Christmas with ‘bells on’ after hotel syndicate wins £1MMillion

The Ye Olde Bell Hotel Staff Syndicate – a group named after its members' workplace in Retford, Nottinghamshire – scored the amazing prize in the draw on Friday 3rd November 2023.

The syndicate usually has a few small wins each year and uses the prize money to pay for a Christmas meal in January when the busy festive season is over. But after scooping £76,923 each, the group is planning an extra-special Christmas party as well as some Yuletide treats such as a trip to Lapland for syndicate leader Darren Gargan.

Darren, the hotel’s Maintenance Manager, said, “As the song says, ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year’. And to see the faces of everyone who works hard, but will now also play hard this Christmas, means the world to me.”

Darren, 52, from Doncaster, bought the syndicate’s winning EuroMillions ticket via the National Lottery App, but didn’t realise the group had the winning ticket for a week.

He said, “I had the usual email telling me about the draw, and didn’t really bother because I was busy at work. I saw there was £6.30 in the account and thought no more of it. The next week I was repairing the hotel driveaway when I had another email. I checked again and asked fellow syndicate member, and Sales Office Manager, Lindsey to look at the email.

“She was sure it was a winner so we agreed I would call The National Lottery. I called and unbeknown to me, Lindsey was already running up and down the hotel corridors finding the other syndicate members to tell them that I was on the phone and she thought we had won £1MMillion. By the time I’d finished the call, she’d also phoned members not at work. I’m not 100 percent sure what happened next – it’s a bit of a blur.”

Lindsey Fraser, 53 from Retford said, “I was so excited, I was screaming and shouting around the sales office and then went off to find who else was working that day and was in the syndicate. Unfortunately only 2 were on site, so I had to phone the rest. It was a mad, but lovely few hours telling everyone the amazing news.

“The syndicate stretches across the hotel and spa which is nice. We have the General Manager and Deputy General Manager, Spa Director, people in accounts, a receptionist and of course Darren and myself.”

The Ye Olde Bell Hotel Staff Syndicate has been running for 17 years and Darren has been its leader for 15 years.

Darren, who is married with 2 children, said the amazing win hasn’t sunk in yet, but he has started writing a wish list.

He said, “I’ve got lots of things I want to do with the money, but I feel a few foreign trips are on the horizon. The first is a trip to Lapland with the family. I’ve always wanted to take a trip to Lapland at Christmas and it’s now top of my list. My wife has a brother in Australia and another in the USA so we hope to visit them too. As for the rest of the money, we’ll spend it on Christmas, our house and paying off bills.”

He added, “The win will make such a difference to so many people, not just the syndicate members, but their families and friends too. And to win just before Christmas is perfect timing. Christmas is the hotel’s busiest period so we are putting our syndicate celebration on hold, but I can’t wait for our get-together, it is going to be very special.”

7th December 2023