And beyond 1997? - Ideas galore,

but not to get bigger - just to get better!

Without a doubt we as a family are proud of our long record here at the Langstone Cliff Hotel - indeed we would not be presenting this celebratory booklet were we not so. However any success we may have achieved we like to feel we keep firmly in proportion. With giant corporations dominating the world of hotels our single unit pales to insignificance in the business. One can read regularly in guides and newspapers of the most beautifully run and kept hotels, serving the most imaginative foods in sumptuous surroundings. Again we are going to be an "also ran". However some of you we have welcomed year in year out, generation after generation - (some families with over a hundred visits to their credit).

On the local front we have been delighted to play host to Christenings, l8th's, 2lst's, Weddings, Anniversaries and Retirements indeed the whole gambit of family celebrations. There are local companies, associations, clubs and lodges who have held their annual events with us for over thirty consecutive years. In recent years our conference and training facilities have been used by many companies for conference and training events - some maybe once or twice a year but others almost weekly throughout the winter months. All of these things certainly give us the "tingle factor".

In spite of the size of the family and the nepotism practised we still cannot run the hotel unaided and we would pay great tribute to our staff, both past and present, for all their efforts in caring for you, our guests. Our current team is about 80 strong, of whom half are full time employees and a dozen or so students who we see at weekends and holiday times.

We are very proud that seven of the team have been a part of the hotel for over twenty years and well over half of the team (excluding students) have been with us for a minimum of five years.

The Magnificent Seven! (over 20 years) are Bob Kentispeer our driver/gardener - Bob's father Charlie also worked at the hotel virtually from the start - he went to school with my Mother!

Freda and Peter Slee - Peter manages the Bars and Freda currently assists him, but she has worked just about everywhere in her 35 year stint. Freda is also responsible for several miles of curtain throughout the hotel. All of Peter and Freda's four children have also worked at the hotel.

Phyllis Barton, also been everywhere and done everything and presently tucks herself away in the bungalow looking after the family (or some of them!). Four of Phyllis's children also had spells with us.

Nigel Cobley, a cousin of the family is managing director of Steptoe'sYard! Nigel's mother, Joan, was also a much loved member of our family hotel.

Dawn Konetsky is head housekeeper and prominent member of the reception team - still full of ambition after thirty years! I still have trouble keeping her out of my seat! Dawn's daughter Paula is also "one of us" and Terry her eldest son had a spell in the kitchens a few years ago.

Finally, Sue Rabbage - a Peter Pan of a waitress who looks now as she did when she joined us twenty years ago.

The department heads of the hotel at present are Dawn and Peter, mentioned above in housekeeping and bars respectively Valerie Santer, head receptionist; Jenny Green, restaurant manageress; Wendy Rawlings, financial control and back office, and Dave Stevens, head chef. A super team - our very sincere thanks to you all.

Thank You All So Very Much