My Grandfather was once manager of The Royal Bath Hotel in Bournemouth, now part of the De Vere Group and a sister hotel to The Grand in Brighton.

My father was very young when my grandfather died but he did have one particular memory.

Every evening his father had bath and then dressed formally for the evening in white tie and tails.

He would kiss such children who might be at home (he had twelve), kiss his wife, put on a pair of white gloves and walk down the main staircase to the restaurant where he would greet his guests personally.

They, too, would be in formal attire.

A different age but somehow these two great hotels have survived and provide the service that is required in this new century.

Last week, I went to see Richard Baker, general manager of The Grand, Brighton.

The hotel was opened in 1880, when the town was fast expanding following the opening of the railways.

Mr Baker was appointed just after the IRA had done its worst. He supervised the re-building and re-opening of the hotel, which was a slow and painful task.

Nowadays, the hotel is a thoroughly modern and successful business. It caters for exhibitions, conferences, weddings, dinners and holiday makers.

It has a fitness club, if you like that kind of thing, or you can sit on the splendid veranda, have a drink and watch the world go by.

The De Vere Group continues to invest for the future.

It has spent £21 million on the three-year redevelopment of the De Vere Belfry and the company has earned its just reward, the Ryder Cup golf tournament returns to the Belfry this month.

A major redevelopment of the De Vere Durdsley has been completed and De Vere has purchased the Saint David's hotel group for £32 million.

De Vere is not just in the business of first-class hotels but it does have 19 of them.

The company has been expanding its Village group, 12 special hotels incorporating health and fitness clubs with a choice of restaurants and bars.

This seems a winning formula.

There are also the new standalone Premium Fitness clubs, which have made a good start.

De Vere is doing well. The pubs and restaurant businesses were sold in 1999, leaving the group to concentrate on some magnificent assets.

If you don't fancy an autumn holiday, then buy a share.