SOUTH SOMERSET NEWS: Fabulous Winter Wonderland at the Shrubbery Hotel

ORGANISERS have been delighted at the success of a Winter Wonderland event today (Sunday, December 13, 2015) at the Shrubbery Hotel in Ilminster – although vandals tried to spoil things overnight.

Fake snow and model reindeer have been spotted outside the Shrubbery in Station Road over the past few days as the hotel gears up for Christmas, but some unknown culprits vandalised the display overnight and left one of the animals on its side and another with its head torn off.

Word of the vandalism soon spread among the local community this morning and it was not long before help was at hand and the damage was repaired and the display was restored to its festive glory – before hundreds of people converged on the Shrubbery for today’s Winter Wonderland fun-packed day of events including a fabulous Santa’s grotto, a Ferris Wheel merry-go-round, a real animal farm and some seasonal refreshments.

Kevin Newton, managing director of the Shrubbery, said he was really pleased that members of the Ilminster community came together for the Winter Wonderland.

“It’s been a really good day and I’d like to thank those people who helped this morning repair the damage that had been caused,” he said.

Mr Newton said it was great that community spirit was alive and well so that they could  turn the negative of the vandalism into such a positive story.

“It’s been great to see so many come along to the Shrubbery and to enjoy the activities we’ve laid on and see the refurbishment works which have been carried out at the hotel," he added.

PHOTO - TOP: Mark Tobin, left, and Kevin Newton of the Shrubbery Hotel with the repaired model reindeer outside the hotel.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Plenty of smiles inside Santa's Grotto at the Shrubbery Hotel.

Mr Newton, who also owns the Swan Hotel in Wells, bought the Shrubbery Hotel in the summer of 2014 and he his group director of hospitality and leisure, Mark Tobin, are keen to ensure that the Shrubbery remains an integral and key part of community life in Ilminster.

Part of the main ballroom at the Shrubbery Hotel was transformed into an amazing Santa’s Grotto and children could go and visit the main man himself, Father Christmas, and receive a gift.

It was a magical day for the Shrubbery Hotel and will be repeated next year.

More photos from today’s Winter Wonderland event can be found here in this gallery: http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2015/12/13/shrubbery-hotel-winter-wonderland-december-13-2015/ .

PHOTO – ABOVE: Among the visitors to the Winter Wonderland event at the Shrubbery Hotel were the Ilminster Majorettes who put on a display.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Children enjoyed the snow machine at the Shrubbery Hotel.