A day in the life: General Manager Suzanne shares her favourite club moments.

Could you tell us about your role and walk us through a typical day in the life of looking after the club? 

Honestly, there's no such thing as a "typical day," which is exactly why I love it! With a massive and varied team like ours, I'm always dealing with something new. One minute I'm having a one to one with one of my direct reports, the next I'm analysing our financial performance, then thinking up new ways to absolutely delight our Partners & Members, or maybe even dealing with a fire drill. Every single day brings a surprise.

Looking back at this year, what stands out as the biggest or most rewarding achievement that you and The Odney team have celebrated? 

I'm so proud that some of the team have had the chance to step into new roles and responsibilities this year, really developing themselves and advancing their careers. I genuinely love seeing that happen. Rock The Manor is always a massive highlight; it perfectly encapsulates everything brilliant about The Odney Club, bringing everyone together for a great big celebration with friends and family. Getting the pool open earlier in the year than usual was also super satisfying as we'd wanted to do that for ages! Plus, bringing back our evening dinners in the Manor with an incredible prix fixe menu, which is just £20 for two courses, that’s just fantastic value.

What is the single best story or most memorable moment you have from your time here at The Odney Club?

If I had to choose a standout moment from the ten years that I have been at Odney, it would be how our team responded during the COVID-19 pandemic. During those difficult lockdown months, the Odney team really stepped up to support the local community in every way possible. We were cooking hot meals for those in need, clearing gardens, dropping off firewood, washing bedding, and organising shopping for those who had to isolate. Many of our team were redeployed to Waitrose, which was a challenging environment at the time, while others made phone calls to our vulnerable retired Partners to keep them connected during a really difficult period. As soon as we could, we opened our grounds to let our Partners and members take a break and spend time in our beautiful estate and even now, we realise what a huge, amazing gift that was to be able to offer.

In your opinion, what’s the most underrated feature, secret spot or hidden gem here on the club grounds, that guests often overlook?

It has to be "The Point." You walk past the water garden, past the white house, and all the way to the furthest tip of Formosa Island, it is absolutely stunning, so serene and unbelievably peaceful.

If you had to sum up The Odney Club's essence, how would you describe it in just three words? 

Home. Peaceful. Diverse.

For a first-time guest, what is the one piece of 'insider' advice you'd give to ensure they have the absolute best experience at The Odney Club? 

Don't just come for the day; book in to stay for the night and fully immerse yourself in the experience. Take a wander around the grounds, find a quiet spot and just sit for a while. Then head back to the bar and raise a glass to what a great decision you made to visit!

It’s been a fantastic year here at Odney! On behalf of our incredible team, thank you all so much for your continued support of the club. Wherever you are and whoever you’re with this Christmas, we hope it’s restful and full of moments that turn into cherished memories - Happy Christmas!

Thank you Suzanne!

Merry Christmas from our team to yours! We look forward to sharing more team spotlights in the New Year, offering you a glimpse into the passion and creativity that bring The Odney Club to life.