On a crisp November day in 1965, Martin Skan, who has died aged 90, went for lunch at a rundown hotel near Bournemouth, says The Times. Twenty-four hours later, the budding entrepreneur bought the place for £50,000. It only had eight usable bedrooms, two bathrooms and four staff members, one of whom was promptly discovered in bed with the hotel’s only regular guest and another of whom Skan found surrounded by empty gin bottles after claiming she had the flu. It was only when the nearby – and famously well-run – Royal Bath Hotel was taken over, prompting its disgruntled staff to jump ship, that fortunes started to turn. With relentless 100-hour weeks, Skan transformed the draughty country house into one of the best-regarded hotels in Britain: Chewton Glen.

The venue quickly became popular with royals, rock stars, authors, politicians and actresses. Top corporate executives “helicoptered down for lunch”, and Rolls-Royces and Jaguars lined the drive. Skan was driven by attention to detail – guests’ cars had their windscreens cleaned each day; departing visitors were waved goodbye “until they were out of sight” – and he studied hotels extensively. After enjoying the food at the Inn at Little Washington in Virginia, he sent his chef there for nine days to pick up tips. His favourite guest was Cary Grant. The actor once phoned to say he was on his way down, but Skan couldn’t see him on the arrivals list so asked Grant when he had booked. “Just now on the phone with you,” he replied. “See you in four hours.” Skan managed to persuade the couple who were staying in Grant’s regular suite to move rooms – on the condition the actor have a drink with them at the bar when he arrived.

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