What hotel wouldn’t want its own poet in residence? To lay hand-written poems on the guests’ pillows, read specially composed poems over dinner and lead residential writers’ retreats?

Thus, it is with some excitement that The White Lodge Hotel, Filey, have announced the appointment of its own Poet in Residence, Wendy Pratt.

It’s a perfect fit for a hotel that is rapidly becoming the place to be on the Yorkshire coast. The hotel overlooks the waters of Filey Bay and is perhaps the perfect location for a cosy writers’ retreat on stormy days, or romantic weddings on a sunny afternoon.

Over a glass of crisp white wine in the hotel garden, Wendy said:

“I am delighted to take up my position as Poet in Residence at this magnificent hotel which sits on the edge of the glorious Yorkshire coast. I look forward to writing poems for weddings and special events, running workshops and organising literary events at the hotel, and helping to put Filey on the map as a culture hot spot.”

Wendy Pratt was born just outside Scarborough and now lives just outside Filey. She is an award winning poet with five published collections of poetry, her latest When I Think of My Body as a Horse won the Poetry Business Book and Pamphlet award in 2020 and will launch in February 2021. Wendy runs regular writing workshops, mentors aspiring writers and is also the coastal columnist for Yorkshire Life magazine.

Guests can commission a bespoke handwritten poem that can be in your room on arrival for that special occasion. Wendy can also be on hand to personally read your poem, perhaps between courses at dinner? Wendy will also be hosting writers’ retreats at the White Lodge over the winter.

Further details will be released on the hotel’s website in the coming weeks.