The Celtic Manor Resort will open 10 new luxury holiday lodges next year in a major £4.3m development.
Construction work began this week on the lodges which will be built to a very high specification and will all sleep up to eight people in four double or twin bedrooms.
A first phase in a potential development of 60, the large log cabins will be known as Hunter Lodges and will all be situated close to Celtic Manor’s Twenty Ten Course, with fantastic views across the UskValley. They will also overlook the 16th and 17th holes where Graeme McDowell famously won the Ryder Cup for Europe in 2010.
Opening for Easter 2014, the lodges will be aimed primarily at the family market for three or four-night or week-long leisure and activity stays. In a secluded, rural setting, the Hunter Lodges will be the ideal base for a relaxing stay with family or friends, with country walks and woodland trails on their very doorstep.
Enjoying the best of both worlds, guests will also be able to take advantage of Celtic Manor’s range of restaurants and bars, and its extensive family facilities. These include a Forest Jump high ropes course, Adventure Golf, indoor swimming pools, spa, tennis courts, laser combat, archery and kids’ club activities.
In two different designs, the log cabins will all have open plan living areas with high windows and ceilings, and including lounge, dining and kitchen spaces. In addition to four spacious bedrooms, which can all be converted from double to twin beds, every lodge will also have its own sauna and outdoor decking with covered jacuzzi.
Celtic Manor Resort Chief Operating Officer Ian Edwards said: “These high-quality lodges are aimed at families who want the space to kick back and relax for a few days or a week.
“At present, we are filling our hotels with leisure guests and families at weekends so we need to build more accommodation and these family lodges offer a different style of luxury break and experience for our customers.
“We know how hard our guests work to enjoy their leisure and holiday time so these lodges will be built to the resort’s five-star standards to ensure they have everything they could wish for while they are here.”
All lodges will be fully furnished including fluffy towels and crisp bed linen, and guests will receive a complimentary welcome pack on arrival which includes tea bags, coffee, sugar, semi-skimmed milk and bottled water.
The lodges will also be fully equipped for self-catering but guests will be able to use the restaurants at the Celtic Manor Resort or order a gourmet-to-go hamper or takeaway favourite, delivered direct to their Hunter Lodge door.
Scandinavian lodge-building specialists Honka are supplying the log sections which will be constructed into lodges on site by local contractors under the supervision of UK distributor Lodgico. Cardiff firm Encon has already undertaken the civil engineering works and foundations have been laid in readiness for today’s delivery of the first log sections.
The lodges will be landscaped to minimize the impact on the beautiful UskValley countryside and a natural wood feel runs through the interior and exterior design.
Mr Edwards added: “Outside of the school holidays, we also see the lodges being popular for golf groups , corporate incentive trips and spa breaks. There is even a spare room in the lodges which could be converted into a spa treatment room, games room or children’s den, depending on the visitors at the time.
“The lodges will be a very flexible asset to our accommodation portfolio and enhance our reputation as one of the UK’s leading resorts.”
The Celtic Manor Resort www.celtic-manor.com