Our lockdown team were busy not only maintaining the hotel, but also reaching out to our local community and working with charities. Our team delivered food to Spelthorne Dementia Support and the York Road Homeless Project – as well as helping to collect bed linen to be made into scrubs for the NHS and donating blue shoe covers to the Ashford and St Peters Hospital teams.
Over Easter, we delivered chocolate to those living locally and sent out sunflower seeds to those who live further afield.
Whilst summer felt short, we were so grateful to have a busy hotel, welcoming back old friends and new faces. And with staycations and outdoor activities more in demand than ever, we had a record breaking number of guests enjoying the use of our very own boats out on the river.
We are very proud of how our chefs worked hard to adapt our dining offering. As well as creating a new a la carte menu at Leftbank, our chefs supported local suppliers, speaking to them daily to ensure there would be no waste and to source the most seasonal ingredients.
Our takeaway pizzas were also a real hit, especially on a sunny day when guests could enjoy them on the green overlooking the river, with a cold drink in hand.
The Runnymede won several accolades in 2020. Firstly, we were awarded a Good Hotel Award. Secondly, our spa was awarded the Guinot Crown Elite status for the 3rd year running. This prestigious accolade is awarded to only 20 salons out of over 1,200 Guinot appointed salons across the UK and Ireland. Our Spa was also awarded ‘4 bubbles’ by the Good Spa Guide.
In addition we were ranked No.1 in our local area on Tripadvisor and received a Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice Award, which being based on our guests reviews, means the world to us.
In October, we were delighted to be chosen as one of the preferred hotels for the BMW PGA European Tour, which was held at Wentworth Club, hosting several golfers whilst they competed! We also hosted Racing 92, who had a massive win over Harlequins, as well as other Rugby Union and league sides.
During this testing year, the whole team at The Runnymede came together to support each other. As well as developing our employees skills through online training, we pulled together to keep staff morale up. Everyone kept in touch through zoom quizzes, exercise classes, Easter Egg deliveries and our lovely sunflower competition.
Also part of the family, we must pay tribute to our very own Runnymede cats, who this year featured in a Cats Protection magazine alongside 5 cats we rescued, which have now found loving homes.
