Aidan’s 180-mile ride to every Brend hotel ends in Falmouth

Twelve hours. Nine hotels. One road bike held triumphantly overhead outside the last one. That was the scene on Tuesday 25th August, when Aidan, Assistant Manager at The Victoria Hotel in Sidmouth, finished a 180-mile ride round every hotel in the Brend Collection, all in aid of children and young people across the South West.

A finish worth cheering, on the Falmouth seafront

The Tour de Brend Hotels, as it was billed, ended where the coast runs out, at The Royal Duchy Hotel on the seafront in Falmouth. Bunting was strung between the pillars, a yellow banner reading “9 Hotels. 1 Rider. 1 Incredible Cause. Just 12 Hours” stood by the door, and colleagues gathered to watch Aidan wheel in and lift his bike above his head.

He had set out that morning from The Victoria Hotel in Sidmouth with a single target: reach all nine Brend Collection hotels inside 12 hours, cycling roughly 180 miles to do it.

The route, hotel by hotel

From Sidmouth, Aidan’s route took in The Belmont Hotel, also in Sidmouth, before The Imperial Hotel and The Park Hotel. From there he rode on to The Barnstaple Hotel and The Royal & Fortescue Hotel, both in Barnstaple, then out to Saunton Sands Hotel on the North Devon coast.

That was roughly the halfway point. The remaining leg turned south into Cornwall, calling first at The Carlyon Bay Hotel before the final stretch down to Falmouth and The Royal Duchy Hotel. Along the way, he made a special stop at Children’s Hospice South West, the charity the whole ride was raising money for.

Cheered on at every stop

At each hotel, colleagues from across the Brend Collection came out to welcome Aidan and cheer him on, helping raise awareness and encourage donations as the day went on.

“Incredibly proud”

Matthew Raistrick, Area Director at the Brend Collection, said: “We are incredibly proud of Aidan and what he has achieved. Cycling around 180 miles and visiting all nine of our hotels in just 12 hours was a huge challenge, and his determination throughout the day was fantastic to see.

“It was also wonderful to see our teams across Devon and Cornwall getting behind him at every hotel. Most importantly, Aidan’s challenge has helped raise awareness and funds for Children’s Hospice South West and the invaluable support they provide to local families.”

Founded in 1955, the Brend Collection now spans nine hotels across Devon and Cornwall. Aidan’s marathon day means all nine have now hosted a very fleeting, very determined visitor, some for barely longer than it takes to refill a water bottle.