Regular at The George Hotel in Stamford visits at first opportunity since restrictions eased on May 17

Many of us have been desperately dreaming of a stay away from home, and one man says that during lockdown he experienced 'withdrawal' effects from his favourite hotel.

Giles Crust has been a regular visitor of The George Hotel in Stamford for 53 years, so in the past year with multiple lockdowns closing the hospitality industry, he had to adjust.

But with overnight hotel stays now permitted, Giles made sure him and his wife, Irene, were booked in on the first night possible (Monday, May 17).

Giles, a farmer, said: "I come to The George because it is always outstanding. It's never altered in 53 years, they have modernised it and it's evolved, but it's never changed.

"It has kept its traditional air as nobody has tried to make it into a boutique hotel. A piece of beef is still carved at the table here like it was 53-years-ago.

"A friend of mine who was one of the great parliamentarians said about The George that if you sit in reception for long enough, you would meet everyone worth meeting."

Giles, 71, first discovered The George Hotel while he was travelling home from his job as a civil engineer in London and needed a place to stop for a meal.

Since then he has become a regular visitor, spending the first night of his honeymoon at the hotel in High Street St Martin’s as well as nearly all special occasions.

Giles said: "The service is impeccable - nothing is ever too much trouble for the staff and they know you, you are almost part of the family.

"It doesn't matter if it's me coming here as long as I have or someone coming for the first time, you still feel at home and welcome."

For his first night back, Giles indulged in skate wings, which is his favourite dish from the hotel.

"It's a proper restaurant and hotel. You can sit and spend two-and-a-half to three hours eating your meal," he said.

The only time Giles has seen the place in 'slight disarray' was when he booked to spend the night in 2000 ahead of attending an Elton John concert at Burghley House. He reserved the room 18 months in advance at which point staff said that the concert wouldn't affect them.

However, Giles remembers thousands of people flocking to The George for dinner ahead of the concert.

He said: "I went up to the room and said 'could we have a meal?' The lady looked at me and said 'oh dear sir, nobody has told you'. They had to close the dining room because of the demand so were only serving outside and doing steak or lobster and strawberries and cream.

"It's the only time I've ever seen bouncers on the door. You couldn't get in unless you had the booking.

"Luckily, just for us, they opened up the dining room."

Giles has returned to his home near Spilsby in Lincolnshire but is set to return to The George in the coming months.

He said: "I feel superb and restored. Now I can take on the world."