OUTDOOR HOSPITALITY IN NEW LONDON

W i t h a l i t t l e c r e a t i vi t y a n d p o s i t i vi t y, t h e o wn e r s o f t h e I n n a t P l e a s a n t L a ke a n d N e w L o n d o n I n n c r e a t e d s u c c e s s t h i s s u m m e r .

While Covid restrictions have created a challening year in 2020, hospitality in New London is alive and well. The New London Inn and the Inn at Pleasant Lake have joined forces to provide guests a safe and desirable experience. Diners want to eat outside and be assured that all recommended safety protocols are in place. Our success in 2020 has been to optimize our outdoor spaces and continue to offer the very best food and service while making our guests comfortable.

At Oak & Grain at the Inn at Pleasant Lake, we turned our fabulous patio into an outdoor dining room and changed from our traditional 5-course prix fix, to an a la carte format. The response has been tremendous and we are filling reservations about a week ahead . In addition to the spectacular views of Pleasant Lake and Mount Kearsarge from the Patio, we offer spacious seating, sail canopies for shade and protection, bistro lighting, heaters, music and more –everything you need ot make your dining experience comfortable.

The Coach House Restaurant at New London Inn offers fine dining on our heated , covered porch overlooking Main Street. We also renovated our back patio. Nestled within lovely gardens, trellis overhead , heaters and fire pit, this space offers spacious dining in a grotto-like setting.

For a fun and flavorful new experience, check out our TAPAS on the Veranda and The New London Inn. This Service is set on our upper balcony, overlooking Main Street, and captures an amazing sunset when conditions are right. Small , creative plates allow you to try many dishes. Full bar. Live music when available.

Mother Nature has been incredibly supportive this season, and we have been grateful. Our guests are much more comfortable dining outside, but they still want great food, great service, and an enjoyable experience. These properties have unique outdoor spaces and we have been able to really take advantage of them for the benefit of our guests. And at the same time, we are able to adhere to all guidelines and maintain proper social distancing. We’ve found that being able to offer a high-quality experience is still important to people when they choose to go out, and yet they want to feel safe. This has been the key to our strategy in 2020. It has been well worth the effort of reimagining these spaces and renovating or modifying them as required to suit the outdoor dining demand. Our guests have been wonderfully supportive and many have made it a weekly ritual to join us for dinner.

Our favorite feedback are when guests share that this was the first time they decided to go out, and they wanted to feel safe, but they just couldn’t stay inside anymore. They chose and put their trust in us. And afterwards they felt we provided what they wanted and felt very safe, so they were able to thoroughly enjoy the dining experience. That’s when we know it was all worth it.

- By Scott Reed, Owner Inn at Pleasant Lake and London Inn