Group history
A Brief History of Seymour Hotels of Jersey
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The Seymour family have been associated with Jersey since 1919, when George Frederick and Ada Seymour came to the island on their honeymoon. What is today the Channel Island’s largest hotel group started with a small, 5 bedroom guest house in Halkett Place, named ’Merton House’ after George’s London home town.
In 1921 George Frederick’s parents – George Andrew and Mary, having retired to Jersey, bought Kalimna Hall in St Brelade, which today is The Portelet Hotel.
Merton House, having outgrown its original property was transferred to a new location on Belvedere Hill, eventually becoming what is now Jersey’s largest hotel - The Merton.
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The Merton Hotel c1928
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The Pomme d’Or Hotel on Liberation Day 1945
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Joining forces to become Seymour Hotels in 1928, George Frederick and his father acquired the Pomme d’Or Hotel in 1930.
The group was becoming well established by the time war broke out in 1939, and when the islands were occupied by the German forces in 1940, the hotels were to play a significant role in the island’s history when all three hotels were requisitioned by the occupying forces.
The period after the war was spent rebuilding the business and putting everything back where it belonged – including the hotels’ silver tableware, which had been buried in George and Ada’s garden.
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From the 1950’s onwards, Jersey became extremely popular as a holiday and honeymoon destination and became affectionately known as ’Britain’s South Sea island’. Seymour Hotels grew and at one time owned and operated 5 hotels in Jersey.
Today, George & Ada’s son, Robin, is Chairman of the company and their grandson, David, is Managing Director. Jersey now attracts a wide range of visitors, including business & conference guests, those seeking a relaxing weekend break or longer-stay family holiday.