On 2nd May 2022, Potters Resorts Five Lakes officially opened its doors to guests for the first time.
Now, as we celebrate our third anniversary, it’s hard to believe just how far Five Lakes has come—and just how much happened behind the scenes to get us to that milestone moment.
What guests see today is a vibrant and welcoming fully inclusive retreat, packed with exciting activities, West End-quality entertainment, delicious dining, and award-winning hospitality.
But looking back at the turn of 2022, just over three years ago, the venue was still operating as a hotel and conference centre. And the vision of transforming it into a full-scale leisure destination in a matter of months seemed as daunting as it was ambitious.
Having agreed on the acquisition of Five Lakes in Essex towards the end of Summer 2021, it was clear it had great bones—320 acres of countryside, well-established accommodation, golf and spa facilities, a great team of people, and plenty of potential. But transforming it into something that could live up to the Potters Resorts name was no small feat.
John Potter at Potters Resorts Five LakesPutting Plans in Place
With a target opening date of May 2nd, there wasn’t much time, a matter of months to completely reimagine the resort, redesign the experience, and build key areas and facilities from scratch. All of this during a time when the world was still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the supply chain crises. Not exactly the easiest moment to get a hold of, well, anything.
“We were struggling to source basic materials,” remembers John Potter. “Even things like wood, furniture and steel for construction were hard to get. And we needed a lot of it to build what would become the Garden Bar and Lounge, Indoor Sports Park, The Glade Theatre, new Golf Club and three new restaurants with supporting kitchens. All of which were new additions to a vast resort that also needed refurbishing throughout.”
The Arena in 2021 – The big green wall is now the entrance to the Garden Bar, with the picture taken from the area that is now The Glade TheatreWith supply chain issues mounting, timelines tightening, and the pressure on to meet the launch date, the team was essentially building an aircraft while flying. Somehow, alongside the construction and fit-out, Five Lakes was still operating as a hotel right up to the handover, managing functions, corporate events, overnight guests, and a busy restaurant. All while preparing for an entirely new model of hospitality.
The Glade Theatre in 2025Final Preparations
As the final weekend before opening loomed, it was clear this was going to take an effort from everyone. And we really do mean everyone.
“We had as many team members from Hopton-on-Sea driving over to lend a hand as we could,” says Nathan Moore, Potters Resorts’ Head of Content & PR. “It didn’t matter what your usual role was — everyone mucked in.”
Head of Sales Sallyanne Gooch was spotted hoovering corridors. Chief Operating Officer Kirstie Hood was seen dusting surfaces and cleaning skirting boards. Managing Director Mike Scott and Nathan himself spent hours on the patio, screwing together dozens of pieces of outdoor furniture along with the eager team from the golf club.
“It was part chaos, part camaraderie,” laughs Mike. “But somehow, with everyone pulling in the same direction, it came together. I don’t think anyone who was here that weekend will ever forget it.”
John, Celia and Mike taking a load off during the worksAnd it was a late night / early morning for many, as John explains. “I recall building table tennis tables in the Sports Park at 3am with some of the team. Lights and staging in The Glade Theatre were still being installed, and the new Potters Theatre Company cast had yet to rehearse their very first show. That wouldn’t happen until guests were starting to arrive!”
Opening the Doors
Arrive they did, on Monday 2nd May 2022. It was a sold-out break, checking in a full resort in a single afternoon—something which had rarely been experienced at Five Lakes in the past.
There were still lots of future developments in the pipeline, the odd piece of signage to go up, and finishing touches left to finesse, but the excitement was palpable. Because the heart of the resort—the fully inclusive experience, the warmth of the team, and the sense of togetherness—was there from day one. And now, the team had experienced what it was like to be Potters. That first day was a vision of the future under a different flag.
Guests tucked into their first meals in the Eden Restaurant, explored the leafy grounds, joined in their first activity sessions, and experienced the magic of a Potters Theatre Company show live in The Glade Theatre. That, especially, was hard to imagine given that the space only a few days prior was a building site, with not even a stage in sight.
Opening Night in The Glade Theatre on Monday 2nd May 2022, minus the starlit ceiling!Fast forward three years, and Potters Resorts Five Lakes is a thriving destination, with a character all of its own. Tens of thousands of guests from across the country have made the trip, and we’re incredibly proud of the reputation the team is building. Not just for outstanding fully inclusive value, but for that warm, welcoming environment that Potters is famous for. Five Lakes has become that place where people want to return to again and again.
Continued Investment
Since those opening breaks in May 2022, our activities programme has expanded, and we continue to invest in outstanding new facilities and refurbished accommodation. But we also continue to invest in a growing team at Five Lakes. From the stage to the hidden offices, and from front-of-house to maintenance, it’s these people who bring the resort to life every day, with a personality that is uniquely Five Lakes.
And let’s not forget the accolades picked up along the way, including East of England’s Tourism ‘Best New Business of the Year’ Award 2023/24, Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Award in 2024 and 2025 which places Five Lakes in the top 10% of global listings, and Visit England’s prestigious 5-Star accolade for three consecutive years.
But more than anything, we’re proud of what Five Lakes represents—a bold leap during a difficult time. And it’s been brought to life by a team who believed in the Potters vision. And as we celebrate three fantastic years of fully inclusive breaks at Five Lakes, we want to thank every team member, contractor, partner, and guest who’s been part of this journey.
This story is one of ambition, resilience, teamwork, and a deep-rooted belief in the power of creating memories. Something that continues to define every Potters break to this day. So here’s to more laughter and dancing in The Garden Bar, memorable nights in The Glade Theatre, sunshine on the Garden Terrace, sunsets in the Lake View Lounge. And most importantly, here’s to wonderful memories in the stunning Essex countryside.
Happy 3rd Anniversary, Five Lakes — we’re just getting started!
