The next stage of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s roadmap to re-opening the 海角视频 is taking place on May 17.
Infection rates are at their lowest level since September, according to the Government, with levels now similar to July last year.
It means indoor venues, such as pubs, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and bars, will finally be able to open indoors. It will also mean the re-opening of hotels across the country.
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Up to six people or two households will be able to meet indoors and up to 30 people outdoors.
All remaining outdoor entertainment will also reopen and some larger events will be able to take place, including conferences, concert performances and sports events.
The hospitality industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, which saw the majority of venues forced to close for most of 2020.
In March, the Bristol Hoteliers Association (BHA), which represents 40 hotels in the city, announced it was hiring 500 people ahead of the summer re-opening.
Raphael Herzog, chair of the BHA, said: “Bookings are looking strong for leisure hotels, and there is half term at the end of May, which we are expecting to be very busy.
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“We are also looking for more clarity about what is going to happen from 21 June, when the roadmap says almost all restrictions will be lifted, which will allow us to operate at 100% capacity, host larger weddings and larger meetings.
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“There’s a strong suggestion that we’re going to enjoy a staycation summer, although ultimately this will depend on what restrictions may stay in place for travelling abroad, which is why we would really like to have some clarity sooner rather than later.”
With the re-opening of the hospitality sector we have taken a look at some of the hotel businesses in the South West we think are worth a visit this summer.
In no particular order…
The Fleet Inn at Twyning, Tewkesbury
The boutique pub and hotel has undergone an extensive refurbishment inside and out, including the addition of three more bedrooms.
The venue is managed by Butcombe Brewing Co and has a huge garden that leads down to the banks of the River Avon. The revamped riverside terrace now has a covered and heated pergola and alfresco kitchen with a wood-fired pizza oven.
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Joseph Green, general manager, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the new look Fleet Inn. We’ve had some great feedback from customers and are looking forward to showing off the interior.”
Inside there are a variety of cosy drinking and dining areas to choose from.
The Queensberry Hotel, Bath
This luxury Georgian townhouse hotel, right in the heart of Bath, is home to the city's only Michelin-star restaurant - Olive Tree.
The hotel, which also has three AA Rosette status, was awarded the top accolade in October 2018.
According to owner Laurence Beere, the last 15 months have been “very challenging" for the business but he is hopeful as the year continues the hospitality sector will begin to recover.”
Mr Beere said Bath was already seeing “very good demand" for weekends and midweek, but there was little interest from corporate travellers yet.
"Generally as has been reported, the West Country is seeing very good demand throughout the next few months and into the remainder of the year. In Bath this is true, with very good demand for weekends, and midweek demand also beginning to build."
Budock Vean, Falmouth
The family-owned and run country house sits in a 65-acre estate in Cornwall and has its own golf course, tennis courts, swimming pool and a new outdoor hot tub.
The hotel recently won silver in the South West Tourism Awards in the large hotel category - and in the Cornwall Tourism Awards, owner Martin Barlow won a special prize for services to tourism.
The last 12 months has been challenging, according to Mr Barlow, who said digging into reserves and furlough, in particular, had been "critical".
"We have got through the last 12 months without making a single employee redundant," he said. "For me that was key. We have a fantastic team here at Budock Vean and I needed to find a way to keep them together, ready to pick up whenever we were allowed to reopen."
Demand, he says, has also been "excellent". He added: "If you look at the five months from May to October 2021, bookings taken for those five months as of April 30 are over 100% up on the same period in 2019, the last useful comparison point."
He added: "Running a hotel is always a big team effort and keeping our highly skilled and experienced team together was always going to be critical to a successful resumption of trading."
The Speech House Hotel, Coleford
The historic Speech House has been a part of the Forest of Dean’s scenery since 1669. Set in the centre of the Forest, the hotel was originally built as a hunting lodge for King Charles II and is surrounded by one of the only surviving ancient woodlands in England.
In the last 12 months, the hotel has only been operational and open for 4.5 months, which has had a significant impact on the business - financially and emotionally, according to operations director Naomi Hands.
"After each lockdown has eased, the process of opening up again has been like opening a brand new hotel," said Ms Hands. "From emptying and re-ordering stock, through to deep cleaning bedrooms and communal areas.
"The impact on staff has been huge. Without the furlough we would be in a very different situation, but that has enabled us to keep our staff in employment."
After the first lockdown, Ms Hands said there was “huge appetite and strong demand” - but as restrictions ease, there has been a “much slower” pattern to bookings.
“People are a lot more cautious. We’re seeing a few last minute bookings come in, and we have made sure our cancellation policy is updated to reflect free cancellation if it’s related to Covid."
The Peppermill, Devizes
The Peppermill is a AA 5* town house hotel, restaurant and wine bar in the Wiltshire market town of Devizes.
The restaurant has been awarded two rosettes by the AA and offers an interesting contemporary British menu using fresh, seasonal ingredients that are locally sourced where possible.
The hotel recently expanded and now has 17 bedrooms, including a honeymoon suite with a Queen Anne four-poster bed and a two-bedroom family suite.
The wine and cocktail bar has 75 different wines and 30 different gins and draft beers.
Salcombe Harbour Hotel, Salcombe
The 50-room spa hotel is set just back from the water, directly on the South West Coastal Path. It has a breezy waterside bar and decked terrace with DJ sets in the summer and rooftop yoga sessions.
According to the hotel, it has been a "very challenging" year, especially for the team, which has undergone hospitality-focused training on how to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The Salcombe Harbour Hotel has already seen huge demand, it said, with occupancy for the first four months of reopening more than 90%. The remaining months are showing occupancy significantly ahead of previous years too.
"We have seen a trend for longer stays as well with customers wishing to stay more than seven days at our hotel."
TheSalcombe Harbour Hotel believes the Government should ease immigration restrictions on EU nationals and other migrant workers with experience of working in the 海角视频 hospitality industry.
It added: "At least temporarily, so hospitality businesses can recruit team members more easily for the remainder of the year."
The Lucky Onion hotel group, Cheltenham
The Cheltenham-headquartered hotel and restaurant group is owned and run by the founder of Superdry, Julian Dunkerton, and his wife Jade.
The group includes Cheltenham’s No 131 The Promenade, which has been named among the best hotels in the Cotswolds. The hotel is a Georgian Grade II listed villa which has been restored to a luxurious 36-bedroom hotel, restaurant, and bar.
The Dunkertons also run No.38 The Park - an elegant townhouse situated in a leafy corner of Pittville - that is home to 13 super king-size bedrooms. Each of the rooms are individually designed with one-off fabrics and furniture from British producers and designers.
The Bristol, Bristol
The Bristol is part of the Doyle Collection of hotels and is located between the city's historic cobbled Narrow Quay and Queen’s Square, right in the heart of the Harbourside district.
Housed in a distinctive 1960s building, the 187-bedroom hotel includes the River Grille restaurant and the River Lounge & Bar.
In the last 14 months the hotel went from having a team of 130 people to being closed overnight, which was “very difficult” according to general manager Mark Payne.
Since Mr Johnson set out his re-opening road map, Mr Payne says the hotel has had a “really positive response” however.
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“Given the pent up demand for weddings, business meetings and staycations, we are forecasting a very busy summer period,” he said.
The hotel is hoping the demand will help it get back to 80% of the revenue it achieved in 2019.
Mr Payne added: “The challenge for us will be in September when leisure business drops off, we are really hoping the corporate market comes back strong. We have had three Christmas party bookings which helps keeps our spirits up, and hopefully is a “signal we will have a good end to the year.”
The Eastbury, Sherborne
The recently refurbished 26-bedroom country house hotel has a restaurant, Seasons, which has a 2AA Rosette; a bijou spa; and beautiful gardens in the heart of the historic Dorset town of Sherbone.
There is also the option to stay in the hotel’s newly revamped 17th century stone cottage, Eastbury Cottage. The cottage is self-catering but guests can dine in the main hotel restaurant and use the spa.
The hotel has some dog friendly rooms, with dog bed, bowls, treats, a squeaky dog toy and even a welcome letter from the owner’s chihuahua Monty.
The hotel has received the Visit England ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard, which means they are adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance, have carried out a Covid-19 risk assessment and have the required processes in place.
The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Bath
Originally built in the 1800s, The Gainsborough Bath Spa occupies two Grade II Listed buildings with distinguished Georgian and Victorian façades in the heart of the World Heritage Site.
Named after artist Sir Thomas Gainsborough, the luxury hotel is centred around Spa Village Bath and is the only hotel in the city with direct access to Bath’s natural thermal waters.
The Gainsborough was designed by New York-based Champalimaud Design and says it aims to be "welcoming, elegant, vibrant and social".
The Idle Rocks, St Mawes
The Idle Rocks, part of the Relais & Chateaux group, based in the idyllic Cornish town of St Mawes, is situated on the rocks overlooking the Fal estuary.
The hotel’s executive head chef, Dorian Janmaat, worked under Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons for eight years, including four years as head chef, before returning to his home county of Cornwall.
The hotel was built in 1913 on the site of the old local bakery. During the 1970s and 1980s it underwent refurbishments, including the development of a new extension wing, with six bedrooms and a revamp of the restaurant.
The hotel was bought in 2010 by Karen and David Richards - an entrepreneur in the motor racing world and former chairman of Aston Martin.
Leonardo Hotel, Bristol
The fast-growing European hotel chain is adding to its portfolio with a new opening in Bristol on May 17.
The newest destination on Temple Way has 197 bedrooms, a fully equipped gym, bar and restaurant.
It has been designed for business travellers to be able to hot desk in the connectivity area, bar or restaurant, while also bringing "comfort and style to guests looking for a 海角视频 break" as staycations return.
Jason Carruthers, managing director for Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotels, said: "We are very excited to be launching in one of the 海角视频’s most vibrant cities and in such a central and accessible location.”
Gara Rock, East Portlemouth
South Devon's secluded Gara Rock spa hotel, near Salcombe, has stunning views across the coast. Its self-catering accommodation has been open since April 12, so it has already been welcoming some guests back.
The hotel says it is expecting its busiest year ever for bookings and is currently 50% up on the number of nights booked at the hotel for April to October.
"It looks like this year the season will extend beyond peak summer bookings too as people look to getaway year-round. We already have very limited summer availability from opening on May 17 and every indication is that autumn stays will be very similar."
Gara Rock's executive head chef has been curating new menus and the hotel has also been investing in new accommodation and some landscaping work in preparation for opening the OxGrill on the terrace this summer.
"It’s all looking very positive for 21 June, when all restrictions ease and if all goes to plan, then it should be a very positive year for the 海角视频 staycation market," a hotel spokesperson said.
The Langford Inn, Lower Langford
The North Somerset-based seven-bedroom inn is located on the edge of the Mendip Hills in an area of outstanding natural beauty.
The Langford is part of Butcombe's managed estate, having been previously run by tenants, and has recently undergone extensive refurbishment.
Maria Patrinos, general Manager of The Langford Inn, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the new look Langford Inn. We’ve had some great feedback from our incredibly supportive locals and I hope they enjoy the space we’ve created."
The ground floor bar and dining area has been given a complete makeover in a modern country style of blue and green heritage tones, panelled walls and exposed stonework.
The first-floor dining room, which is available for events and private hire, has been similarly transformed and has beautiful views across North Somerset.
There are various alfresco areas for guests to choose from – cosy bistro tables for two, larger wooden tables for groups and arched stone alcoves which are sure to be popular.