West Sussex luxury bed and breakfast

We have been awarded the 'Gold' Green Tourism Business Scheme'. In 2005 we wrote our first Sustainability Policy, which we regularly update. It sets out what we have achieved to date, to help reduce our environmental impact, and things we plan to do in the future. For example, we have installed low energy light bulbs wherever possible, with sensors and timers in other areas. We recycle glass, paper and cardboard throughout the bar, restaurant and bedrooms, paying to have it collected and recycled. Most of our food packaging is cardboard and there is obviously a large amount of glass from the 600 wine labels we have on our list!

Staying guests are encouraged to recycle too, with a recycling bin in each room, and a small sign explaining the initiatives we have taken and the steps they can take. The water tumblers in the rooms are made from recycled cognac bottles, magazines are from local hairdressers, books are from local charity shops, towels are only changed (within a four day stay period) if guests place them in the bath, and Fair Trade tea, coffee, hot chocolate and sugar are used in all rooms. All appliances are turned off at the base, radiators are used with thermostats and on timers.

We outsource our laundry (reducing water consumption in the local area, through economies of scale), only use eco-friendly cleaning products that are biodegradable, and provide gorgeous L'Occitaine bath products in quality dispensers in the majority of rooms, to avoid wastage. (The two champagne rooms have 'take home' L'Occitaine products). On a wider scale, we refill ink cartridges, re-use paper for notes, have installed a huge 500 litre water butt to collect and redistribute rain water, for watering the garden and 'induct' all staff in environmental responsibility upon joining us. Having restored the pond, and built duck houses which are now used for nesting, we plan to put in bat boxes and owl boxes, and we also plan to do our own composting, amongst many other plans!

We strongly support the local area. The majority of our produce is local and most of that organic. The organic beef, pork, chicken and lamb are from five miles away in Rogate, eggs come from the Happy Hen Company, eight miles away; fish and shell food is from Selsey, twelve miles away. Our guest bedroom folder contains a long list of wonderful places for guests to visit nearby, ranging from National Trust properties such as Uppark to the Singleton Weald and Downland Museum with its nearly 50 historic buildings dating from the 13th to the 19th century.

For walkers and cyclists we have nine especially designed ordinance survey maps (one for each room), showing the fantastic tracks, in every direction directly from our front door. In addition, we encourage guests to walk from other hotels/B&Bs to us, perhaps over the Downs, stay the night and then walk on from us, we take their luggage to their next stopping point. We tried to lobby the Government for public transport directly to us, a couple of years ago, but to date have not been successful.

In total we have eight staff, six of which are local, and four of which have been with us for over ten years. Our plumbers, electricians and builders are all local and we encourage them to think of environmental factors, such as material-use, when doing their work.

We have a strong connection with the local Leukaemia Foundation, and St Wilfred’s hospice, and this year will also be supporting two local charities that support local people at Christmas time.