My eye was caught this morning by a headline in a Big Hospitality briefing: Win a restaurant and £10,000 with "We Love Malton".
I was transported back nearly 20 years to March 1991 when I spent every weekend in Malton. My company, Alehouse Investments Ltd, was running Norton Manor Hotel on behalf of the receivers - I think we had a free tenancy because that worked out cheaper than boarding the place up and having to provide security - Norton being the smaller neighbour of Malton, joined together by a bridge across the Derwent.
I have some very happy memories (not suitable for sharing) along with some sad ones: I had a flaming row there with a co-director who had worked for me since she was only 16 - an argument which proved to be terminal to our friendship. Fawlty Towers had nothing on us!
The Car Park
The Front, with the conservatory
Main entrance (with my pride and joy: the car!)
Reception, with yours truly in attendance
Rita Bennett, the company book-keeper,
serving customers in the conservatory
Roger Lismore, the manager (and chief cook & bottle washer)
laying up the dining room
One of the 13 bedrooms - the numbers jumped from 12 to 14!
Alan Statham, Roger's deputy, in the kitchen
The Bank Holiday Bouncy Castle
What do you mean, I should be kept behind bars?
