Hand Picked Hotel’s Rhinefield House Hotel in the New Forest, Hampshire will be enhancing the New Forest’s economy through its £4 million investment.

The stunning Victorian mansion situated near Brockenhurst recently presented its brand new expansion. As well as increasing its bedroom capacity to 50 rooms, there are five new conference and banqueting rooms which can accommodate meetings for up to 160 people as well as a dedicated multi-purpose reception area which can be used as a quiet space for guests or as a welcome area for functions.  

Hand Picked Hotels has developed these additional rooms within a stylish extension designed to fit into its natural forest environment. The building creatively uses dark mirrored glass on its exterior to blend seamlessly into the trees of the New Forest, which surround the hotel. 

Virginia Masser, General Manager of Rhinefield House Hotel explained:
“This is a significant development for both the hotel and the New Forest. This expansion will undoubtedly enable us to take advantage of the increasing popularity of the area but as the Hampshire Economic Partnership reports, the entire local area will also benefit.

“More business and leisure guests are realising the benefits of relaxing in a country environment. For example, event organisers recognise that Rhinefield House provides a wonderful opportunity to hold a different sort of conference as part of an outdoor team building exercise.”

“Through tourism, local businesses and new jobs at the hotel, it is easy to see how this development is an essential component for the continued economic growth in the local area.”

Virginia added: “The design of the development was critical in the investment taking place. We wanted something that complemented the New Forest and therefore we worked very closely with the Forestry Commission to achieve this.

New Forest Destination Manager, Anthony Climpson comments: “We are immensely pleased that Hand Picked Hotels has invested so heavily in this fabulous refit and development.  What has always been a good hotel is now an excellent all round property and a huge plus for New Forest as a quality destination. “

Each of the 16 new bedrooms at Rhinefield House Hotel will have floor to ceiling windows, with those facing the back elevation boasting an extraordinary view of the trees and foliage. Executive bedrooms will include MP3 connectivity, LCD TV panels in the bedroom and surround showers as well as mini LCDs mounted at the end of bathtubs.

As part of its investment the hotel has planted 32 hornbeam trees in front of the new mirrored building.  Not only will they enhance the appearance of the new development, they will also be watered using a bespoke irrigation tank located at the base of the trees that collects water from rainfall. The water will also be pumped back out to a new orchard.

-Ends-

For further information on Hand Picked Hotels please visit handpicked.co.uk or contact 0845 072 7516

-ends-

Notes to editor
The award-winning Hand Picked Hotels collection, created by former City lawyer Julia Hands, are luxurious country house hotels renowned for exquisite food, fine wines and excellent service in stylish, relaxing surroundings. There are 14 hotels across the UK, with locations ranging from the New Forest and Jersey to Yorkshire and Edinburgh.  Hand Picked Hotels has focused on the quality of its service and cuisine and in the last three years 12 hotels have achieved two AA rosette status with Norton House in Edinburgh winning three AA rosettes.  Six hotels have achieved red star status, being recognised as amongst the AA’s Top 200 hotels in the UK & Ireland. In 2007, Julia Hands was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to the hospitality industry.

For media information please contact Natalie Amos/Lisa Ronchetti at Four Communications at hph@fourcommunications.com or telephone +44 (0)870 444 4568