Second AA rosette for Herm's Conservatory restaurant

WHEN Starboard Settlement purchased the lease of Herm in 2008, it pledged to invest continually in the various island businesses.

Since then, the company has put every penny earned in profit each year into making improvements in the island and has contributed significant funds over and above this level from its own resources.

Over the past three years, the White House has benefited from redecoration, new furniture and refurbishment of all its bedrooms, along with the refurbishment of most bathrooms.

The Conservatory restaurant has also been redecorated and new furniture installed. The addition of tablecloths has also added significant elegance to the dining experience.

Head chef Nigel Waylen, currently in his fourth season in the post, has also spent time broadening his culinary skills and experiences by working alongside his peers within the Guernsey hotel industry.

All the hard work paid off last week when the AA awarded the Conservatory restaurant a second rosette. The hotel team are delighted to have achieved this standard.

Mr Waylen was naturally thrilled with the news.

'This is the best day of my career,' said Nigel. 'I am ecstatic with the news of the second rosette. We have been strategically planning to achieve this award for a couple of years and, with the dedication and hard work from sous chef Karl Ginnever and an excellent seasonal team, are very proud to hear this wonderful news.'

The challenge now facing the team is to live up to the award and maintain these high standards.

'Now the hard work starts,' said White House manager Sion Dobson Jones.

'Achieving this accolade is wonderful, but we now have to deliver the standard of cuisine and service at this level throughout the busy season ahead.'

The team certainly aren't resting on their laurels and are now setting their sights even higher.

Herm's director of hospitality, Jonathan Watson, is already looking ahead to the next achievement.

'The hotel is striving to achieve four-star status with both the AA and Visit Guernsey, which would reflect the values of the hotel team with regard to service delivery standard and quality of product. We remain eager to continue to make further improvements and to generate the necessary funds to achieve this end.'