Luxury ‘competition’ lodge Birch closes after going into administration
- Hotel was billed as a cross between Soho Farmhouse and a artistic arts competition
- Have YOU stayed at a Birch lodge? Contact [email protected]
A luxurious ‘hipster’ lodge that attempted to entice rich creatives dwelling in London with its ‘competition’ ambiance, pottery workshops and sourdough baking periods has gone into administration.
The Birch Hotel in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, emerged through the pandemic and rapidly grew to become an award-winning lodge.
Using a personal members’ mannequin, it was billed as a cross between the ultra-trendy Soho Farmhouse and a artistic arts competition, set in 55 acres and simply half-hour from London.
When its house owners, Chris Penn – a former director at Shoreditch’s Ace Hotel – and Chris King, purchased the previous convention lodge in 2018, they spent £8.5million over two years on renovations.
The aesthetic was stylish and trendy whereas repurposing present materials from the positioning, which was initially in-built 1763 and is a Grade II-listed constructing. Rooms for non-members began at £150-a-night.
The aesthetic was stylish and trendy whereas repurposing present materials from the positioning, which was initially in-built 1763 and is a Grade II-listed constructing
CHESHUNT: A room on the lodge did not include a TV, with the thought to entice residents out of their rooms
The lodge was billed as a cross between the members’ solely membership Soho Farmhouse and a artistic arts competition set in 55 acres and simply half-hour from London
It was a three way partnership between Mr Penn and Mr King’s administration firm, Performance Hotels, and actual property funding firm Aprirose.
A room on the lodge did not include a TV, with the thought to entice residents out of their rooms.
For leisure, company might attempt pottery, glassblowing, candle making, beekeeping, soda bread making, gong baths, board video games or spoon carving at an additional price.
There have been additionally free movie screenings, in addition to health courses resembling HIIT, al fresco yoga, a nightclub-style spin studio and extra.
A second lodge opened in Selsdon, south London, final spring, with a membership scheme and two eating places.
The eating places, Elodie and Vervain, have been managed by Michelin-starred chef Lee Westcott and obtained a rave assessment from Observer restaurant critic Jay Rayner.
CHESHUNT: The Birch Hotel in Hertfordshire emerged through the pandemic and rapidly grew to become an award-winning lodge.
SELSDON: The Birch close to Croydon opened final Spring, however locals mentioned the realm lacked the ‘hipster’ vibe the lodge was attempting to draw
CHESHUNT: Food on the Birch restaurant in Hertfordshire. Customers complained it was ‘costly’ and meals was ‘mediorce’
Rooms on the lodge didn’t include a TV, with the thought to entice residents out of their rooms. For leisure, company might attempt pottery, glassblowing, candle making, beekeeping, soda bread making, gong baths, board video games or spoon carving at an additional price.
There have been additionally free movie screenings, health courses resembling HIIT, al fresco yoga, a nightclub-style spin studio and extra.
A second lodge opened in Selsdon, south London, final spring with a membership scheme and two eating places, Elodie and Vervain, managed by Michelin-starred chef Lee Westcott and receiving acclaim from restaurant critic Jay Rayner.
However, Mr Penn and Mr King left the enterprise simply earlier than the brand new location opened and new administration was introduced in final February.
This proved too late because the south Croydon lodge closed its doorways final month and directors have simply put the Birch Hotel available on the market.
Hundreds of workers misplaced their jobs in Croydon after most of the informal workers had already been let go.
CHESHUNT: The Grade II listed Birch lodge was set on 55-acres in Hertfordshire
CHESHUNT: The heated out of doors pool on the Birch lodge in Hertfordshire. However, in April workers stopped heating it because of an increase in vitality prices
The workers who remained till the tip needed to be taught totally different roles and it was reported that the gardener was staffing reception.
Writing on Facebook, a former workers member mentioned: ‘Nearly 300 of us bought made redundant on the spot yesterday at 12pm with no pre-warning in any way proper earlier than Christmas.’
Another individual claiming to be a former worker mentioned: ‘None of us have been paid/will receives a commission our closing wage which was due subsequent Thursday! Five weeks pay!’
‘So we’re heading in direction of Christmas with ZERO MONEY. Some of these individuals have younger households, new infants, or stay alone with no assist group round them.’
According to The Caterer, the enterprise bumped into issue because of ‘money constraints’.
Locals complained about its south London lodge being overpriced and alienating locals with its membership scheme.
Lamenting it is closure, one buyer mentioned: ‘There’s not a lot of a marketplace for the “hipster” vibe in Croydon, sadly.’
CHESHUNT: The aesthetic was stylish and trendy whereas repurposing present materials from the positioning, which was initially in-built 1763 and is a Grade II-listed constructing
CHESHUNT: Birch additionally had a small farm with animals together with pigs, chickens and llamas
CHESHUNT: The property firm that received the rights to promote the lodge, Savills, mentioned the sale supplied buyers with a ‘distinctive alternative to accumulate a considerable freehold property’
Meanwhile one other added: ‘If that they had been extra inclusive to native residents it might need been higher.’
Others have been dismayed on the ‘costly’ costs, with one individual commenting: ‘People have not bought that sort of cash. Not shocked it is closed!’
The property firm that received the rights to promote the lodge, Savills, mentioned the sale supplied buyers with a ‘distinctive alternative to accumulate a considerable freehold property’.
Savills lodge agent Harriet Fuller added: ‘It has been lately refurbished to seamlessly mix trendy design aesthetics with the facilities of a way of life lodge and personal members’ membership.
‘We count on this to be a extremely south-after asset.’
MailOnline has contacted Birch for additional remark.
