From the Dover Mercury, 3 July, 2008

HOTEL AND RESTAURANT GURU WORKS HIS MAGIC AT THE WHITE CLIFFS.

A KENT businessman who transformed a once derelict manor house into an award-winning hotel has launched another project at St Margaret’s following a £1.5 million investment.

Gavin Oakley, who heads the team behind the four-star "Wallett’s Court" Country House Hotel and Spa in Westcliffe, has opened for business at The "White Cliffs Hotel."

The historic hotel and restaurant, formerly The "Garden House Hotel," is in the heart of St Margaret’s and centres around a traditional Kentish weather-boarded inn, parts of which dates back to Elizabethan times.

Many of the hotel’s 15 bedrooms have been refurbished and restyled to give them a contemporary New England twist, while the loft has been converted into a luxury micro spa offering ‘his and hers’ treatments using organic, hand-made products. The hotel also features the White Cliffs Trading Company store, which sells exclusive ranges of home and garden products from top British, Scandinavian and Italian designers.

Gavin, who won two AA dining rosettes for his restaurant at "Wallett’s Court," and plaudits in a number of guides, including The Good Food Guide, hopes to build on that reputation to provide a complementary hotel and restaurant offering at the three-star "White Cliffs Hotel." Nearly 40 people are employed at both hotels.

He said: “We’re taking a new approach to rural and village hotel accommodation.

“We want to capture the essence of life in coastal England by introducing a fresh, contemporary look and feel that will appeal to a wide audience. At the same time we’ll be maintaining the same level of quality and service that guests have come to expect from "Wallett’s Court."

“The Bay Restaurant is already very popular and we hope to build on that success by introducing innovative new menu ideas, which will reflect our passion for locally sourced, organic, free-range produce.” The "White Cliffs Hotel" and The Bay Restaurant caters for weddings, meetings and conferences, as well as parties and private dining.

From the Dover Mercury, 3 December, 2009

Hotel's free wine and pies for churchgoers

PEOPLE who attend the Christingle service at St Margaret's Church will be treated to mulled wine and mince pies afterwards.

Chefs at the Bay Restaurant, at the White Cliffs Hotel in the village, will be serving up some festive cheer to the churchgoers. The service is at 5pm on Christmas Eve.

Restaurant owner Gavin Oakley said: "The mulled wine and mince pies will be on the house and we'll also be putting on some live folk music. But we will be inviting visitors to contribute to our charity collection to support the church.

"There's always a really fantastic community spirit in St Margaret's village at Christmas time and we hope everyone will come and join us."

The restaurant, which was recommended by readers of the Good Food Guide, has just launched its new winter menus. Dishes range from rock oysters with chorizo, lemon and shallot to roasted breast of goose and slow-roasted belly of fruit-fed freerange pork.

For more details call 01304 852229 or visit www.thewhitecliffs.com

From the Dover Mercury, Thursday 27 May, 2010.

STARS VISIT RESTAURANT - AND STAFF ARE FILMED

SURPRISED villagers at St Margaret's found themselves rubbing shoulders with Hollywood stars when they popped into their local restaurant and bar for the evening.

Actors Sean Bean and Danny Dyer, together with a film crew, spent time socialising with delighted locals in The Bay restaurant and bar at The White Cliffs Hotel in St Margaret's.

They were staying at the hotel for a few days while filming the Second World War action drama Age of Heroes.

Hotel staff were even recruited as extras, along with players from sister hotel "Wallett's Court's" football club.

They were enlisted to play the part of special forces operatives and were kitted out in full period costumes before shooting scenes at nearby Connaught Barracks.

Great bunch

Gavin Oakley, who owns The White Cliffs and Wallett's Court hotels, said: "Staff and guests at The White Cliffs gave Sean, Danny and the team a very warm welcome.

"They were a great bunch and seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves."

Age of Heroes, the first of a trilogy of war movies, tells the true story of the formation of the 30 Commando Unit, a precursor for the SAS, which counted former St Margaret's resident author Ian Fleming among its ranks.

The film is due for release in October. The award-winning White Cliffs Hotel is fast becoming a firm favourite with crew and cast members.

Recent visitors have included the makers of BBC's Springwatch and the team behind the popular Coast series.