19/01/2007 - Clumber Park Hotel Guests Enjoy Dinner By Candlelight After Storms Cut Power 

GUESTS at a north Nottinghamshire hotel enjoyed a romantic candlelight dinner last night (Thursday January 18) - but it had nothing to do with Valentine's Day.
 
Owners of the Clumber Park Hotel, near Mansfield, launched contingency plans and turned to candle power after the hotel was left without electricity and water as a result of the biggest gales to hit the county in almost two decades.
 
Staff and guests were praised for their patience and fortitude during the blackout which lasted throughout the night.
 
Co-owner Derek Macdonald said: "It was a case of business as normal in the most challenging of circumstances. The staff did a marvelous job dishing up all the meals - they cooked by candlelight during the evening - and guests were extremely understanding and grateful for our efforts.
 
"Everybody rallied together and showed a commendable 'Dunkirk spirit' after we were plunged into darkness. They realised it was out of our control - and we did what we could to make the best of the evening for them."

The power cut also left the hotel without water, resulting in bottled water being used for cooking, washing and making drinks.

The hotel, which hit the headlines last month after it was revealed as a haunt of The Beatles during their heyday, was this morning hoping that power would soon be restored.
 
Mr Macdonald added: "For everybody, it really was a 'Hard Day's Night' - but a good, yet entirely unplanned, insight into the ambience we hope to create for Valentine's Day next month!"