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World's Most Secret Hotels - Season 2 Episode 4
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00:04Imagine staying the night in a mountain hideaway, sleeping underneath the stars,
00:12lodging in a futuristic woodland escape. I'd always dreamt of building a treehouse.
00:17That's always been my sort of boyhood dream. Or holidaying in a resort on the edge of the desert.
00:24In this series, we venture across the globe, to reveal some of the world's most unusual hotels.
00:33Some people would say we're in the middle of nowhere.
00:35Hidden in the most surprising of places.
00:38Workforce is far more beyond just being a luxury destination. This is our life.
00:44From island getaways.
00:46This place is hidden away from the rest of the world.
00:49And retreats hidden in plain sight.
00:52You open your eyes and the first thing you see is that far escape in front of you.
00:58To reimagine structures and vehicles.
01:03I've had phone calls of people asking about a timetable.
01:07We meet the teams who keep them running.
01:10It's very important to maintain the culture and the history.
01:14It's an oasis that reveals itself.
01:18And the guests living their dreams.
01:20You are waking up in the morning inside of the sunset.
01:23As we explore the world's most secret hotels.
01:32This time, we uncover the secrets of a unique lighthouse escape in Spain.
01:37To be in a place so close to the water.
01:41This is something that you really don't see often.
01:46Discover a modern masterpiece hiding on the coast of Mexico.
01:51Most architects thought of this as brutalist.
01:54But in reality, our intention was to blend into nature.
01:59Head off grid into the English countryside.
02:03There's so much wildlife here.
02:05As soon as you start looking, you start to see nature everywhere.
02:11And explore a medieval marvel with a dark past.
02:16There was a void in this room, which I reckon was probably to hide people.
02:21Our adventure begins high up in Switzerland, near the city of Lucerne.
02:34The Swiss Alps are one of Europe's most popular winter destinations.
02:40A favorite for skiers and climbers who come for its breathtaking scenery.
02:45Every year, more than 600,000 people board the cable car up Mount Pilatus.
02:52To take in the view of Lake Lucerne below.
02:56If they are lucky enough, they can even spend the night here.
03:03This is the Hotel Pilatus Call.
03:08A luxury retreat perched on the edge of the mountain.
03:15It's a magical hideaway.
03:17Totally remote.
03:18It's just one hour away from Lucerne.
03:21So it feels like a different world up here.
03:30This mountaintop retreat is built into the rock.
03:34More than 6,800 feet above sea level.
03:40On the ground floor, two restaurants flank a central lobby and a bar.
03:51Above are four more floors that house 27 double bedrooms.
03:58And two suites right at the top, with vertigo-inducing views.
04:06The hotel is a triumph of 19th century engineering.
04:12Foundations driven deep into the rock anchor the vast structure in place.
04:17It's a mountain masterpiece that never fails to impress Anita Gerber.
04:22It's really impressive how the hotel is built into the mountain.
04:30Incredibly, the hotel is one of two that straddle this narrow ridge.
04:37It's older cousin, the now rebuilt Bellevue, opened first in 1860.
04:45Followed by Pilatus Coulme 30 years later in 1890.
04:51The first guests had to travel up the mountain on foot, a journey that can still be made today in
04:58summer.
04:59But what made the new Pilatus Coulme such a wonder is that visitors could travel to the top by cogwheel
05:07railway, along a line that is still the steepest in the world.
05:16With the construction of the cogwheel train.
05:21They built it in only 400 working days.
05:27One year later, the Pilatus Coulme Hotel opened.
05:33Back then, it's categorized as a grand hotel.
05:37It had very spacious rooms, lit by electricity.
05:41There was still a rarity at the time.
05:46Today, the hotel has been completely renovated, with rooms that are modern and comfortable.
05:53General Manager Marcus Bussinger leads a team of 100 people, many of whom live on site.
06:00It's a very special place.
06:03You are quite isolated here.
06:06And that makes everything very special.
06:14Running a hotel at the top of the world comes with its own unique challenges.
06:20The resort has to stay open all year round, whatever the weather.
06:26The weather can change every few minutes.
06:29It can be stormy with winds up to 200 kilometers per hour.
06:35On a sunny day, the weather is perfect.
06:38You can relax.
06:39You can sunburn.
06:40Even in summer, it can be snowy as well.
06:43So we have to be prepared the whole year.
06:52Marcus and his team have to bring up everything they need from the world below.
07:00Down at base camp, Natalia Parego and the cable car team ensure that a steady stream of supplies flows up
07:08the mountain.
07:10It's food.
07:11It's laundry.
07:13It's drinks.
07:14When the hotel guests come, they have their baggage.
07:18We put the baggage in a car.
07:20Maybe when we have storms, we're not operating.
07:23Then we are closed.
07:24We have to call everybody.
07:26We have to stay home.
07:32Fortunately, today's mild winter weather means that everything is running like clockwork.
07:39It takes just three and a half minutes for the cable car to zip to the summit.
07:45Waiting to unload is lift manager Steve, an Englishman who went up a mountain and decided to stay.
07:53Something which is an occupational hazard on Mount Pilatus.
07:59After four o'clock, we don't transport anymore.
08:02Once the cable car stops running, the mountain is cut off. That's it. No more.
08:07If you've forgotten your toothbrush, you've got no toothbrush.
08:11Not many places in the world where the door closes and you're there for the night, whatever happens.
08:24Once the supplies arrive, the team whisks them straight to the kitchens, where Michelle Hummel and the team are busy
08:32prepping for dinner.
08:38All the stuff that we need, the tablecloth, the drinks, the food, they have to bring up everything by the
08:44gondola and bring it down too.
08:46If there is food waste, we have to send it down again.
09:14If there is food waste, we have to send it down again.
09:15Michelle's favourite meal of the day.
09:18When people go on the last cable car, you're alone with all the guests and it can be maximum 80
09:26people.
09:27You can just move around like three.
09:30The hotel has played host to everyone, from royalty to artists.
09:35There are even legends of a mythical beast living deep inside the mountain.
09:43It's a very mysterious mountain.
09:46There's many different stories of dragons on Mount Pilatus.
09:51Sometimes you can hear the wind howling and maybe this is where the stories originated.
10:04Today, there are no dragons to be seen.
10:07But as the sun sets over Mount Pilatus, one guest is hoping to spot the beasts of the zodiac.
10:15Tonight, we will see a lot of planets, plus many finer objects like galaxies, nebulas.
10:23This is something you hardly see when you are in the city.
10:26Away from the light in the darkness so high in the mountains, that's so cool.
10:33It is wonderful.
10:44Still to come, from the top of the world to the ends of the earth,
10:48we explore a spectacular secret retreat in Mexico.
10:53And a geometric gem hiding in an abandoned quarry.
11:08From boxes to bubbles, secret retreats come in all shapes and sizes.
11:16And a very few special hotels push the boundaries of architectural design.
11:29Our next destination is the Baja California Peninsula in northwest Mexico.
11:38This rugged landscape is Mexico's least populated state.
11:43Where the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains meet the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
11:52Just behind a headland, outside the town of Todos Santos, lies an oasis.
11:59It's home to a barrier-like structure that rises up from the parched earth.
12:04The Paradero Hotel.
12:08But there is a secret jewel.
12:10People that come here, they are really looking for something different and unique.
12:16This hotel transforms ordinary concrete into an architectural art form.
12:25On the ground floor are the garden suites, with a bedroom and indoor-outdoor shower separated by a private courtyard.
12:35Upstairs are the sky suites, each with a private roof terrace and daybeds.
12:42These 41 suites are arranged in an L-shape.
12:47An outdoor living room provides a communal space for guests to mingle.
12:53They can also enjoy the hotel's 130-foot infinity pool, set beside a half-moon lounge deck that looks out
13:01towards the mountains.
13:04Or wind down at the spa and wellness centre.
13:08There's also a fitness centre and Michelin star restaurant.
13:17This getaway is the dream of Mexican hoteliers Pablo Carmona and Joshua Kramer.
13:24The concept around the hotel is really focused on experiences.
13:31Throughout our travels, we saw in beautiful places in Asia, in Africa and South America,
13:38hotels that were taking guests to semi-remote places or secret places,
13:43showing them all the secret experiences around the hotel.
13:46And nobody had done that in Mexico before.
13:55Pablo and Joshua wanted to create a retreat that broke down the distinction between indoor and outdoor living.
14:05The suites have minimalist interiors that make the most of tornillo wood, metal and concrete.
14:15With a muted colour palette inspired by the natural environment.
14:20The design is a modern twist on brutalism.
14:24A style of architecture that emerged in the UK in the 1950s.
14:29Most critics and architects have thought of this as a brutalist architecture.
14:34But in reality, our intention was to blend into nature.
14:39It's a very unique place because there's no lines between architecture, interior design and landscaping.
14:45It's all blended in all of the spaces.
14:48To make it look beautiful, there's a lot of work behind it.
14:52Not just from when it was built, but to maintain it.
14:59The hotel took around two years to build.
15:03The wave-like walls are made from a special concrete mix to mimic the local earth.
15:10And cast by hand using simple timber frames.
15:14This gives them a rough, tactile finish.
15:20Behind the walls is a garden, designed to resemble a Californian courtyard.
15:26And stocked with 80 species of plants like cacti and palm trees.
15:36There are other brutalist style hotels, but few in such a remote environment.
15:46Ernesto Luna is the hotel's general manager.
16:11Ernesto Luna is the hotel's general manager.
16:21Ernesto Luna is the hotel owner of his father's home.
16:22Ernesto Luna leads a team of 80 people.
16:25Many live locally.
16:27Others, like fitness instructor, Ana, have relocated here.
16:31i'm from mexico city i found the calmness the peace and i love to stay here because
16:38for me it's not a work it's lifestyle and i love it
16:45anna works in the hotel spa where guests are encouraged to switch off from their normal lives
16:56therapy sessions are performed in the open air with massage tables inside a large circular enclosure
17:04most of the guests come here because they are all the time on the rush when they come and take
17:12one of our experience like yoga meditation bread work at the end of that experience they feel so
17:20grateful because they found finally a peace of mind food is also an important part of the experience
17:33here the hotel is surrounded by fields which provide fresh vegetables including radishes and carrots for
17:40the restaurant the restaurant itself is also open air and can cater for more than 80 people
17:49the menu is based on modern mexican cuisine with japanese influence the vision was to create
17:57something unique so you are going to find here that we use yuzu ponzu the fish campachi we have a
18:06lady
18:06that is making tortillas fresh from blue corn red corn yellow corn but you can have a tostada
18:14so that's idea not to have a simple menu but the produce is excellent the protein is the best quality
18:21and the service is part of the experience
18:27the hotel's unique blend of indoor outdoor living is only possible thanks to its location
18:35pablo and joshua looked at more than 80 different sites for their new retreat
18:40before finding one which combined low rainfall with a reliable supply of water we realized that this
18:48place was a secret jewel on an oasis between farmlands and amazing desert garden a secret place where you
19:00could actually have a year-round experience where you could see the most amazing sunrises and sunsets
19:07perfect weather mainly throughout the years
19:18outside the hotel visitors can go hiking in the mountains and enjoy the nearby coastline
19:26baja california sir is regarded by many as one of the best surfing regions in all of mexico
19:37the hotel is pitched at the high end of the travel market but pablo and joshua believe that what sets
19:45their hotel apart is its unique experience
19:52the first thing that we realized is that experiential travel was changing the way we wanted to live
19:59when we travel when we travel is when we feel most inspired that unique experience that in one day you
20:06wake up you're surfing you're coming back you're doing a hike you're meditating at the end of the day gives
20:15you
20:15more clarity on what you want to do for work in life and even keep finding your passions
20:28there are plans to expand the hotel with a further 22 villas opening up this beautiful region
20:35to even more travelers
20:48still to come we take a trip to a lakeside retreat where cutting-edge design meets traditional living
21:08some secret hotels impress with their sheer size
21:13but big doesn't always mean beautiful
21:24our next visit is to dartmoor in devon one of the uk's 15 national parks
21:32in the 1800s the villages beside the river loo were known for their lime quarries thanks to a rich seam
21:39of limestone hiding beneath these fields
21:44today one former quarry is now a lake
21:50and home to a very special secret retreat
21:54this is the lily pod a floating sanctuary run by kyle and jenny guyat
22:04i remember the first time that i came to the site
22:08as you drive through the farm you come down this track and it just opens up magically before you and
22:14you just feel like you found this secret wonderland it definitely has a very secret feel to it
22:25this lakeside hideaway has just two pods
22:28heron
22:30heron and kingfisher
22:34each one is a geodesic dome engineered from triangular wooden segments
22:43inside there's room for a king-sized bed
22:47a mural that conceals an ensuite bathroom
22:52and a log burner to keep guests snug all year round
22:58the pods are a labor of love for the couple who swapped life in the city for rural devon
23:07kyle a former property developer was inspired to build the lily pods by a floating village he visited in indonesia
23:21i knew i wanted to make something different something that was going to make me feel good
23:26i love water we live by the sea i've been a scuba instructor
23:30i do have an affinity with water and so you just start pulling on all those threads and it just
23:35came
23:35together he'd sit in the evening sketching and drawing these incredible buildings and the idea morphed into the floating pods
23:46it took five years of searching before kyle and jenny found the perfect site to build their waterborne retreat
23:54they then had to turn their dream into a reality
23:58the modular design meant the domes were assembled on site
24:03each pod has an inner and an outer shell made from locally sourced timber
24:09the external layer is larch wood charred to make it rot resistant
24:16the platforms sit on purpose-built flotation chambers made from recycled plastics
24:23while the pontoons that connect them to the land are made from reused olive oil barrels
24:29what we've tried to do is give the guest a really luxury stay all within the values that we have
24:36around the core business and that's to do with being sustainable sourcing all our stuff from somewhere very local
24:46once inside guests will find a small kitchen
24:50but few high-tech amenities such as wi-fi internet or mobile phone signal
24:58this retreat is intended to be off-grid and a digital detox so guests can connect with their surroundings
25:10it's very verdant and green it's that kind of archetypal rolling hills there's so much wildlife here
25:19there are many different types of birds there are a load of different fish
25:23also bats as soon as you start looking you start to see the nature everywhere
25:33the former lime quarry is fed by underground springs and a natural waterfall which ensures the water is
25:41safe for guests to swim in there's even a kayak for those who prefer not to get their feet wet
25:51the pods are self-catering but guests who would prefer a champagne-style breakfast
25:58can head across the fields to the nearby vineyard it's run by tom hodgetts and his family who have
26:05farmed the land here for generations sharing the farm with lily pod is fantastic we'll have our
26:12visitors come and do a tour come for lunch for breakfast so it all kind of works together and
26:17synergy that we can share the farm together and share the amazing views across the valley
26:24the vineyard has about 6 500 vines that produce three different varieties of wine
26:31it's always challenging producing wine in devon but as long as you're kind of respectful of the area
26:36and work with mother nature then you've got every opportunity really
26:43this local business is one of several that work alongside the retreat
26:49guests can also order in brownies and granola made by penny westlake next door
26:57i try to use local ingredients where possible organic seeds and nuts then they can enjoy that for breakfast
27:05it's quite an unusual experience to know what they're having is made only 500 yards away from
27:13perhaps where they are and to enjoy something local local relationships like this help to reduce the site's
27:25carbon footprint the pods also run off solar power which means guests need to think about what to pack
27:35a common question we get asked is can i plug a hair dryer in and while we have solar and
27:40it will do the
27:40lights it wouldn't do a hair dryer when we do get the can i plug in a hair dryer have
27:45you got a hot tub
27:46questions we will say no explain why and we want people to choose us because they are thinking themselves
27:54ethically about where they want to stay
28:02life in an off-grid pod may not be for everyone but for many visitors this simple way of living
28:10is part of its appeal
28:16we really love the fact that this place is sustainable
28:19the composting toilets everything wood fired there's no big screen tvs jacuzzis
28:28we do travel a lot we have been to some amazing places but a place like this is really secluded
28:34and you
28:35have your privacy
28:42kyle and jenny have plans to expand their retreat
28:46they're already in the process of constructing new pods
28:51this is our third pod that we're doing which we're really excited about it's midway through its build
28:57this is a passion project and i'm really passionate about it and it's that that lends you the spirit to
29:03keep going
29:06as the sun sets guests can sit outside and gaze up at the stars
29:12from a little corner of rural devon that feels a world away
29:25many secret retreats surprise and delight guests with their innovative design
29:33others find new uses for traditional structures
29:42our next visit is to the spanish canary islands 62 miles off the coast of north africa
29:53la palma in the northwest is one of the seven main islands
29:59it's known locally as the beautiful island and it's not hard to see why
30:07it has miles of volcanic coastline dense forests and peaks that rise over 8 000 feet above the waves
30:21the island is popular with holiday makers
30:24that is foretric Successes the island brother
30:26who come here all year round thanks to la palma's warm climate which rarely drops below 20 degrees celsius
30:34many visitors will have no idea of a very secret retreat hiding along the coast
30:41this is the farro punta completed a working lighthouse that conceals a luxury hideaway
30:54Actually, it's a secret, and everybody who sees the light will not imagine that there is a hotel behind it.
31:14This hotel has just three exclusive suites, all sited inside the former lighthouse keeper's house at the base of the
31:23tower.
31:25Each apartment has its own kitchen diner, and either one or two double bedrooms.
31:32A shared staircase leads to a private viewing deck at the top of the lighthouse itself, where guests can marvel
31:39at the power of the ocean.
31:47The hotel is the vision of Tim Wittenbecker, a man with a passion for giving these iconic buildings a new
31:56lease of life.
31:57It's almost 18 years, I think, when we built and converted the first lighthouse into a hideaway in Germany.
32:06We take an old building that would be lost, and we give it this use.
32:17The lighthouse is the oldest on La Palma, dating back more than 150 years.
32:25The first lighthouse keepers had to live on site to look after the oil-fired beacon.
32:31But the arrival of electricity in the 20th century meant that was no longer necessary.
32:38When we found it, it was quite run down, it was a ruin.
32:43The patio was torn away by a typhoon.
32:47All the windows were closed with window shutters of metal, and all the beautiful details were fading away.
32:59One of the most unusual features about this hotel is that it is still a working lighthouse.
33:07The redesign had to allow today's lighthouse keepers to come and go to maintain the LED beacon at the summit.
33:16Tim and his team were also determined to preserve as much of the original building as possible.
33:23It was, from the architectural side, quite a challenge, because our intention is to still show these historical, functional parts,
33:35and let the guests feel like a lighthouse keeper.
33:39So we added some luxury items and tried to balance it with the historic beauty of the building.
33:47So you can say it's quite complex, but also it's a lot of fun.
34:01The hotel's modern features include concealed en-suite bathrooms
34:08and an infinity pool that spills over into the Atlantic Ocean.
34:14The site is too small to house its own reception.
34:19Instead, housekeepers Lolly and Pilly are always on call to look after their guests.
34:26We prepare a wonderful breakfast with very local items.
34:30There's marmalade made of Indian figs that grow in our garden.
34:34There are avocados from our neighbours.
34:38Each suite has a kitchen block, but we have a private cook who comes and prepares a candlelight dinner.
34:52Luxuries like these come at a premium.
34:56A weekend stay here doesn't come cheap.
35:00In return, guests expect high standards.
35:05And an experience that is hard to find elsewhere.
35:08As Tim's wife, Heike, explains.
35:12The guests are in awe.
35:14Normally they come here and they cannot really believe that they may stay here.
35:19It's such a beautiful, special place.
35:22It's just to be in a place so close to the water with such a beautiful building.
35:28This is something that you really don't see often.
35:31So we are very happy and very lucky to be able to give other people the chance to experience what
35:38we love so much.
35:42La Palma's raw natural beauty is part of its appeal.
35:47But it can make running a hotel here challenging.
35:51The island is volcanic and numerous eruptions have shattered its peace over the years.
35:58Sand clouds, blown in from North Africa, can last for up to a week.
36:03La Palma is in front of West Sahara and this wind blows the sand of the desert down to the
36:13island.
36:14If one is unlucky, the sand lands on top of your beautiful white terrace inside your beautiful infinity pool.
36:24And during those days, it brings us to our maintenance limits.
36:39On clear days, guests can climb up to the top of the tower.
36:43And imagine what it must have been like to live here in the days of the original lighthouse keepers.
36:52At night, the beacon turns on, casting its beam far out to sea,
36:58and treating the residents below to their own private light show.
37:03La Palma is very famous for the stargazing.
37:07At night, you have this incredible sky.
37:10If you're on the terrace and maybe you lie down on one of the benches,
37:14you can see the six rays of the lighthouse.
37:17It's like a crown.
37:18It's actually magic.
37:20Tim and Heike have no plans to slow down.
37:23They hope to add more lighthouses to their growing collection,
37:28allowing others to experience the beauty and romance of these towering hideaways.
37:41Still to come, a smugglers' hideout on the coast of southern England.
37:46People come and stay here to have a bit of traditional English history.
38:02We're exploring the world's most secret hotels.
38:05From modernist marvels to pioneering treetop hideaways.
38:14But inspiring design isn't a modern innovation.
38:20Our final destination is in East Sussex in southern England.
38:33In Roman times, England's south coast formed part of the Saxon shore.
38:39Named after the seaborne raiders who first plundered these shores
38:44before settling here in places like Rye.
38:48Today, this pretty medieval town is surrounded by a sea of marshes.
38:53But Rye's imposing castle is a reminder of its past as one of England's richest ports.
39:01And its streets still conceal many treasures.
39:06Hidden along a narrow lane stands the Mermaid Inn.
39:12A 600-year-old secret retreat, now run by Judith Blinko.
39:23We are tucked away, so it is a little bit of a secret hidden above the high street.
39:28So you'd have to know we were here.
39:30And unless you know we're here, you wouldn't find us.
39:41The journey to this retreat is like travelling back in time.
39:46Inside are 31 guest rooms, with low timber ceilings.
39:52Some are cosy.
39:55Some are grand.
39:58All have plenty of old world charm and a history full of secrets.
40:04The present building dates back to 1420, with cellars that are more than 800 years old.
40:12Making it one of England's oldest inns.
40:16When guests first arrive at the Mermaid, I think they're a little bit shocked as to how old it is.
40:22And every day we're discovering more and more things we didn't realise before.
40:31Over the centuries, the inn has played host to everyone, from royalty to renegades.
40:39This bedroom is named after Queen Elizabeth I, who once stayed here on a visit to Rye.
40:46The room next door once played host to less reputable characters.
40:51Where a fake bookcase disguises the entrance to a secret staircase, used to hide people on the run from the
40:58law.
41:01This is one of our secret passages.
41:07And coming through into the secret passage, there's a little medieval toilet.
41:12So if anyone had to hide for a long period of time, they had their own loo.
41:20The Mermaid Inn was rebuilt in the 15th century, after a French raid destroyed the town.
41:27It became a notorious hangout for smugglers, who used to hide contraband here, including wool and French brandy.
41:35The Mermaid was rebuilt with quite a few hidey holes.
41:38There was a void in this room, which is about nine foot down, which they reckon was probably to hide
41:43people.
41:44In the foyer, nine foot by four foot, just to hide barrels.
41:48So the place seems to be riddled with all these little secret passages.
41:54The inn's maze-like interior can be confusing for both guests and staff.
42:01There are 11 staircases here.
42:05And each room has a name, as well as a number.
42:10One person who knows his way around better than most is maintenance manager, Mark French.
42:17It's his job to keep this historic building standing.
42:21A role that comes with its own occupational hazard.
42:26The one thing that you've got to get used to here, more so than anything, is the height.
42:31Most of the rooms are small. I'm quite a big lad.
42:34So after about four or five head bangs, you do get used to it.
42:38Mark's day can involve anything, from fixing the furnishings to repairing a sign.
42:46There's always a problem to solve in a building this old.
42:50It is an incredibly rewarding job.
42:52I feel very humble and proud to be here and part of it.
42:56There's a little bit of me that's a little bit gloved,
42:59because I know that what I do here is going to be here a long time after what I do.
43:08There is so much history here, that sometimes the secrets of the past intrude on the present.
43:15The inn is said to be one of the most haunted in England.
43:21Guests and staff tell stories of mysterious shadows,
43:26and rooms that suddenly turn cold.
43:29Some even claim to have seen ghostly figures that wander the corridors,
43:35including a lady in white who doesn't like guests making a mess.
43:39We have six main ghost stories, but my favourite, my personal favourite,
43:43has got to be room one.
43:45Room one's got the oldest bed in the hotel, and it dates from 1600.
43:50In that room, we have people stay,
43:52and they think that their clothes have been moved during the night.
43:56So they'll take all their clothes off, put them on one chair,
43:58and when they wake up in the morning, all their clothes have been moved to the next chair along.
44:02And they'll argue all the way back to the car park.
44:04No, you moved my clothes. No, you moved my clothes.
44:07And it's not as if we're sneaking in with the passkey during the night to sort of wind them up
44:11or anything.
44:14Judith and her team are always happy to talk to guests about the former occupants.
44:19There are even guided ghost tours once a month.
44:22But not everyone is aware of the hotel's reputation when they book.
44:27When we booked this, I spoke to a friend of mine and I said,
44:31we're going to stay at the Mermaid Hotel.
44:33And she said, oh, my God, do you know how haunted it is?
44:36It doesn't freak me out, but you do think about it a lot.
44:40I told a guy at work and I said, we're staying in the Mermaid.
44:44He went, oh, the Mermaid? Oh, we stayed in there.
44:48Oh, that was a bit...
44:49And I said, really, I didn't want to know.
44:54Nervous guests can fortify their courage with a drink in the bar
44:59and take advantage of a well-stocked wine cellar.
45:03Afterwards, visitors can enjoy fine dining in the restaurant, run by head chef Andrew King.
45:10We try and incorporate the history of the building by keeping the food classic British.
45:15We always have a souffle on.
45:17Venison, which is stunning at the moment, very local.
45:20And, of course, ride scallops.
45:21There are two dishes that I'm not allowed to touch
45:23because everybody locally knows it's here and they come here for it.
45:27Fish and chips and a fish ring sandwich.
45:33Tradition is the heart of this retreat.
45:37Judith first started working here as a receptionist when she was just 18.
45:43She's determined to preserve its unique character.
45:47People come and stay here to have a bit of traditional English history.
45:53And, hopefully, when I disappear from here, whoever takes over from me will try and keep it traditionally English as
46:00well.
46:01It's a beautiful building and it has been a labour of love keeping it in the quality that it is
46:08now.
46:09The Mermaid Inn has lured in weary travellers for more than six centuries.
46:16A secret time capsule that's waiting to be discovered for years to come.
46:27To be continued...
46:30To be continued...
46:40To be continued...
46:51To be continued...
46:57To be continued...
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