The Phoenix & Dragon?
The title of this post may sound like your local gastro pub, it is in fact a reference to probably the most unlikely business partnership you’ll have heard of in recent times. Whilst the hospitality establishment wait with baited breath over Andrew Davis’s next move after the £250-300 million collapse of his von Essen empire … Read more
Von Essen, lets hope the end is nearly in sight….
At the time of writing this The Times had just pipped me to the post on naming that the owners of Chewton Glen had purchased not one, but both the jewels in the crown of the crumbling Von Essen empire. Catey Hotelier of the year Andrew Stembridge will, as Managing Director for the exclusive Hampshire … Read more
Is the end in sight for the sorry tale of von Essen?
For what seems like an eternity, the story of Andrew Davis & von Essen hotels has been rumbling on. Whether it’s a character assassination in the case of the Daily Mail or more sturdy reporting in the case of The Times on June 16th by Dominic Walsh . The closing date for sealed bids was … Read more
Cheaper Eats: Robert Thompson at The Hambrough
There is a sense of occasion about taking a ferry or an aeroplane journey, like a holiday or a boy’s own adventure. Be it all of 35 minutes, the ferry ride to the Isle of Wight just seems like it transports you back to your childhood. I was never fortunate enough to come here for … Read more
The Von Essen House of Cards.
As many of you will be aware in the last couple of weeks saw the demise of the von Essen Holding Company. The company had been set up by Andrew Davis fell in administration with debts rumoured to be in the region of £220 – £250 million. Ordinarily I wouldn’t really bothered doing a post … Read more
The Grand on Jersey has been sold, but to who?
This week it has been announced to the staff that The Grand Hotel, St. Helier, Jersey has been sold to an unnamed owner who will be taking over in the next 3 months. Managing director Ms Anna Marie Dowling will step down in September this year to ensure a smooth hand over. Rumours persist as … Read more
