Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club names Paul Hawkins Access Champion to lead inclusive luxury stays

Written By: Moitreyi Dey

Moitreyi Dey

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May 29, 2026 06:40 GMT+5:30

Ashdown Forest in East Sussex has a new reason for a traveller looking for inclusive luxury; the Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club has introduced long-term Head Concierge, Paul Hawkins, as its dedicated Access Champion. Visitors who will arrive at the imposing country house estate – nestled amongst forest, lakes and rolling lawns – are now guaranteed that a focus on accessibility will exist from the point of first contact, ensuring the welcome to everyone really is just that.

Set amid the Ashdown Forest that inspired A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories, Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club is renowned as a luxury country house retreat with award‑winning dining, spa and golf in the heart of East Sussex. The property, part of Elite Hotels, has joined the Accessible Hospitality Alliance (aha), and Hawkins’ appointment formalises accessibility as a core operational priority rather than an add‑on.

Access Champion role at Ashdown Park

Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club, an Accessible Hospitality Alliance member, has confirmed that Paul Hawkins will act as its in‑house advocate for accessibility in his new role as Access Champion. In this position, he will help ensure that awareness, discussion and practical improvements for guests with diverse needs remain embedded across departments, from front desk and housekeeping to food and beverage and leisure.

The hotel has indicated that placing an Access Champion within the Front of House team is an intentional decision, situating accessibility where guests first interact with the property. Hawkins has spoken of feeling privileged to represent Elite Hotels and Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club in the role, and has expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with peers through the aha Forum to evolve and improve facilities for guests in and around the hotel.

Accessible Hospitality Alliance and the Access Champions Collective

By joining the Accessible Hospitality Alliance earlier this year, Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club has aligned itself with a growing network of operators who share learning and practical tools to make hospitality more inclusive. As Access Champion, Hawkins becomes part of the Access Champions Collective, a peer group established through aha membership to bring together hotels and venues that are actively sharing operational experience and insights on accessibility.

The collective emerged after an initial gathering of Access Champions at Kimpton Fitzroy London and is guided by three elected stewards: Ian Bartlett, Head of Built Environment at Swinton Estate; James Dixon‑Box, Operations Director at Marsham Court Hotel; and Hannah Myles, Group Health & Safety Manager at Clermont Hotel Group. Through this structure, Ashdown Park’s Access Champion will be able to draw on sector‑wide expertise while feeding back real‑world learning from a busy East Sussex country house hotel that serves both leisure guests and corporate travellers.

What this means for travellers to Ashdown Forest

For travellers planning an accessible escape to Ashdown Forest, the move signals that Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club is working to ensure its woodland walks, lakeside vistas, spa experiences and golf facilities can be enjoyed more equitably. The hotel’s extensive grounds and historic buildings, which form a classic Victorian mansion overlooking 186 acres of parkland, can pose the usual heritage‑property challenges, making a clear internal champion for accessibility especially relevant.

As a luxury country house hotel with spa, golf course and notable dining, Ashdown Park is already a popular choice for romantic breaks, family stays and corporate events within easy reach of London and Gatwick Airport. With accessibility now framed as part of the guest journey from the booking stage through arrival and daily interactions with the concierge team, the property is positioning itself as one of the leading Ashdown Forest accessible hotels for UK and international visitors alike.

A more inclusive future for East Sussex luxury stays

From a travel perspective, the appointment of Paul Hawkins as Access Champion adds a human touchpoint to Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club’s promise of accessible luxury stays in East Sussex. Charlotte Evans, Group Partnerships Director at Accessible Hospitality Alliance, has indicated that his appointment reflects the kind of leadership aha aims to promote, noting that Elite Hotels and Ashdown Park are at the beginning of their accessibility journey but are taking a thoughtful, progressive approach designed to ensure inclusivity is genuinely felt throughout the guest experience.

For future guests arriving in Ashdown Forest, whether for a celebratory weekend, a spa retreat or a countryside conference – the presence of an Access Champion at the front door is intended to mean fewer barriers, more confidence and a warmer sense of belonging. The hotel is signalling that the peace of the forest, the charm of the historic house and the comforts of a modern country club are being shaped with a wider range of travellers in mind, inviting visitors to feel not only welcomed, but fully considered in every detail of their stay.

Image Credit: Ashdown Park Hotel Country Club