We stayed at the Old Government House Hotel for a friend's wedding in August 2011. The hotel was gorgeous with great amenities. We stayed in a refurbished room with a view over the harbor. The room was beautifully decorated and the bed was very comfortable. The breakfast included in our room rate was delicious. Our only complaint is that unfortunately the air conditioner in our room was broken - thankfully leaving the balcony door open allowed for a nice sea breeze.

My husband and myself spent a wonderful weekend here in June and cannot recommend it enough. I don't generally enjoy staying in hotels because I have spent a lot of time in them for business travel, but The Old Government House felt completely different - we were treated like VIPs from the moment we arrived and the hotel had an incredibly relaxing vibe. It's a very old-fashioned hotel with old-fashioned manners to match! Every single member of staff was extremely polite and helpful.

Our room was very comfy, with different types of pillows available on request. When the management heard that we were here on our honeymoon we found a bottle of champagne left in our room, which was a nice touch. We ate at the restaurant every night, mainly because we found the food so good on the first night.

We visited the spa a couple of times and I had a manicure and facial, both of which were expertly done.

I'd love to return here, maybe when the weather is hotter because sadly it rained so we didn't get to laze around by the pool.

Six family members from England and Australia met for 3 days in Guernsey. We selected the Old Government House Hotel due to its character, history and its location.

The room overlooking the village, the harbour and the nearby islands was a picture and the hotel style, amenities, gardens and the well protected outdoor heated swimming pool added to the ambiance.

The hotel is located just a short stroll to the village, the harbour and the must visit Castle.

We ate in the Brasserie the first night with friends from Guernsey and it was a memorable evening with excellent food and a comprehensive wine list. On our last night we dined in the Governor's restaurant at the hotel and decided to have the degustation menu. This was a great decision as the 7 courses were of world standard and the 7 matching international wines were perfectly selected.

The staff and the service levels were excellent and we felt we were welcomed guests.

We will return and include a visit to adjoining Hern and Sark islands.

Spent 5 nights here for my husband's 60th birthday - amazing!
Service was great, staff very friendly & attentive, cake left in our room on my husband's birthday which was a nice touch. Couldn't have been better, really enjoyed it and made his birthday even more special.

We ate in the govenors fine dining restaurant and i have to say that this was a fantastic experience. the service, food and wine were all just outstanding!!!!!!!!!! worth every penny !!!!!!

We chose this hotel on the strength of other positive reviews on Tripadvisor and were not disappointed! We went to celebrate an important anniversary and were overwhelmed by the quality of service; the beautiful food and wines; the general ambiance of elegant luxury.
We were in a King Seaview rom, which was very comfortable, but if you want a balcony, you need to say so on booking; we didn't realise this and were a little disappointed that we had instead a much more conventional room with a rather interrupted sea view. Reception took this on board and resolved instantly to ensure that the website makes this clear in future. Nonetheless, we were happy in our room, which was well appointed with a splendid bed, a shower that worked impeccably and a BATH! (So many hotels fail to realise how relaxing a warm bath is after a long day's walking.) We ate largely in the Brasserie, which served very good food and was full of friendly staff from a staggering and fascinating range of countries. Monique, in charge of what was going on, was splendidly efficient and amiable.
We had booked the Gourmet experience package, which included trips to and from the airport and a 7 course meal with wine, each course and wine introduced by the sommelier and the charming waitress. Do try this if you can!
There was nothing that was too much trouble for this hotel: they genuinely want you to have a lovely time with them, not just going through the motions, but actually doing everything they possibly can to ensure it. Book now!

Stayed 30 July - 2 Aug 2011 with a good deal through the tourist board. Lovely old building, fantastic service by all staff (some more experienced than others ... but ALL seemed happy and did their very best). A credit to the hotel, especially the concierge who was most helpful. Received a birthday tray in the room which had a beautiful cake and card... nice touch. Very happy with the quality of food, at breakfast and at the Governor's Restaurant. Had a couple of treatments at the Spa which again were good. Small but well equipped gym and a good instructor for the early morning class. However, I do think the bedrooms in the lower price bracket are just too small, although I agree they are beautifully presented. We had to constantly be aware of where we were treading so not to bang legs on furniture ..... and when you're use to a large bed.... well just be prepared to get very cosy with your partner for the whole night as they must only be 4ft 6' max! Luckily we had a nice sea view from our window, some rooms at the back of the hotel are not so lucky. I know you need to have certain things in the room to get a certain star rating, but it really is too much of a squash. Good heated pool which also incorporated a shallow pool for the little ones. Very short walk to the centre of town but it's uphill on the way back! Seemed to be some nice restaurants around the area, we tried the Thai on the harbour front and Pier 17, happy with both. Would definitely recommend and return but would upgrade to a bigger room.

nothing changed at this hotel the staff are so friendley and was not to much trouble do anything for you in the morning you always greeted with a big smile before you had breakfast food a1 will go back again

Stayed three nights on a B & B basis to celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary and my wife's birthday the next day. On check in we were given room 311 but found this unsatisfactory as it was small and had no air-con - it was a warm weekend. The room should be a single. We spoke to the Reception explaining our reasons for asking for a better room. They promptly found us another room and moved us. We had room 215 which was excellent with a king size bed and good ensuite with shower and bath. The Breakfast was very good with everything available including full english. The dinning room is very elegant and is part conservatory with doors out to the garden. There is a small heated Pool with comfortable sunbeds. We ate out in town so cannot comment further on the Restaurant. The location is good, as it is quiet in the immediate area and only a five minute walk down to the Waterfront with it's Bars and Restaurants. Only marked this Hotel 4 out of 5 because of the initial room offered otherwise all OK.

Just returned from 7 nights at the Old Government House where, on the whole we had a wonderful time. Every single member of the staff we met was courteous and only too willing to help in any way - it's impressive to visit a hotel where within two days every member of staff you encounter knows your name!
Although our room was not the largest (by any means) it was comfortable, well maintained and luckily had a sea view.
I would certainly recommend this hotel though I would concur with the earlier review regarding the "quantity" of the portion of smoked haddock offered at breakfast. We had a inclusive breakfast rate but if I had been asked to pay extra for that particular breakfast option I would certainly have complained - the kipper option was much better value and more substantial.
A small complaint but one that should not put you off visiting what is another excellent Red Carnation Hotel.

I stayed at the hotel from 20.7. to 31.7.11. I was there to attend the Town Carnival (staff will remember me as I am a big fan of the Tropikal Vizions Steel band) They also played at the hotel on Wednesday evening, 27.7.11 and everyone loved it. I hope they will be back next year.
The room was cosy, the bed and pillows comfortable I had a great night sleep. I liked the tea and coffee making facilities. The cooked breakfast was good I also had "Continental". Late Lunch at the Brasserie (Steak and vegetables) was just perfect and the ice cream was amazing. Room service was excellent I had the house made sandwiches when I didn't feel like going out.
I would like to say "Thank you". The whole team was very friendly and helpful.

I booked this hotel last minute as a special one night away for my husbands 50th birthday, we loved it so much we are looking at when we can go back. It is worth every one of it's 5 stars just for the accomodation and service, we didn't even try the spa.
We stayed in a seaview room which had a balcony, the decor was lovely, the bed was the most comfortable I have slept on and I am fussy, you get asked before you arrive if you have any special requirement for pillows. All of the staff are wonderful and friendly, it is a very relaxed atmosphere, nothing is too much trouble. The Brasserie service and food is excellent, I would love to try the Governor's restaurant. The location is in town so great for wandering around. Don't attempt to park a car yourself, the carpark is around the back down a narrow alley and the staff are used to manouvering them for you, just stop outside and let them know.
My only comment is that if you were 6ft plus you would not fit in the shower in our bathroom as either the bath was high or the showerhead low, but I am sure that there are other rooms with a different layout, just mention it when you book.
Thank you OGH, I wanted this to be a special stay for a special day and it turned out better than I could have wished.

Expensive, the room we had for 2 nights was vey small and noisy from street and upstairs neighbour.
Breakfast was good, dinner not so good
Fish was small and called catch of the day, we thought it was deepfreeze.
Winelist small , nothing special. Service was pleasant, maitre d was good and attentive.Wifi free and good. Next stay we try different place.

My wife celebrating our wedding anniversary we drove to Weymouth and caught the Condor Ferry to Guernsey. On Friday 22nd July. Despite all the negative comments our trip on the Condor Ferry was superb. Despite leaving 10 minutes late on Friday afternoon we arrived on time in Guernsey and drove the short distance from the quay to the OGHH as it is called. We found the car park at the rear of the hotel which with a big car was a nightmare to get into and get out of. We checked in stating we had heard some rooms were small and in a narrow corridor. We were cheered by the receptionist saying we were being put in a Queen room which sounded great. The surprising alternative is we could have a refurbished room but at extra cost??? When paying almost £500 for 3 nights as it was this sounded a bit naughty. So we got to our room on the 2nd floor and whilst their descriptive was a queen room my descriptive would be for a very small queen, but with a view of the sea and the garden pool. But at least we had a view of the sea, however the bathroom was so tiny and the shower was in fact smaller than that we had in our Winnebago in Alaska two years ago. Getting in was okay but getting out with the door opening in was a contortion in itself. All being sorted we then had dinner at a beautiful restaurant the Boathouse on the front of St Peter Port, promising ourselves that we would have dinner in the Governors Restaurant at the hotel on the following night. However our first dining a the OGHH was breakfast and whilst cereals, fruit, toast etc was in abundance I selected the Smoked Haddock with Poached Eggs yes Eggs not one but two is my understanding of plural. However when it arrived the smoked haddock was on a huge plate with a sort of dip in the middle and it was hidden under one poached egg. Hidden is no exaggeration it was no more than 40cm across by 50cm long and not plump, less in fact than 4 tastes and it was gone, again the use of a small egg whilst hiding the fish did not hide the miserable offering that it was. This really was not good but in view of the other offerings at breakfast including my wife's very adequate Scrambled egg I was reluctant to complain. But in looking at the menu for the evening in the Governor's restaurant coupled with the mean offering at breakfast I saw the ultimate in matters that get my back up. Here we were in an hotel of repute with prices which make even the Four Seasons look cheap being told that all drinks and food will have a discretionary 10% service added!!!!! If there is one thing that really does anger me is a restaurant or hotel who make decisions for you when it comes to tipping good service especially when they are not inexpensive in the first place. I will reward good service in my own way I do not need to be treated like some small child being asked to remove what I had not asked to be put there in the first place. That meant we would not be eating at the OGHH as we had planned. Instead we opted for Da Nellos and Christies both of which I report on later.
Again the Old Government House Hotel is as it says on the label a great boutique hotel and breakfast on the lawn is a great experience by the pool and the fountain, but I do feel it has been living on a reputation with people who are easily pleased or are dazzled by the ambiance. As a world traveler I would have anticipated a bigger room and bath room for the money, more smoked fish for my money and my own decision on giving a tip or not as the case may be, when never knowing really if this reaches the staff of the hotel who were absolutely impeccable and catered for every need.

Rooms – excellent – we had a wonderful spacious room the first night but a rubbish view, then a small room the rest of the stay, with an absolutely superb view of the harbour and the other islands, as the front rooms with the views are not all suites. This equalled it out and the price seemed fair enough with the 4 nights for 3 deal.

A rather strange excuse why our room wasn’t ready – “Oh sorry, we thought it was one person so we have to prepare it for two.” Prepare such a spacious room for two?

I was impressed that they warned us about the noisy music from a wedding reception below our room on the Saturday evening, and said it would end at 2300, which it did, on the dot.

Room IT system – the slowest and most user-unfriendly TV-centered internet and music system we’ve ever seen – I hope the hotel didn’t pay too much for whoever conned them into buying it.

Spa and treatments – brilliant. Worth staying here just for that.

Brasserie restaurant – excellent. Governor’s Restaurant – 7-course menu very good, but they tried to overcharge us by over £100 (inc the service charge on the overcharge). As soon as the waiter saw us scrutinising the bill, which seemed a bit high, he whipped it away with an “Oh sorry, I’ve made a mistake.” They had charged us for 2 bottles of dessert wine at c.£50 each instead of 2 glasses at c.£5. Who ever has a bottle of dessert wine each? Seems a rather careless mistake to make, and I would have expected a more embarrassed and fulsome apology!

Staff – excellent, except a last minute glitch – the reception staff sent us on a wild goose chase costing £10 by taxi when we urgently needed a pharmacy on a Sunday when the shops are closed. The reception staff did their best, but they just didn’t have the knowledge. In the end I had to get hold of a Sunday paper and see which pharmacies were on duty on Sunday and which time they were open, which the staff could have done in the first place (and so could I, if I’d known the staff were so unknowledgeable).

We just came home from spending five nights in this wonderful hotel. We have enjoyed every minute of it. The room (number 102) was beautifully done, perhaps the bed was a bit on the small side, but we didn't care. The view was breathtaking and the room very comfortable. The bathroom was small but nice, enjoyed taking a bath in the evening after all the walking around town. The staff was very friendly and dinner and breakfast were wonderful. We had dinner one night at the Governors which was suburb! Lovely wines, fantastic food and a very romantic atmosphere. The spa with it's wonderful whirlpools and fantastic relaxation room was very nice on a wet and cold day. We even took a couples massage which was fantastic! In the afternoon we enjoyed a nice afternoon tea, it was lovely as well.
Nothing was too much for the staff, arranging things, helping with everything and making us feel very special. The chocolates at night on the bed were a treat every night and the bottle of champagne and fresh fruit that was in our room on arrival was a wonderful gift.
Thank you so very much for a great time, it made the last days of our honeymoon in Guernsey very special. We hope to be back in the future, on one of our anniversaries!

Wow what a hotel you are treated like the queen all the time staff are extremely friendly and polite. the breakfast is fantastic and nothing is too much trouble. The room we had was luxurious and the service to the room was amazing. The gym and spa are tucked away down stairs but for me it was lovely to have the feeling that you were the only one that knew it was there what a treat. Luxury!!

We stayed at the OGH for a week at the end of June and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We had a lovely sea-view room with balcony, and although our bathroom was a bit on the small side it was immaculate and we loved the l'occitaine toiletries, big soft towels, bathrobes and slippers. The staff at this hotel are second to none - we were greeted by name each morning, each and every one was polite and courteous and we felt very well looked after .

The Brasserie, where we had breakfast each morning, was lovely, and we actually dined there on four occasions during our stay - we usually prefer to try out the local restaurants when we go on holiday - but the food was so good we were happy to 'eat in' as it were. Our only observation (not a complaint!) was that sometimes we found the dining room a little quiet and thought maybe some tasteful background music would have helped.

We would recommend the OGH to anyone visiting Guernsey - it should have a 5th star!

Its all been said before so I will keep it brief.
Welcome and Service faultless, especially round the pool.
Food/Breakfast very good.
Our room was a standard double, very clean maybe a bit small and basic for some but it was fine for us and wouldnt hesitate in having a standard double next time.
Our lasting impression is of the staff - polite, attentive, friendly etc etc, the brasserie manager even remembered our names.
I would not even consider looking anywherte else.
Thank you OGH, see you soon.

We were visiting Guernsey with my Father and I wanted somewhere special to stay for 3 nights. Having searched Tripadvisor I was set on a couple of choices including OGH.

The Hotel proved to be perfect for us in every way.

Firstly the service was exceptional, there were so many examples as to the special touches, here's one example that stood out. On day 2 I had mentioned to the breakfast staff how much I love my Earl Grey tea. That night, I noticed only Earl Grey tea had been added to our in room tea caddy!

This may have all been pure coincidence, but based on our other experiences at OGH, I doubt it.

We dined the first night and enjoyed a superb dinner in the Brasserie Restaurant - we remember discovering an amazing wine from South Africa called Hannibal that was a brilliant accompaniment to our meal.

The public rooms are all spectacular with lots of wonderful historic travel posters / pictures throughout, along with an excellent gym and spa that my wife used & really enjoyed.

Our king room overlooked the entrance of the property and a small park outside.

Our room was beautiful with plenty of room and a luxurious big bathroom with L'Occitane amenities. It was the little touches everywhere that we loved:

- International plugs - I think UK, US & European
- Really powerful shower
- Tea Maker with a real kettle & tea pot, cleverly out of sight, in it's own cupboard
- Fantastic lighting, clearly well thought through and all on dimmers
- The most beautiful decor, including soft fabrics on the wallets
- Inner window system, making our room very quiet - we could not hear any noise outside

Finally, OGH is located a few minutes walk up from the main shopping area / Marina part of St Peter Port, it's a beautiful place to explore on foot. There was always something wonderful about watching the Island scene from the garden of the Hotel, the regular ferry services, the yachts and the occasional cruise ship coming into port.

We look forward to a return visit in future.

Wow - this is such a great hotel. superb service, food (even at the pool!) and staff. Classic but comfortable luxurieus rooms. Love it!!

Like ALG027 we too found our bedroom very small. In fact based on his review we did attempt to up-grade on arrival but sadly they could only offer us a larger room or suite for one night, then it would have meant changing to the SMALL bedroom, so we didn't bother. So if you like a bit of elbow room I suggest you book early. That was really our only observation, we have no complaints, it is a world-class hotel, you'll be taken very good care of. Just one other thing, breakfast, it was a bit hit and miss, one day perfect the next not so good but I'm confident that if I'd have said something they would have prepared me another breakfast. Nice place, nice people running it. By the way try The Swan around the corner, a lovely pub serving wonderful food at affordable prices and real ale.

The Old Government House Hotel is in a great location. It's a charming old building with two restaurants and a small but pleasant bar overlooking the garden. My room overlooked the back of the hotel and was comfortable and well equipped. I loved the L'Occitane products in the bathroom and the bed and pillows were fabulous. They probably have the most luxurious dressing gowns I have come across too! I had a wonderful dinner (crab and prawns followed by steak). It was great. My room service breakfast was fabulous too. Great coffee and fantastic croissant. However, Old Government House is an unusual place - perhaps deliberately. They have a wonderful building but someone there has an a great enthusiasm for installing suspended ceiling tiles. They are everywhere and look foul and are completely at odds with the rest of the style of the place - chintzy and homely. They need to style police in! I must confess that I found the formality of the staff a little much in a small place - it's not Paris or New York - so the heavily suited staff (all wearing red carnations?!), especially in the lobby and the restaurant seemed out of place and frankly a bit tacky - it doesn't really work, although my elderly aunt would love it! Nevertheless, I would stay again. The food is great and the bed was fabulous.

Cannot praise this hotel highly enough. Every moment we stayed in the hotel we were treated like royalty. We tried their famous afternoon tea, we had the hotel make us a picnic for a beach day, we used the spa.....nothing was too much trouble, and every aspect was 5 star. We will definitely be back agains soon.

Just returned to UK after spending 2 nights at this hotel on business. The smell of Lilies as you enter the lobby is over powering. It stinks, they are even on the table when you eat breakfast, the smell reminded me of a funeral. Room was nice, but was kept awake all night by next door's TV. The walls are so thin you hear everything. Staff are very pleasant and always smiling. Quite old fashioned decor and the lounge very wierd in presentation. Wouldn't go back, Duke of Normandie Hotel just down the road is nicer and cheaper.