Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa
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Summer Lodge is a fine Georgian listed house in the picturesque village of Evershot, West Dorset. This privately owned Relais and Chateaux English country house hotel set in 4 acres, offers facilities such as a croquet lawn, heated outdoor pool, all-weather tennis court and award-winning restaurant. The hotel adjoins a 9000 acre deer park offering excellent walking and an abundance of wildlife and flowers throughout the year.
The 2nd Earl of Ilchester built Summer Lodge in 1798 as a dower house. The countryseat of the Earls of Ilchester is Melbury House on the outskirts of Evershot. In 1893, the property was enlarged and a second floor added by the 6th Earl who commissioned his friend and local author, Thomas Hardy, (an architect by profession) to draw up the plans. The house was further modernised in 1932 by the last Earl to live in Dorset, when as Lord Stavordale, he brought his bride to live at Summer Lodge. His London home was Holland House in Kensington.
When Margaret and Nigel Corbett purchased the property in 1979, they became only the second owners in nearly two centuries. At that time, the 12 bed-roomed property with dilapidated outbuildings had been empty for 3 years. Within 7 weeks, they had converted Summer Lodge into a hotel and their private home – with eight bedrooms. The first guests paid £10.50 for dinner, bed and breakfast.
In 1988, the stables and coach house were converted into bedrooms and an all-weather tennis court and heated pool were added. In 1991, the Dining Room was enlarged and remodelled to compliment the Thomas Hardy designed Drawing Room with its full length sash windows. The hotel became a member of Relais and Chateaux.
In 2003, Red Carnation Hotels of London purchased the hotel and embarked on an extensive renovation. including the addition of a mini spa, the enclosure of the heated swimming pool in a climate-controlled conservatory, the incorporation of Ivy Cottage (7 Fore Street) and new offices, staff quarters and laundry. In April 2006 a conservatory was added to the restaurant providing extra seating.
