Grandmother, 82, is hailed Britain's most loyal guest after visiting the same three-star Worcestershire hotel for 80 YEARS - and says it's a 'home away from home'

 A grandmother has been dubbed Britain's most loyal guest after returning to the same hotel for 80 years. 

Anne Dunn, 82, first visited the three-star Colwall Park Hotel in Malvern, Worcestershire in 1942, aged two, and has returned almost every year since, sometimes several times a year. The grandmother-of-seven, who lives in Lichfield, Staffordshire, some 62 miles from the £200-a-night hotel, first visited with her father, who worked as the hotel's accountant in the 1940s, then continued the tradition with her husband, John, for almost 60 years until his death last year. Now she visits with her daughter and puppy, Bronte. 

'We used to go for every holiday, from Christmas to Easter and even the summer holidays,' said Anne, who estimates she's spent £20,000 on hotel stays over her lifetime.

'It is real value for money and we love going back there each year. The place is my home away from home. I just love staying there.' 

The hotel was built in 1904 by racecourse owner Roland Cave-Browne, who wanted an elegant country retreat for racehorse owners competing at Colwall Green, a nearby racecourse that closed in 1939. 

It is thought that in the early 1940s, when Anne first visited, it was owned by the Scott-Bowen family, who also ran the racecourse until its wartime closure.  

It is now owned by independent hoteliers Helen Rogers and Huw Watson, who took over the business from the Levitt family in 2014. 

Loyal guest: Anne Dunn, 82, pictured, first visited the three-star Colwall Park Hotel in Malvern, Worcestershire in 1942, aged two, and has returned almost every year since

Fond memories: The grandmother-of-seven, who used to visit with her own parents and now goes with her daughter, estimates she's spent a total of £20,000 staying at the hotel. Pictured, Anne (right) at the hotel as a little girl with her accountant father and baby sister 

Home away from home: Anne lives in Lichfield, Staffordshire, some 62 miles from the £200-a-night hotel, pictured today

Childhood memories: The Colwall Park Hotel, pictured in the late 1950s, as Anne would have seen it in childhood

Anne recalled enjoying the family feel of the hotel when she was a young girl. 

The mock Tudor building has hardly changed in appearance since it was built more than 100 years ago. 

Anne continued: 'The family who ran the hotel had a son who was the same age as me, so I always had a friend to play with when I stayed at the hotel.

'I was too young to fully realise the impact of the war but what I can remember is that the family was always so welcoming and made every visit very special for our family.

'I remember there was a bookkeeper there called Miss Mack who my father worked closely with. The old ledgers are still kept in the hotel. 

'I had a look the last time I visited, and they have them on display. It was a wonderful trip down memory lane.

Purpose built: Horse drawn carts outside the hotel, which was built in the early 1900s. This postcard is not dated

Almost unchanged: The hotel was built in 1904 by racecourse owner Roland Cave-Browne, who wanted a country retreat for racehorse owners competing at Colwall Green, a nearby racecourse that closed in 1939. Above, the hotel in the 1920s

Historic: The hotel was originally built to service Colwall Park racecourse, pictured, once a racing hotspot in the West Midlands. The racecourse closed at the start of the Second World War. The site is now farmland

Humble beginnings: The early days of the hotel, captured in an undated photograph that shows how little it has changed

Celebration: The hotel has remained at the centre of the local community for more than 100 years. Above, schoolchildren and revellers parade past Colwall Park Hotel (seen in background) as part of King George V's Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1936

Steeped in history: Revellers outside Colwall Park Hotel, left, during King George V's Silver Jubilee in 1936

New era: The Colwall Park Hotel, right, remained unchanged in the 1950s, when Anne continued to visit as a young woman

Holiday destination: Visitors arrive at Colwall Park Hotel in this 1959 photograph shared on the hotel's Facebook page

'Christmas in the hotel was always so special. They made the whole hotel beautiful with festive decorations, and in particular, the old ballroom was magical to look at. 

'The team used to arrange a Christmas party for the children, where local children and visiting children were all invited.

'One year, for New Year's Eve, it was my job to look after my little sister, she's seven years younger than I am. My parents had dressed her up as a little fairy and I had to pull her around on a sledge. I have so many memories over the years.'

Anne spent many happy years at the hotel with her husband John, who she married in 1963. Following his death in June 2021, Anne has continued to visit with her daughter Emma, 53, and puppy Bronte.   

She continued: 'My husband died in June last year but we have kept on going to the hotel, but now with my daughter. 

Tradition: Anne visited the hotel with her husband John, pictured in the Malvern Hills. The couple were married from 1963 until his death in June 2021

Family favourite: Now Anne visits the hotel with her daughter Emma, pictured, and her puppy

Stunning retreat: Today Colwall Park is a boutique hotel with sumptuous, well-appointed rooms like the one above

Cosy setting: The hotel boasts a country restaurant, complete with a roaring fire and dark wood detailing

Wedding venue: Colwall Park also hosts weddings. Brides and grooms have use of bedrooms like the one above

'One of my most treasured memories is when I visited the Edwardian ballroom and met artist Dame Laura Knight when I was eight years old.

'She had moved into the hotel following the death of her husband. It was Christmas time, and my parents had given me an autograph book, so when I saw Dame Laura, I asked her to sign the book for me.

Personal treasure: Anne kept a drawing done for her at the hotel by Dame Laura Knight

'She took my autograph book and sat down at the desk in the room and sketched me a picture of a clown with the dipping pen that was on the desk. I stood by her and watched her do it, it was wonderful, and I still have the picture framed in my living room today.'

Many years later, Anne wrote a letter to Dame Laura, who died in 1970 aged 92, and the pair renewed their friendship.

Anne added: 'I was reading about her many, many years later, and it prompted me to write to her.

'She was in her very old age then, and I just wanted to remind her how pleased I was with the picture that she drew for me, and that I still had it all those years later.

'She wrote back to me saying that she did remember this little girl standing by watching her draw, so that is a very happy memory I hold dear from my time at Colwall Park.'

Anne has already booked to stay at her favourite hotel this Easter.

She added: 'No matter how many time I've been to Colwall Park, I always look forward to my stays.'

A spokesperson for the hotel said: 'As the hotel's longest returning guest, Colwall Park has been an integral part of her life that she has shared with friends and family over so many years.

'Through sharing her trips with her children in her later years, she continues to spread the warmth she feels when visiting Colwall Park with her loved ones, and now with her new puppy too.'