Yachting and Boating World forums: Need a decision!

Hi Everyone,

Firstly Fergus's suggestion of Le Grand Grousier has now been endorsed by 4 other parties. I was at Cherbourg last weekend and when asking for directions at the Marina to the restaurant some people behind me immediately commented that they had eaten there the previous night and it was excellent.

Hamble Point Yacht Charters do a annual corporate X channel challenge and after a number of complaints about the cost v quality of Cherbourg YC, transferred for the last few years to Le Grand Grousier (Le GG). For HPYC they take 120 and the restaurant put up a marquee in the garden (small extra charge). HPYC recommend it as well.

Everything is positive about Le GG except the deposit and room options. They have 3 options on accomodation, a room for 60, a room for 30 or a marquee for up to 150 but Le GG need to make as early as poss reservation for the Marquee. Perhaps the worse aspect is that if Le GG need to refuse all other reservations to their gastronomique restaurant they not unreasonable want a deposit against no shows - which is not unreasonable if you are running a quality in demand restaurant!!

In the light of the previous years moans about Cherbourg YC personally I welcome Fergus's recommendation and this opportunity.

If everyone is happy I will handle the deposit side and propose the following:-

1. You express an interest in going with numbers per boat.

2. I PM you my address and you send me deposit.

3. Once enough confirmed interest is expressed by deposits received I send off deposit.

4. Options - Plse remember that the YC last year was 55Euro the wine etc at Le GG look excellent I suggest we go for the 22 + 15Euro 3 course meal & wine menu. Please consider that we may be on a number of long tables and boat parties may be mixed between tables so we need to opt for one option and frankly ordering your own drinks and trying to possibly share between various tables really won't work.

Now we have already missed the boat with Cherbourg YC so we need to be quick to secure this one. I have already made a provisional booking and they will hold this but will contact me/Fergus if they get another party expressing an interest and we will have 1st option to secure booking with deposit.

I am inclined to go for reserving the room for 60 and after 1st 60 have a waiting list then if anyone needs to cancel I would hope to be in a position to arrange the reserve party to effectively refund the deposit of the cancelling party. Obviously it may not be completely smooth but I cannot think of a better way and am open to suggestions. If its F9 that weekend then I think we have to accept the risk of loosing deposits.

If demand is definate say for 80+ (it was about 72 last year) If the majority wish I will try to switch booking from the room to a marquee (remember small extra charge).

Please post your comments asap.

Edited by Sailfree (02/07/2008 11:41)