THE Atlantic House Hotel, in Bude, is due to be featured in an episode of one of Channel 5’s biggest rating shows, the Hotel Inspector, with Alex Polizzi.

On Tuesday, April 12, a ‘Spring Event Day’ was held on the green outside the hotel, on Summerleaze Crescent.

The event gave the press, holiday makers and wildlife enthusiasts the opportunity to listen to talks given by local nature experts, experience some of the food on offer at La Bouche Creole at the hotel, illustrating the unique cooking style of Todd Varnedoe, and to also see the dramatic changes that have been made over the course of the recent weeks with Ms Polizzi’s support.

The event also coincided with a visit from the ‘Hotel Inspector’ herself, who has recently been working with the owner of the hotel, Trevor Rounding, to improve the hotel’s outlook, and to develop it as a hotel that caters for walking and wildlife enthusiasts.

Mr Rounding said: “It went extrememly well; the weather was good, we had lots of people turn up, and the speakers were excellent.”

He has been filmed eight times since first working with Ms Polizzi in January, so he has got used to the camera being around.

He continued: “This was the third time I had met Alex, and the experience has been great, the people involved have been fantastic. It was hard work, but I still had a great time.

“By the end of filming, I think we got to know Alex, and it was fantastic to see what she’s achieved, and showing us what we can achieve as well. Obviously, Alex advised and pushed me, but I’m really happy with how it turned out.”

Upon Ms Polizzi’s arrival to the hotel, Mr Rounding and his staff were about to paint the exterior of the building, which was questioned by the ‘inspector.’.

After this, she gave him tasks to carry out, including changing the décor in the dining room to coincide with the La Bouche Creole eating experience; the ‘sun room’ was repainted; and Ms Polizzi restyled three of the bedrooms herself, giving Mr Rounding a template to follow whilst she was gone.

“I didn’t expect it, she did a great job, all the rooms are beautiful,” he added. “I knew I needed to up my game with the new Premier Inn opening in Bude next year.

“I wanted to gain a much better level of occupants, and we were aiming for something that would attract different audience than the people that would come into the Premier Inn.

“We also wanted to develop the hotel for wildlife and nature enthusiasts, as no one else in Bude focuses on that. We’re about 150 yards away from the beach, so we do tend to have people coming from the coastal path and local walks.”