Hotel steps back in time with its hunt for a butler (From Ledbury Reporter)

Aylestone Court Hotel shows Downton how it's done

3:00pm Sunday 30th September 2012 in News By Lydia Johnson

Hotel owner Jason Kay is looking for a butler.

STAFF at a Hereford hotel are taking their ‘step-back-in- time’ approach even further – by employing a butler.

The position is something of a rarity these days apart but managers at Aylestone Court Hotel are hoping someone in the county will give the new role a go.

Hotel owner Jason Kay said the applicant must love serving people and be prepared to carry out all the tasks of a waiter while being a friend to the guest, willing to talk to them – and going that extra mile.

He said: “Stepping into our hotel is a bit like stepping into the past anyway, and we’ve been thinking of employing a butler for a long time and just decided to go for it.

“We like to give guests a slower way of life. People can sit around in the library and drink brandy like they would have done 100 years ago.

“For people who like Downton Abbey it’s great, but that’s not the reason we’re doing this.”

Adam Raphael, editor of The Good Hotel Guide, said: “Some top of the range, extremely expensive city hotels boast that they have a butler available for each customer, but for ordinary hotels I have never heard of such a post.”

Anyone interested in applying for the vacancy should call 01432 359342.