SLIGHTLY PERFECT BY JOHN CUNLIFFE

Slightly Perfect tells the story of John and his wife, Chris, from meeting at hotel and catering management in London, learning the trade from the ‘Grande Dames’ hotels of the capital (a world of snobbery, celebrities, morning suits, J Lyons Corner Houses and afternoon tea at the Café Royal), and going on to work in New York, Cyprus, Jamaica, the City of London and Bath. In 1987, fed up of corporate hospitality, they struck out on their own with the then unknown Gilpin Lodge, to be joined by son Barney and his wife Zoë in 2000, and younger son Ben adding his architectural talents to the mix a few years later. Together the family built it up into the five star Relais & Châteaux hotel with a Michelin-starred restaurant that it is now.

Olivia Cole of British GQ reviewed the book, saying “Many visitors have been called back to this enchanting spot, but none so powerfully as that small boy, who, following a career in the hotel business … could eventually, with his wife Chris, buy back Gilpin and create something truly special. Honest, funny and always clear-eyed about the sheer hard work that goes into this kind of obsession, and full of insights into the unique challenges of sustaining that rarest of spots – a great family-run hotel – Slightly Perfect does justice to Gilpin and a life in hospitality.”

Sadly John passed away on 30 April after being suddenly diagnosed with cancer in March. It is one of life's injustices that having spent the majority of his time in the last few years writing “Slightly Perfect”, he saw the finished product but wouldn’t see its launch or indeed how it is received. 

Slightly Perfect was a category winner and overall runner-up to the 2020 Lakeland Book of the Year.

To purchase a copy of Slightly Perfect please click here.