Pavilion of the Lady aan het Paterswoldsemeer has a new owner. Imogen and Bert Westerhof will repeat the case on 1 April 'with a little pain in the heart'. Not because we have to, but because we can.
“No, it's not an April Fool's joke. And no, corona has nothing to do with it. At least not right away. "We made this decision because thanks to the lockdown we have experienced how nice it is to have a little more free time," says Bert. ”After all those years of hard work, this came as a kind of surprise. We sat quietly at home, or were out and about and said to each other: wonderful, isn't it?''
The number of bookings for weddings has risen sharply in recent weeks, the summer season is just around the corner and the corona misery will come to an end. Bart: “There is no need for us to stop. We just started looking at things a little differently. That process has certainly gained momentum due to corona and the lockdown. On the one hand because of the experience of free time, on the other because there has been so little perspective in recent months. You want everything, but you can't do anything. It doesn't get any more fun than that. So then LOETJE Knocked on the door again at the beginning of this year, we were out quickly.”
More interested
Again indeed. In recent years, there has been more interest in De Dame. imogen: ”I was not ready for that at the time. I still had many ideas. Now it's different. Bert recently turned 65, that also makes you think. Above all, we want to enjoy life. And I think that works even better without De Dame. Especially now that we know that we are leaving the matter in good hands.”
Anyway, it's not easy. Bart: “It's your baby, after all. We've poured heart and soul into it, especially Imogen. We opened the doors exactly five years ago. Not with the idea of getting rid of it now, of course, but sometimes things don't go as planned."
It went fast, the last phase of the sale. And that's very good, I think Imogen. ”LOETJE can now focus on the season ahead. For us it is now a time to say goodbye and hand over everything as best as possible. The many weddings that are already planned will continue as we planned them."
Enjoying the terrace
And now free life awaits the two, although Bert Westerhof still owns the Groningen nightclubs Club Kokomo and Ocean 41. Imogen: "What we will do? We have no plans until the summer holidays. Then I'll probably do something else, maybe
outside the hospitality industry.”
Of course the two are going to miss their Lady. ”It was a wonderful time with our guests and all our employees. We will fondly remember that for a long time to come. It's a pity we can't have a farewell party now. But to be honest: I think we will be on the terrace regularly. Great to sit back and enjoy. I'm really looking forward to that!"