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Kevin Sussmilch

Ventnor resident Kevin Sussmilch is owner of The Hambrough Group, which comprises The Hambrough Hotel, The Pond Cafe in Bonchurch, and several self-catering holiday accommodation around the town.

He is also owner of the Ventnor Winter Gardens, which he bought from the Isle of Wight council for £1 in 2011. The venue remained closed until spring 2014 and was closed again in 2025.

Below are some articles which feature Kevin Sussmilch.

Derelict Ventnor Winter Gardens building

18, March 2025·7 min read

Ventnor Winter Gardens: Isle of Wight council CEO open to ‘brokering a discussion between owners and local community’ (updated)

Isle of Wight council's CEO welcomes dialogue on the future of Ventnor Winter Gardens

21, May 2015·1 min read

Winter Gardens seek to defend themselves over UB40 mess

Following Tuesday's Winter Gardens UB40 gig, there's been a number of statements, Today's is from the venue, seeking to detail where things went wrong.

20, May 2015·1 min read

UB40 issue stinging statement demanding answers over Winter Gardens’ gig

Judging by the wording of this statement just issued by UB40's management, they and the band are not happy about the fiasco at the Winter Gardens last night, with it sprinkled with words like bitterly disappointed, unprofessional, etc

19, May 2015·3 min read

‘Mayhem’ as tickets for UB40 gig at Winter Gardens massively oversold

Sister of the bride having a hen night was locked out and multiple birthdays were disrupted after too many tickets were sold for UB40 at the Gardens. OnTheWight's been on site to try and get to the bottom of it.

2, December 2014·1 min read

Council officers say Winter Gardens are ‘substantially completed’, so owner should keep it

Council told they no longer have the right to buy back the building because officers believe the owner has 'substantially completed' the proposed refurbishment in accordance with the agreed planning permission.

Hambrough Hotel Ventnor - Google Street view

10, November 2014·1 min read

Hambrough Hotel loses another Chef

After only a year and a half, the latest Chef and Manager have left.

19, August 2014·4 min read

IWC stalling on their action over the future of the Winter Gardens

Despite previously saying that once the deadline was up the Cabinet would make a decision, Cllr Jon Gilbey is now saying the council have six months to decide what action they might take.

16, May 2014·2 min read

Letter: Where’s the shiny new Winter Gardens we were promised?

This letter makes it clear there's at least one Ventnorian that feels conned by the re-opened, repainted Ventnor Winter Gardens. Where's the fancy hotel and restaurants that won the bid, they ask.

21, March 2014·1 min read

‘Good ground’ being made inside Winter Gardens

The much anticipated opening of the Ventnor Winter Gardens looks to be set for early summer as new manager says 'good ground' has been made on the interior of the building.

13, December 2013·1 min read

Ventnor Winter Gardens may open by next summer says owner

As part of a Community Partnership, students from the College are going to be brought in for work experience to help make the building habitable again following extensive vandalism.

12, December 2013·2 min read

What does the future hold for the Ventnor Winter Gardens?

OnTheWight digs in to find out what will happen to the Winter Gardens if the owner fails to complete their development by July 2014, as is looking increasingly likely.

30, September 2013·1 min read

Book now for charity lunch at The Hambrough in aid of St Catherine’s

A unique chance to sample fine dining and support the great work of St Catherine’s School in Ventnor, which supports young people with speech, language and communication needs.

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