Monday 12th April 2010

A WARM WELCOME

If we haven’t already had the opportunity, I extend a warm welcome to you on behalf of all of us at The Fieldhead Hotel.

If this is your first visit to The Fieldhead I hope you will be comfortable, enjoy the ambience and find the staff friendly and helpful. If there is anything we can do to enhance the enjoyment of your visit, please do not hesitate to let us know.

For those of you who have stayed before, a big welcome back. I trust you will always find a warm welcome and notice the changes, and we hope, improvements – and if you haven’t, please suggest some!!

We are anxious to improve where we are able. Guests’ feed back is always welcome and treated constructively and in fact, why we have made some of the changes or improvements that we have.

My brief resume: I was brought up at Moretonhampstead, Devon and worked in various local pubs and farms during holidays. My catering career started at Torquay Technical College with further training in the kitchens at The Dorchester, the restaurant at Browns and management at The Mayfair.

I then went on to work for Union Castle Line as a Purser on the RMS Windsor Castle and Edinburgh Castle on their regular Royal Mail and Passenger run to South Africa, and then at prestigious Hotels and Clubs in South Africa, Rhodesia, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Jamaica. More recently I managed an hotel on Anglesey achieving AA Best Newcomer in Great Britain in 1990, 3 Red Rosettes for the Restaurant, 79% Egon Ronay and various other media awards. Subsequently I managed The Fortfield Hotel in Sidmouth before owning Mill End Hotel in Chagford, Devon and the Balmoral Hotel in Harrogate, North Yorkshire and taking over the Fieldhead in March 2006.

I also introduce my family – Gill, my wife, who helps in all departments - Housekeeping, Restaurant, Painting, Refurbishing, Garden and Relief Chef – while also being a full time Mum to our daughter, Louise, born on the 7th June 2007 and Ben born on the 27th September 2008. We are pleased also to introduce the latest member of the family: Trudii, our new King Charles Spaniel and Head of PR – or trying to be. The main rule with her: please do not let her jump up at you, unless invited, in which case she is always up for a cuddle.

We have a small but excellent team of local staff, the mainstay of which are:

Our Head Chef is now Gillian Peck after the sad demise on 10th December 2010 after a two year fight with Cancer of our Executive Chef Alan Jeffery who is sadly missed. Please let it be known if you would like something special for dinner and I can assure you, Gill will do her very best to produce it. She likes a challenge provided we have the ingredients or are able to get them during your stay.

In charge of the Restaurant and Bar is Looe born and bred Chris who also helps in other departments of the hotel and is developing his hotel knowledge and skills.

Our team on Housekeeping is headed by always-here and charming Tina.

Wonderful Gardener, Handyman and again Looe born and bred is Rob; the gardens, general areas and Pool are down to him.

While I hope you will find this folder useful, for further places of interest and attractions in the area, please do not hesitate to ask reception or me or see the displayed catalogues around the hotel.

Please enjoy your break with us.

Julian H.A. Peck
Proprietor

Friday 11th March 2011

The Driving Skills of English Drivers Gets Better and Better

Once again the Fieldhead Hotel leads the way, this time with improved driving skills of the Nation – or should I say, those of BMW series 6 drivers. (Well, after Roy’s effort, the only way thereafter was UP.)

On 5th March, a young lady arrived at Reception. The Manager was attending to some other guests. When he met her she was in deep discussion with a group of guests discussing ………. the untroubled manner with which she had got her BMW 6 series on to the car park.

And here is the evidence.

Julian H.A. Peck
Proprietor

Wednesday 26th August 2009

BMW 6 Series Meets Fieldhead Hotel Car Park - and fails.

In 2006 we were expecting Roy Magee to stay for several days. To cut a long story short, he said he couldn't get it up? What could he not get up? His car on to our car park!! What car is it that cannot get onto our car park? A BMW 6 series. He was most irate with us saying that he should have been informed that it was impossible to get a BMW 6 series onto our car park. He said we were deceiving the public by not informing guests that it was impossible to get cars onto the car park and that I "choose not to mention it in case it deters potential bookings".

Taking these things very seriously, for 4 years now I have been telling those who have asked that the only car that was unable to get onto our car park is a BMW 6 series. It must have upset BMW knowing their cars have not the power or whatever makes them unable to get onto the car park!!

Julian H.A. Peck
Proprietor