Murray Roberts writes about hotel amenities HK Magazine January issue | Page 28

HOUSEKEEPING PROFILE
HOUSEKEEPING MANAGEMENT
INTERVIEW GILLIAN ETHERIDGE,
OWNER OF GRIMSCOTE MANOR HOTEL
QUESTION 1 - PLEASE TELL US A BIT
ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND WHAT GOT
YOU INTO HOTEL MANAGEMENT
H My name is Gillian Etheridge and I’m
lucky enough to run this lovely hotel along
with Steven Cuddy my business partner.
Steve builds, restores and is putting this
old manor house back to its former glory.
I have over 40 years of experience in the
hotel trade. It all started when i was a little
girl and my grandparents ran a “judges
lodging” in Chester (a little bit like Downton
Abbey). It’s where my love affair started
in Hospitality, my grandparents taught
me about survival in life, cooking, sewing,
gardening, design, passion and individuality.
28 Housekeeping management
All precious elements you need in life.
After working in miners clubs, golf clubs
on Saturdays. I survived 4 years at a catering
college and 1 year in Germany. Thank fully
whilst at college the then Prestige “De Vere
Hotel” took me under their wing. Here i
worked 7 nights a week and college during
the day. With a wing, a prayer and plenty of
passion I learnt my trade and finally after
10 years of hard work, I became the first
female deputy general manager in the De
Vere group. (Remembering this was the 70’s
and female management was none existent)
I was then lucky to find work in a family
run hotel in Market Harbough, where i
then saw the less glamorous side of hotels
e.g. banking, early morning markets,
and warehouse buying, but all invaluable
experience and knowledge. Unbeknown to
me that I would use all of it in the future
QUESTION 2 - IN YOUR OPINION WHAT
MAKES A GOOD HOUSEKEEPING TEAM?
H I believe to make any sort of a good
team, you have to lead from the front,
be hands on with your team. If you
know how long it takes to do every
job, because you have worked in every
aspect of a hotel, then this builds up
respect and trust with your team.
I would not expect any member of our
small team to do a job that I would not