Download the Autumn 2007 newsletter as a PDF. Download the Spring 2007 newsletter as a PDF here. Spring 2006 Summer 2005. Click here for the latest Newsletter from The Cloud Hotel. Avril Owton collects the Shine Award 2006 for Woman of the Year. Charity Dinner raises nearly £2000. The Cloud Hotel celebrates 30 years. Press release from The Shine Awards 2006. WINNER; SHINE WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD - AVRIL OWTON Proprietor of Cloud Hotel, Brockenhurst, New Forest. When she lost her husband suddenly from a heart attack 14 years ago, Avril;s life transformed and she commenced on a journey of juggling - running a hotel business while raising a family of four. Her husband had neither life or mortgage insurance and there was no safety provision for their children;s education; in those days she did not know her bottom line on the balance sheet from her washing line. Coming from a show business background, the former Tiller girl had no experience of management, administration or finance. Avril took on the hardest challenge of her life and learnt how to run the business she had inherited overnight; cleaning bedrooms, cooking guests; meals and doing everything else within the hotel in between doing everything a caring mum would do for her children. It took 18 months to achieve anything. She embarked on a refurbishment putting in en suite bathrooms and making general improvements having successfully secured business loans at a time when she could have been considered a real risk. She reopened in April 1993 and business continued. In 1995 she won a competition in Cosmopolitan magazine with a prize to attend a weeks intensive course at London Business School and she put all she learnt into practice. She has single handedly turned around an ailing business with turnover increasing 750% since 1992. She has continued with her refurbishment of the hotel and repeat bookings now approach 75% and occupancy is 75% throughout the year. In 2004 the hotel won the Tourism South East ExCEllence Small Hotel of the Year ward and it is in the Good Hotel Guide, the Which hotel guide and its AA Quality Assessment has risen from 61-76%. She has built up lunchtime business tapping into the senior marketing and has weekly Champagne cocktail parties for guest to mingle and meet new people. She is utterly passionate about what she does and puts her business success down to her people. She believes 100% that staff training and development is paramount to this success. All staff are made to feel valued and all new team members participate in Welcome Host training. She has even sent junior chefs to do work experience at The Savoy and Claridges and she works with Brockenhurst College to allow students work experience at a local establishment. She won the Hampshire Business Woman of the Year in 1995 and formed the non-profit Wessex Women;s Network in 2003 for the advancement of women throughout local business community and to further develop business in the area. Whilst being a successful businesswoman, Avril also developed her second career as a motivational and personal development speaker travelling the world and attending international conferences to share her experience of turning around a business with other women; both within and external to the travel and leisure sector. Her success today is evident and Avril;s story is truly inspirational making her entry stand out and making her a very worthy winner of the SHINE Woman of the Year Award. Press release ends - The Cloud Hotel wins Small Hotel of the Year. Annual Macmillan Cancer Relief dinner and World's Largest Coffee Morning. Webbed Feat - website redesign by KN Design. The Cloud Hotel has added to its various accolades by winning the Tourism South East ExSEllence Small Hotel of the Year 2004 award. Owner Avril Owton collected the award, a specially engraved trophy, from Ben Fogle, the star of TC's Castaway and Animal Park programmes, at a glittering ceremony in Berkshire. Tourism ExSEllence judges noted that The Cloud 'offers fabulous views across the natural parkland with New Forest ponies and cattle frequently seen trying to join guests in the hotel grounds.' They were also impressed by 'a nice busy atmosphere'. All the rooms are different in design and decor and the property has undergone considerable investment during the past 11 years, including Avril converting her own former apartment into additional guest accommodation. managing director Bob Collier: Hampshire has demonstrated that it can provide value for money world class tourism facilities that stand proudly alongside anything else on offer elsewhere in the country.. Avril is no stranger to the limelight having enjoyed a high-kicking career as a Tiller Girl, dancing at the London Palladium in the 1960's, where she was the pivot for the famous line up. A hotelier who has developed her business tirelessly following personal adversity, Avril is also an inspirational speaker who encourages women around the world to maximise their potential; in addition, she's the founder of the. an organisation which meets at The Cloud to provide local businesswomen with a chance to exchange experiences, swap advice and support each other. I am delighted to have won, said Avril, but this is not only wonderful for the hotel as a thriving business, but also a tremendous boost for all my staff, who share in every success. Our guests, many of whom are regulars, know how hard everyone works to make their stay a special occasion.. To view the Tourism South East ExSEllence article on The Cloud Hotel, please click here. Annual Macmillan Cancer Relief dinner. Macmillan Cancer Relief dinner to raise funds for this hugely respected and worthwhile charity takes place on Sunday, December 4th. The award winning Highcliffe Junior Choir is performing. Avril Owton donates the entire proceeds to this charity, which works throughout the UK to improve the quality of life for cancer sufferers as well as offering ongoing support for both sufferers and their families. The 2004 dinner raised £1,400 pounds. We always look forward to excellent support; I have a personal interest in this charity, as do many people who have lost a loved one or friend to various forms of the disease. People always say everyone is touched by it affecting someone they know. Because of this, it receives generous support, commented Avril. World's Largest Coffee Morning, organised by. Again, a regular fixture for The Cloud is participating in the World's Largest Coffee Morning, organised by Macmillan Cancer Relief. This year's takes place on Friday, September 30th. Both residents and guests can join in - last year Avril raised £500, and she hopes to top it this autumn. Charity New Forest Cream Tea. The Cloud is staging a charity New Forest Cream Tea on Sunday July 3rd, as part of this year's Hampshire Food Festival, which takes place from June 25th to July 10th. A countywide celebration of food and drink, the cream tea will feature scones and cakes from Linzi of Lymington, with strawberry jam from New Forest Jam and Chutney. Taking will be divided between Naomi House and Cancer Research. To find out more about Macmillan Cancer Research, please follow this link. The Cloud Hotel's website has been redesigned by Hordle-based Karl Jones. Karl has incorporated information about Avril's Tiller Girl past and plenty of new links, making it more informative for existing and potential customers. The ease of use is obvious and just a few clicks take you to details of the hotel and its dining/accommodation options, tariffs and special offers, news on Avril, as well as providing inspiration for what to do whilst staying in the New Forest, which recently became a National Park. He's done a terrific job. Ease of use is of paramount importance and we've received great feedback, Avril said. Karl can be contacted on 01590 681732 or by emailing. The Cloud Hotel featured on Britain's Best B...

The Cloud Hotel is open daily to non-residents for Lunches, Dinner and for a special occasion, Sunday Lunch. Please enquire about our famous cream teas! Please note that our policy is non-smoking throughout the hotel. The Cloud Hotel offers a wide range of traditional English meals and snacks, as well as a vegetarian selection. We are happy to cater for any special dietary requirements our guests may have. Our cream teas are strongly recommended and can be enjoyed in our lounges which overlook the open forest. The main Restaurant at The Cloud Hotel enjoys views over the open forest, whilst toward the rear of the hotel, views of our well maintained gardens can be enjoyed. We have a selection of traditional English food as well as a vegetarian selection available. We are happy to accommodate any special diets. Over looking the open forest, The Tiller Bar features nostalgic memorabilia of the dancing career of the hotel's owner, Avril Owton, in the 1960's. Our intimate lounges command views over the open forest, and here you can relax and really feel at home while you enjoy a drink or maybe one of our celebrated clotted cream teas. In winter time, log fires bring a special warmth and cheer to the Cloud's uniquely peaceful and convivial atmosphere. During warmer weather, The Cloud Hotel opens its' Gardens for dining. Beautifully maintained and visually stunning, our garden's make the perfect setting for dining al fresco. The Garden can be hired for special occasions, please enquire for details and availability. The Garden room, with views and direct access onto the Gardens, can be used for a variety of functions such as private parties or conferences (as shown). The Gardens (above) can be hired in conjunction with The Garden Room if desired. Please enquire for details and availability. Please find below samples of our Dinner Menu, Vegetarian Dinner Menu and our Lunch Menu for our restaurant in which we respectfully ask that you do not smoke and that you turn off your mobile phone. ** Please note that these are sample menus. The menus change on a daily basis. **. Homemade Pea and Ham Soup with croutons Deep fried Camembert with red currant jelly Pearls of assorted Melon with a ginger and mint syrup Smoked Salmon salad with a lemon olive oil dressing Choice of Chilled Fruit Juices *** Roast Sirloin of Beef with Yorkshire Pudding and horseradish sauce Grilled Gammon Steak with pineapple and onion rings Oven baked Chicken supreme with a mushroom herb sauce Medley of Seafood with a tomato fish sauce Vegetable and Pasta Provencal glazed with cheese (v) A selection of Cold Meats or Seafood Salad *** All served with a selection of fresh garden vegetables or side salad ***. (All of our desserts are homemade). Raspberry and hazelnut meringue Cloud Whim Wham Apple and strawberry crumble Sticky toffee pudding Strawberries and Cream Cheese and Biscuits *** free coffee, de-caffeinated coffee and tea. VEGETARIAN DINNER MENU. Roasted Vegetable Lasagne *** Pastry Pillow of Wild Mushrooms and Asparagus with a Mornay Sauce *** Vegetable Tourt. Homemade Tomato and Basil Soup with croutons Marinated Seafood Salad with lemon and cucumber Melon and Fruit Cocktail with a passion fruit syrup Chef's Homemade Pate with toasted sundried tomato bread Choice of Chilled Fruit juices *** Roast Loin of Pork with stuffing and apple sauce Braised Beef Steak with a real ale and onion gravy Oven Baked Chicken Supreme with a shallot and bacon sauce Poached Supreme of Salmon with a mushroom fish sauce Cheese and Garden Herb omelette (v) Selection of Cold Meats or Seafood Salad *** All served with a selection of fresh garden vegetables or side salad ***. Raspberry and hazelnut meringue Cloud Whim Wham Apple and strawberry crumble Sticky toffee pudding Strawberries and Cream Cheese and Biscuits

 Breakfast may be served in the room
 Credit cards accepted
 Dinner may be served in the room
 Hairdryer
 Heating
 Licensed bar
 Pets are accepted
 Parking lot
 Clock/radio
 Restaurant
 Private/Ensuite bathroom
 Tea and coffee making facilities
 Phone at reception
 Phones in rooms
 TV sets in rooms