Harbouring the Local Community

Each of the Hotels within the Harbour Hotels Collection pride themselves on being a big part of the local community – from linking up with local schools and businesses through community partnerships, to hosting regular locals lunches and events and raising money for local causes, there is no-one more passionate about being part of the community than the man at the helm, the Harbour Hotel Collection’s Managing Director, Mark Godfrey.

Mark says, “A shining example of our active involvement in the local community is the work that we do in Christchurch; from helping to create an Olympic Legacy for the Borough with the Christchurch Sailing Partnership, to being an integral part of the Christchurch Food & Wine Festival and driving members for the Christchurch Bowling Club, the Hotels (Christchurch Harbour Hotel & Spa and The Kings Hotel, Christchurch) and their teams are very much involved in the local community.”

Christchurch Food & Wine Festival

Very much an integral part of this annual event, the Harbour Hotels Collection sponsors the ‘Christchurch Food & Wine Festival’ that takes place in May each year. The Christchurch Harbour Hotel, its accompanying restaurant ‘the jetty’, and The Kings Hotel, Christchurch, this year hosted a multitude of mouth-watering events, including themed cookery courses and live demonstrations with ‘the jetty’s’ Alex Aitken.

Mark says, “Through heavy involvement in local events, such as the Christchurch Food & Wine Festival, we aim to contribute towards the regions across the Collection being recognised destinations, attracting new visitors and celebrating the local areas, local people and local businesses.”

The Christchurch Harbour Hotel rounded off the Festival with a glamorous Monte Carlo Charity Dinner, raising nearly £8,000 for local hospice, Julia’s House, and the Christchurch Food Festival Education Trust.

Mark says, “Supporting local charities is hugely important to us, we host regular fund-raising events, offer our facilities and provide charity prizes across our Harbour Hotels Collection, helping wherever we can.” Plans are already underway for next year’s Festival, which we are once again sponsoring and are very excited about what’s in-store!

Christchurch Sailing Partnership

Speaking with great passion, Mark says: “The Christchurch Sailing Partnership is a fabulous scheme that I’m very proud to be a part of. As the main sponsors, the Christchurch Harbour Hotel is supporting eight local sixth-formers through their professional training to become instructors in sailing, canoeing and rowing and recently helped 90 local school children to take to the water with a heavily subsidised ‘Introduction to Watersports’ programme.

The Christchurch Community Partnership aims to highlight the health benefits of water sports, encourage people to take advantage of the wonderful natural facilities, provide opportunities for locals to participate in boating in all its forms, and ultimately, to build a legacy for the borough from the 2012 Olympics.” 

Mark is also chairman for the partnership, which was recently awarded a grant of £9,955 from National Lottery funded ‘Sport England’, to further fund courses in coaching water sports for Christchurch youngsters. Mark said, “The Christchurch Sailing Partnership is the perfect example of how, through active involvement in the scheme, the Christchurch Harbour Hotel has helped to get local young people interested in water sports and lead a healthier lifestyle.

As we get closer to the Olympics, and with the grant now secured, Christchurch Sailing will be putting on various water based activities for people of all ages and abilities to try out their sea legs!”