Three hotels to reopen in West Sussex

Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa in Climping and Ockenden Manor in Cuckfield, near Haywards Heath, will be re-opening next Wednesday (July 15), followed by The Spread Eagle in Midhurst two weeks later (July 29). Historic Sussex Hotels’ managing directors, Pontus and Miranda Carminger, said: “A very small team have been carefully watching over the hotels, keeping them safe for your return and the time has finally come to throw open our doors and arms and welcome you back. “Our aim is for you to feel confident and comfortable returning to our hotels and we expect our guests to comply with our efforts and measures to prevent both transmission and onward contamination of the COVID-19 virus and ask that you consider the below at all times: ‘Be together, safely spaced. Enjoy yourselves and respect others’.” The Carmingers said the coronavirus pandemic has been the ‘most challenging and uncertain’ situation they have ever had to deal with. Their statement continued: “Never before have we had to experience an enforced closure of our hotels and spas, and this has been the most challenging and uncertain situation to deal with. “Unfortunately, spas will not be allowed to reopen as yet, which is very disappointing, we had hoped they would be permitted to open at the same time as the hotel and we hope that Government will look very carefully at this part of the hospitality industry in the coming weeks and swiftly come to a positive conclusion. “Please bear with us as we await spa re-opening restrictions and expectations from the Government and we will keep you posted as soon as we are able. “During this time we please ask for your patience and understanding — we will get back to each and every guest, question and enquiry. If you have not yet heard from us we ask that you email in the first instance and we will get back to you as quickly as possible. “We look forward to welcoming you back to our hotels, restaurants and spas soon and very much hope it will be this summer, as the Sussex sun continues to shine, the sea sparkles and the gardens flourish.” A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton: In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers. Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. Stay safe, and best wishes.