My wife and I visited here late October to celebrate an anniversary. We were looking forward to our stay here and I'm delighted to report that we were not disappointed.
We were warmly greeted upon arrival and offered a glass of sparkling wine during our check-in process. This was indicative of the level of attentiveness and friendliness that all the hotel staff showed.
Our room was on the second floor overlooking the harbour. The room was spacious, comfortable with a pleasant decor. This is true of the entire hotel, although finding our way to the room proved slightly confusing at first.
Breakfast is served in the Brasserie restaurant. There is a buffet selection of fresh fruits, yoghurts, cereals etc., which were always fresh and well-supplied. Cooked breakfasts are ordered from a menu and cooked freshly - which I approve of (nothing worse that cooked breakfast buffets in my opinion). Too often I find that full English breakfasts are a disappointment, but the OGH got this right. Tasty sausage and bacon - everything cooked just right. The coffee is nice too, but don't be afraid to ask for an extra shot in your cappuccino.
If we are lucky enough to return to Guernsey, the OGH is where we will stay.

We last stayed two years ago and rarely return to the same place but our last stay had been so good that we decided to return.

I booked the same classic room which we had been happy with. Very small but comfortable. Before our visit I had an e mail to inform us that there would be a function one evening and as our room was above we may be affected.

We were happy to put up with any noise as it was just one night. On arrival we found that we had been given £50 food credit which we presumed was for the inconvenience of the noise.

Well we were to find out that there were three functions on all three nights of our stay. On the third one I had to phone reception at 2.35am as people were still talking and we had been unable to sleep.

The receptionist on duty when we checked out just said sorry about the noise and sorry we had not been told about three functions. Premier Inn refund a nights stay for sleepless nights!

A nice hotel with a good team of staff but we wont return.

Had a long weekend / mini-first year wedding anniversary getaway with my wife to the OGH. We had spent our wedding in one of Red Carnation 's London hotels, so chose the place based on reputation. Did not disappoint!

The hotel was quite accommodating in providing a room far away from a wedding celebration and we had peace and quiet for the whole stay.

Location, facilities, staff and restaurant (and atmosphere) were simply exceptional.

Despite venturing out to the other highly-rated restaurants, we eventually gave in and kept coming back to the hotel for our meals towards the end of the trip.

As was the case with our previous experience with Red Carnation, everything was done at a luxury level, but with a sense of ease and familiarity that is hard to convey. My wife and I are and will continue to be repeat customers.

First visit to Guernsey and the Old Government Hotel and Spa was in the perfect location to be. From the minute that we walked in the staff were friendly and attentive. We had our first meal in the curry room and the food was beautiful, as was the wine flight which was wine chosen by the chef. The next night we ate in the Brasserie which again served excellent food. The Maitre'D was knowledgable and friendly, as were the waiters and waitresses. Our room was very comfortable and had a lovely view of the gardens and had sea views. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Quite simply, this is the best hotel I have ever stayed in. OGH is classically elegant, offering you affordable luxury. Even before you get there you are sent a ‘guest preference form’ so they can supply everything that will help make your stay perfect - and from the moment you arrive, you are treated like royalty.

Going for a ‘mother and daughter’ break, this was our second trip to OGH – our room was spacious, exceedingly comfortable and spotless. The bed linen is to die for, beautifully mongrammed with ‘OGH’ and the toiletries are all L’Occitane. The tea and coffee tray is exceptional and the turndown service each evening with little bags of goodies left on the pillow is a lovely touch.

The spa offers a first class service with warm and friendly therapists. There is a comprehensive list of treatments – all of which offer great value for money. After a busy day out on our feet, it was great to be able to use the steam room and jacuzzi’s to unwind.

Hotels are not often renowned for their food but at OGH, this really is exceptional. Using local, seasonal ingredients, quality of the fayre is outstanding. The afternoon tea is a ‘must-do’ but go hungry as the portions are very generous.

Possibly, the stand out feature though must be the staff. Headed up by a wonderful general manager (Andrew Chantrell), many of the staff remembered us from our short stay 3 years ago. We were welcomed back like old friends and they couldn’t do enough to make our stay as happy as possible.

So wonderful is this hotel, that I have booked to go back in September with my husband for a mini break to celebrate our birthdays. We can’t wait!

Much improved over the past several years. A premium hotel at a corresponding price - but worth it. Great breakfast and dinner, but there are other exciting places to eat nearby which are well worth a look.

We spent 4 days at OGH over the Xmas period.From the onset we experienced only the best of service.Reception was faultless,our room was lovely and overlooked the harbour with balcony & electric up/down full length windows [room 125].We sampled all the bars & restaurants and found both the food and service without fault.The staff were exceptionally obliging and helpful.The 'Gin Bar' is well worth a visit and Gareth is an expert mixologist.Thank you Gareth for the exquisite 'Christmas Pudding' cocktail.Could I finish without mentioning Andrew Chantrell the man at the helm of this tightly run ship ? No,so in a few words- Thanks Andy for making Xmas special for us and allowing us our 15 minutes of fame on Xmas day ! To the owners of the Red Carnation Hotels - you have a star of a General Manager-look after him.

To all the staff at the Old Government House especially Andrew Chantrell and Andi Raziya.
In a similar way to last year and not wishing to replicate information from the review at this time I do have to offer my apologies for not writing this letter to you upon our return from the most wonderful hotel, the Old Government House. Once again the pressures of work dictate what occurs and it goes without stating the obvious that our stay at the Old Government House was once again, one of relaxation and enjoyment.
On arriving at the Old Government House, as we entered through the glass double doors, Andi, the House Manager was there. Upon seeing my wife and I, Andi, as if by magic, flew from behind the reception desk to greet the two of us with hugs and sincere and honest pleasure at seeing us there again. This first meeting was one of total genuine pleasure and made my wife and I feel as though this was, in the words of Founder and President of the Red Carnation Group, Bea Tollman “ home away from home” (if only it was, we wish!). Following a few moments of reflection of the year that had passed, Andi introduced us to Aaron who was one of the most pleasant young gentleman you would ever have the pleasure of meeting. Aaron, took some of our bags and led the way to our room whilst articulating his extensive knowledge of the Red Carnation hotels throughout the world. Upon arrival at our room Aaron was more than obliging in the offer of anything that we required to let him or Andi know.
The room was just as we remembered, having a huge lengthy balcony with a panoramic view overlooking the harbour, most amazing. As the evening drew in, Castle Cornet, which was fully lit, completed the ambience of this most wonderful room and hotel. At any time of year, the situation of the Old Government House does make it ideally suited for the shops which are only a very short walk away as soon as you exit the hotel. It has to be stated once again that the Old Government House, itself, is absolutely amazing, from the point you enter the main door all the staff are so welcoming. There is a general feel of great cohesion where all the staff in the Old Government House appear to work so well together. With a role model of Andi, there is no wonder that the philosophical belief of the owner resonates through her whole persona.
Andi is a true ambassador of the Red Carnation Hotels’ philosophy of “home away from home”. Andi is the most excellent “front person” my wife and I have ever known and had the pleasure to meet; Andi’s genuine friendliness and ever efficient organisation is amazing and most importantly the sincere kindness and commitment to her guests - her “family friends”, is never far from your mind, we thank you sincerely for this.
During our stay at the Old Government House there were many of the staff who deserve a special mention in their emulation of Andi as the ideal role model. Aaron, who assisted with cases and was so knowledgeable was a great help. Alexandra, Anna and Olga in the restaurant were exceptional in the way that their friendliness made us feel so welcome. All the staff in the kitchen in the preparation of their culinary cuisine was exceptional and we thank you for all the effort that you have gone to make our stay so welcoming with your gastronomic delights. Under Andi’s guidance there was Bianca whose creativity is kept in a shadow and could be utilised more, nevertheless, a most kind and thoughtful person. In a similar way there is Holly and Olivia (who did eventually get my name correct!), who were always there to assist when required, in whatever way they could, once again, exemplary role models for the staff at the Old Government House. One of the gentlemen that we did meet was De-Silva (apologies if we have spelt your name incorrectly), who was charged with the responsibility for ensuring the surroundings are maintained to the high standards that one would expect of the Red Carnation hotel group. There was also Miguel, who upon our departure was kind enough to take my wife and I with our luggage to the airport. Miguel is a very intelligent young man with a great deal to offer, essentially an artist at heart, but with an underpinning philosophy entrenched in the work he undertakes. Within the spa facilities, the young lady by the name of Jo was and still is incredibly gifted in her ability to physically manipulate, on this occasion, my wife’s neck and shoulders due to a strain. This made our stay even more pleasant as there was a great relief from the pain experienced by my wife, thank you Jo for this.
The manager, Andrew, did make himself available to focus upon some very important issues whilst staying at the Old Government House. It was very reassuring to know that the thoughts and perceptions of this “adopted family” could be listened to with a reassuring understanding of what was being discussed. It goes without saying that as guests (adopted family) there is a genuine concern for the well-being of each and every family member and this is something that should be celebrated and capitalised upon. The sincerity that was demonstrated by Andrew is one seldom witnessed in organisations as huge as this. The individual attention that he, as well as Andi, demonstrate are a credit to the organisation and should be recognised as such. We would strongly recommend to any visitor to Guernsey to stay, if possible, at the Old Government House and soak up the whole experience of this exquisite hotel and relax in the comfort of this “home away from home”. If you would not mind Andrew, could you please forward this communication to Bea Tollman, that would be appreciated, as both my wife and I feel that you, all your staff and especially Andi do possess that extra immeasurable quality which makes you all the exceptional people you are. There is certainly a comprehensive understanding of what the founder, Bea, advocates and inspires. Thank you for making our short break with you the exceptional time it was. Your time and attention to detail is unrivalled, thank you once again.
John and Diane Connell

Stayed here for the weekend while visiting friends on the island. Our arrival was rather underwhelming with the reception staff on the Friday evening seeming uninterested in dealing with us. We paid more to stay in a sea view room, so I was very disappointed to get to the room and only catch a glimpse of the sea in the distance over a large number of buildings. it certainly was not similar to the room they advertise you are going to get with a sea view, and if I had known this would have been our view I would not have paid the extra. We were offered to upgrade to a room with an outdoor balcony for £30 per night, but as it was January and cold we did not think it was worth paying the extra when we had already paid over £580 for two nights. When I stay in 5 star hotels I expect a certain level of maintenance, and unfortunately this place is lacking. Our room had mold around the windows, a chio in the bath which had been badly painted over, holes in the wardrobes etc. and certain things such as the top of the television were thick with dust. We paid to have breakfast delivered to our room which was £3 extra and well worth it, although the breakfast room does look towards the sea and is a pleasant space so that's a good choice too if you are staying here more than one night. The person on the bar, although very slow at serving as there was only that one person working it, was very pleasant. The car park is also tricky to park in and only has limited spaces. In summary I would stay here only if I could get a very good deal, and only if I classed it as a 3.5 star as opposed to a 5 star.

We came to the government house by default as our booking had been for a sister hotel which had closed for refurbishment. As the Old Government House is five star I felt rather overwhelmed by the high level of service in every area. (they even offer to pack your bag for you !!) I cannot fault the hotel but I prefer to carry my own bags and find my own way around a place. Breakfast excellent, The service was absolutely five star.