Devon Tourist Blog

Summer Ball, Torquay, Devon 2008

devontravel — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:57:24 +0000

“WHY WAIT TILL CHRISTMAS TO GET DRESSED UP!”

Due to the overwhelming success of Torquay’s famous “Holy Ball”, the Grand Hotel is pleased to announce the launch of Torquay’s first annual Summer Ball.

The beautiful and elegant Grand Hotel is the perfect location to spend a warm summer evening, drinking Champaign, watching the sun set over Torbay and then dancing the night away.

So why wait until Christmas to dress up! This exclusive evening will take place on Saturday 14th June and will feature live entertainment. The dress code is evening dress for the ladies and black tie for the gentlemen.

Tickets are only £17 per person and this includes champagne & canapés. Why not start the evening off with an even bigger bang and enjoy a sumptuous 3-course meal for an additional £22 per person. We also have a number of Accommodation packages available.

Tickets are on sale now and are selling fast – book early to avoid disappointment.

Discount Family accommodation, June to August 2008, Torquay, Devon

devontravel — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:17:13 +0000

Sun, sea, sand and fun is on the agenda with this great summer offer. We’re offering family rooms with Bed & Breakfast to include Dinner for Mum and Dad and children eat free! In additon we’ve got great children’s activity packs and some entry bonuses for some of Torquay’s key attractions!

Family rooms from £245 per room, per night. Better still, if you book to stay 5 nights then we’ll only charge you for 4! Weekend supplements apply and offer is subject to availability so we recommend you book now to avoid disappointment!

Contact the Hotel on 0844 50 27587 or Email reservations@grandtorquay.co.uk

Visit the website at www.grandtorquay.co.uk

Devon Cream Tea, 2 Nights Accommodation, English Riviera, Torquay

devontravel — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:13:14 +0000

Make the most of lazy summer days in the heart of the English Riviera with a 2 night short break to include a complimentary Devon Cream Tea that you can enjoy whilst basking on the terrace overlooking the pool and the sea.

Minimum 2 night stay available between July 18th – August 21st, 2008 from £153 per room, per night. Upgrades to sea view rooms are available and the offer is subject to availability so early booking is highly recommended.

Contact the Hotel on 0844 50 27587 or email reservations@grandtorquay.co.uk

Visit the website at www.grandtorquay.co.uk

Low Cost Conference rate, Business Meetings, Conferencing

devontravel — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:09:11 +0000

Fantastic day delegate rates are available at The Grand hotel for anyone planning a meeting or small conference between now and the end of August 2008.

Starting from only £25 per delegate (depending on numbers) to include room hire, Tea and Coffee on arrival, at mid-morning and in the afternoon, a delicious 2 course hot and cold buffet for lunch, hire of data projector, screen and flip charts. The Grand is an ideal venue, being situated directly opposite the train station and it offers plenty of free parking. For further information please call the conference department on 01803 296677 or email us at conference@grandtorquay.co.uk

Visit the website at www.grandtorquay.co.uk

IT’S A BLUE VALENTINE’S FOR SOME!

devontravel — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:21:17 +0000

It may be Valentine’s Day but spare a thought for 25 ladies who are going to be feeling more blue than pink with the blushes of romance. Where are all the single men?

For those not enjoying coupledom at this noted time of year, a Singles event with a difference – speed dating over dinner – has been organised this Saturday (Feb 16^th) at Torquay hotel, The Grand. A positive response was received in droves but from women. In typical new century style it seems to be the women who are making the first move and the men have gone all shy!

Given the amount of people dating on line, has it now become virtually impossible to find true love in real life? Unless some single males in Torquay find the courage to come out of hiding then sea is going to be all that is in the air. This doesn’t bode well for a leap year!

Everyone is in the same position – Single, so men why not to prove women that you’re just as brave as them and you never know you just might find the one you’ve been looking for.

For further information please contact Sarah Bew at The Grand Hotel. Tel (01803) 206117 or email sarah.bew@richardsongroup.co.uk

EGG-STRA Inclusive Easter Delights!!

devontravel — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:47:41 +0000


For just £540, you will recieve an inland family room, for 3 nights including Dinner, Bed and Breakfast. Good Friday we are offering a special fish menu, Saturday there will be a GRAND DAY OUT for everyone, with childrens entertainment, facepainting, duck racing, balloons, BBQ and a special appearance from the Easter Bunny plus much more, then on Easter Sunday another treat for the kids with an Easter egg hunt, before Sunday lunch and light entertainment in the evening, just enough time to relax before the journey home! Based on 2 adults and 2 children eating from the child’s menu, upgrades subject to availability, additional drinks not included. Quote code EAS when booking.

For just £540, you will recieve an inland family room, for 3 nights including Dinner, Bed and Breakfast.

Good Friday we are offering a special fish menu,

Saturday there will be a GRAND DAY OUT for everyone, with childrens entertainment, facepainting, duck racing, balloons, BBQ and a special appearance from the Easter Bunny plus much more, then on Easter Sunday another treat for the kids with an Easter egg hunt, before Sunday lunch and light entertainment in the evening, just enough time to relax before the journey home!

Based on 2 adults and 2 children eating from the child’s menu, upgrades subject to availability, additional drinks not included.

Quote code EAS when booking.

Visit the Grand Hotel Website: http://www.grandtorquay.co.uk

Email: reservations@grandtorquay.co.uk

Or Call 0844 50 27587

A night in the life of an Assistant Manager

devontravel — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:31:54 +0000

It’s Saturday night and after looking after a large event comprising of people who apparently don’t need any sleep to function, I make my way up to bed at around 4am. I say around 4am because at this point I have no understanding of what day it is, let alone the hour. I console myself with the fact that I am not on the early shift, usually starting at 7am, and can have a lie in, as I have one of those rare things that seem to come round once in a blue moon…a day off!

As I tuck myself into bed with a cup of tea and munch on the biscuits that are supplied in my room (not chocolate chip, but I’ll make do!) I dream of playing in the Premier League, winning the lottery and most of all not being woken up for some emergency between now and when the next Manager comes on duty in 3 hours…not much to ask for is it?7.02am: Ring Ring, Ring Ring.Me: Hello?
Colleague: Hey, sorry to wake you, do you know where the keys are, they’re not where they usually are?

Me: Have you looked properly?
Colleague: Yeah, I’ve had everything out, they’re definitely not there.
Me: Do you need me to come out?
Colleague: I’ll look again for you, but I’m sure they’re not here.
Me: Ok, thanks. Ring me back in a minute when you know.

N.B. From how it reads I sound fairly reasonable…not the case. You have to imagine a guy who has had 2 hours sleep, heard the phone ring and thinks it was the fire alarm, once he’s got up and realised it’s the phone, smacked his knee in the dark, and fallen over his own shoes!

7.04am: Ring Ring, Ring Ring.

Me: Hello?
Colleague: It’s only me.
Me: Did you find them?
Person I want to strangle with my bare hands: Yeah, they were in the
normal place, I just didn’t look properly!
Me: Beeeeeeepppppppppppppp!!!!

7.05: back to bed,ZZZzzzzzzzzzz……

GREAT LAST MINUTE, 4 Star Hotel, Torquay Devon, £85 PER ROOM

devontravel — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:25:51 +0000

Enjoy the comfort of the 4 star, sea front Grand Hotel with its indoor leisure complex (pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, gym) from only £85 per room, per night, Bed & Breakfast.

Upgrades to sea view rooms available.

Availability for this rate Feb 10,11,14,17,19,20 and 25 – 28th, 2008 only. Take advantage of our online booking and make a date for dinner at the same time – you can even order wine or champagne online!

Visit the Grand Hotel website at: http://www.grandtorquay.co.uk

Or Contact them by Phone on: 0844 50 27587 (UK) outside UK Dial (+44 1844 50 27587)

Or Email reservations@grandtorquay.co.uk

A Day in the life of the Manager at The Grand, Torquay.

devontravel — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:16:07 +0000

My wake up call sounds at 6am.

Now for your normal everyday kind of a guy who gets to go to bed after Emmerdale this is not a problem. But after six sixteen hour shifts and a Christmas party that didn’t want to go to bed until half four that same morning, a man will begin to struggle. People must think we are mad…… Maybe we are a little?

Three large over sugared mugs of tea and several dousings of eye wash later I’m ironed, polished and ready for another day.

Mornings are a funny thing. “What day is it?” is usually the first question I ask myself…… later to be confirmed by a fellow member of staff as the morning shift begins. The sweet aroma of a cooked breakfast drifts through the corridors as I take a seat at my desk to check the details of the day ahead. Conference at nine…… umm…. Scrambled eggs, meeting at ten….. Oooo crispy bacon, Observations at eleven……. That’s it, the sausages have got me. A perk of management……. Quality control!

It’s a pleasure to talk to our guests as they stumble down following the night before, and of course discretion is our courtesy and job. Every hotel has ‘character’ guests and it is my duty to listen to them. Today it is the guests from 302 as they tell me about their state of health whilst I am still digesting my fried mushrooms.

The morning is going well. Its eleven and no alarms have yet sounded. The electricity is still on, the hot water is hot and the guests are smiling. The girls on the phones are busy taking bookings, the kitchen is busy chopping and the vacuums can be heard humming quietly on each landing.

The pager bleeps……. In fact this pager never stops bleeping! A phone call, a guest. An unwell member of staff – oops, now make that three! A key for the safe, a ‘sorry I meant maintenance’. A contractor, a salesman, a question, a message. A note in the Diary, a problem to solve. A trigger happy receptionist and a Pack of rampaging day trippers. If you didn’t love this job….. you wouldn’t be able to do it!!

As the day goes by I remain buoyant as our conference guests have enjoyed their lunch, the residents made the most of the sunshine and fresh sea air. The swimming pools are shimmering, the windows and mirrors sparkling, the beds are made and the silverware polished. As evening draws in the team in the Compass Bar and Lounge are in full flow and the pianist is playing in the background. The show in the Gainsborough restaurant is underway and staff are still smiling and getting on with the job.

My day here draws to an end…… Hooray – it’s been another good day and in this business, you have to be thankful as the good days are what makes it worthwhile!

Romantic Rendezvous – Singles Night, Saturday 16th February, Torquay, Devon

devontravel — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:10:53 +0000

Are you looking for love!!! Valentines Day isn’t just for couples, so why not come and join us at the Grand Hotel for a singles dinner with a difference!

£19.50 will include arrival drink and dinner

Arrive between 7.30 – 8pm, have a drink and then enjoy an 8 course easy to eat dinner. After each course the gentlemen will rotate to the next table. Afterwards you are welcome to continue your conversation in the Compass Lounge Bar. The evening will be lighthearted, fun and friendly. You could meet someone special, and will certainly make friends! Places are limited to contact us soon

Telephone: 01803 206136 or email: conference@grandtorquay.co.uk