Lean Luxury: How Cottage in the Wood Thrives by Doing Less, Better

In this episode of The Hotel Growth Podcast, I sit down with Nick Davies, owner of The Cottage in the Wood, to talk about running a high-performing independent hotel in one of the UK’s toughest trading environments.Nick shares how rising costs, staffing pressures, and national insurance hikes have forced innovation — from rethinking his F&B model to trimming trading days without sacrificing guest experience.We also dive into:Why closing two days a week actually improved profitabilityThe thinking behind their new 16-cover tasting restaurantVAT inequality across Europe (and why UK hospitality’s hands are tied)How to win direct bookings without fighting the OTAs head-onThe guest psychology behind sweets at checkoutIf you’re an independent hotelier feeling the squeeze, this episode is full of clarity, candour and practical takeaways. Nick doesn’t mince his words — and that’s exactly why it’s worth a listen.