Portsmouth-based hotel and restaurant Becketts Southsea has been inundated with bookings following its recent appearance on the Channel 4 daytime television show, Four in a Bed.
The successful and award-winning business has had little problem attracting customers throughout general manager Terence Carvalho’s two-year tenure to date, but the response to Becketts’ appearance on national TV has been particularly humbling and overwhelming for the businessman.
Indeed, among the many emails and messages, customers making bookings have referred to him as ‘Sir Terence’, while others have even been encouraging him to apply to become Lord Mayor of Portsmouth.
“It has been crazy,” Terence told Portsmouth’s The News outlet. “We have had so many calls, emails and messages on our social media pages from people saying they watched the show and loved us. The most crazy part for me is the sheer number of people saying they think I should be Lord Mayor.”
While Becketts did not win the competition, Terence was keen to focus on the bigger picture and took pride in the fact that the publicity generated has been a brilliant driver of business and that he had grasped with both hands the opportunity to put the city of Portsmouth in the spotlight.
Local leaders have been among those reaching out to Becketts in recent weeks, expressing their thanks to Terence for composing himself well and being a good ambassador for the local area.
“For me, the best part is being told that I did the city proud and that I am a good ambassador for Portsmouth,” Terence said. “It means so much to me to be able to shine a positive light on the Portsmouth as it is my hometown and place that I grew up and I am so pleased and proud to have been able to do it and received the feedback I have done.
“I was gutted to have not won, but in my eyes Becketts were clear winners. We did the city proud, we promoted ourselves in a positive light and we have got such great business off the back of it – so if that isn’t a win then I don’t know what is!”
