Bloody Big Car Boot Sale

Around this time of year when we are doing refurbishments, we often end up with furniture which we can no longer use, either because it's not quite the standard required for paying guests or we have decided that it doesn't really match or isn't the size required for the newly decorated/rearranged rooms.

Hence the reference to the Car Boot Sale... but you'll need a rather large space in your vehicle for some of it. See list at bottom.

Any mention of such method of selling always brings a smile to my face, instantly reminding me of Mihail Petrov, the first Bulgarian who worked at the Welbeck. In the days before the Eastern European countries all joined the EU, Mihail found his way to us via the now defunct International Hotel School, then based at Port Erin.

He was great fun and very ambitious, at the time hoping to develop his career in the industry. My Dad was always keen on recycling and as his was quite a new Ford Scorpio, he would usually ask Mihail to put the bottles, cans & newspapers into 'The car boot,' pointing to what would invariably be my mother's Renault Megane.

One day, a lady who was a production assistant on the of the films (they used to shoot quite a few here) was stood in Reception was working herself into an exasperated strop with a very puzzled Mihail.

Ever helpful, poor Mihail was trying to direct her to Eurocars, the Renault Garage which he had found in the Yellow Pages. As it was her day off, the lady had asked where she could find any 'Car Boot Sales' and our Bulgarian friend assumed that was the model of my mother's vehicle, never having heard of such a strange concept as a mobile jumble sale.

Unfortunately, our guest didn't quite have the sense of humour to see the funny side of things but it gives me a chuckle to this day.

Anyway, in pine we have two welsh dressers, a couple of large coffee tables, lots of dining chairs. We have a double sofa, a single sofa, two winged armchairs all in the same purple & gold upholstery. Photos to follow.

High Definition Blog

All the deluxe rooms and apartments now have digital televisions and indeed the last 8 that I have just purchased, (though not quite managed to instal as yet) are 32inch and also fully 'HD.'

This means that all the 'Freeview' channels are now available which includes a list of radio channels too. One gentleman of a certain persuasion thought it hilarious that the previous occupant of his room had left it on the 'Gay Rabbit' channel.

Fortunately, the modern sets also have analogue, so we are still able to show 'Sky Sports 1 & 2,' 'Sky News' and we still also provide 'Manx Radio & Radio 2.'

For those of you who are not local to the Isle of Man, Freeview here does not include ITV 4, a fact that caused great consternation when it was announced as it is the present home of the TT race highlights programme. It also has excellent coverage of the 'Tour de France' and some football games not featured on the main channels.

The remainder of the rooms which still just pick up the analogue signals are fed by a contraption that converts a maximum of six digital channels, as well as the four sky boxes and our own two radio feeds.

I intend to change the 'Sky' receiver which currently shows 'Channel 5,' to 'ITV4' which means I'll probably have to lose either ITV2 or E4. I would be grateful for any feedback as to which would be best to get rid of.

.....And if you understand all that lot, you don't need HD to make things clearer.

Who Stole January?

Things have been happening at pace over the last few months in the Hotel with four rooms having been decorated with just now 304 to do which must be finished no later than next Monday, as it is let that night!

We (that being we who go and look and decide what needs doing rather than we who actually do the work,) commenced in November and the corridors were painted over the Christmas break, so it is a tribute to Ray Corlett, the painter & decorator, the carpet fitters from Premier Flooring and Colin and John of B & C Spence Electricians that so much has been achieved in so little time.

The bathroom situation is not quite so up to schedule, though not beginning on them until a week or so ago hasn't helped matters. However, the first one should be ready by Thursday and we await its completion with baited breath as Andy Kennish Interiors hasn't done one for us before.

An order for bedspreads and curtains is about to be placed and I am hoping that that this year's intake of furniture will soon be under construction.

One exciting development is that I am hoping to reach an agreement with local artist, Nicola Dixon to display a collection of her prints in the bedrooms with a view to promoting her work as well as providing us with with her brilliant and humorous paintings, mainly of local coast and seascapes.

I awoke this morning wondering where January had gone but I think the preceding paragraphs give us a bit of a clue.

A warm welcome to Steven Schnack who is arriving at the Hotel tomorrow and has joined Murray to be my second 'Blog Follower.'

Top Shots by Bill

Many times over the years, I have been disappointed with photographs of our bedrooms and public areas. It would seem that they are not photogenic, not really lending themselves to 2D format.

However, Bill Dale is the one photographer who has managed to produce a few decent shots and the two featured above are his work.

Welbeck for Romance.

Our price for Valentine's day and the preceding weekend is £75.00 per couple for four course meal & coffee + free bottle of pink sparkling wine or £135.00 including overnight stay & breakfast.

We still currently have plenty of availability.

Happy New Year Blogophiles!

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas break and is looking forward to a prosperous New Year.

The weather has certainly played havoc over the last few weeks and many of the proposed celebrations before the festivities just didn't happen.

However, lets hope that the arctic conditions recede and 2011 brings no more ash clouds or too much of great disruption.

We have made a modest price increase on the new lunch menu but it's still great value @ £10 for a small portion, two courses with coffee and normal size meal £12.00.

Dinner is still £22.00 for three courses and coffee and the extra V.A.T. has been incorporated.

Irene, Michael and the Staff hope to see you soon.

The Welbeck - Isle of Man Hotel of the Year 2010

Thank you to everyone for the congratulations about our award from Isle of Man Tourism for the 'Best Hotel' category for this year, not to forget to mention the kind word of our guests who filled out all the survey forms that enabled us to win.

Like many people I almost eschew the value of such ceremonies until we happen to win but I have to say that this year I was impressed that the criteria on which the presentations were made were explained far more clearly by Rod Nipper and Gary Roberts, the Deputy Chief Constable who was chairman of the judging panel.

Congratulations also to all the other winners.


Thanks to my Mum and Dad, Hilda & Peter George because they started us off on the right track to show how things should be done and also to Murray Lambden for his publicity on www.manxathletics.com surely the best website ever.