Skovsgård Hotel is a hotel with a difference – a socio-economic enterprise dedicated to supporting our community and environment while still providing the historic stopping place for those travelling through.
A stay with us is more than just a comfortable night in an idyllic Danish village, it’s an experience of an alternative way of life: the Skovsgård Model.
Our story
In the 80s, many towns in the idyllic region of Jammerbugt struggled economically. In response, a group of citizens in Skovsgård came together to re-think how they approached their community, their history, and their future – with the hotel at the centre. This approach is called the Skovsgård Model, a commitment to accessibility, social responsibility, and sustainability.
Skovsgård hotel honours the town’s history as a place for travellers, while creating a local gathering place and centre for cultural initiatives for the residents that was missing. We create jobs for people who are outside the traditional labour market but want meaningful and stimulating employment, on their terms and with a focus on inclusion. Finally, our delicious food always centres the environment. We eat seasonally, using local produce and suppliers as much as possible, focusing on those that share our values.
Sustainability and social responsibility guide all our decisions, from our daily cleaning products to our recent renovation, from our employees to our many guest events. The hotel is cooperatively owned and our 20 dedicated employees work daily to make every guest’s stay an experience that is both part of history and, at the same time, part of the future.
Our food
Our kitchen staff work with the famous Meyers Bakery to bring traditional Nordic food and flavour to our table in a sustainable way. Everything is made on-site, including our own sourdough. Vegetables are the star of our delicious seasonal menus, from another local socio-economic enterprise run on the Skovsgård Model. Our Head Chef, Kim, has even been experimenting with his own beer – of course, we enjoy helping him in this process!
Our principles:
● We follow the seasons and use local ingredients
● We celebrate Danish fruit and vegetables in all their different varieties
● We prioritise organic produce and animal welfare
● We cook from scratch and with heart
● We take pride in being good at baking
● We work with the texture and flavour of the food
● We fight food waste at every stage
● We are open about our methods
You can also pre-order food from Tuesday to Saturday for when you arrive: we offer smørrebrød (the famous Danish open sandwich), a tapas plate to give you a taste of North Jutland, or some bits for a picnic in the stunning countryside nearby. Please check with us when you book your room on tel. no. +4598230400 or email mail@skovsgaardhotel.dk.
The restaurant is open for diners Tuesday–Friday from 12:00–14:00, and Friday evening from 18:00–22.00. Please call +4598230400 to book a table; sometimes our community events mean the restaurant is fully booked.
Our rooms
Live well at Skovsgård Hotel!
We have a range of rooms, to suit every type. Choose between a cosy old-fashioned seaside style, an historic rustic style with exposed raw bricks from when the hotel was rebuilt in 1926, or a modern, sustainably-renovated wood style. There are two rooms that are wheel-chair accessible. All rooms have a private bathroom and include a Danish breakfast.
Room rates 2024:
Double room: DKK 950 per night, incl. breakfast
Economy room: DKK 750 per night, incl. breakfast
Single room: DKK 645 per night, incl. Breakfast
What to do
As the centre of the community, the hotel and restaurant are the setting for many cultural experiences. We regularly host gourmet evenings and exciting cocktail parties as well as garden concerts in the courtyard.
We also host ‘The Village Corner’, a space for the local community to swing by. If our local associations need help from our IT experts, a place to meet, or a desk to prepare an activity, we’re here. If our municipal government needs a place to meet the local community for registration, health outreach, or for people to meet the mayor, we’re here. And if Skovsgård residents need a cosy place to read the newspaper, knit, or chat with their neighbours, we’re here. This is the Skovsgård model and the Skovsgård life.
Outside of the hotel, the stunning Jammerbugt countryside is waiting for you. We particularly recommend Thy National Park, Fårup Sommerland, Slettestrand, Blokhus, and the hiking trials around Tranum and Fosdal, all of which are accessible from here by bike or car. You can get more info (in Danish) here and (in English) here.