We are Jerome and Carol Farrow, and our new venture started in January, 2005 with the purchase of St Helens Hotel, which we have renamed Marine Parade Hotel.   We previously owned a 7-bedroom guesthouse here in Eastbourne, which we ran successfully for 3 years.  We have three children and have worked, in the past, in the banking/computing and insurance industries in our younger days.

In our first year we undertook some major improvements to the building, including a brand new fire detection system.  Other projects included re-wiring (a four year project, completing in March 2009), upgraded cold water system, renewed flat roof to the rear, a new boiler, repairing and repainting the outside of the hotel alongside interior redecoration including recarpeting (almost - three rooms left!) throughout, as well as a new lift.

The work hasn't finished either. Work we did in the first year we know we could have done better, so we shall be revisiting the third floor. We have also only refurbished four of the ensuites so far, so we still need to update these.

By then, I'm sure the outside will need painting again!