ABOUT US
The Brewster Family
The Robinhood Resort is truly a family owned and operated business.
The Robinhood Resort was purchased in 1994 by Charlie and Evelyn Brewster. Their son, Craig, and daughter, Christie, managed Nottinghams for many years and, after selling it in 2020, are now part of the management team at the hotel.
The Robinhood Resort was purchased in 1994 by Charlie and Evelyn Brewster. Their son, Craig, and daughter, Christie, managed Nottinghams for many years and, after selling it in 2020, are now part of the management team at the hotel.
A Brief History
The Robinhood Resort was originally a hotel named Sunset & Snow. A pool was located outside in the patio area. Rumor has it the owner had the pool filled in after his wife witnessed hotel guests skinny dipping one too many times.
Big Bear Valley was a popular location for filming movies and the Robinhood Resort was the favorite gathering place for actors such as John Wayne, Lee Marvin, the Ponderosa Group, and many others. Click here for a List of films shot in Big Bear Valley
The Robinhood Inn, established in the 1960's, was the first restaurant to sit on the site where Nottinghams is now. The interior of the restaurant had an opening on the second level for entertainers.
Big Bear Valley was a popular location for filming movies and the Robinhood Resort was the favorite gathering place for actors such as John Wayne, Lee Marvin, the Ponderosa Group, and many others. Click here for a List of films shot in Big Bear Valley
The Robinhood Inn, established in the 1960's, was the first restaurant to sit on the site where Nottinghams is now. The interior of the restaurant had an opening on the second level for entertainers.
About The Robinhood Resort
The Robinhood Resort actually consists of 4 separate buildings, consisting of The Robinhood Inn (which includes our lobby and Maid Marian), The Sherwood Forest (which includes the Bartlett building), Nottinghams Tavern, and the Wishing Well.
Robinhood Inn The 21-room Robinhood Inn was purchased by the owners, Evelyn and Charles Brewster in 1994. Charlie, a Northrop retiree, ran the hotel while Evelyn taught in the Big Bear School District. In 1996, the hotel became family owned and operated to include the owners' children, Christie and Craig.
Bartlett Building (Sherwood Forest Annex) This six-room office building was originally built to replace the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce building, which burned down in the 1980's. It was purchased in 1996, mostly to secure more parking spaces for the guests. Because of the pleasing lake views, the rooms were converted to hotel rooms, including private spas and handicap accommodations in 1999. One-half inch drywall was originally used but fire regulations required five-eighths, so the interior had to be completely redone.
Sherwood Forest Due to the success of the Bartlett building conversion, sixteen more units were built. The building was completed in late 2002 in just 6 months, certainly a Big Bear record. The results were due in part to the contractor, Construction Junction, and also to the framer, Hondo Construction, who put ten to twenty people on the job. The Sherwood Forest became Big Bear's luxury rooms.
Nottinghams Restaurant & Tavern The restaurant was completed in late 2003. It was a remodel of the old Mongolian Palace and, with the addition of the upstairs, required new footings, walls, joists, and well, just about everything. The high east end ceiling was upgraded for fire requirements.
It was a coin toss on whether or not to add the second level, the Tavern, and we're glad we did. Much of the lumber and rock came from the original Robinhood Inn Restaurant and was reused as outside trim. Our original chef, Poncho, and owner and manager, Craig, among others, could be seen driving the bobcat and working the jack hammer. We're all very proud of the results.
Wishing Well The Wishing Well and Robinhood Inn were once one motel, but were split in the 1970's. The 16-room Wishing Well Motel was purchased in 2005 to bring it all full circle.
Robinhood Inn The 21-room Robinhood Inn was purchased by the owners, Evelyn and Charles Brewster in 1994. Charlie, a Northrop retiree, ran the hotel while Evelyn taught in the Big Bear School District. In 1996, the hotel became family owned and operated to include the owners' children, Christie and Craig.
Bartlett Building (Sherwood Forest Annex) This six-room office building was originally built to replace the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce building, which burned down in the 1980's. It was purchased in 1996, mostly to secure more parking spaces for the guests. Because of the pleasing lake views, the rooms were converted to hotel rooms, including private spas and handicap accommodations in 1999. One-half inch drywall was originally used but fire regulations required five-eighths, so the interior had to be completely redone.
Sherwood Forest Due to the success of the Bartlett building conversion, sixteen more units were built. The building was completed in late 2002 in just 6 months, certainly a Big Bear record. The results were due in part to the contractor, Construction Junction, and also to the framer, Hondo Construction, who put ten to twenty people on the job. The Sherwood Forest became Big Bear's luxury rooms.
Nottinghams Restaurant & Tavern The restaurant was completed in late 2003. It was a remodel of the old Mongolian Palace and, with the addition of the upstairs, required new footings, walls, joists, and well, just about everything. The high east end ceiling was upgraded for fire requirements.
It was a coin toss on whether or not to add the second level, the Tavern, and we're glad we did. Much of the lumber and rock came from the original Robinhood Inn Restaurant and was reused as outside trim. Our original chef, Poncho, and owner and manager, Craig, among others, could be seen driving the bobcat and working the jack hammer. We're all very proud of the results.
Wishing Well The Wishing Well and Robinhood Inn were once one motel, but were split in the 1970's. The 16-room Wishing Well Motel was purchased in 2005 to bring it all full circle.
About Nottinghams Restaurant & Tavern
Nottinghams has a rich history. In this location stood the Robinhood Inn in the 1960s, Friar Tuck's in the 1970s, the Rusty Anchor in the 1980s, and Mongolian Palace in the 1990s.
As you enter, you'll pass the Dining Room, a cozy dining area. The hostess station, originally built in 1890, was used as the entrance to a reported gangster's house in New Jersey. A revolving door set, once part of Marshall Fields in New York, has been used in parts to create a circular divide.
Continue straight-ahead to the Pub, the family dining room and bar. The back bar, from Pahrump, Nevada, was originally in a diner that was later converted to a brothel. The front bar is from Chicago. The 1930s canoe was discovered in an old building in Fawnskin in the 1980s and is thought to have been in Big Bear all its life.
Ascending up a replica of a 1920s Greene and Greene designed Bolton house stairway, you enter the upstairs meeting room operated by the Robinhood Resort. The large banquet room can hold up to 100 people or can be split into two smaller rooms. The back bar is from a Prohibition-era cabaret on Rush Street in Chicago. As you look around you may also notice numerous Craftsman-era doors, reproduced in various designs.
As you enter, you'll pass the Dining Room, a cozy dining area. The hostess station, originally built in 1890, was used as the entrance to a reported gangster's house in New Jersey. A revolving door set, once part of Marshall Fields in New York, has been used in parts to create a circular divide.
Continue straight-ahead to the Pub, the family dining room and bar. The back bar, from Pahrump, Nevada, was originally in a diner that was later converted to a brothel. The front bar is from Chicago. The 1930s canoe was discovered in an old building in Fawnskin in the 1980s and is thought to have been in Big Bear all its life.
Ascending up a replica of a 1920s Greene and Greene designed Bolton house stairway, you enter the upstairs meeting room operated by the Robinhood Resort. The large banquet room can hold up to 100 people or can be split into two smaller rooms. The back bar is from a Prohibition-era cabaret on Rush Street in Chicago. As you look around you may also notice numerous Craftsman-era doors, reproduced in various designs.
What's Next?
In 2020, Nottinghams was sold to Rudy, the chef for 16 years, and Norma, a long time Big Bear resident. It continues to be family run.
Peter still manages the hotel. Craig and Christie are concentrating on remodeling and updating all the rooms.
Peter still manages the hotel. Craig and Christie are concentrating on remodeling and updating all the rooms.