Sustainability & Accessibility Policies

Accessibility

Storrs Hall main house is a Grade II* listed building, and regretfully we are not able to install a lift. Our bedrooms here are over the first and second floors. The main staircase to the first floor, comprising 26 steps, is wide with handrails. There is a further floor level change of 2 steps to most rooms on the first floor. We are happy to help with luggage.

The ground floor spaces are all one level and wheelchair accessible. We have one disabled use WC.

The lakeside Suites have two suites which are suitable for guests with limited mobility, having been designed with space to move around, and discreet support rails. These can interconnect. Parking is available by these suites, please be aware the parking is laid with gravel, as is the walkway to the main house, as required by planning permission.

Environment and sustainability

Storrs Hall is set in a spectacular natural environment – it is in both a National Park and a Unesco World Heritage Site. We care about the environment we live and work in.

Our Grade II* listing means we are subject to restrictions when it comes to proposing and implementing strategies and procedures.

Hospitality is also a highly regulated industry with set directives, limiting the scope for some initiatives.

This document lays out the extra steps – above and beyond the legislation, that we are implementing to protect our environment and help provide a sustainable future.

Energy and water

We do:

• Use Air Source Heat Pumps in the Boathouse and Lakeside Suites.
• The main house boilers only run on demand to generate hot water.
• Buy LED lightbulbs for all our light fittings.
• We are lucky enough to live in an area well supplied with water.

We will:

• Reduce energy consumption as much as possible.
• Switch off equipment not in use.
• Investigate alternative sustainable and renewable energy sources suitable for a Grade II* listed building.
• Our fireplaces are mainly fueled with local, dried hardwood logs. A renewable source.
• Investigate the possibility of installing renewable energy sources in a listed building.

Hotel supplies

This section covers everything from food, to cleaning materials. Health and safety regulations create a high usage of packaging in delivery and storage, and in cleaning. As well as using eco alternatives where possible in house, we research our providers to help us source more environmental alternatives.

We do:

• Recycle everything possible.
• Use recycled and recyclable products where possible.
• Use local suppliers, makers, and producers to minimise transport miles.
• Our suppliers are actively working to minimise their packaging, convert as much packaging as possible to recyclable or biodegradable, and reduce their carbon footprint.

We will:

• Continue to work with our suppliers to minimise non-recyclable or biodegradable packaging.
• Evaluate the efficiency of ecological cleaning products as and when they are developed for commercial purposes, to meet Health and Safety guidelines.
• Try to source biodegradable toiletry containers for rooms.

Office and reception supplies

We do:

• The majority of our communications are digital to reduce paper consumption.
• Our hotel information is digital, or downloadable as required.
• Recycle all our paper, cardboard, and printer cartridges.

Monitoring and improvement

We will:

• Continually monitor, review, and reduce environmental impacts.
• Comply with all relevant regulatory requirements.
• Incorporate environmental factors into business decisions.