Jackie Goubert, along with her husband Steve, a native of Guernsey, are the proud founders of a charming bed & breakfast named The Hideaway on the picturesque island of Sark. Although Jackie comes originally from Merseyside, she has called Guernsey home for the past 38 years.

Together, they opted to move to Sark for a more relaxed way of life, and their aim is to work hard all summer and to travel in the winters.

During our conversation with Jackie, we inquired about the journey of preparing everything for the opening of The Hideaway, their perspective on customer service, and what running a bed & breakfast truly entails.

What inspired you to open The Hideaway bed and breakfast on Sark? Was it a long-held dream of yours, or did something specific prompt you to pursue this venture?

I’ve always loved the idea of running a B&B. After working for 18 years for the civil service in Guernsey I opted to take early retirement. Our two daughters fled the nest and an opportunity came up on Sark for us to acquire a property. We’ve spent months refurbishing The Hideaway to make it a B&B and self catering business.

We are curious to know what sets The Hideaway apart from other accommodations on the island?

We are proud to offer a dog friendly service. With so many people wanting to have a short break with their beloved dogs we feel The Hideaway offers guests this opportunity.

You announced the presence of The Hideaway on social media back in October, and you welcomed your first guests at the end of March. Could you share with us the preparations you’ve undertaken to get ready for the opening?

We’ve completely refurbished the whole property. This has included brand new beds and bedding. We’re also proud to say we have fitted a brand new kitchen. We had a ‘launch’ evening two days before our opening and invited locals to offer them a tour around the property with a few locals remembering when the property was originally built in the 1930’s.

Who would you say are your main, core customers? Are you happy for children to stay? 

Our core customers are families and yes we’re happy for children to stay. We have a family room with bunkbeds and have a travel cot and a highchair to accommodate this.

What are your top tips for a new starter? 

Research and marketing. Don’t be afraid to take a gamble in life.

Please can you share with us what is your take on hospitality and customer service? What is the philosophy that guides you through your journey?

We aim to make our guests feel as welcome as possible. Nothing is too much trouble for us and we like to feel we’ve thought of everything to make their stay as comfortable as possible.

Can you describe what a typical day looks like for you at work, if there is such a thing?

We live offsite so a typical day for me at the moment is as follows: I cycle to the B&B each morning ensuring that I arrive an hour before breakfast service so I can prepare everything. After breakfast is cooked and I have cleaned the dining area, I then clean the bedrooms and bathrooms. I then make sure all the laundry is done. I then work in my office for all the administration duties, this includes checking bookings, ordering food, dealing with invoices etc.

What types of activities or attractions do you recommend for guests visiting Sark, especially those traveling with dogs?

There are lots of activities to do on Sark. It’s a very dog friendly island with lots of restaurants and pubs that allow dogs in. It’s a beautiful island to go for long dog walks. Tourism send us information on a regular basis on things that are going on around the island so we print these posters off for the guests to read on the notice board.

How does living on Sark differ from living on the mainland, and what are some of the challenges you face as a resident of the island?

Sark is a very unique place to live and is very relaxing. The challenges we face can be when the weather is bad and it can cause disruption to the sailings from Guernsey.

How do you envision the future of The Hideaway, and are there any plans for expansion or additional services?

We have no plans for expansion at the moment. We just want to enjoy our first season and then see what the future holds.

If you want a peaceful getaway in a beautiful spot away from the city, come spend a few days at Jackie and Steve’s place. Check out their website at thehideawaysark.com for more details.