For the 11th year in a row the Mermaid Inn has achieved the 2 AA Rosette award for culinary excellence. To achieve this award for eleven consecutive years in a row does not happen without a strong team all pulling together.
Judith Blincow, co-owner of The Mermaid, said that the award had come at a perfect moment since next week, on February 18, she will have worked at the Mermaid for forty years; on June 11 she will have owned it for thirty, and the AA award tops everything off.
Judith said: “It is wonderful that all the hard work carried out, especially by our kitchen brigade working hard behind the scenes, has been recognised. We were so excited to receive the first award and it has been our aim to retain it. The majority of our 58 staff have been here for many years – in fact staff member Caroline has been here for forty years, like me and all members of staff work as a team.
“It is really lovely that the staff receive recognition for their hard work as they support and learn from each other. After lockdown we hit the ground running and we have an in-house joke: we say everyone is a foot shorter than when they started as they rush about so much because they work so hard to make the place so special.
“We are going to celebrate the thirty years anniversary of owning the hotel in June. We will celebrate with our staff and with those who have joined us on our journey and made it happen.
“I started here as a receptionist and the amusing part of the story is that I didn’t even apply for the job. I applied to a group of hotels as a wages clerk and then I got a letter which said ‘Congratulations. You have been successful and you will start as receptionist at The Mermaid Hotel.’ I have loved being here and being part of the team. We have the same ideals and goals and all work together and it works.”
Image Credits: Kt bruce , The Mermaid Inn .
As a person who has crossed the Atlantic nearly every year for over 50 years, I’ve stayed in hundreds of hotels in the UK and much of Europe but always return to Rye and the Mermaid. Congratulations to the staff and owners for making it such a welcoming place with a delightful, dedicated staff and such wonderful food. It’s like homecoming every time.
Mary Cooper, Washington DC