Checking-in with…
Jane Brook, Festival Director
A very familiar face in Rye, Jane has a glorious 12-minute commute each day in her Mini from Appledore to Rye along the beautiful Military Canal Road to her base at Space Coworking. With a background in software and publishing, she is most recognised around town as the proprietor of the incredibly popular Brewery Yard Club, a cocktail and event venue (now closed). In her spare time as Chair of the Rye Chamber of Commerce, she loves helping people and connecting people and places, and always has a bunch of creative ideas up her sleeve and at least one project on the go. She is currently flexing her events and hospitality muscle as Festival Director of The Rye Harvest Wine and Food Fair, making its debut on the Cricket Salts, as featured in this month’s newsletter! And remember, one lucky ticket holder could win a night here at The George.
What brings you to the George?
I am often found here – it’s the chicest place in Rye to meet! We hold the Chamber of Commerce AGM in the fantastic ballroom here and the Long Room is great for business meetings.
List 3 things you won’t leave home without
My phone, lip balm and glasses!
What is your earliest hotel memory?
Being served food by a stranger in the 70’s at a little hotel on the Isle of Wight. I had never been in a restaurant before and the very smart young waitress served pea and ham soup as the first course. Blew my little mind that a/ soup can be green (I guess I’d only ever had tomato?) and b/ that more food followed. So much food. My sister and I wrote her a ‘thank you’ letter for all the food when we got home.
What is the best/most important part of staying away in a hotel for you?
Comfort, luxury and great service are a given, but it’s the escapism that I look forward to most.
What are you currently reading/binge-watching/listening to?
Listening to Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake, and just finished binge watching “What we do in the Shadows” for the third time. Can’t get enough!
Do you have a hotel lobby/lift story you’d care to share with us?
I am told I once shared a lift with Magic Johnson. I never recognise famous people (especially sports celebs) so there’s likely to be more! I have mis-identified lots of people. I am quite good at that.
What do you always forget/lose when you go away?
Phone chargers and socks.
Hypothetically, who would you most like to discover is a fellow guest?
A ghost maybe? I am not a believer but would like to be proved wrong.
What helps you get to sleep at night? (Keep it clean!)
Clean sheets, a pillow that is ‘just right’ and David Mitchell (audiobook).
My secret Rye discovery is….
How many fabulous local vineyards and food producers are on our doorstep. You can discover 13 handpicked local vineyards and winemakers and a selection of artisan food producers that don’t appear on Rye’s high street at The Rye Harvest Wine and Food Fair this September – a celebration of the fabulous bounty of the land and sea around Rye.
Click the image to book your Harvest Fair tickets.
