It’s all the fun of the fair at Torquay Carnival time. A fantastic ambience, parade with great floats, plenty going on – why not just come on down and join in the fun!

After a very unsuccessful weekend of failed white water rafting I (Joleen) am back in reservations. Paul (our new GM) is settling in nicely, already making changes about the place – all for the better I must add (in case it helps me get me a pay rise!), and Gareth, our new Head Chef is finding success with his new menu.

We are currently getting ready for the Grand Winter Ball on the 27th; it looks like it is going to be a great night, with live music and good food – another opportunity to get those glad rags on!

Another exciting bit of news …. if anyone is venturing down to the Torbay Carnival on December 1st this year, be sure to give your support and wave at our float … yes, that’s right, Laura has decided that it would be a good idea for us to enter into the spirit of things and sign up willing staff! The theme is White tie and Tiara (which is also the theme to our New Years’ Eve ball). There are plans for snow, glitz and glamour! It would be great to see some moral support! I dread to think how chilly we are going to be and I wish they made evening gowns with thermal lining!

We have the cast of ‘Grumpy Old Women’ arriving soon. Of course every now and again you get guests who are unhappy, but please, how many of us are lucky enough to have professional, famous complainers?! No pressure!!!

I think that’s it from me right now. I have plans for another adventurous weekend – only this time it’s DIY, renovations on my house! Wish me luck!

Welcome to my first BLOG! With summer out of the way, I want to know who said, it was downhill to Christmas and the New Year!

This is just the start of busy changing times with a new General Manager, Paul Reed starting this week. Fresh from London, he’s hoping for a quieter life in Devon – little does he know that it’s never quiet at the Grand! Another recent addition is our Head Chef, Gareth Judge. He has a wealth of experience gained through working with the likes of Marco Pierre White and members of Royalty. He has already revamped our Gainsborough Restaurant menu, which is being well received by guests!

The ‘buzz’ word around the hotel at the moment is fertility, with 2 babies already this year, 4 expected by Christmas, and 2 in the New Year, I am certainly watching what chair I sit on and seriously considering opening a nursery to get those mums back to work!!

We are also told that all of our rooms are to be refurbished over the next 12 months – we are very well organised for minimal disruption to the rest of hotel, which is great news for the guests and us! The end result being sparkling, classically modern rooms, suitable for the best hotel in the bay!

I have also been busy this week putting together a ‘Green Team’ to address our carbon footprint. We already purchase local produce, recycle our rubbish and are now looking to reduce energy waste …. Of course you realise my biggest challenge is going to be persuading our owner, Mr Richardson, to trade in his 6 litre Rolls Royce for a more practical hybrid car ….. and I haven’t even attempted to broach the subject of flying … since he has just obtained his pilots licence and is talking of landing his new helicopter right outside the Hotel!!

Well I think that is enough excitement for a debut blog. I’ll keep you posted on more changes happening here in Torquay, later in the week.