Dear Friends

After the upheaval of the re-roofing project Howtown Hotel is now back to it's glorious best, with all signs of the work which had taken over our lives here in Martindale for the past few months now but a (not quite distant) memory.

The exceedingly wet but warm winter was not all bad with our old Queen Bee dying and the Hive having re-queened, the garden survived the winter well and due to the lack of frost the spring bulbs and shrubs have exploded into a mass of colour to welcome the new season. For those who have not managed to see the magnolia in person - it has been magnificent.

Already well into our new 2014 season we have the return of three members of staff with five new recruits this year from South Africa, Australia and Scotland.

We are all looking forward to welcoming our guests to visit us and share this exceptional part of Lakeland.

Eddie Kay, Gardener and Bee Keeper.