Long-serving Independent Hotel Show exhibitor Crown Sports Lockers received a call out of the blue early in 2021 from Stratton House.

Previously a stand visitor to the 2017 event, Stratton House representatives discussed plans with the changing room specialists to introduce spa provisions but planning permission for the project took longer than expected due to the pandemic.

“Once we were in a position to press the Go button again, Crown was our first port of call to help us progress the project by fitting out changing areas and treatment rooms,” says hotel director Aidan Stevens.

With the £1m expansion complete, Stratton House’s Spa in the Garden opened for business in mid-May but the sector havoc that lockdown wreaked left the location’s owners awash with uncertainty, like so many hospitality and leisure venues.

As Freedom Day beckoned on 19 July, Stevens expected to see the venture bustling with new business.

“We’ve already received some great feedback from guests, which I hope will continue as hospitality returns to normal.”

Rocky road
Stevens recalls the rocky road to creating the spa destination. Nestled in the Cotswolds, Stratton House presents a characterful face, resplendent in period stone construction dating back to the 16th century.

Purchased by the Stevens family five years ago, the property offered major potential for expansion of leisure provision.

“Creating a new spa was our intention from the start, but we’re in a conservation area and the planners have restrictions about what we can and cannot do,” Stevens explained.

“We were anxious to maximise the opportunity at the back of the hotel, while preserving the feel of a walled garden. The vision was to feature a glass pavilioned spa building in the garden, which would largely remain out of sight.

“I’d met Sam Palmer, Crown’s co-director, on the IHS stand and discussed the project with him. The business model was to reposition us as a destination hotel with greater emphasis on leisure – to attract guests looking to relax with half-day spa packages.”

After finally gaining planning permission for the development in 2019, Stevens picked up with Palmer in December.

“We were within 36 hours of signing the contract with the builders but had to hit pause due to unforeseen delays. Then COVID-19 hit, causing further disruptions,” said Stevens.

By January 2021, he’d got the ball rolling again, inviting Palmer to measure up on-site in late March.

Just a month after, Crown had completed a seven-day fitout of Egger décor male and female spa changing rooms, embracing lockers with integrated seating, wet and dry vanities, towel display and drop units and ancillary furniture in five treatment rooms, including cupboards and worktops.

“Crown made a sizable input into the project,” says Stevens, “ I worked closely with my wife Sarah – who has an eye for design – and helped us make greater use of the space by hiding away storage units and rethinking the ladies area by introducing more privacy for both guests and staff.

“They really applied their extensive experience with designing and fitting out spa facilities to take the end result beyond our expectations.”