Harte and Garter employee begs the queen to stop hotel from closing

But its future now is under threat as the hotel is due to close its doors on Friday after the business went into administration. 

Lauren Collins, operations manager, has written a letter to its nearest neighbour - the Queen - asking for her help to save the hotel. 

During the pandemic, the 35-year-old, from Basingstoke, has worked around the clock alongside colleagues to look after key workers, vulnerable people and those with nowhere else to turn.

The operations manager, who started her career at a pot washer at the age of 14, has penned a heartfelt appeal to the monarch to "look out of her window" at the hotel and protect it from closure.

Lauren said the building, which has stood through several royal weddings, two world wars and the latest coronavirus pandemic, deserves to be saved. 

In a letter, seen by the Gazette, Lauren writes: "I am writing to you from across the road. The business I currently work for has found itself been put into administration which is, as I’m sure you can understand, devastating. Not only because of the people affected but more so because of what is being left behind."

Any visitors to Windsor will be familiar with the hotel's presence

She said she wanted to share with the queen the role the hotel has played of the past four months in helping the most vulnerable survive the biggest threat to our nation since the Second World War.

Lauren wrote: "When the prime minister told us to stay at home, I couldn't. Stay at home? I've worked since I was 14 years old. This does not sit well with me. I don't "do nothing" very well. So as a hotel and team, we decided there must be something we could do to help.

"We took in vulnerable people, some that had been the victims of abuse, some that had nowhere or nobody to turn to. We worked with Thames Valley Police so they knew we were available to help./ key workers stayed at the hotel, arriving tired, emotionally drained and exhausted, we put on our best hospitality smiles and did all we could to make them feel welcome and safe."

Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment. 

Suite Hospitality also operated Makeney Hall in Belper, Derbyshire, and Buckerell Lodge in Exeter. The company had a disappointing year in 2019 and had been in negotiations with major creditors and landlords to find a way for it to continue.

Unfortunately, two of the landlords could not reach adequate terms and as a result, the board decided it would have to proceed to administration, making it the latest hospitality business hit by the coronavirus outbreak.

On June 16, the directors appointed Julie Palmer and Ian Walker of Begbies Traynor's Exeter office as administrators of the company. The business employs 110 staff, most of whom are furloughed, and the administrators are trying to transfer operations of as many of the company's trading sites as possible to save jobs.

Lauren's emotional letter in full 

Your Majesty,

I hope my letter finds you well. This week I read an inspiring message said by yourself, I respectfully quote the below:

The queen said in her message: “As many organisations around the country are reopening, I send my warmest best wishes and support too business communities throughout the United Kingdom, commonwealth and across the world.”

Your Majesty, I am not writing from across the world, the commonwealth or even the United Kingdom, I am writing to you from across the road. The reason I write to you is simple.

The business I currently work for has found itself been put into administration which is, as I’m sure you can understand, devastating.

Not only because of the people affected but more so because of what is being left behind. So that you can fully appreciate what I mean by this, I feel I need to give you some detail so please bear with me.

My name is Lauren. I work at the Harte and Garter Hotel opposite the castle. We are a beautiful building dating back to 1348. The property started life as two taverns frequented by actors appearing in local plays. The garter inn was even the setting for one of Shakespeare’s plays – Merry Wives of Windsor.

In 1681, both taverns were unfortunately destroyed in a fire so had to be rebuilt. In the late 19th Century, both buildings were joined together to form the Harte and Garter Hotel, reformed in a Jacobean style, much loved by the Victorians and reflecting the Shakespearean connections.

As you can see, the property has an abundance of history, let alone what is has been, seen and lived through.

From Royal weddings, a devastating fire, the last changing of the guard before lockdown, to empty streets, clapping or hearing the music played from the castle on a Thursday to say thank you, listening to the bagpipes play in the grounds while most are sleeping or safe in their homes to the most recent trooping of colour. However, your Majesty, what has been happening behind the closed doors and gates of the hotel that I wish to share with you.

Lockdown – a word that four months ago meant nothing to me – a word that I had perhaps heard in films or read in books. Never did I think I would find myself in a lockdown or part of a global pandemic.

But the reality is I have, the prime minister made the announcement on a sunny Friday afternoon, shops, hotels etc are to close their doors. "You must stay at home". Stay at home? I have worked since I was 14 years old, now I need to “do nothing”? this does not sit well with me. I don’t “do nothing” very well. So as a hotel and team, we decided there must be something we can do during this time to help.

Most colleagues were furloughed but we had to keep a core team onsite for insurance purposes, so as a team we did what we could. We took in vulnerable people, some that had been the victims of abuse, some that had nowhere or nobody to turn to.

We worked with Thames Valley Police so they knew we were available to help./ key workers stayed at the hotel, arriving tired, emotionally drained and exhausted, we put on our best hospitality smiles and did all we could to make them feel welcome and safe.

One guest will stay in my fondest memories, probably because he was with us the longest. I wont meant his real name so I shall call him Mr K.

Mr K arrived early one evening along with a community support officer, an elderly gentleman clutching two bags and a small precious bundle under his arm. As he walked in you could see he was very tired and shaking from his experience.

No questions asked, we of course welcomed him and arranged a room for him. As I took his bags, I noticed a small face looking at me. The precious bundle was his little dog. He was worried in case we wouldn’t let him keep her with him.

You could tell that this relationship was not one to be broke and they needed to see each other. We arranged accommodation for them both. Mr k ended up staying with us for four weeks. We fed them, looked after them but most of all, we were a friendly face to speak to. Sometimes Mr K would just sit in reception watching what little of the world was left go by. Just to have that company, I know we kept him from a dark place. I know that we got him through that time.

Yes, we can offer someone a bed to sleep in but everything else was just us being the caring team we are. Mr K and his little dog became a part of the Harte and Garter family, he has been back to visit since and I know we hold a special place in his heart – as he does in ours.

All in all, lockdown for us has been emotional to say the least. The relationships we have made with the local community and others is incredible.

When there was nobody else around and someone was walking their dog, riding their bike or out for their daily exercise, we were here to stop and say good morning to, just to have some sort of human contact.

We were here day and night to take in people who needed refuge. We were here keeping an eye on the town, making sure no harm came to it.

Lockdown, The Harte and Garter Hotel, we were here.

The last two weeks, we have looked after a group who had to completely quarantine themselves – meaning that the staff had to be tested for the virus and stay in the hotel with them for two weeks.

Looking after them 24 hours a day, not even allowed to take one foot outside. Cooking, washing, cleaning, serving, doing everything we could to make it feel like a home away from home.

These staff stayed away from their families for two weeks, working extra hours for absolutely nothing. Why? Because we are passionate about the business, we care about people and because hospitality runs in our blood.

So, your majesty, this brings me to the end of my letter. Last Wednesday, we received the sad news that the company who mange the property has been put into administration, meaning that the doors to the Harte and Garter Hotel will close on Friday, June 26. To my understanding, the premises belongs to the Crown Estate.

My plea to you is this. If there is anything you can do to help us keep the Harte and Garter Hotel in business, I know this community would be forever grateful. It is a part of the history in Windsor, like hospitality runs in my blood, this hotel runs in the blood of Windsor.

Your Majesty, I appreciate that you will have far more pressing items on your agenda, but it you could take time to just pop to the window, look across the road and appreciate the beautiful building sat across from you, not because of how it looks from the outside, but perhaps now you know a little more about what happens on the inside. I was always taught it’s what’s on the inside that matters most.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I have the honour to be your Majesty’s humble and obedient servant.

Lauren Collins