This summer sees Tewkesbury Park celebrate an impressive 10-year transformation into one of the UK’s top golf resorts.
The recent improvements, which culminated in the tenth anniversary year of the McIntosh family’s purchase of the Gloucestershire hotel and golf course, offer golf lovers a chance to come and sample a truly international-class golfing experience.
This claim was put beyond question when The Sunday Times named Tewkesbury Park as one of the UK’s Top 100 Hotels – one of only four golf resorts to make the list.
So how has a family-run 93-bedroom hotel near to a medieval English market town, far from any famous golfing coastlines or rolling highlands, managed in just ten years to stand comparison with the great history-drenched golf resorts such as Gleneagles in Scotland?
Back in 2014 and undaunted by the enormity of rescuing this historic property out of administration, saving some 80 jobs along the way, the McIntosh family forged ahead with a comprehensive investment strategy to reposition Tewkesbury Park in the marketplace.
A decade later and the transformation has been remarkable, despite severe challenges such as the COVID outbreak in 2020. Tewkesbury Park can now claim to be a true resort, offering nine stunning historic suites alongside 84 individually thought-out bedrooms, many with private gardens, including six dog-friendly rooms, each with an enclosed outdoor terrace.
Keen to challenge in the world of golf, the family invested in refurbishing their 18-hole Deerpark golf course to such a standard that it now hosts national PGA tournaments, and is regularly included deep inside UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Resorts lists.
British golf architect and amateur hall-of-famer Peter McEvoy OBE advised on a series of course alterations, with Course Manager Paul Hathaway and his greenkeeping team now tending some of the West of England’s most immaculate playing surfaces for golfers to enjoy.
Huge improvements were also made to Tewkesbury Park’s wellness offer with an outdoor sun terrace, complete with Scandi barrel sauna and whirlpool hot tub, complementing its indoor pool and steam room facilities. Treatment rooms were added and in line with the family’s desire to work with regional suppliers, a powerful collaboration was forged with the Natural Spa Factory of Bath.
All guest public areas underwent a comprehensive makeover, resulting in inviting lounges which offer guests a serene atmosphere in which to enjoy the breathtaking views from the hotel’s position on a gentle hilltop.
Tewkesbury Park’s Mint restaurant also underwent a remarkable transformation and has garnered international acclaim for the exceptional cuisine crafted by Executive Chef Anuj Thakur and his talented team.
The creation in 2017 of the hotel’s stunning new Cotswolds meetings & events suite has led to some of Tewkesbury Park’s largest accolades, with Conde Nast Traveller naming it the UK’s #1 Meetings & Conferences venue in its 2023 Awards For Excellence.
With typical attention to detail the McIntosh family created this state-of-the-art space complete with a multi-screen video wall which has since become popular for car launches, conferences and meetings, events, weddings and celebrations. Boasting a floor-to-ceiling glass front with stunning, panoramic views, the Cotswolds Suite combines its stylish Berkeley Bar and Terrace with a range of dining options including an outdoor pizza oven and barbecue area.
As the hospitality industry reeled from the rising costs of energy in 2023, the McIntosh family developed a plan to address these business challenges whilst simultaneously improving sustainability with a move away from oil.
A complete revamp of Tewkesbury Park’s energy production process followed, with the introduction of combined heat and power turbines. These now supply the entire resort with electricity whilst using the by-product of heat to supply hot water and heating. The work proved to be a masterstroke.
“We’re all thrilled to mark such a significant milestone in our journey together.” explains Patrick Jones, General Manager, who joined in 2015.
“Golfers in the UK now have a major new resort to consider when making their plans to take a domestic golf break. At Tewkesbury Park, our beautiful Deerpark golf course matches the superb quality of our accommodation, dining and leisure facilities, along with our now-famous personal touches for each and every golfing guest.”
Jones added “We had a vision for the property, and it’s been a real tribute to the determination, dedication and sheer hard work of every member of the team, past and present. The support of the McIntosh family with their meticulous planning and design contributions means that we have the tools to consistently deliver an exceptional guest experience and can take Tewkesbury Park to new heights in the years ahead.”
Now employing around 140 team members, Tewkesbury Park celebrated with them at a special event looking back over the last 10 years – before turning their attention to new plans for the years ahead.
