When you’ve overseen Canada’s most ramshackle motel you pitch for comfort and karmic surround and for Hollywood’s Peter Sussman it’s the Isle of Wight… Holy Cowes it’s an upgrade on Schitt’s Creek.
Probably because Schitt’s Creek producer Peter and his Irish wife Sara are in charge.
Rather than the shambling motel managers John Rose (Eugene Levy) and Stevie Budd (Emily Hampshire).
We don’t know what John and Stevie have in mind for Christmas out in Schitt’s Creek, probably David (Dan Levy) and mum Moira (Catherine O’Hara) singing All I Want For Christmas Is You.
That’s all Wight
But fear not Peter has no such kitsch in mind for you in Foresters Hall in classy Cowes.
Of course Hollywood coming to an island off the south coast of England is probably as unlikely.
As the multimillionaire video store mogul John Rose and his family washing up in backwoods Schitt’s Creek.
But it was here that Peter Sussman and Sara Curran, who had fallen for the old-fashioned charms of Cowes, saw out Covid lockdown.
The film and TV heavyweights and Sara has a CV including The Favourite and The Night Manager clearly know their hotels.
And swooped for Foresters Hall when it came up for sale.
Victorian era
FH, a grade II-listed Georgian townhouse built in 1865, is located in Cowes’s old town conservation area.
And Cowes, being good enough for Queen Victoria who had her summer house Osborne House in East Cowes is good enough for us.
While you’ll want to perambulate on the Parade and while away your time on Gurnard Beach.
And take in yachtlife, which is what most of us know Cowes for, down by the harbour.
Now we are, of course, suckers for a good marketing pitch and FH’s Wight Christmas has us at hello.
Yule love this
So taking a pause from the Halloween frenzy and throwing it forward to Yuletide we’re happy to promote FH’s Christmas offering.
Which is a three-night stay from Christmas Eve, afternoon tea with jazz band on arrival.
Comp hot chocolate bar, delicious dining, wellies for winter walks, late check out for a luxurious lie-in and music and merry-making…
All from £917.50pp sharing a cosy room with a kingsize bed.And from £1,385 for the same room for solo travellers.
Our party-loving hosts will encourage us to get into the swing of a night of music after luxurious dinner on Christmas Eve.
While there are a list of activity options the next day before Smoking Lobster Chef Jake Storey’s traditional four-course Christmas Day lunch.
If you feel that’s all a bit wicked and you have to pay for your excesses then the tradition in these parts is to go for a Boxing Day (or Stephen’s Day as Sara is a proud Irishwoman) Swim from Gurnard Beach.
Or explore the island on the hotel’s complimentary bicycles, before a late lunch at Smoking Lobster Cowes (optional) on the High Street and its Asian-inspired menu.
A 3-course dinner will be available at the hotel for residents in the evening.So to bullet this out, that’s…
Christmas wrapped up
Christmas Eve:
- Afternoon tea with Mulled wine and Jazz
- Christmas Cocktail
- 3 course dinner
- Nightcap
Christmas Day:
- Hot breakfast
- Christmas Day Lunch
- Leftovers Buffet
Boxing Day:
- Hot breakfast with Bloody Mary
- [lunch at Smoking Lobster Cowes is optional and not included in price)
- 3 course dinner
27th December:
- Hot Breakfast
- Late check-out
So we think you agree that Peter and Sara have Christmas wrapped up.
And Holy Cowes it’s an upgrade on Schitt’s Creek.
Bells on at New Year
If you’re locked into a family lock-in then FH can tease you with a New Year get-away.
A three-night stay at FH and ten-course tasting menu on New Year’s Eve itself, including a glass of champagne while listening to a Jazz Quartet.
From £1,420 for solo travellers and £947pp sharing.