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The power of passion

Discover the world of Red Carnation
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    Hotel 41

    London

    An intimate hideaway

    Our residents-only hotel, with a prestigious Forbes Five-Star rating, has been recognised as the number one hotel in the UK for more than a decade.

    Arrive at our private entrance overlooking the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace, imbued with the subtle fragrance of Hotel 41’s own signature scent, and be welcomed with a personal check-in and a glass from our beautiful Champagne trolley. In your bedroom or suite, discover a selection of homemade treats created by our Executive Chef, along with a supremely comfortable, handcrafted Savoir bed. An unforgettable experience begins...

    Discover the rich history of Summer Lodge

    1798

    1893

    1932

    1979

    1988

    2003

    2004

    2005

    2020

    Henry Thomas Fox-Strangways, 2nd Earl of Ilchester

    1798

    Built in 1798 as a dower house by the 2nd Earl of Ilchester.

    Thomas Hardy headshot

    1893

    The property was enlarged in 1893 with a second floor added by the 6th Earl who commissioned his friend and local author, Thomas Hardy, (an architect by profession) to draw up the plans.

    Giles Stephen Holland Fox-Strangways

    1932

    The house was further modernised in 1932 by the last Earl to live in Dorset, when as Lord Stavordale, he brought his bride to live at Summer Lodge.

    1979

    Margaret & Nigel Corbett purchased the property & became the second owners in two centuries. The 12 bedroom with dilapidated outbuildings, had been empty for 3 years. Within 7 weeks, they had converted it into a hotel & home - with 8 rooms. The first guests paid £10.50 for dinner, bed and breakfast.

    1988

    In 1988, the stables & coach house were converted into bedrooms & an all-weather tennis court and heated pool were added.

    2003

    In 2003, Red Carnation Hotels bought Summer Lodge and restored the property to its former glory, creating an exceptional guest experience that befits this beautiful building.

    2004

    In 2004 we unveiled our new Spa, offering wellness journeys and treatments to complement our indoor pool.

    2005

    We added our sister property The Acorn Inn, just across the village, to join The Red Carnation Hotels – a charming 16th-century coaching inn with an original skittle alley.

    2020

    We added the Garden Suite to our suite collection – our President and Founder's favourite room at Summer Lodge. The jewel in the Garden Suite's crown is the glass conservatory with a private dining, seating and bar area overlooking the hidden private courtyard.

    Take a tour...

    Expect warm smiles at every turn, a host of thoughtful touches, sumptuous rooms and suites, and delicious cuisine, all set within the rolling hills of Dorset.

    Hydrangea Illustration

    The birthplace of Thomas Hardy

    Thomas Hardy was born in Dorset and our village of Evershot is commonly referred to as Evershed in Hardy's novels. Few people know that Hardy was also an accomplished architect... The Drawing Room at Summer Lodge was designed by Thomas Hardy.

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    The Evershot experience

    With our sister pub The Acorn Inn just across the village, we are delighted to offer the best of all worlds... An elegant fine dining restaurant as well as a relaxed gastro pub; a world-class sommelier and amazing real ales; a luxurious drawing room and a cosy bar; croquet and tennis as well as skittles and darts.

    Discover more
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    Meet our team

    Every one of our team members is empowered to make a real difference, offering remarkably considerate service and discrete attention to detail. From freshly-cut flowers in the suites to personalised gifts for special occasions, it is no surprise that guests often remember the names of our staff and ask after them when they return.

    Meet the characters of Summer Lodge

    Our differences

    Exceeding expectations at every turn, our historic  hotel has a team who take genuine pride in delivering impeccable service. Set within the enchanting village of Evershot, enjoy delicious cuisine in the Restaurant, a traditional Dorset Afternoon Tea in the Drawing Room, and relaxing moments of rejuvenation in the Spa.

    Reasons to love Summer Lodge

    Discover more about Summer Lodge

    Children Shed

    The perfect family destination

    With a host of outdoor activities to enjoy including a children’s playhouse

    Sleep beautifully

    Discover our bedrooms & suites

    Stories of Summer Lodge

    Discover our gallery

    Wonderful recognition

    Explore our awards & accolades

    We care

    Explore our sustainable initiatives

    In the press

    Discover articles written by journalists & media professionals
    Children Shed

    The perfect family destination

    With a host of outdoor activities to enjoy including a children’s playhouse

    Sleep beautifully

    Discover our bedrooms & suites

    Stories of Summer Lodge

    Discover our gallery

    Wonderful recognition

    Explore our awards & accolades

    We care

    Explore our sustainable initiatives

    In the press

    Discover articles written by journalists & media professionals
    Children Shed

    The perfect family destination

    With a host of outdoor activities to enjoy including a children’s playhouse

    Sleep beautifully

    Discover our bedrooms & suites
    Hydrangea Illustration

    Extraordinary experiences

    We pride ourselves on our carefully designed and memorable experiences for guests to enjoy. From outdoor pursuits to healing therapies, our knowledgeable team ensures every stay is as seamless and personalised as possible.

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    Delicious dining

    Illustration of cutlery, fish knif a fork and a butter knife

    Delicious dining

    From mouth-watering seasonal flavours developed by Executive Chef Steven Titman, to carefully selected wines from renowned sommelier Eric Zwiebel, our dining experiences deliver on gastronomic standards.

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    Carnation SVG

    The power of passion

    "It is our pleasure to introduce you to Evershot in beautiful West Dorset and to Summer Lodge, which has welcomed guests since 1980, when Nigel and Margaret Corbett bought an old dower house and converted it into a hotel. We have been proud members of the Red Carnation family since 2002, when Mr and Mrs Tollman fell in love with the hotel. 


    Alex and I met while working at Summer Lodge in 2003 and, now married, have been General Managers since 2017. We are delighted to have retained such exceptionally talented and dedicated members of the team for such a long period of time. So many have over 15 years of service and they are what makes the hotel such a special place to visit. 


    We are especially proud of our efforts to reduce our impact on the environment around us. We exist in such a beautiful part of the world, and we believe we should tread as lightly as possible by using only local suppliers, reducing waste, growing our own, eliminating plastics and husbanding our beehives.  


    While you are here, take time to enjoy the walks around the area, sample some of the delicious wines from the local vineyards, experience the amazing Jurassic coast, consider a balloon tour above the Dorset landscape, and enjoy the fabulous regional produce in the restaurant.  


    We wish you the most fantastic time with us and we look forward to making your stay a very special one."


    - Alex and Jack Mackenzie, General Managers

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    London

    • Hotel 41
    • The Milestone Hotel & Residences
    • The Rubens at the Palace
    • The Egerton House Hotel
    • The Chesterfield Mayfair
    • The Montague on the Gardens

    Dorset

    • Summer Lodge Country House Hotel & Restaurant
    • The Acorn Inn

    Ireland

    • Ashford Castle
    • The Lodge at Ashford Castle
    • Hatch Hall

    Guernsey

    • The Old Government House Hotel & Spa
    • The Duke of Richmond Hotel

    Edinburgh

    • 100 Princes Street

    South Africa

    • Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat
    • The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa
    • The Oyster Box

    Botswana

    • Xigera Safari Lodge

    Geneva

    • Hotel d'Angleterre

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