The last bit of our building project is the back room....for want of a better description. The intention was to open a conservatory especially when we found the original glass ceiling (complete with some glass) in the original roof space.
Unfortunately, the building inspector had other ideas and we were told that we could not have a glass roof on the conservatory but had to have a slate roof instead. A conservatory with a slate roof is a new concept to me but I just do as I am told.
Anyway, our conservatory (with the slate roof) is proceeding at a pace and, as I write, I am waiting on the carpet to be laid and the light fittings to be finished. I am sure it will look spectacular as we have some excellent art and some interesting chandeliers.
The room will double up as a second dining room (for when we open the other bedrooms) and as a bar/lounge (because it is situated next door to the bar). We are still arguing over the furniture but what is new!
In the meantime I have to stop calling it a conservatory. The back room sounds a bit dismissive and the summer room does not fit the bill so if you have any good ideas then please let us know.
I’ll post some pictures as soon as it is completed.
Sunday, 26 October 2008
Thursday, 2 October 2008
Showers and sausages
Ten rooms open and we’re on schedule in terms of our building work with the conservatory as the only building work still outstanding....although this seems to be taking a lot longer than the three weeks promised! In the meantime, the good news is that we are now in the number one position on the tripadvisor website at http://www.tripadvisor.com.
Comments include: “ Superbly located for all amenities, business and pleasure as well as the tennis!”, “The hotel has been tastefully decorated and the staff are very friendly.”, “The art display is fantastic and the previous reviews about the standard of breakfast are very well deserved.“, “The bed was huge and the most comfortable we've slept in.” and “The weather was good too."...although I take no credit for the latter.
Naturally, our feedback is not all positive and we have had a few adverse comments about our showers and our sausages. We have to put our hands up to the showers and say that they are not up our usual high standard. We have started a programme of replacing but at £1600 each it is a lot of outlay. Regarding the sausages, we are trialling a different supplier so watch this space.
Comments include: “ Superbly located for all amenities, business and pleasure as well as the tennis!”, “The hotel has been tastefully decorated and the staff are very friendly.”, “The art display is fantastic and the previous reviews about the standard of breakfast are very well deserved.“, “The bed was huge and the most comfortable we've slept in.” and “The weather was good too."...although I take no credit for the latter.
Naturally, our feedback is not all positive and we have had a few adverse comments about our showers and our sausages. We have to put our hands up to the showers and say that they are not up our usual high standard. We have started a programme of replacing but at £1600 each it is a lot of outlay. Regarding the sausages, we are trialling a different supplier so watch this space.
Sunday, 24 August 2008
Another two rooms
The final two rooms are now open for business completing the ten rooms which were planned for this financial year. On Friday 22 August we finally opened the Mary Beaney room and the John Miller room to the general public.
Room 207 is a superior double/twin room featuring the local artist Mary Beaney who works as our art director and whose excellent art work can be seen in our breakfast room. The room includes a large superking size bed (which can also be converted into a twin) and two leather tub chairs. The colour scheme (magenta) reflects her most recent work which has been included in the room.
Room 205 is a double ensuite room featuring the artist John Miller. His paintings (but not his name) had become known worldwide as a result of the mass production and distribution of cheap posters, prints and cards with reproductions of his distinctive beach paintings. The room is painted blue and has already received many favourable comments.
These rooms complete the second phase of our project and we now intend to take a break and try to recuperate some monies to open rooms on the third floor during 2009 – watch this space.
John Miller
Room 207 is a superior double/twin room featuring the local artist Mary Beaney who works as our art director and whose excellent art work can be seen in our breakfast room. The room includes a large superking size bed (which can also be converted into a twin) and two leather tub chairs. The colour scheme (magenta) reflects her most recent work which has been included in the room.
Room 205 is a double ensuite room featuring the artist John Miller. His paintings (but not his name) had become known worldwide as a result of the mass production and distribution of cheap posters, prints and cards with reproductions of his distinctive beach paintings. The room is painted blue and has already received many favourable comments.These rooms complete the second phase of our project and we now intend to take a break and try to recuperate some monies to open rooms on the third floor during 2009 – watch this space.
Thursday, 14 August 2008
Two more rooms
Wednesday 13 August sees two more rooms opened at the da Vinci. Room 105 is a superior double room featuring the artist Joan Miro. This is the first room to include a fully refurbished bathroom so we now have a template for the rest of the rooms. Our first guests were most impressed with the decor, the comfortable bed and the tasteful furniture. The view from the window is nice too and you don’t need a pair of binoculars to see the sea.
Room 107 is an executive double/twin room featuring the local artist Elda Abramson - see www.elda-abramson.com. The room includes a comfortable superking size bed (which can also be converted into a twin) as well as a sofa which converts to a sofabed. We persuaded Elda to part with some of her finest paintings which adorn the wall and complement the feature wall which is coloured ‘funky orange’ ....take my word for it that the whole lot works very well together.
Room 107 is an executive double/twin room featuring the local artist Elda Abramson - see www.elda-abramson.com. The room includes a comfortable superking size bed (which can also be converted into a twin) as well as a sofa which converts to a sofabed. We persuaded Elda to part with some of her finest paintings which adorn the wall and complement the feature wall which is coloured ‘funky orange’ ....take my word for it that the whole lot works very well together.
Saturday, 26 July 2008
An apology from Buckingham Palace
I have just received a letter from Buckingham Palace....thanking me for the invite to the opening of the da Vinci and apologising for not responding earlier due to the high volume of correspondence.
The letter continues "Her Majesty was interested to read about your new concept da Vinci Art Hotel, and was grateful for your kind invitation to attend the opening on 30th May".
How nice.
The letter concludes by hoping that the opening was a successful and enjoyable occassion and wishing me "every success with the future of your business".
Of course, no one believes me when I tell them but I have the letter to prove it.
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Number 51 on the list
I cannot believe that a month has passed since the opening of our first rooms at the da Vinci. The time has just flown past and I am embarrassed that I have not had the decency to update the blog and keep you informed about what is going on.
The art hotel idea has gone down very well and got us a lot of publicity. ....we even appeared in a travel article in the Sunday Times on June 15th. A two page spread followed in the ETC magazine and we had an excellent write up in the local art guide.
We have had our first review on laterooms.com and positive comments on booking.com but what is going on at tripadvisor? We are position number 51 (out of 51) in the hotel section while we await our first review....and there are some rough old dives above us on the list!!!!
In the meantime, Frank has swung into the routine of breakfasts at 8.00 and the comments about his full English are most complementary. Upstairs, work continues on our next four rooms which will be spectacular when they are finished - so watch this space.
That’s all for now but I have plenty more to talk about ....as soon as I have cleared the content with my lawyer !
PS The tripadvisor address is http://www.tripadvisor.com
Friday, 30 May 2008
Opened at last
Friday morning and the hotel swings into it’s final preparation for the opening. Frank is sanding the kitchen ceiling, Heather is hoovering the carpets, Bob is fitting the front door knob, Micaela is preparing the food, Lesley is looking after the rooms, Mary is still hanging pictures, Trevor is fitting the last few electric points and Lorraine is putting the finishing touches to the curtains. Ady is painting the front and the window cleaners arrive and tell me that their pole isn't long enough.
Meanwhile the local florists are making a fortune as bouquet after bouquet arrives from well-wishers across the UK. The attention has been immense and we were delighted to receive the Mayor and Mayoress of Eastbourne as well as numerous people involved in the tourist industry including the travel writer from the Times who stayed for two nights with us.
Our first guests arrive and we escort then to their rooms. They love the colour scheme, they admire the paintings and they adore the minimalist style ....unfortunately , the furniture is still being assembled which is why the style is minimalist!!!
At 4.00pm on Friday 30 May, the da Vinci hotel is declared open. May we take this opportunity to thank everyone responsible for helping us to open as well as the hundreds of visitors to the exhibition and the sixteen guests who stayed in our rooms on our opening night.
We hope you will visit us again sometime soon.
The da Vinci art exhibition is open every Saturday and Sunday throughout June and July from 11.00am to 5.00pm when the artists will be in attendance. Visits at other times are more than welcome by arrangement.
Hotel bookings can be made via our website at www.davinci.uk.com or by email to contact@davinci.uk.com or by telephone on 01323 727173
Meanwhile the local florists are making a fortune as bouquet after bouquet arrives from well-wishers across the UK. The attention has been immense and we were delighted to receive the Mayor and Mayoress of Eastbourne as well as numerous people involved in the tourist industry including the travel writer from the Times who stayed for two nights with us.
Our first guests arrive and we escort then to their rooms. They love the colour scheme, they admire the paintings and they adore the minimalist style ....unfortunately , the furniture is still being assembled which is why the style is minimalist!!!
At 4.00pm on Friday 30 May, the da Vinci hotel is declared open. May we take this opportunity to thank everyone responsible for helping us to open as well as the hundreds of visitors to the exhibition and the sixteen guests who stayed in our rooms on our opening night.
We hope you will visit us again sometime soon.
The da Vinci art exhibition is open every Saturday and Sunday throughout June and July from 11.00am to 5.00pm when the artists will be in attendance. Visits at other times are more than welcome by arrangement.
Hotel bookings can be made via our website at www.davinci.uk.com or by email to contact@davinci.uk.com or by telephone on 01323 727173
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