Twenty-thirteen has been a great year for Donington Park Farmhouse Hotel. We've put on some great events and had a lot of fun in the process. For the sake of a quick overview though, here's what we're most proud of this year.
In November we reopened a bigger and more beautiful Oak Barn after having knocked through into the adjacent building. The Oak Barn has been very busy since and I'm confident this charming little venue will continue to host many a jolly dinner and ruckus party.
Works on our grounds have also been a hallmark of 2013, with a new drive which smartens our appearance, just watch out for the chickens and ducks crossing it on your way in! On the subject of chickens, we've also become self-sufficient in egg production this year, the hotel using only eggs laid by our own hens here on the farm.
Our proudest moment of 2013 however was back in April when we won the Green Footprints Award for the greenest business in the district. This accolade acknowledges our ongoing efforts to operate sustainably, with the environment playing a key role in decisions. As well as our reed-bed for natural sewage treatment, solar panels, extensive recycling and food-souring policy, all mentioned on the Green Footprints website, the award is also thanks to our wonderful bio-mass boiler. The biomass boiler, which now heats the whole hotel and venue, has dramatically cut our carbon emissions by slashing our use of gas and electricity. What's more it runs off our own timber, produced sustainably no more than a mile away. Making all of this happen has been a tireless labor of love for director John Shields, whose efforts have clearly paid off and we're now very proud to be able to call Donington Park Farmhouse the greenest hotel around.
That said, within a couple of hours of my writing this 2013 will be over and our attention must turn to making 2014 just as strong a success. Twenty-fourteen will be our 30th year of partying in the Threshing Barn (the party started back in '84!). That's quite an anniversary and I hope you'll be celebrating it with us!
All the best for 2014!
Jack
