Members of Northern Lakes Accommodation Providers (NLAP) have been getting thoroughly in the Christmas spirit over the last month, with numerous festive activities.

Keswick Christmas Food Market

Friday 28 November saw the first Christmas Food Market, organised by the Keswick Business Improvement District, and NLAP members turned out to do what they do best – provide great hospitality, to both locals and visitors. Trade on the mulled wine and mince pie stall built steadily through the day to a crescendo as people flocked to the Market Place in anticipation of the new Christmas lights being turned on. A combination of an excellent product and the crisp and cold weather resulted in takings far exceeding expectations and a substantial sum was raised for the Chairman’s Charity, which this year is the Fitz and Hope Park Charitable Trusts.

Christmas Luncheon at the Sharrow Bay

The opportunity to sample some of the best that Cumbria can offer in the Michelin Star restaurant at the world-famous Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel attracted a significant number of members for a Christmas Luncheon on Wednesday 3 December. A delicious meal, with excellent service, was provided and was extremely well received by all those attending. Such was the success of this social event that it has immediately been booked for 2009!

Keswick Traditional Christmas Fayre

Attempting to compete with the previous week’s endeavours looked like a hard act for the association’s traditional mulled wine and mince pie stall at the Christmas Fayre on Sunday 7 December. However, with members rising to the challenge and donating significant quantities of mince pies and wine for the mull the team manning the stall were well prepared. Once again good weather no doubt contributed to the success of the day, with locals and visitors forming an orderly queue at the stall throughout the day. Quick thinking, in the form of a flying visit to the local supermarket, ensured supplies did not run out until the end of the day and record takings were achieved. Over the course of these two events over 1,000 servings of mulled wine and mince pie were sold, generating a net income for the Chairman’s Charity of over £1,500. NLAP Chairman Mark Askew said “None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our members and I am truly thankful for all they have done to support these events”.

Christmas Party Night

The final social event for 2008 provided members with an opportunity to let their hair down and party the night away. For the second year running the association’s Christmas Party Night was held at the Skiddaw Hotel, on Sunday 14 December. Nearly forty members attended and were treated to an excellent five course menu and the opportunity to dance to all their favourites. Further funds were raised for the Chairman’s Charity through a raffle and ‘roll a coin to win a bottle’, with prizes kindly donated by members and local businesses. Overall an enjoyable time was had by all, particularly those that didn’t have to worry about serving breakfast the next morning!

Looking back on the whole year, the association has run a varied and very well attended calendar of social events for its members (and friends) and as a by product significant funds have been raised for charity. Thanks for this must go in particular to those members that have served on the social committee during 2008 and also to those that have attended and given generously. Northern Lakes Accommodation Providers is a membership driven association, representing the serviced accommodation industry in the northern area of the Lake District National Park. NLAP exists to provide support and advice to its members, in addition to a full and varied social calendar to provide a break from the job and a chance to meet others in the business. For more information on the NLAP please contact Alan Jameison on 017687 79660