Having just spent 3 night, in what can only be described as definitely, one of the most inhospitable hotels I have ever frequented, I felt compelled to write a review.
It began with a brief visit the week before the stay, popped in for a sandwich and a drink during a sunny afternoon. Seemed idyllic, nice setting and pleasant staff whom showed me a room on request and furnished me with the prices for bed and breakfast, which I informed them would be required due to work commitments within the area. I made a reservation and went on my way.
I duly arrived the following week, looking forward to my stay! On arrival I was greeted at the bar by a quite surly individual who issued me with two keys, one for my room (on the first floor) and one for the ‘emergency’ exit which I would need to use if/when the main entrance was locked.. JW Lees, are you listening??
OK I thought, strange but hey. I paid in advance for the 3 nights (mistake) and added the price of breakfast. Following a shower, I visited the bar for a drink. The same person I met on arrival asked me what time I would like breakfast? I replied 7.30? “Oh that’s a bit early, can’t do that”….. What time could you do? Was my obvious reply, “We start around 08.30ish”… When I tried to explain that if someone was staying due to work then they would probably need to leave before that, this fell on deaf ears, the only response being “it’s recently changed from a managed pub to a rented one”… Not sure what that means, maybe it means they just want to go bankrupt! Oh, also enquired about the advertised free wifi, apparently that is no longer available due to..you guessed it, “its now a rented pub” blah blah.
The room, well it’s OK, the bathroom however, it has a Sanilav which is quite noisy when flushed and isn’t secured to the floor so wobbly and the seat is also loose on fixings. An electrically heated towel radiator that is also not properly secured to the wall, NB. a little advice, you may want to get a ‘caution HOT’ sign just in case! (Health and safety and all that)
On the first night, I ventured back downstairs from my room at approximately 9.15pm to get something from my car. The bar was shut and the main door locked. Again the same person was there clearing up. I asked was it now closed, as it seemed early? “Yes finished now, if you want to go out you will have to use the emergency exit upstairs”…bizarre!
No doubt all the above will be attributed to the obligatory, teething problems, however when you travel substantially and are used to the same old excuses it doesn’t really cut the mustard I am afraid. If you want to make a living in the hospitality trade, then one of the main prerequisites is that you are ‘hospitable! ’…(you may want to give that one some thought)..JW Lees, are you listening??
Anyway, you live and learn as the saying goes, but one to avoid!
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