Local Reviews
In August 2018, Sian C said about Old Government House Hotel & Spa
This was a very special holiday of five nights in total to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. We booked a classic room and were made welcome from the first greeting on the steps as we arrived, to the final farewell from the lovely reception team. Our room, although it didn't have the best view, was comfortable, stylish, spotlessly clean and inviting. We can't possibly name every member of staff as they were all exceptional but we recall Gareth Byrne who was particularly welcoming and easy to talk to. We thank all the staff for their kind services and the little extras that added to our stay. This was our first stay at OGH and we did not want to leave! We hope to return, thank you all so much.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In August 2018, flutefairy said about Old Government House Hotel & Spa
We have just returned from a wonderful four night stay at the OGH; this historic hotel richly deserves its 5 star rating. In short, I’d rate it as excellent in all respects: the rooms both public & the bedrooms, dining experiences, location, pool & garden and the staff are all first rate.
As this is a long review (and not all visitors will be residents and hence may only be interested in certain aspects e.g. dining) I will review different aspects of the hotel under subheadings which may help readers to find relevant information faster.
Food, Drink & Public Rooms
The OGH. has a number of restaurants and bars each with a different character & style of decoration. We enjoyed breakfast and two evening meals in the Brasserie. The website pictures really do not do justice to this light, airy restaurant – it is well decorated and attractive in its own right and commands lovely views over the hotel’s garden to the sea beyond. As the restaurant is tiered even those sitting towards the back still get a good sea view. If the weather is warm one can breakfast or take lunch outside in the garden. The food is excellent: well prepared, tasty, a good choice of dishes but not overly expensive. During our Friday night evening meal live entertainment was provided by a good pianist who played a well chosen repertoire – good to listen to but not so overpowering so that one could not have a conversation. Service in the Brasserie was superb in all respects, the staff are a real credit to the hotel: friendly, warm & approachable combined with being professional and efficient.
The OGH has an Indian Restaurant called ‘The Curry Room’ – it looked great and was decorated in a grand Victorian/Edwardian style. My husband does not care for Indian food so we did not eat here but I thought the menu sounded appetising.
If Al Fresco dining is desired one can eat in the Olive Grove – which specialises in lunches and afternoon tea. We did not eat here but it is certainly an attractive place to eat.
The Crown Club is another venue where one can obtain food and drinks – this is separated into a number of smaller, beautifully decorated, more intimate sections (both indoor and outdoor) to afford guests a little privacy. One can come here just for drinks, currently they offer many different types of gins – I only had time to try one of the many on offer, however, I enjoyed the experience. Food available in the Crown Club includes light lunches, afternoon teas & lighter, informal, evening meals. The bar is open to nearly 1 in the morning so one can pop in if one has arrived late at the hotel.
The Sir John Coward lounge is an elegant, comfortable room beautifully decorated in a Victorian style. Here you will find comfortable armchairs & coffee tables - it’s a good place to relax (board games and newspapers are available). I should imagine this room looks very cosy in winter as one can sit by the open fire. There is a lounge menu and staff always seem to be available to take your order, we chose to sit here for after dinner coffee and very pleasant it was too. Incidentally, the wrought iron gates at the entrance to this lounge were originally made for Cunard’s liner ‘The Mauritania’ built in 1906.
Although we were not attending a function we were able to see inside the ballroom – a lovely, spacious, well decorated room with beautiful chandeliers and, to crown it all, views over the sea – a lovely venue for a wedding or special party.
The Bedrooms
Parts of the OGH hotel date back to 1775 and in the intervening years has been extended a number of times which leads to the creation of a very interesting building. As the name suggests this really was an Old Government House only being converted to a hotel in 1858, therefore it should come as no surprise that, unlike a modern, purpose -built hotel where one bedroom looks much like another, the rooms here vary considerably in shape, size, decoration and hence price. If one reads the information on the website one finds that details about room size are crystal clear – if having a big room is really important to you then click on the button that says, ‘more information about the room’ and you will find its area in m2 so one can make an informed choice. We made the decision that having a large room wasn’t really important to us as we had come to visit the island not just sit in a bedroom and so we opted for the smallest and cheapest available rooms which were very economically priced but still provided all the furnishings & equipment one might expect in a hotel of this class plus gave us full, free access to all the amenities of the hotel. We think we made the right choice for us, yes the room was small but was beautifully decorated and had a wonderful view over the swimming pool to the harbour, town and sea beyond, I doubt we could have had a better view even from a more expensive room. What’s more I could still ‘see the sea’ when sitting up in bed enjoying an early morning cuppa! Although this was one of the cheaper rooms it still had free wifi, satellite TV, air conditioning, safe, plenty of storage space, full length mirror, bathrobes & slippers & a lovely bathroom with a separate bath and shower. The room was clean, well maintained and serviced twice daily and complimentary water and Guernsey newspaper were provided plus a little treat of cakes or biscuits at bedtime. The bed was comfortable and we both slept well. On a practical note, in room 202 & possibly others too, you will need to flick the master light switch by the door in order to operate any of the other light switches in the room, this isn’t a problem once one knows about it but could lead to a belief that the lights in the room do not work. Furthermore, it should also be noted that I think we were lucky in obtaining a sea view room as I do not think all rooms in this category can offer this, however, bearing in mind one can always enjoy sea views from the hotel’s restaurants and bars this is no big issue.
Pool, Spa & Gym
The OGH has an outdoor pool in a sheltered, secluded area just beyond the garden. What is not apparent from the photographs is that the pool is clearly sectioned off into a shallow and deep section which is a useful safety feature if using the pool with little ones as one can set clear boundaries as to where they can go to prevent them getting out of their depth. We noted that a ball and a couple of children’s life belts were provided. The pool is heated so can still be used on chillier days. Although it is not a large pool my husband and I had it all to ourselves as most people were content to sit and sunbathe on the loungers provided around the pool edge. There are no life guards, however, there were two staff manning the pool area ensuring that there were plenty of fresh towels available for everyone and bringing drinks from the bar. We enjoyed a very pleasant time basking in the sun with a glass of wine (although the wine glasses used by the pool look real from a distance there is no need to worry about broken glass in the pool and surrounding area as they are actually made of plastic).
The OGH has a spa and gym in the basement – we did not use these so I cannot comment upon them, I believe they can be freely used by all hotel guests but are also open to members of the public for a fee.
The Staff
The staff are a real credit to this hotel: friendly, warm & approachable combined with being professional and efficient. Despite having to work long hours they still found time to be attentive and pro-active to one’s needs. Everyone from cleaners, gardeners, restaurant & bar staff through to the reception team seem to be working very hard to deliver really superb service. It is very difficult to single any staff member out but would like to say a special thank you to Gareth for always being attentive, Andrew for providing us with the history of the hotel, Elliott for being so friendly and informative and concierge, Jaro, for your very good advice as to where to go to research some of my family’s history ( if this interests you the the Priaulx library, in Candie gardens, is the place to go – many island archives, including old newspapers, are stored here and library staff are very willing to help you in your quest).
Location
The OGH is extremely well located for all the St. Peter Port (and indeed Guernsey itself) has to offer. The harbour, shops, Candie Gardens, museums and St. James concert hall are all very easily walkable from the hotel.
If arriving from the airport the taxi rank is directly opposite the airport entrance (bearing in mind the island is small, no taxi ride is likely to be overly expensive). If one crosses over the road one arrives at the bus stop where one can catch a number of buses to the town terminus of St. Peter Port, currently bus routes: 71, 91, 92,93, 94 & 95 will take you to town. The bus service is reliable and only costs £1.00 per journey and so this is an economic way to get from the airport to the hotel (or indeed to go anywhere else on the island). We chose to take the bus – it takes about 15 minutes to get from the airport to the town centre. We then walked to the hotel – we are two unfit, 60 somethings, who were carrying enough luggage for 5 days and it took about 10 minutes to walk up the hill to the hotel, it wasn’t a stressful walk. It should be noted that maps sometimes call St. Ann’s Place (where the OGH is situated) just Ann’s Place – they are the same, not separate streets.
If one arrives by ferry we noted that it would only take about 15 minutes to walk from there to the hotel,
Cars can be hired from the airport and the hotel has a small carpark, however, it is perhaps worth noting that St. Peter Port is very busy from a traffic point of view and parking places on the island can sometimes be hard to find. Furthermore, a number of Guernsey roads are very steep & narrow, (sometimes just the width of one car), this can make driving rather stressful so taxis or buses may be a more ‘restful’ option. If one does choose to bring a car the hotel staff will valet park this for you.
General Comments
The OGH is a truly superb hotel offering great facilities, personal service with charm and great attention to small details. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here and if we were to visit Guernsey again it is extremely likely that we would return here. Our thanks go to all the staff for a memorable trip.
As this is a long review (and not all visitors will be residents and hence may only be interested in certain aspects e.g. dining) I will review different aspects of the hotel under subheadings which may help readers to find relevant information faster.
Food, Drink & Public Rooms
The OGH. has a number of restaurants and bars each with a different character & style of decoration. We enjoyed breakfast and two evening meals in the Brasserie. The website pictures really do not do justice to this light, airy restaurant – it is well decorated and attractive in its own right and commands lovely views over the hotel’s garden to the sea beyond. As the restaurant is tiered even those sitting towards the back still get a good sea view. If the weather is warm one can breakfast or take lunch outside in the garden. The food is excellent: well prepared, tasty, a good choice of dishes but not overly expensive. During our Friday night evening meal live entertainment was provided by a good pianist who played a well chosen repertoire – good to listen to but not so overpowering so that one could not have a conversation. Service in the Brasserie was superb in all respects, the staff are a real credit to the hotel: friendly, warm & approachable combined with being professional and efficient.
The OGH has an Indian Restaurant called ‘The Curry Room’ – it looked great and was decorated in a grand Victorian/Edwardian style. My husband does not care for Indian food so we did not eat here but I thought the menu sounded appetising.
If Al Fresco dining is desired one can eat in the Olive Grove – which specialises in lunches and afternoon tea. We did not eat here but it is certainly an attractive place to eat.
The Crown Club is another venue where one can obtain food and drinks – this is separated into a number of smaller, beautifully decorated, more intimate sections (both indoor and outdoor) to afford guests a little privacy. One can come here just for drinks, currently they offer many different types of gins – I only had time to try one of the many on offer, however, I enjoyed the experience. Food available in the Crown Club includes light lunches, afternoon teas & lighter, informal, evening meals. The bar is open to nearly 1 in the morning so one can pop in if one has arrived late at the hotel.
The Sir John Coward lounge is an elegant, comfortable room beautifully decorated in a Victorian style. Here you will find comfortable armchairs & coffee tables - it’s a good place to relax (board games and newspapers are available). I should imagine this room looks very cosy in winter as one can sit by the open fire. There is a lounge menu and staff always seem to be available to take your order, we chose to sit here for after dinner coffee and very pleasant it was too. Incidentally, the wrought iron gates at the entrance to this lounge were originally made for Cunard’s liner ‘The Mauritania’ built in 1906.
Although we were not attending a function we were able to see inside the ballroom – a lovely, spacious, well decorated room with beautiful chandeliers and, to crown it all, views over the sea – a lovely venue for a wedding or special party.
The Bedrooms
Parts of the OGH hotel date back to 1775 and in the intervening years has been extended a number of times which leads to the creation of a very interesting building. As the name suggests this really was an Old Government House only being converted to a hotel in 1858, therefore it should come as no surprise that, unlike a modern, purpose -built hotel where one bedroom looks much like another, the rooms here vary considerably in shape, size, decoration and hence price. If one reads the information on the website one finds that details about room size are crystal clear – if having a big room is really important to you then click on the button that says, ‘more information about the room’ and you will find its area in m2 so one can make an informed choice. We made the decision that having a large room wasn’t really important to us as we had come to visit the island not just sit in a bedroom and so we opted for the smallest and cheapest available rooms which were very economically priced but still provided all the furnishings & equipment one might expect in a hotel of this class plus gave us full, free access to all the amenities of the hotel. We think we made the right choice for us, yes the room was small but was beautifully decorated and had a wonderful view over the swimming pool to the harbour, town and sea beyond, I doubt we could have had a better view even from a more expensive room. What’s more I could still ‘see the sea’ when sitting up in bed enjoying an early morning cuppa! Although this was one of the cheaper rooms it still had free wifi, satellite TV, air conditioning, safe, plenty of storage space, full length mirror, bathrobes & slippers & a lovely bathroom with a separate bath and shower. The room was clean, well maintained and serviced twice daily and complimentary water and Guernsey newspaper were provided plus a little treat of cakes or biscuits at bedtime. The bed was comfortable and we both slept well. On a practical note, in room 202 & possibly others too, you will need to flick the master light switch by the door in order to operate any of the other light switches in the room, this isn’t a problem once one knows about it but could lead to a belief that the lights in the room do not work. Furthermore, it should also be noted that I think we were lucky in obtaining a sea view room as I do not think all rooms in this category can offer this, however, bearing in mind one can always enjoy sea views from the hotel’s restaurants and bars this is no big issue.
Pool, Spa & Gym
The OGH has an outdoor pool in a sheltered, secluded area just beyond the garden. What is not apparent from the photographs is that the pool is clearly sectioned off into a shallow and deep section which is a useful safety feature if using the pool with little ones as one can set clear boundaries as to where they can go to prevent them getting out of their depth. We noted that a ball and a couple of children’s life belts were provided. The pool is heated so can still be used on chillier days. Although it is not a large pool my husband and I had it all to ourselves as most people were content to sit and sunbathe on the loungers provided around the pool edge. There are no life guards, however, there were two staff manning the pool area ensuring that there were plenty of fresh towels available for everyone and bringing drinks from the bar. We enjoyed a very pleasant time basking in the sun with a glass of wine (although the wine glasses used by the pool look real from a distance there is no need to worry about broken glass in the pool and surrounding area as they are actually made of plastic).
The OGH has a spa and gym in the basement – we did not use these so I cannot comment upon them, I believe they can be freely used by all hotel guests but are also open to members of the public for a fee.
The Staff
The staff are a real credit to this hotel: friendly, warm & approachable combined with being professional and efficient. Despite having to work long hours they still found time to be attentive and pro-active to one’s needs. Everyone from cleaners, gardeners, restaurant & bar staff through to the reception team seem to be working very hard to deliver really superb service. It is very difficult to single any staff member out but would like to say a special thank you to Gareth for always being attentive, Andrew for providing us with the history of the hotel, Elliott for being so friendly and informative and concierge, Jaro, for your very good advice as to where to go to research some of my family’s history ( if this interests you the the Priaulx library, in Candie gardens, is the place to go – many island archives, including old newspapers, are stored here and library staff are very willing to help you in your quest).
Location
The OGH is extremely well located for all the St. Peter Port (and indeed Guernsey itself) has to offer. The harbour, shops, Candie Gardens, museums and St. James concert hall are all very easily walkable from the hotel.
If arriving from the airport the taxi rank is directly opposite the airport entrance (bearing in mind the island is small, no taxi ride is likely to be overly expensive). If one crosses over the road one arrives at the bus stop where one can catch a number of buses to the town terminus of St. Peter Port, currently bus routes: 71, 91, 92,93, 94 & 95 will take you to town. The bus service is reliable and only costs £1.00 per journey and so this is an economic way to get from the airport to the hotel (or indeed to go anywhere else on the island). We chose to take the bus – it takes about 15 minutes to get from the airport to the town centre. We then walked to the hotel – we are two unfit, 60 somethings, who were carrying enough luggage for 5 days and it took about 10 minutes to walk up the hill to the hotel, it wasn’t a stressful walk. It should be noted that maps sometimes call St. Ann’s Place (where the OGH is situated) just Ann’s Place – they are the same, not separate streets.
If one arrives by ferry we noted that it would only take about 15 minutes to walk from there to the hotel,
Cars can be hired from the airport and the hotel has a small carpark, however, it is perhaps worth noting that St. Peter Port is very busy from a traffic point of view and parking places on the island can sometimes be hard to find. Furthermore, a number of Guernsey roads are very steep & narrow, (sometimes just the width of one car), this can make driving rather stressful so taxis or buses may be a more ‘restful’ option. If one does choose to bring a car the hotel staff will valet park this for you.
General Comments
The OGH is a truly superb hotel offering great facilities, personal service with charm and great attention to small details. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here and if we were to visit Guernsey again it is extremely likely that we would return here. Our thanks go to all the staff for a memorable trip.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In July 2014, escadaman said about The Crown Club
I visited this hotel and The Crown Club bar, for a refreshing drink whilst on a cruise ship stop in Guernsey . The venue is charming and opulent. The service from Ephraim was excellent and the drinks likewise. David the F&B Manager took time to talk to us about the island the the hotel, which made the experience all the more enjoyable. A lovely way to spend a sunny afternoon. I would deffinately go back!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In October 2014, N G said about The Crown Club
We chose this venue for a quick bite to eat and a glass of wine for a tenner. It's Tennerfest after all.
Service is excellent, ambience is fantastic, private and intimate atmosphere. Food also excellent if you are satisfied with a third of a child's portion. Ten deep fried gnocchi do not a meal make. They were delicious but by our estimation one pack of Waitrose gnocchi could make five Tennerfest meals. We went to Checkers afterwards to fill up on microwave burger and hot dog. We were starving. Nice wine, nice staff, just not enough food for anybody who likes tea of an evening. Off to Waitrose to see how many gnocchi you get in a packet. ..
Service is excellent, ambience is fantastic, private and intimate atmosphere. Food also excellent if you are satisfied with a third of a child's portion. Ten deep fried gnocchi do not a meal make. They were delicious but by our estimation one pack of Waitrose gnocchi could make five Tennerfest meals. We went to Checkers afterwards to fill up on microwave burger and hot dog. We were starving. Nice wine, nice staff, just not enough food for anybody who likes tea of an evening. Off to Waitrose to see how many gnocchi you get in a packet. ..
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In December 2003, Cruiser15691 said about Old Government House Hotel & Spa
Stayed at the OGH after hearing good word-of-mouth, but I was disappointed. The radiator didn't work, so I was basically living in the Sahara the entire time. The help didn't seem too interested in much, maybe they're jaded. Nice place for a stroll to St. Peter Port, but not my first choice for lodging in Guernsey.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In April 2005, bunny1 said about Old Government House Hotel & Spa
This hotel is supposed to be the best on the Island and I belive it is the best of a bad bunch. With the wealth this Island has I am amazed there are no 5 star places to stay. The OGH is ok but the rooms are very diffrent and some are of course better than others it really is pot luck, the saving grace is its spa and health area which is at least upto date. The messages at the Beuaty in the East are also very good.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In April 2005, Foss said about Old Government House Hotel & Spa
Just spent our 25yr wedding anniversary at the OGH and it was superb. Booked the Romantic Break package which was full of treats and we were not disappointed. Accommodation, food and service were all excellent. It was a truly 'fine' experience.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In June 2011, westerndh said about Old Government House Hotel & Spa
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.
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.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In March 2016, sandra k said about Old Government House Hotel & Spa
Spent 4 nights at the OGH. All staff were excellent., friendly and nothing too much trouble. Upgraded to a King room which was comfortable spacious and very clean.
Excellent position for exploring St Peter Port and Guernsey. Food in the restaurant and Curry restaurant very very good as was the food at the Duke of Richmond the sister hotel. The bus service in Guernsey is really good and reliable. Ticket office and all drivers very helpful. A really lovely trip and would definitely recommend this lovely hotel and Guernsey.
Excellent position for exploring St Peter Port and Guernsey. Food in the restaurant and Curry restaurant very very good as was the food at the Duke of Richmond the sister hotel. The bus service in Guernsey is really good and reliable. Ticket office and all drivers very helpful. A really lovely trip and would definitely recommend this lovely hotel and Guernsey.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In March 2016, MaryIv123 said about Old Government House Hotel & Spa
I am a member of the OGH Healt Suite for a couple of months. The gym, the souna, the jacuzzis are great, but the customer service is questionable. The elderly guy at the reception(I think his name is Kevin) is very rude and careless, he is always grumpy, never speaks with the guests, never greats. Couple of weeks ago he tryed to enter the ladies changing room!!! and he shouted at me that he is locking the gym and I have to leave. I was sooo surprized but I asked him if he could wait 1 minute. After I went out of the changing room he actually has locked the gym main door and I had to use the other exit. Unbelievable!!! And yesterday he started hoovering at 5.15 pm and the gym is working till 6.00 pm. He seemed so impatient to go home and to kick us out ... Realy bad customer service for a 5 Star hotel!!!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk