One of Brighton’s best kept hotel secrets is to get a new lease of life. The 12-bedroom Blanch House in Atlingworth Street, Kemp Town, was purchased last week by independently owned Seventeenten Hospitality Ltd – with the aim of respecting the Regency townhouse’s heritage as one of the city’s first boutique hotels and further developing it as a warm, contemporary establishment offering a professional and personalised service, stylish accommodation and quality breakfast, at prices to suit most people’s pockets.
Scheduled to open in July, Blanch House – located ten minutes walk from the centre of Brighton and a stone’s throw from the seafront – is currently undergoing a major refurbishment which also will enable it to become a top class venue with a ‘green’ ethos for weddings, civil partnerships, private functions, conferences, meetings, training, product launches and art exhibitions.
Behind the venture are two Sussex-based business people who are experienced within the hospitality industry and the provision of first class personalised service; and both are passionate about working with people. Founder of Brighton and Hove-based specialist HR development consultancy ‘Occupational Counselling Consultants’ (OCC), Jeremy Ornellas, has joined forces with established professional hotelier Kerry Turner MIH, Director of OCC Recruitment and a former Chairman of the Sussex Branch of the Institute of Hospitality, to take Blanch House to the next stage in its evolution as a successful hotel. Kerry’s career has included working within the hospitality industry at some of the most prestigious hotels in London and the South East – including being General Manager for over 13 years with Historic Sussex Hotels at the group’s Ockenden Manor in Cuckfield; Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa at Climping; and The Spread Eagle Hotel at Midhurst, West Sussex.
Acting as Advisor/Director to Blanch House is one of the leading figures in the UK Hospitality industry – Peter Bramich FIH, who was Managing Director of the award-winning Deans Place Country Hotel and Restaurant in Alfriston, East Sussex. One of the many highlights of his long and illustrious career was nine years as General Manager of the 328-bedroom Brighton Metropole Hotel and Conference and Exhibition Centre, a position he left in 1997 to purchase Deans Place. Another was his role as the former President, then Chairman, of the Institute of Hospitality – the worldwide professional body for managers and aspiring managers in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry. Semi-retired since selling Deans Place in August 2008, Peter is, amongst his many hospitality education and charitable activities, a Member of Council for the Considerate Hoteliers Association – comprising like-minded hoteliers, whose purpose it is to encourage, assist, cajole and motivate fellow hoteliers to adopt sustainable, environmentally friendly and socially responsible practices.
Jeremy Ornellas will take charge of the day-to-day management of Blanch House – together with his sister Sara Ornellas, an experienced Events Organiser within the hospitality profession – whilst Kerry concentrates on OCC Recruitment. “Kerry and I are very excited about re-opening Blanch House,” said Jeremy, who is passionate about people and their needs, both personally and professionally, from his extensive work as a counsellor, coach and small business mentor. “I am looking forward to forming a happy, contented and productive team – something that will be a priority objective at Blanch House to ensure the highest standards of service delivery to all our guests ensuring that they will want to return for more.”
Kerry Turner added: “With our combined business acumen, talents and passion for the hospitality industry, we are determined to make Blanch House grow and flourish as a leading Brighton hotel for many years to come.”
Andrew Moore, at Christie + Co, Maidstone Branch – who handled the sale of Blanch House with the help of Christie Finance – commented: “I am very pleased that Blanch House has been sold to local businessmen Jeremy and Kerry; and I am confident they will bring the business back to its former glory and that Blanch House will remain a landmark business for Brighton to be proud of.”