The Hunting Lodge is one of those venues that just gets it, a place to relax, celebrate, and have a genuinely good time. Nestled among the vines in West Auckland, it strikes the perfect balance between laid-back charm and a touch of luxe. Guests can while away the afternoon with long, leisurely lunches in the historic Restaurant, grab a pizza and a tasting paddle on the Lawn Bar, or pop into the Cellar Door for a casual sip and a friendly chat.
The Barn is ready for weddings and events that actually get remembered, while the team keeps the vibe lively with seasonal supper clubs, stargazing nights, bustling markets, DJ sessions, themed parties, and even a bit of line dancing when the mood strikes. And when it’s showtime, the vineyard transforms into a concert venue for up to 4,500 people, giving live music lovers a backdrop that’s nothing short of epic.
With a mix of heart, heritage, and personality, The Hunting Lodge is the kind of place where every visit feels a little different, always welcoming, and endlessly memorable. We caught up with Rebecca Sutton, the Hospitality & Brand Manager, to chat about how they use Now Book It and Sadie AI to make sure they never miss a booking and can make the most of every opportunity, keeping the good times rolling for everyone who walks through their doors.
When the doors are closed but the phone keep ringing
Running a venue like The Hunting Lodge is all about creating unforgettable experiences, but there’s a tricky side to that too. With the estate only open Thursday through Sunday, making sure every booking, enquiry, or special request is answered quickly can be a real juggling act. On the “off” days, when there’s no one on the floor and there’s no one to answer the phones, it’s easy for messages to stack up or for guests to be left waiting.
“One of our biggest challenges has always been around bookings and operations. When we’re closed, it’s easy for messages or requests to pile up, and we want to make sure no guest feels overlooked, because every opportunity counts.” said Rebecca,
For a venue that prides itself on hospitality, staying connected even when the doors are closed isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s essential. Between managing private events, casual bookings, and walk-in enquiries, the team needed a way to make sure no opportunity slipped through the cracks.
Enters Sadie AI, the team member who never sleeps
Sadie, Now Book It’s AI receptionist, is the newest “team member” at The Hunting Lodge, except she doesn’t need coffee breaks, holidays, or even a lunch hour. She’s on duty 24/7, seven days a week, making sure no call goes unanswered, no enquiry gets forgotten, and every booking lands straight in the Now Book It diary, ready to go, without anyone on the team having to lift a finger.
On the days the venue is closed, she’s effectively keeping them open, making sure guests get the instant response they expect and ensuring every opportunity is captured.
“Sadie has changed everything for us. Even when we’re closed, she’s on the line, making sure every guest is looked after and every booking is taken. It’s like having a team member who never sleeps, never misses a call, and never lets anything slip through the cracks!”
With Sadie taking care of the behind-the-scenes work, the team can focus on what they do best: creating unforgettable experiences for every guest who walks through the door. Whether it’s weekend visitors, cellar door bookings, or last-minute enquiries, the venue knows every call is handled, every booking is recorded, and no opportunity will ever be missed.
The Sadie effect: 110+ hours back on the clock every month
The results of adding Sadie to The Hunting Lodge team speak for themselves, and the numbers are impossible to ignore. In just one month, Sadie handled 74 calls, with each call averaging around 1.5 minutes. That adds up to 6,600 minutes saved, that’s over 110 hours the team didn’t have to spend juggling phone calls, chasing enquiries, or entering bookings manually. For a small investment in Sadie, the venue is seeing huge returns with time saved, staff stress reduced, and the budget working smarter, not harder.
“Sadie has taken such a load off our plates and has already made such a positive impact on our business,”
In short, Sadie isn’t just saving time and money, she’s giving the team freedom, peace of mind, and more hours to do what they do best.
Reliable support when you need it most
Working with Now Book It has given The Hunting Lodge team more than just an AI receptionist or an online booking platform, it’s the confidence that comes from knowing help is always just a call away.
From the very first setup, the Now Book It team made everything smooth and stress-free, guiding The Hunting Lodge team step by step and answering questions on the spot, whether it’s a system audit, explaining a new feature, or a quick question.
“Our experience with Now Book It has been fantastic. Having someone we can call and get an answer from straight away has made a huge difference, it really gives us peace of mind knowing they’ve got our back.”
Between Sadie handling calls around the clock and the Now Book It team providing reliable, hands-on support, The Hunting Lodge has found the perfect balance of efficiency, peace of mind, and seamless operations. Missed calls and lost bookings are a thing of the past, and the team can keep the estate buzzing with unforgettable experiences, lively events, and happy guests, all without the stress.
For The Hunting Lodge, combining hospitality, technology, and expert support isn’t just convenient, it’s transformed the way the venue operates, ensuring every guest moment is handled with care, precision, and a personal touch.
Now Book It tip: The venue offers sunny spots by day, moody nooks by night and is also available for event bookings both for partial areas or the whole nine yards.
