Tuesday 30 December 2014
Our Team
Name: Amanda Rose
Role at The Old Stocks: Chief of Guest Happiness!
More about me …
I’ve lived in the Cotswolds all my life, growing up between two farms. My family were traditionally farmers, and our farm is now owned by Alex James, the former guitarist of Blur, who is now a famous cheesemaker. I grew up hunting and shooting and was a member of the pony club, so I’m very familiar with the area, and that’s something that’s proved invaluable while working at The Old Stocks.
I’ve always worked in hospitality, and it’s something I’ve got a real passion for. In my spare time, I also help to run the local rugby club, taking care of functions and wedding planning, but I’m trained as a beauty therapist too and still offer mobile beauty therapy from time to time. It sounds like a lot, but I like to keep busy!
During the refurbishment …
Even though the main building is off-limits for now, we’re all still working really hard in the office. I’m sourcing fun and quirky items for the bedrooms, like toiletries, but I’m also out looking round the area at what other businesses offer and getting some ideas about how to do things better and differently. We’d like to offer some unique packages when we open that really showcase the best of the Cotswolds, and I’m working on some ideas around race week and polo at the moment.
I’m looking forward to …
I’m so excited about what it’s going to be like when we reopen in February. The Old Stocks is going to be so quirky and completely unique to the area. So it’s really exciting to be part of this project, watching the hotel grow and seeing what it becomes.
The Old Stocks Inn is different because …
It’s not going to be stuffy or formal. We’re going to help our guests go on their own Cotswolds adventure, and we want to make it as unique for each individual as we can.
A lot of businesses in the surrounding area come and go, and many of them seem to offer the same thing, which can be a bit boring. They’ve all got the same paint colours, similar menus, and you could be at any hotel, which is why I’m so excited about what’s happening at The Old Stocks.
Great local knowledge …
As I’ve lived here all my life, and have worked in hospitality and beauty for a long time – professions that really allow you to get to know people – I have a really diverse knowledge of the area. I’m going to work with local businesses to get great deals for our guests, and I’ll be able to tell our guests about nice walks and pubs that they might not necessarily be able to find in the guide books.
The coach trips usually take people round all the same places, but we’ll be able to tell guests about those hidden treasures, so they can avoid all the crowds and find a secret spot in the Cotswolds that will always mean something to them.
The times are changing …
Lots of things in the area have changed over the years – Cheltenham race week is a great example of this. It used to be all about country folk in their tweed, but now there’s a large proportion of racegoers who aren’t countrified, who have saved all year for their break, whether it’s a group holiday away with friends or a couple’s break which takes in the races as well as other aspects of the area.
Stow is more cosmopolitan than it’s ever been, which means we get a really diverse range of people coming to the town. Interestingly enough, Stow is becoming a popular place for international tourists to visit, and before we closed, we had lots of Japanese tourists come and stay with us. While it’s great to be able to introduce the area to people from the UK, I think it’s really exciting to share with international visitors exactly what’s great about the area.
My favourite Cotswolds discovery …
Even though I’ve lived here all my life, I’m still discovering new things every day, and that’s why I still love being here. The people are wonderful, we’ve got such beautiful scenery, and we’ve got brilliant places to eat, drink and walk. The Cotswolds has got everything you could possibly want.
Foodie heaven …
There’s lots of lovely local produce that’s unique to our area. I love cheese and we got a lot of brilliant cheeses that were produced in the area. The Cotswold Cheese Company is located on Digbeth Street in Stow, and they stock every kind of cheese you could want, from whisky-smoked Brie to a good old Double Gloucester. They even make a real ‘cheese cake’, ideal for those who haven’t got a sweet tooth!