Inspecting at Sawday’s


					


			

				


			
			

									
 


Personally inspecting every one of our places is a huge part of what we are as a company. We do it because it builds invaluable relationships with our owners and because it helps us find the right place for our guests, but also because it’s great fun. 


							

		

	
							


											


														
					
					


													

								

									


All about inspecting


								

							


											


														
					
					


													

								
	
										
				
			


							

					

						
					

				

			
																				

						
	

		
		
		

							






Beyond handpicked – how and why we inspect








					


			

				


			
			

									
What we look for, why we do it and how unsure we are whether or not inspection is even the right word! 


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Humanity over thread count




					


			

				


			
			

									
Our founder Alastair Sawday on the importance of personal connection and how Welshmen, cellos and bikinis play a part in the company’s identity.


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My best, worst and weirdest from 25 years of inspecting 








					


			

				


			
			

									
Top inspector Nicola Crosse with inspection stories of whisky-swigging sea captains, mistaken identity and transparent lift failures.


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A Scandi-rustic retreat in the heart of the English countryside


					


			

				


			
			

									
Guest inspector Becca Lawson discovers Scandinavian design principles and traditional craftmanship at a converted nineteenth-century barn in Wiltshire.


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Grazing and lazing in Cambridgeshire


					


			

				


			
			

									
We sent Erica Davies to the Rothschild Estate to explore the grounds and seek out the local markets and pubs.


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Oxfordshire countryside views and statement art pieces


					


			

				


			
			

									
We sent Kate Hiscox of @WearsMyMoney to stay at The Hideaway and check that Artist Residence continues to deliver the same special experience we fell in love with at our original inspection.


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‘It’s a bit like a dorm inspection. You’re on your toes!’


					


			

				


			
			

									
Karin Bolton, owner of Clapton Manor in the Cotswolds, talks about how it feels to open her doors to inspectors and guests and why that human connection feels more important than ever.


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Some of our favourite inspection experiences


					


			

				


			
			

									
Inspection trips throw all sorts of things at us, from nine-point turns in muddy lanes to extremely friendly dogs and severe tests of our lemon drizzle cake capacity. We’ve rounded up some of our favourites.


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Weird and wonderful inspections from our team




					


			

				


			
			

									
You never quite know what to expect when you’re inspecting. We spoke to the team to get their best, worst and weirdest of Sawday’s inspections.


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Your stories of generous hosts and jolly publicans


					


			

				


			
			

									
We’ve rounded up some of our favourite entries from our recent guest inspector competition.


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