Dear guests,

As you will certainly know the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that we now have, by law, to
implement some new rules and guidelines for guests visiting Ponden Hall B&B. We are trying our
absolute best to maintain cleanliness and safety for everyone, and we’d be very grateful for your
help in this.

Booking at Ponden

  • We will ask for your full details (postal address, email address, phone numbers, and passport
    number if you are not a UK national), and will keep them for 21 days according to new Government regulations
  • We are happy to book a place for dinner for you at a local pub or restaurant (see Booking for
    dinner, below)
  • If you have any special requests or questions about our Covid-19 policy that are not
    covered by this page, please do ask at this point. If we can possibly help you we will

Arriving at Ponden

  • When you arrive we will stand well back to allow you to come into the house, and you will
    be shown to your room. As always we’d love to offer you tea and cake on arrival, and this
    may be taken in the main hall at the big table (where your seats will be your allocated seats
    for the whole of your stay), or in your room(s), where we will deliver it to you. Also as,
    always, we are happy to sit and talk to you and tell you anything that would be useful or
    helpful about the local area for your stay (we’ll be at a social distance and wearing masks)
  • The Government has asked us to ‘encourage guests’ to wear masks in corridors
  • You are welcome to use the garden while still observing the Government’s rules for using
    green spaces and distancing from other guest groups

Eating breakfast

  • Guests will fill out a form to order their breakfast the night before
  • The breakfast menu is also available to view either via a phone or iPad on our website, or
    you may request a disposable paper copy
  • Breakfast times are reserved by booking the evening before, and times will be allocated to
    groups of guests on a first-to-book basis, so that groups can avoid each other in the
    breakfast space. You will use your own allocated seats at the table. If you miss your
    breakfast slot you might have to wait until others have finished
  • All condiments (salt, pepper, ketchup, etc) and jams are now in individual packaging. Juice
    and milk will be served in individual jugs for groups of guests
  • We would ask you please not to touch surfaces in the room where breakfast is served if you
    can avoid doing so

Booking for dinner

  • Where once we used to be happy to offer guests a lift to nearby restaurants and pubs we
    are now unable to do so, unfortunately
  • We are happy to provide you with a list of local restaurants and pubs that are open for
    guests to book, and will send you their details before you arrive if you request them. Most
    places will not be accepting guests unless they already have a booking
  • If you wish to order a takeaway we are happy for you to eat it at our main table in the hall,
    once more using your own allocated seating
  • We are happy to make any of these bookings for you before your arrival if you would like us
    to

If you become ill with Covid-19 symptoms while you are staying

This advice is taken directly from the Government website
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-decontamination-in-non-
healthcare-settings/covid-19-decontamination-in-non-healthcare-settings

  • If a guest is displaying signs of the COVID-19 virus while staying in overnight accommodation for a
    permitted reason, they should inform the accommodation provider, immediately self-isolate where
    they are to minimise any risk of transmission, and request a test. If they are confirmed to have
    COVID-19, they should return home if they reasonably can. They should use private transport but
    only drive themselves if they can do so safely. If a guest cannot reasonably return home (for example
    because they are not well enough to travel or do not have the means to arrange transport), their
    circumstances should be discussed with an appropriate health care professional and, if necessary,
    the local authority.
  • Guests should follow government guidance on dealing with possible or confirmed coronavirus
    (COVID-19) infection. Once the guest (and if appropriate their family) has finished the required self-
    isolation period and is no longer symptomatic, they should return to their main residence and
    continue to follow the government guidance on self-isolation, household isolation and social
    distancing.
  • If you should unfortunately fall ill with these symptoms you should let us know about your
    concerns as soon as you can, then continue to stay with us and self-isolate in the way
    described above. The extra nights of your stay, all required meals, laundry, etc, would be
    chargeable and added to your bill. You might be asked to move to another room within the
    house.

Our local health facilities are:

In the eventuality of your becoming ill we would, of course, help you in any way we could. Your
care, comfort and happiness are paramount.

Paying at the end of your stay

All payment as you leave at the end of your stay must now be contactless. You can pay via
PayPal or bank transfer (not cheque or cash – sorry). We will give you these details when
you check out

General information

  • Hand sanitiser is available in all rooms, in the entrance hall and in the main hall (where you
    eat breakfast). Please do use it wherever appropriate. Information on how to wash your
    hands may be found here: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/hand-hygiene
  • Please maintain a distance between yourself, ourselves and/or other groups of guests of at
    least one metre, or two metres where possible
  • All rooms are very thoroughly cleaned between guests, with special attention paid to
    bathrooms, showers, toilets, etc.
  • We have been asked to inform guests that in the event of a police officer or member of staff
    requesting you to remove a head covering for ID purposes you must comply with this
    request

If you need to clean something in your room during your stay the new guidelines state that
you must do so yourself. Do ask us for cleaning materials and we will provide them
If you need to contact us at any time while you are in the house and aren’t sure where we are
or would like to do so at a distance you can email us on , ring on the
house number , or message us via Facebook (Julie Ponden) or Twitter
(). And if you have any questions or are concerned about anything please do not
hesitate to ask. We will do our best to help you.