Recent Projects » Eypes Mouth Country Hotel
Eypes Mouth Country Hotel
Eypes Mouth Country Hotel is situated in the village of Eype in west Dorset. It is accessed along a narrow lane which passes through the village from the main A35. The Hotel is built on the slope of the valley a short distance from the shore line in an elevated open position. It is exposed to severe weather.
The Hotel is an amalgam of buildings and extensions. Originally there were two villas which have been connected by a two storey flat roof structure. It would seem that at various times other additions have been made, significantly a single storey flat roof extension to form a dining room. Due to the slope of the ground the buildings are two storeys at the rear and three at the front (seaward side).Under the dining room this space has been used for toilets, a small games room and service rooms. Under the left hand villa (from seaward) there is a service and laundry area. There is a more recent mono pitched roof extension to this villa to increase and provide accommodation for the owners.
The Hotel has had several owners; with a varying standard of maintanence.The current owners have inherited many problems and substandard works. They are systematically rectifying these deficiencies and improving and raising the standard of the Hotel
The works
Under the right-hand villa (from seaward) there is a bar, known as the Smugglers Bar. This included a small extension which added space to the small bar below and a veranda to the Hotel lounge above, along with a set of centrally placed steps which gave access down to a patio area.
Whilst of character, the construction of this extension and bar area was of a poor standard. The bar suffered from water penetration both through the roof and up through the floors. It was poorly provided with natural light and had limited seating. The owners realised this area was wasted and not achieving its full potential, and was beyond sensible refurbishment.
The project was to demolish the structure in front of the original building line and construct a new extension to include for a mono pitched glass fronted addition to the lounge, with the removal of the existing external wall in order to incorporate the original lounge. Also a new veranda with a feature double staircase and a resulting increase to the floor area of the bar below. This would be served by new double glazed doors and windows to give additional light.
However it was realised during the course of the works that an opportunity was being missed to give the lounge a proper large patio area for the use of Hotel residence and to make a significant enlargement to the floor space in the bar. Therefore the project was amended to encompass this alteration.
The lounge was fitted out to reflect the beach and sea side, by the use of colour and part timber cladding. The floor is a solid timber laminate in limed oak. The low ceiling to the bar is given an airy feel with the use of light colours and an uncluttered look. The veranda has views out over the village and sea with bespoke railings and the double swept steps, built in local stone going down to a lower patio area.
The result has been to improve the general appearance of the Hotel and to significantly improve the amenity of the lounge and bar, allowing greater flexibility in use and allowing larger functions to be accomadated, particularly in the bar. The lounge can also be used as a breakfast room for Hotel guests, with exceptional morning views over Lyme Bay.