Four Seasons Hotel, Hampshire

Situated in Dogmersfield in North East Hampshire lies the Four Seasons Hotel, set in an 18th-century manor which sits upon 500 acres of country landscape, offering five-star accommodation and dining of the highest luxury of which this prominent upmarket hospitality brand has become world renowned. Requiring a full refit and extension of the ground floor provided the chance to work with such a brand and was a great opportunity for us to show the level of high-quality finish we can produce.

We planned to carry out the project across two phases; phase one being the reconfiguration and fitting out of the drawing room, reception area and it’s ancillary rooms; and phase two encompassing the magnificent refurbishment of the Royal Suite as well as a new kitchen, bar and dining area for the Wild Carrot restaurant which was extended out giving space for an additional 60 covers.

Phase one began with ‘listed building’ consent and an understanding of English Heritage’s requirements, with a focus on adhering to conservation approval processes whilst working on this Grade I listed building. Structural works, polished marble flooring, oak wall panelling and the construction of a new reception counter were the main features of this phase.

Moving onto phase two we embarked upon the refurbishment of a huge commercial kitchen with a total redesign of the extraction system, a new island lounge bar with library/lounge area, and a refit and extension of the existing restaurant, plus a private dining room. The new extension incorporated a stone paved roof terrace for the Royal Suite, and an external paved garden area at ground floor level.

The official handover of the build saw the red-carpet visit of the right hand man to the King of Bahrain, who owns the estate, presiding over the final client’s team meeting. Safe to say Powells now officially have The Royal Seal of Approval. John Balance and Bruce Shaw of the Four Seasons Hotel group bestowed praise on our work saying: “The firm worked closely with the Project Managers and the Design Team to adhere to the necessary restrictions on a Grade I Listed Building and the end result is considered fully in keeping with the original buildings and to the highest standards.”