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ENCHANTED DUO WEAVE THEIR SPELL

By County Press Reporter - Wednesday, November 15, 2006
By Clare Wall
AN Island hotel, which is expected to open in time for next season, is to feature in the BBC programme, Homes Under the Hammer.
Enchanted Manor, formerly the Windcliffe Manor Hotel, Niton, was purchased at auction by the owners of Godshill's Koala Cottage, Ric and Maggie Hilton.
They were completely unaware the BBC show, which gives advice on how to get the most out of property auctions, was there to see them successfully bid for the Windcliffe Manor Hotel, until producers approached them.
Maggie said: "They asked us if we would mind them featuring our new hotel on their show. Normally, they focus on two or three properties in one area but when I explained what we were doing with the property they were so enthusiastic they changed all their plans. It seems we are having a special programme and it is likely to air next April, so we are delighted."
Film crews spent the day with Ric and Maggie on Thursday last week to film the property before refurbishment. They will return early next year to see the finished look.
Maggie said: "It means we now have to work around the clock to make sure it is all done for when they return. The funny thing is we did all this with Koala Cottage and when we finished that we were saying 'never again'. Six months later and here we are."
To give the hotel its new, enchanted theme, the couple have enlisted the help of artist Josephine Wall, whose mystical paintings recently featured on the website of pop princess Britney Spears.
Maggie said: "There will be paintings, murals and stained-glass windows. We are hoping to turn the surrounding forest, which forms part of the site, into an enchanted forest, which Josephine is really keen to work on.
"The aim is to make it a serene, tranquil place, not a Disneyland-style hotel. We want it to be somewhere really special for adults to come to relax."
The hotel comes with 16 bedrooms, although the plan is to reduce the number of rooms to eight luxurious double suites and two single suites.