Ayr’s Fairfield House Hotel brings Christmas cheer to Farepak victims

A TOP Ayrshire hotel has stepped in to provide a celebration Christmas meal for local Farepak victims.

The 4-star Fairfield House Hotel in Ayr is offering a free festive lunch on Saturday 23 December to Ayrshire people who lost money when the Swindon-based Christmas savings club crashed last month.

Fairfield House Hotel general manager Stuart Maxwell explained: "Some of our staff have been affected, and we all know at least one person who has lost a significant amount of money in this affair.

"We wanted to do something meaningful to help, but felt that to make a donation to the Farepak fund would mean very little to local people. Inviting local victims to Christmas lunch at the Fairfield as our guests is our way of targeting our assistance specifically to Ayrshire."

The Fairfield is offering a free four course Christmas Lunch with wine, beer or soft drinks. The room will be fully decorated for Christmas with crackers etc on the tables. Entertainment will be provided.

Stuart went on: "We are offering each person who has lost money to Farepak the opportunity to apply for up to four tickets for the event. The successful entrants will be drawn at random, and will be contacted to let them know they’ve been successful."

Applications by post to:

Fairfield House Hotel
12 Fairfield Road
Ayr
KA7 2AS

E-mail: manager@fairfieldhotel.co.uk
Fax: 01292 261456

Telephone applications CANNOT be accepted.

Each applicant will be required to provide their agent’s number and personal Farepak number for verification purposes.

Closing date for applications: Friday 8 December.

ABOUT FAIRFIELD HOUSE HOTEL

The building which now houses the Fairfield House Hotel dates from 1900, starting life as the private dwelling of a Glasgow tea merchant. When it first became a hotel it was known as the Marine Court.

It was bought by its present owner, former Ayr accountant George Martin, in 1990, the year after its name was changed to Fairfield House Hotel.

General manager Stuart Maxwell (32) was appointed in March 2005.

Stuart lives in Ayr with his wife Kate and son James (4).

Originally from Portpatrick, Stuart obtained a degree in hotel management before working for a variety of hotel chains throughout the UK including Hilton, Stakis and de Vere.

He now heads a staff of 50 at the Fairfield House Hotel. Assistant manager Craig Adam from Troon, whose family are also in the hotel business, worked on the cruise ship QE2 for 10 years, and head chef Will Hay used to run the kitchen in restaurants owned by Gary Rhodes.

With its Fairfield suite and boardroom, the 44-bedroom hotel also hosts conferences, seminars and weddings, and can cater for up to 150 delegates or guests.

A major refurbishment costing £750,000 was completed last year at the Fairfield House Hotel in Ayr.

The ground floor of the building, including the reception area, bar, and restaurant has been renovated, creating a stylish but not ultra-modern look that blends in perfectly with the hotel’s striking exterior on the edge of the Low Green looking out over the Firth of Clyde.

General manager Stuart Maxwell said: "Perhaps in the past there may have been a tendency for the hotel to have been regarded as slightly stuffy - a place where people might go once a year for a special occasion.

"But if that was ever the case, things have certainly changed now, as we have succeeded in creating a relaxed, informal atmosphere with prices that are eminently affordable.

"The result is that our clientele come back on a much more frequent basis, whether it be for coffee, a quiet drink, lunch or an evening meal."

Earlier this year, The Martin’s Bar & Grill at the Fairfield House Hotel has won the Informal Dining Award at the Scottish Hotels of the Year Awards 2006.

The award citation read: "for excellent casual dining where quality and affordability meet."

Issued by:

Murdoch MacDonald
Fame Publicity Services
10 Miller Road
AYR KA7 2AY

Telephone: 01292 281498
Mobile: 07833 667322

www.famepublicity.co.uk

www.ayrshirebusinessnews.com