I like other people’s stories of where they live, and why they chose that location and not another.
And when they add a series of pictures it gets even better.
So, I was very pleased when my friend Ann emailed me with “these drawings and photos of the beloved Hotel de France”
Adding that “basically it was the reason we moved here.
We had been camping, with our three young children, and on the way back to the ferry, decided to stop for a snack.
We saw a sign for Grand Fougeray, and there, in the square, was this old hotel.
We walked in, to find the family, the owners, sitting down to lunch, after everyone had left.
We apologised for interrupting and asked if it was possible to have a sandwich.
Jean Pierre, the son, came over, and offered to open the restaurant for us. (3pm in the afternoon!)
We had a splendid meal, very homely, but delicious, with copious amounts of wine.
Afterwards we had a little walk around the town and decided to stay the night.
We had two rooms, one for the children, one for us, which having spent the last two weeks sharing a tent was a great relief.
It was quite primitive, the toilet was a bucket in the corner, but it was like something out of a 1950s film.
The family were so friendly and welcoming that we returned, year, after year, until finally, with early retirement, we had the chance to move over. M Victor, the owner actually found our house for us.
We have been here for nearly thirty years, mostly very happy”.
Now anyone who remembers the food programmes with Keith Floyd in the 1980s and 90s will appreciate Ann’s restaurant
Floyd was a wonderful chef, and television presenter, who could be fun, as well as irreverent and a master at making cooking look simply.
I bet he would have picked up on the Hotel’s menus and highlighted it simplicity, practicality pointing out that it did just what it set out to do ………..tell you what you could eat, with no pretension.
I just wish I had come across the Hotel de France.
Location; Grand Fougeray, Brittany
Pictures; Hotel de France; 1983, from the collection of Ann Love
So, I was very pleased when my friend Ann emailed me with “these drawings and photos of the beloved Hotel de France”
Adding that “basically it was the reason we moved here.
We had been camping, with our three young children, and on the way back to the ferry, decided to stop for a snack.
We saw a sign for Grand Fougeray, and there, in the square, was this old hotel.
We apologised for interrupting and asked if it was possible to have a sandwich.
Jean Pierre, the son, came over, and offered to open the restaurant for us. (3pm in the afternoon!)
We had a splendid meal, very homely, but delicious, with copious amounts of wine.
Afterwards we had a little walk around the town and decided to stay the night.
It was quite primitive, the toilet was a bucket in the corner, but it was like something out of a 1950s film.
The family were so friendly and welcoming that we returned, year, after year, until finally, with early retirement, we had the chance to move over. M Victor, the owner actually found our house for us.
We have been here for nearly thirty years, mostly very happy”.
Now anyone who remembers the food programmes with Keith Floyd in the 1980s and 90s will appreciate Ann’s restaurant
I bet he would have picked up on the Hotel’s menus and highlighted it simplicity, practicality pointing out that it did just what it set out to do ………..tell you what you could eat, with no pretension.
I just wish I had come across the Hotel de France.
Location; Grand Fougeray, Brittany
Pictures; Hotel de France; 1983, from the collection of Ann Love
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