Regenerative tourism on the Isle of Wight — leaving the Island healthier than we found it

Sustainability is not simply a commitment we make — it is a responsibility we live every day. At Luccombe Hotels we recognise that we are ‘caretakers’ of the Isle of Wight’s delicate ecosystem, and we understand the important part we play in supporting our guests, our culture and our community. It is a commitment embedded in our ethos as a business and reflected in community-led development and in the stewardship of the four acres of grounds that surround our clifftop setting — where luxury wraps around you and service feels like friendship.

We strive for transformative guest experiences, fostering local connection and cultural preservation, and placing long-term resilience over short-term profit — to deliver a net-positive impact and help shift mindsets. This is what regenerative tourism means to us: not just reducing the harm we do, but actively giving back more than we take.

A landscape worth protecting

The Isle of Wight’s status as a National Landscape and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve reflects the importance of climate resilience, nature recovery and public well-being. We see ourselves as caretakers of this delicate ecosystem — committed to protecting and regenerating it while supporting our guests, so that everyone who stays with us leaves the Island healthier than when they arrived.

Our path to Net Zero

We are working towards Net Zero emissions by 2030, supported by sustainability consultancy Beyond Procurement. Our approach is grounded in measurement and accountability — emissions reporting, carbon-reduction planning, energy conservation, water management, waste reduction and staff engagement all sit at the heart of how we operate.

Our strategy focuses on three positive, practical priorities:

• Transition to Net Zero utilities — 100% renewable energy, low-energy lighting and a steadily shrinking operational footprint.
• Encouraging sustainable travel — making car-free and low-carbon days effortless for our guests.
• Waste reduction and recycling leadership — eliminating single-use items and keeping materials in use through a circular approach.

Regenerating the natural environment

Our private gardens are designed so that aesthetic beauty and ecological health go hand in hand. Across our four acres we have created habitats that welcome wildlife back and connect guests with the living landscape of the Isle of Wight.

• Three living roofs and a large herb garden supplying fresh, hyper-local ingredients to our kitchen and bar.
• Bird boxes, squirrel feeding stations, bee hotels and deadwood areas dedicated to native wildlife across our gardens.
• Native wildflowers providing accessible nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies, and berry-producing plants supporting native birds and ground-dwelling creatures.

We are equally focused on the resources we use — and the waste we refuse to create:

• 50 tonnes of organic waste eliminated through active composting, which stimulates rapid decomposition and microbial activity — keeping waste out of landfill while maintaining healthy soil across our grounds.
• Reduction in mains water use, achieved through rainwater harvesting, storage and targeted watering. This mitigates stormwater runoff and soil erosion, improves plant health and helps recharge groundwater to sustain habitats.
• 100% green energy tariffs, low-energy lighting, a no-bleach policy and more, reducing our environmental impact across every part of the business.

Sustainable travel, taken care of

Peacefully secluded yet within easy walking distance of Shanklin’s sandy beaches, the Old Village, town centre and miles of designated coastal and countryside paths, our setting naturally encourages guests to leave the car behind and explore on foot. For everything else, we make the greener choice the easier one.

• Electric car hire — two fully electric Cupra Born cars available to guests at £1.50 per half hour, plus complimentary EV charging for guests’ own vehicles. With every kilowatt drawn from 100% renewable sources, we close the energy loop from arrival to departure.
• Free cycle hire from our ‘Lending Shed’ — also stocked with crabbing lines, beach gear, picnic blankets and sports equipment, with secure storage for guests bringing their own bikes.
• Island Bus Rover Tickets — in 2025 we gifted every car-free arrival a free 24-hour ticket, unlocking unlimited travel across the Island’s own EV bus fleet.
• Sustainable travel and eco-activity directories that make planning car-free days effortless.
• In-room sustainability notices, recycling bins in every guest bedroom, and refillable containers on beverage welcome trays to encourage sustainable choices and eliminate single-use plastic waste.

Rooted in nature, designed for escape

In a modern, highly digital world it is easy to become disconnected from the natural world — especially for those living in cities. Our ongoing programme of enhancement is designed to reconnect guests with nature while adding value that inspires loyalty. Recent investment includes:

• Three outdoor seating areas, each with its own living roof, offering views across our gardens and the sea beyond.
• Four covered outdoor dining pods to enjoy while taking in the sea air and panoramic views.
• An outdoor entertainment pergola and enhanced garden seating, with well-designed lighting to extend the experience into the evening.
• Accessible outdoor chess and draughts boards, alongside our pétanque court, two outdoor pools and new poolside changing rooms and toilets.
• A doubled-in-size herb garden, used across our bar and kitchen for cocktails and hyper-local menu ingredients.

Supporting our local economy and community

Regenerative tourism means keeping value on the Island and investing in the people who make it special. As an Accredited Living Wage Employer since 2020, we provide secure, year-round employment to all 48 of our local staff, with benefits including training, health cash plans, and free use of the hotel’s Cupra Born fleet and EV charging.

• £3,314,529 of secondary spend generated by our guests across the local economy in 2025.
• A sustainable purchasing policy that prioritises local suppliers, keeping money in the Island’s economy and reducing transport miles, with welcome packs promoting local products and tourism businesses.
• Sponsorship and support for local sports teams, elite athletes, schools and charities — often focused on encouraging healthier lifestyles and mental well-being — including free access to our indoor pool and sauna for local elite athletes recovering from injury.
• Beach cleans with our team that tackle shoreline pollution while building a deeper connection with our community.
• Steven Wells (Director) has joined the board of Visit Isle of Wight, the Island’s Destination Marketing Organisation, where he is leading the agenda on sustainable tourism.
• Championing hospitality as a career for young people — working with Solent Careers Hub to host structured visits for Year 9 students, with hands-on experience across our reception, housekeeping, restaurant and bar teams.

Championing local suppliers and a circular economy

Our ‘farm to fork’ approach champions local produce and drinks in our restaurant and bar, offering guests hyper-local ingredients and unique Island flavours while keeping money in the local economy.

• A new 4-page ‘Food Origin’ leaflet highlights the local farms and producers we work with, including J&B Fisheries, Steyne Farm, Natural Wight Mushrooms, Calbourne Classics and Briddlesford Dairy.
• Drinks from Island microbreweries and small-batch distilleries, including Island Ales, Goddards and Yates’ Breweries, Grazed Knee Cider, Mermaid Gin and Wight Whisky.
• Moving our laundry services to the Island from Salisbury, eliminating ferry use and significantly reducing delivery miles.

We also support local artisans and keep materials in circulation:

• Our type 2 and type 5 recyclables are passed to Patter Products, who partner with Quarr Abbey to turn them into new products.
• Original paintings by local artist Andrew Conway-Hyde feature across our Superior bedrooms and Grand View restaurant, with work by artist and photographer Filip Pasieka displayed — and available to purchase — across Luccombe Hall.
• Eleven unique guest-bedroom mirrors commissioned from local artisan ‘Shorethings’, each made from sea glass collected across the Island’s beaches.
• Events that support local music, we use local bands and entertainers and we host charity events too (Charity auction dinner for Ability Dogs for Young People, Comedy dining night for Zoe’s Law, plus the one booked in for mindset bros)

A greener Luccombe — looking ahead

As we move forward, we continue to expand our commitment to sustainable practice — protecting the Island’s environment while enhancing the guest experience. Our plans include:

• DriVe2X — continued support of this project, led by Professor Vahid Vahidinasab, Chair in Sustainability at Salford Business School, pioneering research into new energy and flexibility markets for electric vehicles. Through it we offer our two Cupra Born vehicles and free EV charging to guests, and collaborate with local businesses to show what can be achieved.
• Island Bus Rover Tickets returning in 2026 — Southern Vectis has paused the scheme while it is reconfigured, and we look forward to bringing this benefit back for guests.
• Additional 3-phase EV supply — a dedicated new supply alongside the existing one, ensuring we meet future demand for guest EV charging and continued operation of our Cupra Born fleet and iD Buzz.
• Five events across 2026 at Luccombe Hall, championing local producers and good causes and giving a platform to local bands including The Soul Lounge, Something About Mondays and The Spammy Oatis.
• A complete refurbishment of our children’s play area with new equipment, plus additional garden furniture so more guests can relax in our beautiful surroundings.
• Ongoing beach-cleaning sessions that tackle shoreline pollution and deepen our connection with the community.