Diners are invited to take a trip down memory lane as the Dormy House Hotel unveils its refurbished Barn Owl Restaurant. Menus dating back to the 1970s and photographs from the hotel's archives tell the tales of yesteryear. Non-executive director Ronald Jones, a former general manager of Claridge's, talks to TRACY WATKINS Ronald Jones OBE, took over the coveted role of director and general manager of Claridge's Hotel in London from a long serving Dane, who had put in 46 years' service. When Mr Jones retired from the same post, he found himself heading north to the Cotswolds and shaking hands with yet another Dane, this time Ingrid Philip-Sorensen, on his appointment as non-executive director of the Dormy House Hotel in Broadway.

He said: "I have always admired Ingrid as one of the world's most natural hostesses, and when she approached me to join the board, it was an easy decision to accept.

"The Dormy House is a country inn with banqueting and conference facilities and an excellent reputation - I have always been struck by its charm."

Of his role as a non-executive Mr Jones said modestly: "I assist where I can."

He has slept in most of the 44 rooms. His favourites are Rose Cottage, a true Cotswold hideaway, and the new penthouse suite, and he always gives feedback to the management on the quality of service experienced.

Given his own half-century in hospitality, he brings a wealth of experience and some interesting tales of yesteryear, too.

He believes what was important when he ran the show at the Royal family's favourite hotel is the same today - a genuine welcome and high levels of cleanliness.

At Claridge's, then owned by the Savoy Group, he insisted on having an office by the front door, relying on the doormen to buzz him regarding the importance of the guest arriving.

He said: "For every arrival, I received one buzz, two in quick succession for a named guest, and three for a member of the Royal family."

It is an observation he made to the Dormy House, and his modern uptake on the buzzer system he describes as the six-foot rule.

"If anyone - be it guest or member of staff - comes within a circle six-feet of you, acknowledge them with a greeting and a smile, " he said.

"It does nothing but good. You can tell in a couple of minutes whether it is a good hotel or not. If the receptionist doesn't look up from the computer, you know you're in trouble."

Decorating the walls of the Barn Owl with the hotel's nostalgia is the idea of general manager David Field, who has been with the Dormy House Hotel for 26 years.

Mr Field said: "There have been so many happy memories - why not share them with a wider audience".

There are those celebrities such as Kenny Everett and Jimmy Tarbuck who are memorable for their antics, casting them into the bracket of celebrity men behaving badly.

Jimmy Ta rbuck succeeded in getting the Dormy House on the front page of The Sun back in 1989, with a headline-grabbing 'Tarby's Night with Blonde' - destination Dormy.

When Kenny Everett stayed it was not always in the best possible taste, either.

"Mr Everett was in the dining room and was his usual over-exuberant self, so I had to keep going over to him and asking him to tone things down, so as not to upset the other guests" Mr Field recalled.

"It ended up with me chasing him around the restaurant in true Tom and Jerry, cat and mouse fashion".

Mr Field remembers one memorable evening watching an FA cup final with commentator John Motson.

"It was before the days of Sky TV in bedrooms, so I organised for John and I to watch the match at the hotel's conference centre. Sitting there watching the game with a professional commentator and a Scotch will take some beating, " he sighed.

Menus from the 1970s adorning the walls of the Barn Owl feature sirloin steak at £1.45, desserts like lemon meringue pie at 25p, and vintage Bollinger at just £4.50 a bottle.

Ron Jones sees a younger version of himself in David Field. He said: "What I admire about him is that he's able to take up the shortfall, because he's got experience in all aspects of running a hotel.

"At the end of the day, if there's no one to switch over, David can, and does, do it himself".

Mr Jones is also complimentary about recently-appointed chef Andrew Troughton, and describes his menus as a 'breath of fresh air'. Local ingredients are used in seasonal dishes by this up-and-coming chef who has gained experience working in popular venues in the Cotswolds.

Recommendations by Mr Jones - a man who knows the gastronomic likes and dislikes of kings and queens - include chef's parsley risotto with vegetables, crispy shallots and Parmesan in the Barn Owl Restaurant this spring, and, with his own touch of nostalgia - loin of Blythburgh free range pork with Savoy cabbage in the dining room in the autumn.

Contact: The Dormy House Hotel, Broadway. Call 01386 852711, or visit the website: www.dormyhouse.co.uk