Welcome back to The Old Government House

How long have you been at The Old Government House and what do you love most about the hotel?

I have been at The OGH for 12 years having joined as GM in June 2009.

You must be very excited about the re-opening of the hotel. What have you and the team been doing to keep busy while the hotel was temporarily closed?

We are so excited! We were fortunate that whilst we didn’t have our bedrooms open, we were able to operate our restaurant, bar and events spaces for much of the last year. During our two lockdowns, we have been working hard to ensure that the hotel is looking great for this summer. We have been working on new wine and cocktail lists which has been great fun. Some of the team have been training in other departments and we have been improving our local partnerships and experiences.

What new and exciting experiences can guests expect this summer?

We have started working with Dave Bartram, a new tour guide and are introducing new experiences with him on biodiversity, beekeeping and the local area. Until mid-2020 Dave worked in finance but since retirement, has trained to be a tour guide. We are really excited to be launching these new experiences as well as opening our very own beehive thanks to Dave’s support as our resident beekeeper! 

What have you changed within the hotel?

Much will be very familiar to guests but as mentioned above, we have a new cocktail list launching this week and we can’t wait to reopen the Crown Club! 

What have you had to change in terms of Covid-19 protocols?

We have been fortunate that Guernsey has had very low rates of Covid-19 and along with the success of the vaccination rollout, both here and in the UK, we are able to operate without any restrictions in place for those visitors who have had both vaccinations. Nevertheless, we have continued with our enhanced cleaning regimes and encourage all team members and guests to report any health concerns so we can give people peace of mind and confidence.

What do you offer for children and dogs?

We have some great children’s experiences in the hotel including themed sleepovers, cupcake decorating, pizza making and an island treasure hunt for them to enjoy! We also have lots of treats for our canine friends and we can offer some top tips on the best beaches for dog walks and swims!

Will you have live music once again this summer?

We will indeed! Our resident pianist, Paul Tongs, will be playing in the Brasserie and Bar Wednesday to Saturday evenings from 6 - 9.30pm and Sunday lunchtimes from 12 noon - 3pm.

What did you miss most about your hotel when the doors were closed?

Guests, guests, guests! Hotels come alive when they’re full of people enjoying themselves and we can’t wait!