21 Nov 2023
Last week saw the annual festive transformation of Foxhills Club & Resort into a winter wonderland for the Christmas season.
For the past 12 years, leading Surrey florists, Lily & Myrtle, climb up into the 19th century Manor House’s attic, and much like scenes in many other homes across the country, bring down the Christmas decs. Except at Foxhills, there’s enough to adorn 90 Christmas trees, with hundreds of baubles and thousands of metres of fairy lights to untangle!
Planning begins in July when Creative Director, Kate Lamport, meets with owner, Pamela Hayton, to discuss themes. Pamela and her husband Ian purchased Foxhills 40 years ago with their son, Marc, taking the reins in 2005. However, it’s Mrs Hayton, now in her eighties, who still directs the festive decorations and helps decorate the main tree as a tradition.
This year’s theme in the main Manor House is ‘A Step Back in Time’. Kate from Lily & Myrtle explains: “We wanted to evoke a feeling of Victorian nostalgia, tradition and home comforts because Foxhills does have a home from home feel and even more so at Christmas. Luxurious deep green velvet ribbon with rich green spruce and warm white lights will bring a sense of timeless luxury to the main Christmas tree in the Manor Lounge, which is 15 feet high. We are using the scent of roaring fires, orange, cinnamon and cloves plus vintage looking toy soldiers and even an antique sleigh under the tree.”
The remaining 89 Christmas trees across the resort sport varied themes, with traditional greens and golds in the Clubhouse to sparkly white and glamorous in the newly refurbished spa reception. Small, personalised trees in each guest bedroom will be simply and elegantly decorated and each courtyard room has a fresh seasonal wreath adorning its front door. Festive dressing extends across the exterior of the estate with a show-stopping archway of deep green spruce over the doorway welcoming guests as they arrive at the Manor House and even a fairy light hot tub!
Kate adds: “For the Manor House archway alone we use 160 stems of blue spruce, 200 pine cones and 160 feet of fairy lights. When we started working with Foxhills I installed four items at Christmas, now we have a 19-page document to guide us and a team of eight people working flat-out over five days. It’s a huge job but we love it!”
Josh Abbott, Marketing Manager at Foxhills, said: “Christmas at Foxhills is always magical and the decorations that Lily & Myrtle so expertly install add that extra level of sparkle to our members’ and guests’ experience. You’ll be sure to be feeling the festive spirit after every visit!”
