About
Please allow me to introduce ourselves. We are Jon & Sarah Palmer and have owned and personally run the Pen Mill Hotel since 2003. We have taken the business from a drinking pub with live music to one of the areas most successful award winning, hotel based, food led pubs.
Our success comes from shear hard work, determination and a love for our independent hotel. A hotel where Sarah and I first met in 1999.
Business has not always been easy. We have suffered fire, recession and tremendous uncertainty in our 21 years at the Pen Mill. We have survived when many of the "big boys" have stumbled and fallen by the wayside. Having survived and grown to record levels during these woeful times are facts that we are immensely proud of.
Part of our success comes from working closely with our local, independent suppliers. Buying locally wherever we can. Be it food, drink or items for the hotel. We support local/British business wherever we can and hope that this is reciprocated.
We only employ those who are enthusiastic, energetic and willing to learn and people who are naturally cheerful and people who can smile! Whether you've just been offered the job of your dreams or you team has lost in the cup final, you want to be met by a cheerful disposition and a smile! This is the Pen Mill way.
Sarah, for 20 years took charge at the 'back of house', the kitchen, the engine room of the business. She led a brilliant team, tirelessly, whilst letting them flourish. Encouraging and building self belief, to be better today than you were yesterday. Sarah is now slowly, very slowly, handing over the reigns to youngest son, Harry. Now Head Chef and Co-General Manager. He's worked in the kitchen since he was just 13! Now with 15 years Pen Mill experience under his belt, there's not a lot he doesn't know about the Pen Mill and is determined to take the Pen Mill from strength to strength.
What type of food do we produce? Good quality, British pub fayre. We're not "gastro" but nor are we "pub grub". We're nestled nicely in the middle.
Myself (Jon), I, for the past 20 years have taken care of the 'front of house'. I was generally found working on my computer at the end of the bar, drinking ....... tea! Honestly, it's tea! Overlooking a team of men, women, boys and girls that make me proud, every single day! (well, most days!). However, like Sarah I am passing on the reigns slowly to Tim, our other Co-General Manager. A young man who has worked with us since he a 16 years old and shown such devotion, loyalty and professionalism in his years with us. A willingness to learn and move forward. He really is an asset to not only the Pen Mill but to myself and Sarah.
Customer service is one of the most important ingredients in our success. An ingredient that makes us the success we are today by making sure, you, our customer's return. We've taken so much from our travels both domestically and internationally and mould the best into our hotel.
We offer beautifully cooked, homemade food, from local ingredients with what the industry calls a 'perfect serve' drink. However, we're not a place for copious amounts of drinking. We want everybody to enjoy their visit to the Pen Mill. We don't want people leaving on their hands and knees. We want people to remember their visit. Add to this our beautifully presented hotel rooms with sumptuous beds and powerful showers and we offer the full package.
I almost forgot, we're Taste of the West Gold winners for our food and Silver winners for our accommodation.
