Tea with the Royals

No details of the official programme have yet been released but given the fact that the principal form of communication in Sark is BT (Bush Telegraph rather than British Telecoms), not to mention the good old rumour mill, it's not surprising that those people who are interested are wondering what Prince Edward and his wife will get up to when they're here.

I'm told that a carriage drive is likely to be part of the visit, which might explain why I saw Rossford de Carteret – Martin Clunes's driving instructor as well as the Queen's coachman – ferrying the great and the good (Seigneur Michael Beaumont, Seneschal Reg Guille and the Lt-Governor's ADC Colonel Richard Graham, among others) on Friday of last week.

I understand that His Royal Highness might well include a stop-off at the new tea shop at La Seigneurie during his (quite probably) brief stay, although Seigneurie Garden trustee Adrian Guille told me when I asked for a progress report on the building work that he'd heard precisely nothing about the visit.

I'd asked for the progress report because later this month the trust will apply for a restaurant licence at the premises and will be nominating Mr Guille as the designated official or licensee.

The trust has almost completed the renovation of the former stables just near the entrance to the gardens and I have to say that, in common with much of the building work carried out in Sark in recent times, the work is both tasteful and appropriate to the building.

The only additional structure is the kitchen and that has been built behind an existing granite wall.

The remainder is a renovation of what used to be the cow stables and adjacent dairy and Mr Guille told me that the next phase of the trust's plans may well include providing further restaurant seating in an attached outbuilding to the rear.

There will also be provision for wheelchair access and, for when the sun is shining, there's a good deal of space for alfresco eating.

The restaurant licence – always assuming that it will be granted, and I can't envisage a great number of objections – provides for customers to enjoy a drink with their food so the one or two cynics who've told me that they think it will become another watering hole probably haven't thought it through.

The likelihood is that the tearoom will open for business later this month.

It will be interesting to see how it fares.

I am told that there have been some complaints – although given the way these things sometimes get out of proportion I don't know how many – regarding people who visit on Sundays being unable to find somewhere to eat, primarily because cafes and restaurants are either full or closed.

I was reminded of this as I walked by from my chat with Adrian Guille and passed the road leading to La Moinerie Hotel and Restaurant. Very thoughtfully, I believe, the restaurant had placed a notice board stating although it was closed, visitors might like to try other restaurants, and listed them on the notice.

It's an excellent idea and one which I think could be improved upon, particularly on Sundays.

I think it would be helpful if, at the top of Harbour Hill or somewhere close by, someone could put up a similar board advising visitors which eating and drinking houses are open that day and perhaps giving telephone numbers so that intending patrons could make reservations.

It only takes a few moans to spread the word that Sark appears to be closed for business when in fact the opposite is true.

The email address for comment is fallesark@sark.net.