Ufford Park’s event to celebrate 25 Glorious Years

2017 is the year of Ufford Park Hotel’s 25^th Anniversary, and this significant milestone was marked last night, Thursday 4^th May 2017, with an event hosted in the hotel’s Deben Suite.

The hotel opened its doors in 1992 and has since evolved to become a 90-bedroom hotel with an award-winning 18-hole golf course, and a health club and spa.  Congo Rapids Adventure Golf also opened in 2016 offering families and groups of friends, young and old, a fun year-round outdoor activity to enjoy together.

In 1991, Shirley and Colin Aldous, parents of Ufford Park’s current Managing Director Tarnia Robertson, took over the stalled development of what was to become known as Ufford Park.  They invested their own money into the scheme, along with another local entrepreneur, and the Ufford Park Hotel opened its doors the following year.

Last night, Ufford Park brought together about 150 guests including local business associates, staff, friends and family for celebratory drinks, canapes and an anniversary cake, designed and baked by Ufford Park’s own chef.

Gifts of gratitude were awarded to several members of staff who have worked at the hotel for 20 or more years, and a specially-produced video showcasing the history of the Aldous Family and Ufford Park was shown.  Guests were also given a copy of Parklife Magazine which was created in honour of the 25^th Anniversary and with a huge amount of support from a number of local sponsors, to whom Ufford Park is very grateful.  It was produced by local publisher Blake Bryson Publishing.

Tarnia Robertson, who has been Managing Director for the past two years, having taken the reins from her parents when they retired, welcomed guests and shared her thoughts about the anniversary in a short speech.  She thanked a number of individuals and groups of people who have helped to bring Ufford Park to where it is today.  Looking ahead, she said: “We all know that to have a successful business nothing can stand still because unless you are moving forward, you’re falling behind – there’s no such thing as ‘status quo’ in business. . . I am excited about what the future can bring and with your help “together” I believe we can build on the reputation my parents started, to become the BEST 3 Star Hotel in this region.”

Colin Aldous, Founder and former Chairman, also said a few words about the journey Ufford Park has been on over the past 25 years, highlighting key moments in the hotel’s history.

Key dates in the development of the hotel:

• 1992: Door opened to guests
• 1997: The first major extension of the original hotel was undertaken with seventeen additional bedrooms and an extension to the gym, dance studio built.
• 1998: The Vista and Waveney function or dining rooms were added.
• 2005: Ufford Park’s complex was doubled in size to its current ninety bedrooms, along with a new retail golf super store, two-storey driving range and an increased function capacity to accommodate 300 guests.
• 2007: A Thermal Suite Spa comprising a 5-metre central Hydro pool and associated steam and sauna experiences were created in the spa.
• 2015: The gym was extended to include a free weight area
• 2015-2017: Bedroom refurbishment programme ongoing with two-thirds of the ninety bedrooms now fully modernised.
• 2016: Transformational refurbishment of the Park Restaurant.