This summer Jenny and John Jarvis were thrilled to gain the AA Breakfast Award and a Highly Commended Award for 2010 to enhance the 4 Gold Stars Accommodation rating at Portland House.
The AA breakfast Award has been the result of 6 years of Jenny’s imaginative and skilful cooking. They try to cater for all tastes and diets and provide a wide range of choice. The comments in the Guest book are a testament to the thousands of breakfast cooked and enjoyed. Home made offerings like breads and rolls, compotes and preserves teamed up with dairy and other foods sourced from prize winning local producers create the sort of experience with which everyone should start their day, or so said an appreciative guest recently. But the most important thing is what they call the yummy factor. They sometimes think they ought to change the name of Portland House to Pancake House – the number of times that the cinnamon and apple pancake with local honey results in a squeal of delight when presented to a guest.
Besides bending over the Aga, Jenny has also had the sewing machine out an awful lot making curtains and soft furnishings. John has donned a pinny to wash up, and acted as “mine host” innumerable times. However, the standard of décor and the quality of personal service that guests now experience is the reason for their Highly Commended status, for which they are very proud. They believe this is important, not just as a personal achievement, but as an essential contribution to the tourism industry which brings over 400 million pounds of needed income into Herefordshire every year.
In April 2004 John and Jenny moved from Essex to a temporary rental stay at Trebandy Farm. One day they found themselves sitting in the Crown Hotel looking out the window at the house opposite. Jenny was sure she’d seen the house for sale in the paper. On impulse they knocked at the door and asked to look around. In August 2004 they moved into what Jenny has since called a very expensive doll’s house! The last six years have flown by and involved a considerable amount of refurbishment and redecoration and money! They have been very lucky in finding good local people to help make all the improvements as well as the marvellous staff to support them. They are also very grateful for the support they’ve received with so many friends and neighbours recommending their friends and relatives to stay with them whilst visiting the area.
They could write a book, as all B&B owners say! There are lots of stories they could tell about the happenings at Portland House. For example, shortly after they moved in, a guest arrived whom they nicknamed the ‘bag lady’ after the tenth Tesco bag came through the front door. They concluded she was perhaps somewhat eccentric. They discovered how eccentric the following morning. When Jenny entered the kitchen she found that not only had everything in view been moved but also so had the contents of the cupboards. At breakfast the guest revealed that she was a feng shui expert and had addressed the ‘problems’ in the house. (They didn’t know they had any at that time). After she left they found that her bedroom furniture had all been changed around to complete the task! They give thanks to this day that she couldn’t get into other rooms.
Another morning some time later a guest announced to everyone at breakfast that the house was haunted and she’d had a visitation during the night. Her husband hadn’t had the same pleasure. They knew they had a ghost but had kept it quiet until then. It was no longer a secret! Some of the other guests were amused but some looked like ghosts themselves at this announcement. The old maxim that you can’t please everyone was realised!
Jess, their Jack Russell joined them in January 2006, since when she has become somewhat of a celebrity. They call her Nurse Jarvis or Nanny Jarvis, and say she is their entertainments officer. She has a remarkable ability to bring a smile to everyone, even those who may have been frightened of dogs before. Guests arrive and ask to meet her because they have read her blog, which gets quite a few hits these days as it’s easily accessible via their website. One recent lady guest remarked that Jess’ blog had become required bedtime reading for her small son. Jess’ face was a picture on hearing this because she can be somewhat tardy in keeping it up to date when they are busy!
John and Jenny were thrilled with the AA awards but these were not the only piece of reward and recognition they have received this year. In July they were honoured to be invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace. Although standing very close to her Majesty, at one point during the afternoon, they didn’t have the opportunity to ask her to come and stay – oh well perhaps another time!