Holiday Country Manor – Year three of a journey

Core Lee and Jeff Day | Apr 25, 2018

When Core Lee and Jeff Day purchased the Holiday Country Manor in 2016 they knew they were in for an adventure. They had purchased a business that had been focused mainly on fishing tourism for many years in a historic building that was solidly built but certainly needed some freshening up. They also took over on Canada Day weekend, and had no bookings.

“We were sitting out front on Canada Day weekend, having drinks, with no one in the hotel, just having bought the Inn, and we thought, this is not good,” recalls Jeff Day.

As they now approach their third summer, they have a better idea of the kind of business the Country Manor has become, and where it is going. They are putting a newer youthful spin on an older property (1840’s manor). They have been doing intermittent renovations, working around the busy seasons by taking on different spaces. They have also made changes to the food they offer and the niche they serve. The dining room is open from Thursdays to Sundays, the lounge and patio that is open for special occasions, and the Manor is available for all kinds of events. Over time, mostly in the quieter times of the year, they have been working on improvements.

“Our goal is to keep the historic feel of the building, with a clean look,” said Core, from the dining room last week with the spring sun finally pouring in.

The walls have retained their 19th century character as the wainscotting and lathe and plaster are intact. They are painted white, the hard wood floors have been restored, the furniture is vintage.The Manor, which began life as the Vanluven House, the base out of which Henry Vanluven supervised the mill in a town that was at that time was known as Vanluven’s Mills, is a stone building, and Jeff and Core have revealed the stone exterior walls as part of their renovations, another nod to the character of the building.

The commercial kitchen, where Core, an experienced chef and food entrepreneur, supervises all the meals, has recently been augmented with a large new hood that covers all the cooking surfaces. A new fryer is waiting for installation, and this summer’s new menu, featuring more casual offerings, is ready.

Sunday brunch at the Manor draws customers from across South Frontenac, the City of Kingston and the surrounding region. And while reservations are not normally required, the Mother’s Day brunch is an exception. Last year 170 people enjoyed Mother’s Day at the Manor, and this it pays to reserve early.

Looking upstairs at the Manor, the fishing lodge atmosphere is being transformed but the character of the rooms remains steeped in it’s historic past as a manor home. One by one the rooms are being upgraded, the furniture refinished, and each room given some of its own character.

Modern marketing tools have helped attract more overnight visitors, and the proximity to Kingston and its tourist market has been a benefit.

“We have done very well with bookings online. Our prices make us attractive to visitors to Kingston who are looking for something different, and when they come here we are able to show off what this region has to offer,” said Jeff.

And there is a lot to offer in terms of hiking opportunities, fishing and boating on Loughborough Lake (the hotel also has docking facilities and boats) and is close to Frontenac Park and other attractions.

The visitor experience is important to Core and Jeff. The Nature Conservancy of Canada has been very active on Loughborough Lake and the Battersea area and they have developed trails that abut the Manor.

“We are also doing some research and looking at putting up historic plaques to give visitors a sense of the history around the property ,” said Core.

As they prepare for the start of the summer season, the Country Manor will also be holding a Wine and Dine with your spirits event on May 3, and the Mother’s Day brunch buffet on May 13. On May 19th, the summer season kicks off with the unveiling of he new summer menu (look for corn fritters and the Manor’s take on Short Ribs) which will be a major change from last year.

“The three course dinner that we served last year was too formal. This year the menu is more casual with an a-la carte menu featuring some exciting hand crafted apps and some sharing platters,” Core said.

The Manor is open for breakfast year round from 7-11am Thursday to Sunday. The lounge is open from Thursday to Saturday from 5-9pm, with live music on Thursdays during the summer, with Perth Brewery beer on tap and a selection of domestic and imported beers and spirits. The ice cream parlour will be open as well during sunny afternoons and evenings. And for those who live on Loughbroough Lake, they offer guest boat parking at their dock.

This summer, when Canada Day weekend rolls around, they will be busy serving and entertaining guests, Jeff the ever attentive host and Core running the kitchen, both aided by a solid staff team. There will be little time to relax the way they did on that first Canada Day at the Manor, and they seem to like it that way.