Dates for your Diary

After letting you know about the Gwledd Conwy Feast  22- 23 October (see previous post) I came accross some more information and dates that might be of interest to our guests especially if you are planning a short break at the St kilda during the next few weeks.

 

 

28 & 29 October, Special Events, Bodnant Garden

Fungus Foray is Bodnant Garden’s special interest walk (2 Hours) on 28 October where you’ll learn all about the many varieties of fungus and mushrooms from specialist Nigel Brown. On 29 October, Bodnant is holding a “Final Burst of Autumnal Colours” which includes a garden tour/lecture followed by a two-course lunch. Booking Required as places limited. Contact Bodnant Garden on 01492 650460 or visit www.bodnant-garden.co.uk for details on all its planned events.

 

1-4 November, Welsh National Opera, Venue Cymru

Welsh National Opera’s Autumn run features productions of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, The Barber of Seville and Katya Kabanova – definitely not to be missed. 

 Visit www.venuecymru.co.uk for more details or phone 01492 872000.

 

This one I simply have to mention as the other half is competing as part of the Colwyn Male Voice Choir (bit of a plug there) and it just wouldn't be worth my while to leave it out!!

 So if you like choirs this is the one for you.

 

5 & 6 November, STENALINE NORTH WALES CHORAL FESTIVAL 2011

Expanding at a rapid rate of knots, the 2011 North Wales Choral Festival will see choirs competing from across the UK and Ireland.
Visit www.venuecymru.co.uk for more details or phone 01492 872000

14-19 November, Scrooge the Musical, Venue Cymru

The ideal winter treat, SCROOGE is a heart warming family story with stunning sets and costumes, specially created illusions by magician Paul Kieve (acclaimed for the magic effects in the Harry Potter films) and a fantastic musical score which features the Oscar nominated hit Thank You Very Much. Don’t miss Ebenezer, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future and a whole host of Dickensian characters in the award winning, international smash hit musical SCROOGE!

Visit www.venuecymru.co.uk for more details or phone 01492 872000.

 

17- 20 November, Llandudno Celtic Winter Fayre, Llandudno

A large Christmas market with over 100 food & craft stalls including continental foods & cooking demonstrations using local produce every day. Phone 01492 574504 for more details.

 

If you would like to check availability for a short break for any of the above dates just call or email us and we will be happy to help.

The Feast is Back!!

The third largest Food Festival in Wales is back, Gwledd Conwy Feast a two day event held on the 22nd & 23rd of October within the town walls of Conwy and the Quayside.

It is not to be missed!! I have attended every year since it began in 2003 and it is for all you foodies out there. Start your Christmas shopping early or just take it all in and enjoy the ambience, with over 150 stalls there is sure to be something for everyone. The top welsh chefs hold demonstrations, there is music, entertainment and workshops to whet your appetite here is a flavour of what you will find.

The Welsh Celebrity Chefs from The Great Brittish Menu- Bryn Williams, Aled Williams and Hywel Jones will be cooking up a storm in the True Taste of Wales kitchen.

A Champagne and Oyster tent and a 30 mile Cafe where Toby Watson will be creating a delicious three course menu of the best food produced within a 30 mile radius of Conwy.

The popular Beer Tent and Quay Music Stage hostd by a group of local brewers will be open all weekend with bands performing on what promises to be another lively show.

In the food halls, the True Taste of Wales Winners, Castle Food, River Food and the local producers tent, you can shop to your hearts content for the best local and regional produce, as well as foods from around the world make sure you bring lots of shopping bags!

Why not make it a date and I will see you there!!

Christmas & New Year Fast Approaching!!

The Countdown to Christmas has begun

75 Days

So if you haven't already booked your Christmas or New Year break with us you had

better hurry!!

Once again our Christmas break is proving to be very popular with many guests booking last year, before they left!!

Our  4 or 5 night break starts on 23rd or 24th December. The festivities commence as soon as you arrive with a selection of sandwiches and our usual homemade scones. Join us in the Bar at 5.30 to get you in the mood by singing Carols with our Entertainers Dave & Eirian whilst waiting for Father Christmas. He always fits us in before his busy night bringing a gift for everyone before our Christmas Eve Candlelit Dinner.

Christmas Day offers plenty of time to open your stockings before Breakfast but be sure to leave plenty of room for Buck's Fizz and a Gourmet Christmas Lunch served with all the trimmings and much, much more. In the evening a Candlelit Dinner followed by an evening of  Entertainment.

After breakfast on Boxing Day you could take the Traditional Sponsored Boxing Day Dip in aid of St David's Hospice but if you are not brave enough, join us for Coffee and mince pies straight from the oven. Lunch is served at 12.30pm followed by our treat, a trip up the Orme to the Toboggan Run and if you don't fancy that just come along for the magnificent views and a coffee in the Ski Lodge. We have the Famous Yuletide Buffet served by our Chefs to look forward to in the evening.

On the 27th after breakfast and then lunch, enjoy our Winter Wonderland Trip a Luxury coach tour around beautiful North Wales. Back in time to change for your Candlelit dinner and another evening of entertainment.

After a hearty breakfast on the 28th it will be time to wish you all a fond farewell.

How does all that sound? Want to join us?

 Then please be quick as there are now only limited places left and we hate to disappoint!

New Year

New Year is such a lovely time in the Hotel, stay for 2 or 3 nights and enjoy a memorable start to the New Year. Celebrations start as with Christmas on arrival with Tea, sandwiches cakes and scones. In the evening  of the 30th a 6 course Candlelit Dinner and an evening of fabulous entertainment.

During the day on New Years Eve enjoy coffee in the lounge after breakfast but don't get to full as you have a lunchtime special prepared by our chefs then the New Year's Eve Festive Dinner all 7 Courses! A superb evening of Entertainment follows taking us well into the New Year when we will enjoy toasting the New Year with Champagne to the chimes of Big Ben.

Breakfast is served later on New Year's Day giving you a chance to have a lie in, but breakfast is to small a word for it we like to call it Brunch and it will certainly set you up for the day!

Join us in the Bar for Bucks Fizz to celebrate the New Year and then enjoy a Finger Buffet for lunch. Another 6 course Candlelit dinner and entertainment follows in the evening.

I don't know about you, but it does sound good to me !! I cant wait all this talk about Christmas and New Year has made me think I had better start writing my lists and getting organised, how many days do I have left???

Proud Association with UKFast

The St Kilda Hotel are proud to be associated with UKFast their web hosting providers.

However it doesn't stop there...

Uk Fast's Managing Director is Lawrence Jones, who is Mr & Mrs Jones' son, you can read all about his company and its worldwide success here http://www.lawrencejones.eu/

If like me you like to read other blogs try going to http://www.ukfast.co.uk/blog-feed-lawrence-jones.html.  Lawrence has been reffered to as the Best Blogger around and has a fascinating outlook that keeps you coming back for more.

Our Head Chef

Please meet Ken, our Head Chef at the St Kilda.

 Ken has worked at the St Kilda for 11 years and has a team of 3 chefs working alongside him. He loves to try new recipes and can be found in the kitchen when everyone else has gone home trying out something new, and if we are lucky we sometimes get to sample these dishes (perks of the job Mmm).

Ken loves Christmas!! he does the usual moaning and groaning that chefs do, but we all know that this is the best time for him to show of his culinary skills. He produces the best buffets I have seen, the attention to detail and the presentation of the platters are second to none.
If you have experienced a St Kilda Christmas I am sure you would agree with me, if not then be sure to book one soon!

Just look what you are missing!

Ken  has had a very busy personal life this year planning his wedding, and I am glad to say it all went to plan, he and Janet were married in July and had a truly wonderful day.

He was also very proud to announce recently the birth of his first grand child a beautiful little girl called Lola May, who I am sure will be the apple of his eye! Both Mum and baby are doing well.

In between his busy family life and working, Ken tries to relax by going fishing he is a very keen Carp fisherman and often calls into my office asking me to check what the weather forecast will be for his days off. After his fishing trip we often discuss how he got on, how many fish he caught, the weight of the catch etc, it's a shame we have to work really we could ramble on about our fisherman's tales all day long.........

Photograph Competition

Calling all budding photographers, have you taken some great photos whilst staying at the St Kilda Hotel ?

Maybe you have a great view of the promenade, Great Orme or Llandudno Pier, or do you have some great shots of family and friends enjoying themselves during there stay!

If you have then we would like to see them!

We are looking for photographs of good quality from your stay with us, so that we can use them in future blogs or promotions.

In return we will choose the Best Photograph that has been submitted and the winner will

Win a FREE night at the St Kilda Hotel,

Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

(subject to availability)

If you would like to submit a photograph please send them direct to St Kilda Photograph Competition or by email to marketing@stkilda.co.uk please don't forget to compress your photograph if sending via email.

Terms and Conditions

The competition is open to all guests who have stayed at the St Kilda Hotel during the 2011

You can enter as many times as you like.

Please write on the back of your entries your full name and address and when you stayed with us.

Please send all entries clearly marked with  "St Kilda Competition" on the envelope or in the subject box if sending via email.

Unfortunately entries cannot be returned unless you provide a SAE.

Staff are not eligible to enter this competition.

Competition closes  31st December 2011

Winners will be notified by 7th January 2012,

The Judges decision is final, no correspondence will be entered into.

Time to Celebrate!

All the staff  gathered today for a small celebration, to toast our success at the recent "Group Travel Awards".

To achieve the award three times in succession, recognises the dedication and hard work that Mr & Mrs Jones have put into the hotel over the last 23 years.

 All the departments in the hotel must be congratulated, as guests receive the same friendly service from the reception staff who meet and greet, to the houskeepers keeping all bedrooms and other areas of the hotel spick and span, the bar staff who keep the drinks flowing whilst the entertainers perform their fabulous acts.

I cannot forget the Waiters and Waiterreses who work extremely hard to ensure, guests recieve their meals with a smile, the staff who work behind the scenes and if I dont mention the Chefs I wont eat for a week!!

  

We all enjoyed the break in routine to stop and gather in the dining room to have a few nibbles, a glass of Champagne, followed by a slice of cake of course! It was very apparent that each and everyone of us, are extremely proud to be part of this fantastic team, becoming the "Best Individual Hotel for Groups" in Great Britain and we are all now very busy planning what we need to do to win in 2012.

Mr & Mrs Jones kindly presented each member of staff with a Certificate of Appreciation and a gift to mark the celebration. 

Well Done Everyone!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Roll Of Honour

Proprietors

Mr Ken Jones & Mrs Margaret Jones

Front of House & Operations Manager

Suzanne

Reception Team

Jeanette, Maureen, Pat. Thea. Brian

Chefs

Ken, Sandra, WaldeRmar, Simon

Restaurant Team

Violetta, Bobo, Agnes, Kris, Pavel, Joanna, Anna, Richard, David, Greg

Housekeeping Team

Rita, Wendy, Janis, Lina, Rosemary, Wanda.

Kitchen Team

Virgis, Phil,

Bar Staff & Night Porters

Iain, Bill, Adam

also Stan, Piotr and all our fabulous Entertainers and not forgetting me!