Tewkesbury Park, a Georgian manor house hotel located in the heart of the Cotswolds, welcomed some very special guests this week, treating dogs from their local animal shelter to a luxury day out.
Teaming up with Cheltenham Animal Shelter, three homeless dogs – Kolo (16), Tinkerbell (9) and Oreo (1) – travelled from the shelter on Gardners Lane in Cheltenham to Tewkesbury Park where they enjoyed a day of fun-filled adventure accompanied by their carers.
The hotel, which was recently named ‘Best for Furry Friends’ in the prestigious Conde Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2020 thanks to their inclusive approach to canine guests, made special arrangements for the dogs to enjoy the facilities as day guests, starting with an indulgent roast dinner in the Piano Lounge – an area of the hotel where canine companions are able to dine with their owners.
Following their feast, Kolo, Tinkerbell and Oreo had a chance to explore the hotel’s vast grounds, which are set amongst 164 acres of parkland. After enjoying a long walk in the sunshine, the pooches hitched a ride in a golf buggy back to the hotel where they retired to one of the hotels dog-friendly bedrooms for some rest and relaxation. Equipped with memory foam dog beds, bowls, dog towels and treats, the rooms make a ‘pawfect’ retreat for pets and their people, with patio doors which open directly on to grassy areas making it easy to enjoy unspoilt views of the Gloucestershire countryside and, of course, for dogs to enjoy a run-around when they get restless.
Speaking of the day, Claire White, Director of Tewkesbury Park, said: “We absolutely love dogs here at Tewkesbury Park and are always happy to welcome guests and their canine companions. As well as being a wonderful break for people, it’s clear to see how much enjoyment dogs also get from our facilities and so we decided it would be a lovely idea to treat some deserving dogs from the local animal shelter to a fun day out at the hotel.”
Peter Newcombe, General Manager for Cheltenham Animal Shelter added: “Kolo, Tinkerbell and Oreo had a thoroughly enjoyable day out at Tewkesbury Park. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to spend time out of the shelter and have some fun together in new surroundings. As older dogs who need to be rehomed together, Kolo and Tinkerbell have been with us a little while, so it was especially nice for them to have an adventure and to meet new people, we’re very grateful to Tewkesbury Park for spoiling them.”
The day out marks the start of an ongoing partnership between Tewkesbury Park and Cheltenham Animal Shelter, which will see homeless dogs being treated to a day out at the hotel on a regular basis. Each month, Tewkesbury Park will welcome deserving dogs from the shelter to the hotel, where they will receive an indulgent roast dinner and the chance to enjoy a stroll around the hotel grounds, taking away a Tewkesbury Park neckerchief and dogs toy to remember their day by.
The family-owned hotel, golf and health club is set on the site of the 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury. Offering extensive on-site facilities including an 18-hole golf course, spa and leisure club, contemporary dining and luxury accommodation, the hotel also has a special Paws & Unwind offer, which is available year-round. Equipped with a welcome pack of suggested rural walks, a luxury bed featuring a memory foam mattress, and a delicious dog’s dinner and breakfast, it’s a wonderful home from home for guests and their four-legged friends.
For more information about Tewkesbury Park and to book, please visit https://www.tewkesburypark.co.uk/.
For more information about Cheltenham Animal Shelter and for animals currently seeking loving homes, please visit www.gawa.org.uk