For General Manager Nicky Lee, the new bedroom extension at The Bulls Head Hale Barns has been the result of seven years of planning and hard work.

When Nicky first took over the site seven years ago, plans for an extension were already being discussed. “It was always something we wanted to do, so finally seeing it come to life has been really exciting”.

The project has added 14 new bedrooms to the site, alongside improvements to the gardens and overall guest experience. But behind the finished rooms has been months of balancing a live construction site with the day-to-day running of a busy pub and hotel.

“Would you believe that the biggest challenge was definitely managing the car park. You’ve got cranes arriving, deliveries, restricted spaces and guests still wanting to park where they always have. There were daily conversations explaining what was happening and constantly adapting things as the build progressed.”

For Nicky, the end goal was always making the site work better for guests. From creating more family-friendly spaces to adding additional dog-friendly rooms, she was heavily involved in the smaller design details that would make a real difference day-to-day.

“It was all about thinking practically about what guests actually need, Families previously had to book two separate rooms, which could become really expensive. Now we’ve got proper family rooms and more flexibility. Even little things like built-in trundle beds make such a difference operationally”.

One thing Nicky is particularly proud of is how the team adapted throughout the refurb.

“They’ve dealt with constant disruption so well, from moving outside tables around every day to handling guest questions and adapting to operational changes, everybody has just got on with it. Even the night team had to adjust to a completely different way of working once reception moved into the pub, and they handled it brilliantly”.

Although the project brought challenges, Nicky says breaking everything down into stages helped the team stay focused and keep operations running smoothly.

And now the doors are officially open, the reaction from guests has made the hard work worthwhile.

“The finished rooms are honestly even better than I imagined, Guests walk in and just say ‘wow’. The reception team have actually been walking guests to their rooms because they’re so proud of them and want to see that reaction”.

For Nicky, the most rewarding part has simply been seeing years of planning finally come together. “This has been something we’ve worked towards for a long time, to now see guests enjoying the rooms and hearing such positive feedback, I’m genuinely really proud of what the team has achieved”.