GOLDEN BROWNS

Top Tavistock Hotel secures Enjoy England Tourism Gold Award

Attentive, friendly, considerate service, exceptional comfort, distinctive design, and unique, personal touches: if a hotel can deliver on these counts, consistently, and to the highest possible standard, then it may earn a coveted Enjoy England Tourism Gold Award for Excellence.  That accolade has just been extended, after rigorous assessment, to Browns Hotel in Tavistock.

The hotel, situated in the heart of the thriving Dartmoor market town of Tavistock, is no stranger to industry awards.  It won a Caesar in the 2006 “Good Hotel Guide Townhouse of the Year” awards, and then in 2007 it was elevated from townhouse to the status of 4 Star Hotel, with a silver grading.  The re-grading to gold marks a steady upward trend which the Browns team is determined to maintain through a range of further developments.

It’s hoped that building will soon commence on an extension (to accommodate two conference rooms, a Jacuzzi, and expanded kitchens, and 2 luxury suites), after 12 months of intensive work with planners and architects. 

The extension is essential given the increasing reputation and popularity of a hotel which enjoys wide appeal.  Browns is highly regarded for its chic, boutique accommodation; the award-winning restaurant is one of the area’s major draws for lovers of fine food and wine; and the comfortable lounge and bar areas offer warm, relaxing, sociable environments for visitors and locals alike.  

Browns Hotel’s growing reputation owes much to the stewardship of Helena King and Phil Biggin, who purchased the hotel from Peter Brown in 2006.  Peter had taken what was then an inauspicious coaching house (The Queen’s Head) and embarked on what he termed “a personal mission to provide excellence all round”.  When Helena and Phil took the premises on, they were determined to honour his original vision, and the string of awards that the hotel and its dedicated staff have received since acknowledge their success in this regard.

Where next?  There will always be more awards, and greater heights to aspire to, and the team have every intention of making Browns Hotel one of the very best hospitality and hotel destinations in the Westcountry.

For further information, contact Helena King or Phil Biggin on 01822 618686

www.brownsdevon.com

The annual Goose Fair in Tavistock dates back to the early 12th century, when a Michelmas Fair held every September 29th provided the opportunity for business and animal trading, and was a social event for wives and daughters.  The name Goose Fair probably came about as farmers brought their geese ready for fattening for Christmas, and the only other Goose Fair (in Nottingham) has a simiar connection.

Fair is held on the second Wednesday in October each year.

For more information please follow the link http://www.tavistock.gov.uk/page/goose

Cheese Fair

23rd August to 24th August.  Chese fair held in the Town Hall.

100’s of locally produced cheeses to taste, try and buy.

Spend the night at Browns Hotel – Tavistock.

Glass of Champagne upon arrival,

3 course A’la Carte dinner for two

Luxury room

Full English Breakfast

£95 per person

Add a Second night stay for £49.00 per person

Currently fully staffed

After employing 2 new reception staff, house keeper, kitchen porter and one person for the front of house.

We are welcoming back out temporary staff for the summer months.

We are currently looking for

Kitchen Porter

Please contact Liam on 01822 619902

Reception Staff, Both Full time and part time options

Please contact Tom on 01822 619904

Tom.lemon@brownsdevon.com

Bar and restaurant staff

Please call Steve on 01822 618686

If you are unable to get in touch with the member of team required to apply please feel free to send CV’s to tom.lemon@brownsdevon.com. Please state in the subject header the word application,

End of the month

May has seemed to pass in just a matter of minutes.

On to June and the wedding season is starting, closing the hotel for the whole weekend, 100 people for a 3 course sit down meal, 18 hour days to make sure it goes well…… But thats the reason we work in hotel, In search of perfection. 

Really May has flown by,

We have created a fully running mapping program . This helps us to learn more about our own business and where booking s  originate. That took basically a week to start up and a couple  of  hours a day, but it is working and really well.

Trevor  (maintenance man)  decorated a couple bedrooms and is working on with more, takes about 8 weeks to do the lot. Fresh coat of paint some new colours, new curtains , carpets cleaned  and all new linen.  It  Take s  time but is worth it to keep the hotel in the best possible condition for the guests.

May  saw    the first  ’ E ’  news Letter ….  work begins  the first week in June on the second edition. Look for the offers and please forward your comments to the hotel.

Staff changes – We say good bye to our 6 month temp. After 6 months you start to feel there a little bit like normal staff but oh well. “Good Luck mate”

Liam  (new Head Chef)  has settled in nicely and  our kitchen is  up to  full team of staff for the summer ahead. We are still looking for Kitchen Porter jobs if you know anyone that is interested. If you do, please ask them to call 01822 619902 . 

 We have a new Housekeeper , we will see how she gets on. …….. 

 We are still looking for the correct person to join the reception team. Please apply by sending your CV to tom.lemon@brownsdevon.com

Tom

Wednesday morning,

Sitting in the makeshift office, working away when my phone rings.

“Tom Speaking how can I help” I answer.

Kayliegh replied “call for you a Mr …….”

Thank you

“Good morning Sir how can I help” standard answer,

“Morning Tom, sorry to call you so late but I need a room for next week; any chance?” he asked

“I’m sure we have something for you, let’s have a look. What date are you hoping to arrive?” I replied

“Tuesday for 3 nights” quick and decisive answer

“I have a double for sole occupancy for you” I said

“Perfect Tom, thank you”

It takes a couple of minutes to retrieve the gentleman’s details. Once I have everything I need from him, I close the call with ”Look forward to meeting you on Tuesday”.

30 minutes pass and the gentleman is back on the line…. (Not cancelling I hope!)

“I’d like another room for the same days if possible please Tom, I understand it’s a tall ask, but can you help?”

“Yes sir” I replied adding it to the system, “I have all of your other details, I just need the new guest’s name please”

30 seconds of chat passed again until the reservation was made. I’m feeling quite pleased with myself for securing two reservations from the same person, it’s a nice little booking, 2 rooms, 3 nights each….brownie points for me!

3 minutes in to working on our website, my phone rings again. I recognise the number…Oh no…He must be calling to cancel this time!

“Tom, I’ve just been looking at your website, I’ve also just spoken to a colleague who tells me that they have visited Browns before. I really like what I’ve seen and heard…So I have decided I would like more rooms”

“Sir, how many rooms and for which dates?” I asked

“Tom I need a total of 8 rooms for 3 nights on the same dates, can you help?” he replied.

With a little more chat and a fast working set of figures, I moved a couple guests around and upgraded people to allocate the clients a total of 8 rooms.  

 My boss will be pleased….I’ve booked 8 rooms in a matter of an hour!   

Home early I think

Tom

Information: To read any of the blog stories from the beginning, please scroll to the bottom.

What a nice evening, people relaxing with glasses of wine and champagne in the lounges, really nice people eating in the restauarnt and a full hotel of really nice couples

arrrrrrrrrrrrr - today was a nice day to work in a hotel - maybe not as exciting as Hotel Babylon

Every second Wednesday in October Tavistock plays host to an annual fair dating back to the 12th Century. Farmers brought their geese for sale, and drove them through the streets to the Market.

The fair attracts market traders and showmen from all over the Country. Stalls and side-shows are set up in the centre of the Town, and the adjacent roads are filed with over 200 traders.

People come from all over the West for the fair, and old and young alike enjoy the atmosphere, especially in the evening when the coloured lights are aglow, and the music coming from the fairgrounds can be heard for miles around.