Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
28 January 2010
11:0739010I think Ross is right on this one,Did the D.H.B have anything to do with this,it might have been in the way of their plans.
28 January 2010
11:1639014I had such happy times at The White Cliffs hotel in the 1960's. Oh those italian waiters!! I learnt a lot about life and lovin' I can tell you. I wonder if anyone else remembers Tony Tiger and Mr Boadini? In the days when people used to stop for a night before crossing the Channel we used to have many famous people staying there (well they were famous then). I remember particularly Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon who had a long running comedy radio show. They spectactularly and noisily rowed all night.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
28 January 2010
21:0239036Seems a couple of old cynics on Dover Locals seem to think along the same cynical lines as dear old Vic! Do we think that they're right - DHB announces privatisation plans and - hey presto - The Churchill, whose landlords just happen to be the DHB, go into liquidation?
Conspiracy theorists might put 2 and 2 together and come up with 4. We couldn't possibly have a shabby DHB management playing with people's livelihoods, could we? Heaven forbid!
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
28 January 2010
21:5139042I don't even think that something like a 81 bed hotel is really going to affect a £300-350 million selloff of the port !!
Looking at websites it is only 3 star hotel, 55% on tripadvisor don't recommend it, well overdue a refurbishment and it doesn't really sell itself - it only has 2 photographs on the Best Western Website, it wouldn't encourage me !
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 670- Registered: 23 Apr 2008
- Posts: 573
28 January 2010
22:3739049Absolutely Paul, a beautiful building housing a run down, tired old hotel that is a remnant of an era long past. Sadly the cost of a refurbishment would cost an absolute fortune and in the present economic climate, in my opinion unlikely.
Interesting to note that one or two other well known local businesses received a slating on the trip advisor website.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
28 January 2010
22:4339051i only realised today that the churchill was a franchise.
best western have distanced themselves from the downfall.
we all assume that bobby and chums lost out on the rent, not too many tears there, what about the small suppliers locally that have it up them?
could be a few one man bands going to the wall.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
29 January 2010
19:2439102The Churchill isn't a franchise Howard; I've talked to Best Western and they advise they are the marketing body for the Churchill (and many other hotels).
A (former) great Hotel, that should be kept as a Hotel, but as mentioned above, a lot of money will have to be spent on refurbishment; maybe that will be reflected in the purchase price.
Maybe the owner of the Dover Harbour Hotel has designs on turning the Churchill into an HMO !
Oh how I hope not.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
29 January 2010
20:0239108roger
the information given out in the local media was based on a statement from "best western" that the churchill had been operating under franchise.
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
29 January 2010
22:1539122One for the ladies of the forum the churchill also had a hairdressers and a gym, I know from my hairdresser this afternoon, that the beauty side of it will be going up to UPPERCUT hairdressers in 2weeks time.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
4 February 2010
08:2939589Just wanted to let you know that I had a reply from Best Western about the Churchill and here's the reply.
Dear Mr Walkden
Thank you for contacting Best Western in regards to your question. The simple answer is no, Best Western is not a Franchise.
Best Western is a Membership organisation where Hotels become members and in return benefit from the possibilities of a major worldwide brand (like a franchise but without the costs)
Best Western gives performance of a franchise with the values of a consortium
Kind regards
Wolfgang Gold
Development Manager
Best Western Hotels GB
Website:
www.bestwestern.co.uk
Best Western is the largest group of independently owned and managed hotels in GB
So there you have it - it isn't a Franchise.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
4 February 2010
13:3039619i checked that out too roger, should have posted on it earlier.
asking around town, most people assumed it was a franchise.
5 February 2010
16:2039702Hi Guys, I did put a post on the first page explaining the set up as I was a previously a sales manager at the Churchill....
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
5 February 2010
17:2039708quite right jane, i must have over looked that.
5 February 2010
18:4039713Thanks Howard, Luckily through various networks we are able to put some of the staff into interviews around the area, so let's all keep our fingers crossed for them. Good news that katherine has found a new premises for her beauty business, still no word from Gillian at Regatta ...
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
5 February 2010
19:3639718I sent round an email about Katherine's now location, so hope people pick that up.
Hope the Barn is working well, it certainly deserves to be.
Roger
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
5 February 2010
23:4039736Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
I done a post today on the wrong thread, should`ve been this one. The kiosk was open today, as this image shows, and doing some trade. I thought Churchill`s ran this?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
It did, maybe the previous manager is making a few bob on the side
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i remember the harbour board giving the franchise to churchills, after the people that ran it retired.
sounds like someone still has the keys
Guest 662- Registered: 18 Mar 2008
- Posts: 325
The Churchill gave up the Kiosks many years ago, they were run by Riverside Catering last I heard.
Michelle.