Kathryn and Reggie Berrie, proprietors of the Victorian guest house, Aaron House, won Isle ofMan Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence Quality of Customer or Client Offer in 2007.
As nominations flood in for this year’s event, they explain how quality and high standards have been key to the success of their business…
‘Friendliness, care, anticipating their needs and using the best Manx produce we can possibly find,’ is how Kath Berrie sums up their award-winning customer offering.
Aaron House is like a little time capsule, a step back in time to the days before Facebook and mobile phones and meals bought ready-prepared in a foil tray. Overlooking Port St Mary’s Chapel Bay, it harks back to the days when people sat down around a table to eat home cooked food and life was somehow a lot simpler.
These views are stunning, all the rooms are immaculate, the welcome is delightful and the food is top quality – it all adds up to a recipe that makes guests want to come back for more.
Kath, who does all the cooking, uses locally-sourced, organic, where possible, and sometimes home-grown produce and everything from the bread and cakes to the jams, marmalade and cordials is made in her kitchen.
She and Reggie greet guests in Victorian dress, Kath in black with a white mob cap and apron, Reggie in a waistcoat and bow tie.
Reggie is the talker. He loves nothing better than welcoming guests and encouraging them to chat to one another at meal times. It’s not just socialising, he explains, it enhances their holiday experience because they tell each other where on the island they have each been that day, and where they recommend.
Reggie is also the one who keeps all the authentic Victorian bedrooms immaculately clean: ‘I love cleaning!’ he says.
When he and Kath bought Aaron House it had been used for many years simply as an annexe providing extra bedrooms for the guest house next door. That meant that little had been done to the décor and fittings so it still retained all of its original Victorian charm and atmosphere. Reggie and Kath have added some carefully chosen detail to this, with authentically aged wallpaper and collections of old black and white and sepia photographs on the walls.
They also brought the extra ingredient of hospitality. The welcome begins the moment a guest walks up the steps in through the front door. Reggie and Kath will be there to greet them and Kath will have the kettle on and home-made cake at the ready.
In addition to the bread and cakes, Kath is also responsible for making the award-winning Berrie’s Christmas pudding – as sold by Fortnum and Mason – and their son, Karl, is a chocolatier with his own brand of exclusive chocolates, Cocoa Red. The care that is taken in sourcing the ingredients reflects in the quality of the finished product.
Reggie says: ‘If you go that extra mile for the customer, it’s well worth it. Kath puts herself out 100 per cent to give guests the best of what’s here..’
Are you proud of the quality and standard of your company’s products and services? Why not let everyone know by entering this year’s Awards for Excellence?
The 16 categories include awards for businesses, public sector and charitable organisations. Then there are the individual categories, for Business Person of the Year, Young Achiever of the Year and Volunteer of the Year – maybe you know someone whose contribution to the local community deserves to be recognised?
Every year, the standard of entries is consistently high and the prestige of winning even higher. To say nothing of the glamour of being part of such a glittering occasion, with comprehensive newspaper coverage both in the lead-up to the prize presentation and on the night itself.
This year’s Awards night takes place on November 21. The event will be compered by Hugh Dennis, star of the hit TV comedy ‘Outnumbered’, and screened live via the web to a worldwide audience.
For further details on how to enter the awards, contact Trudi Williamson at Isle of Man Newspapers on 695695.
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