Mike & Carole Hailston took over the
Rylstone Manor in May 2006. Mike has always been an enthusiastic cook and with Carole’s knowledge of the Island Rylstone seemed the perfect opportunity for a complete life change.
Since taking over at
Rylstone Mike has enhanced his skills with an intensive course at
Le Cordon Bleu Cookery School in Paris and has gained his City & Guilds/NVQ 3 in Professional cookery. Mike likes to supplement his knowledge with an occasional refresher and chose
Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir for a weeks sabbatical in his cookery school in Feb 2009.
Mike writes his menu on a daily basis to take advantage of whatever is best in the marketplace. After service Mike makes a point of talking to guests in the drawing room. This inevitably leads to a conversation about food and Mike will use this to potentially influence his menu!! Carole runs the front of house operation. It's her exquisite handwriting that guests comment on from receiving their deposit receipts and Christmas cards as soon as they arrive!! Carole has experience of teaching massage, reflexology and anatomy & physiology.
Carol has also owned her own Public House and previously lived on the island for 10 years in Godshill. Our daughters were christened in the Godshill church. The draw of the island has always been in her family and she used to come to Shanklin every year as a child on the family holiday.
Since taking over they have maintained their rating of
three stars and gained a
silver award from the tourist board. They are recommended in the independent "
Good Hotel Guide" every year since 2006.
In 2008 they were finalists in
Conde Nast Johansens excellence awards for " Most Excellent Value award for UK & Ireland". They went on to win this award outright for 2009.
