The heart of Guernsey
The only five-star hotel on the island, with panoramic sea views
The Old Government House Hotel & Spa
St Peter Port, Guernsey
With harbour views across the islands & beyond
Throw open your windows and breathe deep: the sea air here is pure and sweet, and the views out over St Peter Port, the harbour, across the water to the islands beyond, are the most breathtaking on the island. And yet we are right in the heart of St Peter Port, just a short stroll from the centre, making it the perfect location in this charming seaside town.
The only five-star hotel on the island, the historic Old Government House sits proudly just up the hill from the main shopping street and a five-minute walk from the quayside. Exceeding expectations with exceptional food, service and beautifully-designed rooms, a dedicated team treats every guest as a friend returning home, with passionate pride for fine traditional hospitality.
Gardening masterclasses
Surprising soil
7th and 21st July 2021
Summer Lodge head gardener Robin Andrews will guide you through the vital process of good soil management to help you make the most of your garden or allotment. Understanding the ecology of garden soil is essential for any gardener wishing to produce better and stronger plants. Robin will also explore the uses of compost and leaf mould as well as the concepts of a ‘no dig’ garden and how they can be applied every day. The session will begin with tea, coffee and pastries with Robin, with a homemade cookie break, and lunch served at the end in the conservatory or outside on the terrace.
Price: £75 per person
Extraordinary dahlias
4th and 25th August 2021
Explore the amazing history and horticultural significance of these stunning plants with our head gardener Robin Andrews. The class will begin with tea, coffee and pastries with Robin before you learn how to propagate, cultivate and make the most of these most flamboyant blooms and their 42 varieties. Robin will also share how to take cuttings, giving the opportunity to take your own cuttings to grow at home, as well as how to lift and store the tubers in preparation for the next season. During the session, you will have a homemade cookie break, with a lunch served at the end in the conservatory or outside on the terrace.
Price: £75 per person
Create your own sparkling wine with Furleigh Estate
Enjoy a unique and extra-special experience, exclusively for our guests, with one of Dorset’s iconic wine producers at their vineyard near Bridport. After an introduction to winemaking and Dorset sparkling wines, learn how to blend a unique sparkling wine to your own taste in the winery.
A relaxed tour of the estate and winemaking facilities will follow the blending session, before a delicious picnic lunch in the vineyard. Conclude your day with a four-course culinary journey at Summer Lodge with our Executive Chef Steven Titman and our Cellar Master Eric Zwiebel, with a Dorset sparkling wine aperitif and paired wines from our own vineyard in South Africa, Bouchard Finalyson. Two weeks later, you will receive three bottles of your own bespoke, labelled and unique blend of sparkling wine to enjoy at home with family and friends.
Price: £325 per person.
Furleigh wine estate tour
Discover the award-winning wines at Furleigh Estate, set in the stunning Dorset countryside, just five miles from the Jurassic Coast.
Your two-hour tour will include a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, followed by a stroll through the vineyards and a description of the history of English wine, before moving into the production facility and barrel maturation room. Guests will then enjoy a seated tasting of four still and sparkling wines, accompanied by a sharing platter of local cheeses and charcuterie.
Price: £25 per person.
Mindfulness workshops
Embark on an introduction to mindfulness with Verity Woodgate, whose programme, Zenna, was created to help businesses develop healthy workplace environments. Take a walk amongst our walled gardens and enjoy a healthy, seasonal lunch.
Falconry in the garden
If you’re fascinated by birds of prey, try your hand at casting off one of our resident Harris hawks, Bertie, Titch or Bumble. Under the watchful eye of Paul, our resident falconer, you’ll learn all about these majestic animals, before having a go yourself.
After a short introduction, you’ll take a 90-minute stroll around the grounds of our hotel, watching as the hawks leave and return to the glove on command, swooping and soaring overhead, with impressive speed and agility.
Price: £50 per person.
Tea masterclass
We proudly serve Single Estate Teas from our ethical supplier, PMD Tea. Our Afternoon Tea Masterclass Experience marries a selection of the finest PMD Teas with our Afternoon Tea. The experience is hosted by Dananjaya Silva, Managing Director of PMD Tea.
Garden tour
Allow our head gardener Robin to guide you through our grounds. Discover a spectacular water feature, herbaceous borders, wide green lawns and shaded nooks, as well as exceptional kitchen gardens filled with seasonal produce.
Mapperton House tour
Go behind the scenes of Mapperton House, which dates back to the 16th century, with formal gardens, a beautiful orangery, topiary yews and a lily pond, leading to an informal area planted with ornamental shrubs and views over the countryside.
What's on at Summer Lodge
Browse our calendar of events for inspirational entertainment and seasonal dining experiences...
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