For a Stay to Remember...
Accessible North Devon
The Durrant House Hotel actively encourages all guests to our hotel including those with a disability. Entry to the front of the hotel is through wide double doors, with a ramp provided for access to the reception desk. The bar area, and Olive Tree restaurant also have wide doors to allow passage of a wheel chair. A ramp is also available for entry to the Ballroom and there is a function room on the ground floor with full disabled access. In addition we have rooms on the ground floor, or as a popular alternative disabled guests often choose our estuary view rooms on the first and second floors, next to the lift. The lift goes to all floors and will accommodate a wheelchair and carer. We also have disabled toilet facilities.
The owner of the Durrant House Hotel is justifiably proud of the systems we have integrated into the hotel to reduce our carbon footprint and energy/water consumption. The aim of the hotel in the next three years is to be totally self-sufficient in our usage of water, gas and electricity.
The story so far:
We endeavour to support local businesses and source our main food products from local suppliers. The bulk of the refurbishment of the hotel has been supplied by local industry. Our a al carte menu lists all of our local, meat, fish and vegetable suppliers.
Most of our rooms have electronic key-cards that also operate the electrical supply to the room. This effectively means that guests cannot inadvertently leave TV's on standby or side-lights on when they are not in the room.
All of our kettles in each room have been down-sized to 0.8 litres. This is to prevent wastage of power as it is a common occurrence that when you want a cup of tea you fill the kettle up and let all that water heat to boiling point for one cup of tea.
All of our toilet cisterns have water reduction bags, as it does not require three litres of water to flush the loo.
Energy saving light bulbs are used throughout the hotel.
A brand new, energy efficient Gas boiler has been installed at great expense to keep our gas consumption to a minimum.
All cardboard, bottles & plastic containers are recycled.
All of our used kitchen oil is taken away to be converted to Bio-Diesel.
We do not use bleach for any of our laundry.
All of our brochures and stationary are produced from sustainable forests and are printed in bio-degradable ink.
Future projects:
We have applied for planning permission for a system of solar panels and a wind turbine to provide all of the energy to the hotel.
We are a corporate member of the Devon Environmental Business Initiative and are seeking recognition this year in their awards programme.
We intend to become a member of Green British Tourism Association and apply for a silver award.