You don't need to be mad to stay at a whimsical Alice in Wonderland hotel called Hatters... but it might help. Nottingham holidaymakers might know it as the Crown Hotel in Skegness but last year it changed hands and is currently being transformed into a magical fairy tale world with themed bedrooms and staff dressed in Alice uniforms of blue dresses, white tights, black shoes and black bow in their hair.
Dee Allen and her husband Gary, a co-owner of taxi company Central Cars in Nottingham, upped sticks last July to move from their home in Ilkeston over the border to Lincolnshire for a new adventure. Guests are whisked away to a land of make believe with rooms dedicated to the Queen of Hearts, the White Rabbit and Alice herself at the 29-bed hotel at the Seacroft end of Drummond Road.
As soon as they step through the door they're greeted by a statue of the Mad Hatter pouring a tea pot, rotund twins Tweedledum and Tweedledee stand side by side in their stripy jerseys and bow ties, and playing cards hang from the ceiling. They might also get a glimpse of the family dog. Her name? Alice, of course. There also Dee's pet snake Absolem, named after the Caterpillar.
