the start compared to some businesses – including doing things that have since become mandatory such as social distancing and spreading our tables out.
“We’ve been very lucky to have an incredible team, making a few adjustments to working hours and we have been able to avoid any major changes to our structure at this time.
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“Generally speaking, business is good and we’ve been controlling guest numbers and a target that we want to build up to.
“It’s almost been like a new opening for the team, rather than a reopening. We’re probably at around half capacity and working up to getting back to around two-thirds.
“I think people realise it’s going to be like this for some time, but we’re lucky that we have a big site and space to adjust.
“I’ve spoken to someone I know with a hotel in London and he doesn’t think they will open until the end of October. On the plus side there have been venues that have adapted well, like pubs offering take-out offers.
“We’ve lost a significant amount of revenue but are on a solid footing and have owners who have always seen Ragdale as a long-term commitment. We would have been having a big party this year to celebrate their 30 years of ownership, but obviously that’s on hold.
“The rooftop pool has been really popular with our guests and the new bar has been the next big thing, and recognised a need to have something new in the evenings.
“We’ve had some lovely comments, it’s all very stylish, and we’ve had Dan Warren, an award-winning bartender, as our trainer.
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“Structurally we had to add to the building and put in lots of bespoke furnishings.
“We’ve been very lucky so far, and even though the cocktail bar can only open until 10pm at the moment, guests are pretty fine with that. People are getting most of the experience they would have had before lockdown.”