Two Amazing Nights, One Exceptional Team

Celebrating the Annual Team Awards at Potters Resorts

There are moments in the calendar that truly capture the spirit of what makes Potters Resorts Hopton-on-Sea and Potters Resorts Five Lakes so special — and the Annual Team Awards is undoubtedly one of them.

This year, celebrations took place across two memorable evenings: first at the Zest Rooms at Hopton-on-Sea on Wednesday 22nd April, followed by the Mersea Suite at Five Lakes on Wednesday 29th April. Together, they brought colleagues from across both resorts together to recognise the people who go above and beyond every single day.

With over 200 awards handed out across the two nights, it was a powerful reminder of the sheer dedication, passion, and teamwork that underpin the Potters experience.

Excellence in Every Form

From Best Newcomers and Unsung Heroes to Happiness, Outstanding Customer Service and the rare Top of the Bill Award, each category highlighted a different aspect of what it means to deliver exceptional hospitality.

Each night culminated with the Brian Potter MBE Customer Care Award — an honour that recognises one individual at Hopton-on-Sea and Five Lakes, who truly embody the values and standards that guests have come to associate with Potters.

Managing Director Mike Scott opened the awards at Five Lakes

Opening speeches set the tone for both events. At Hopton-on-Sea, Chief Operating Officer Kirstie Hood and Jane Potter spoke passionately about what it means to work in hospitality, and more specifically, what it means to be part of the Potters family. Celebrating the importance of going the extra mile and creating unforgettable moments for guests.

At Five Lakes, Managing Director Mike Scott echoed that sentiment, while delivering some eye-opening statistics about what the team in Essex delivers day in, day out.

Hopton-on-Sea Highlights

In Norfolk, the evening was filled with emotional moments and well-deserved recognition, with 132 awards presented to 121 team members.

One of the standout highlights was Buzby Allen from the Entertainment Team collecting a Happiness Award. Everyone was on their feet, applauding a true Potters legend who continues to make people smile after over 40 years.

Bridie Holland from Housekeeping took home a Top of the Bill Award, recognised for creating a heartfelt ‘Ivy House’ surprise for regular guest Ivy Robinson. It was a gesture that perfectly captured the personalised, unexpected gestures that often define a stay at Potters.

Buzby Allen and James R Hearn both won the Happiness Award at Hopton-on-Sea

As the awards came to a close, Natasha Batterbee from Site Services was presented with the Brian Potter MBE Customer Care Award. Not only does Natasha oversee this vital, behind-the-scenes function at Hopton-on-Sea, she also played a crucial role in helping to save the life of a guest who suffered a cardiac arrest in the restaurant.

Taking charge of a life-threatening situation alongside colleagues, it was an extraordinary act that left a lasting impression, not least on Chief Operating Officer, Kirstie Hood. You could hear a pin drop as Kirstie described the role Natasha played in that moment, before the room stood to applaud Natasha as she made her way to the stage.

From L-R: Shaun Smith (Hopton-on-Sea Resort General Manager), Natasha Batterbee, Judy Potter, Kirstie Hood (Chief Operating Officer)

Five Lakes Highlights

A week later, the celebrations continued in Essex. Equally inspiring stories took centre stage as 66 team members were recognised with 74 awards.

Notable moments included Talia from The Spa receiving a Special Recognition Award. A dedicated team member at Five Lakes for over two decades, Talia has successfully navigated significant changes within her department, taken on additional responsibilities, supported colleagues across the resort, and continued to deliver an outstanding and increasingly popular spa experience — always with a smile.

Talia Coles with Five Lakes Resort General Manager Oli Smith

Towards the end of the evening, Tilley Eve from Reservations was awarded the Brian Potter MBE Customer Care Award.

With a deep-rooted connection to Potters having visited as a guest every Christmas since she was a baby, Tilley now channels that lifelong love for the resorts into her role, helping guests plan their stays with genuine passion and understanding.

Tilley Eve with Five Lakes Resort General Manager Oli Smith and Managing Director Mike Scott

What Truly Matters

While the awards themselves are a highlight, the true essence of the evening goes far beyond trophies and titles.

The Annual Team Awards are about recognising those who, over the past 12 months, have gone the extra mile. Not for applause or recognition, but because they genuinely care about the guest experience.

It’s that natural desire to create memorable moments, exceed expectations, and to support one another that defines the Potters culture.

Across both nights, one thing was made clear by the senior management team. It’s the people who make Potters Resorts what it is. Their dedication, their warmth, their willingness to go above and beyond.

And as the celebrations came to a close and team members returned to their roles the following day, there was a shared sense of pride in everything that has been achieved over the last 12 months, as well as excitement for everything still to come.

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Roll of Honour

Outstanding Customer Service

Erin Thorpe & Kacey Welton (Aphrodite Beauty Studio), Chelsie Hood, Jasmine Matthews, Joanne Bolton & Clare Aherne (Bars), Bridie Holland & Paula Jermy (Housekeeping), Nigel Austin (Bowls), Jo Benquesus, Rachel Baade & Zara Bell (Entertainment), Hannah Boniface, Beth Scott, Briony Sandwell, Louis Woolston, Nicola Scarrow, Nikki Brown & Tilley Eve (Sales), Mark Mason, Rob Hurren & Rachael Alcharbaji (Kitchen), Shirzad Rahimi & Natalie Bond (Leisure), Measie Khambua (Golf), Allana Ames, Gwen Harlock, Nicole Tomlin & Rachel Showell (Reception), Angela Utting, Carol-Ann Oakes, Daniel Alabaster, Janine Borthwick, Joseph Benjafield, Aggi Nadskakulska, Carole Tilbrook, Jade Burrow, Lewis Smith, Oleita Gray, Ryan Popplewell & Yasmin Cook (Restaurant), Alexandru Ivanescu (Maintenance), Dawn Wright & Julia Harris (Shop), Abi Wall (Shop Potters), Natasha Batterbee (Site Services).

Best Newcomer

Connor Simms (Activities), Bradley Crisp, Caitlin Norman, Jake Harkness, Lou Jehan & Ruby Guyon (Bars), Cate Stacey, Jill Jex, Nellie Thomson, Bella Gasparro & Glenn Larkey (Housekeeping), Liv Bull (Design), Kimmi Hircock (Leisure), Gemma Stanton (Potters Theatre Company), Emma Howard, Kamile Balciunaite, Sophia Lodge Carmenates, Lily Smith & Lola Emson (Restaurant), Mark Lawrence (Site Services), Zoe Wood (Golf), Jack Lynch (Kitchen).

Happiness

Carrie Roper & Glenys Barber (Activities), Harriet Stringer (Aphrodite), Lewis Miller, Chelsie Hood, Jasmine Matthews, Clare Aherne, Annabel Bradshaw, Beth Allen-Brodie, Charly Baxter & Dan Jordan (Bars), Amanda Skippen, Bridie Holland, Clare Hall, Corrina McGeachy, Debra Hewett, Fliss Hallows, Jackie McKeever, Nicky Littlewood, Nittaya Lockwood, Angela Barrett, Cheryl Jay, Debbie Bull, Jackie Gregg, Kim Ballard, Andrea Moyse, Michelle Aldred, Paula Stone & Andrea Dafter (Housekeeping), Joanne Gibbs, Trinity Morphy, Jake Cockle, Briony Sandwell, Lucy Palmer, Molly Baldwin, Sue Morley, Stephanie Bradford, Imogen Jonas, Tilley Eve & Molly Coates (Sales), Becky Rickman-Jenkins, Buzby Allen, Emily Takman, James Hearn, Zara Bell, Alice Molnar & Josie Camble (Entertainment), Mandy Phelps (HR), Nigel Austin (Bowls), Measie Khambua (Golf), Dean O’Neill, Max Etherington, Rob Hurren, Oscar Kendall, Reggie Hole, Jake Batchelor, Perry Taylor, Ricky Riches & Hannah Blyth (Kitchen), Shirzad Rahimi (Leisure), Joanne Regan, Millie Turner & Reece Emery (Potters Theatre Company), Derrick Mansi, Sharon Daan, Emily Camp & Harry Fountain (Reception), Drew Offord, Harry Crosswell, Kitty Whitlam, Angel Wright, Evie Geiser-Wilson, Jessie Smith, Louis Gregerson-Good, Mali Parker-Mcewan & Trinity Gilvray (Restaurant), Graham Ellis & Mark Brown (Security), Dawn Wright & Julia Harris (Shop), Abi Wall (Shop Potters), Jan Schenk (Site Services), Joe Ramsey (Greenkeeping), Luke Ridsdill-Smith (Maintenance), Jasmine Young (The Spa), Rachael Newson & Naomi Esser (Tech).

Unsung Hero

Roy Davies (Bowls), Dawn Green (Cashiers), Andy Kelf, Callum Walker-Sloss & James Ellison (Design), Noah Eaglen (Sales), Cameron Moore, Ryan Chamberlain & Tom Baxter (Marketing), Andrea Moyse & Andreea Buraga, (Housekeeping), Debbie Kelf (HR), Bob Dumbrill, Breydon Rimmer, Eli Payne, Hannah Blyth, Manu Jose, Paul Jupp, William Briggs, William Coleman & Yiu Sing Leung (Kitchen), Trish Hewitt & Lucas Flores (Laundry), Bronwyn Owen & Tanith Owen (Main Building), Luis Copley-Marshall (Shop Potters), Anthony Brooks & Chris Davey (Site Services), Cian McNicholas, Conner Cave-Thompson & Naomi Esser (Tech), Antony Edwards (Greenkeeping), Becky Devall & Hazel Maclennan (Potters Theatre Company).

Special Recognition

Lyndsey Barnard (Housekeeping), Sue Secker (Entertainment), Becky Teasdel, Gemma Gray & Gary Willis (Sales), Katie Green & Saskia Dean (Potters Theatre Company), Jacky Harte (HR) Andrew Tomkinson, Bradley Gager & Jason McWhinney (Security), Talia Coles (Spa), Dan Jordan (Bars), Vicki Hunter, Adarsh Kurian, Harley Roebuck & Lawrence Chandler (Tech Crew).

Top of the Bill 

Bridie Holland (Housekeeping).

Brian Potter MBE Customer Care Award

Natasha Batterbee (Site Services) and Tilley Eve (Sales).