Afternoon tea difficulty

She's now saying she's going to put up with cream cheese

Brilliant

Yes, hope you all have a lovely time OP.

OP I hope you know I am on your side, sorry if my post came across as not being as not my intention.
I have a post at the minute about a furniture issue and honestly people have been vile, some posters have been really helpful and kind, but I don't understand the ones who have attacked me in a way which has nothing to do with my post.
I have had enough of Mumsnet, it is such a good idea and I thought it was a space for people to be supportive and kind but I have found it isn't in the main.
I am going to come off of Mumsnet it is just not a nice place.
I hope all goes well with your afternoon tea and it is an enjoyable afternoon for you and your friends x

That does seem unnecessarily unyielding.
Asking to swap something more expensive for simple cheese should not be an issue.
If anything could they not charge for one kids meal sandwich on top of the cost of the tea? If they're that obsessed.

There was nothing reasonable about the Americans in that episode

The man especially was brash, loud and rude

Basil told them they couldn't do a meal and only said he could after the man was entitled and shouting

I posted here asking if they were unreasonable, and if we would be unreasonable to not give a good review, complain or not tip.

All of that said in your long last post, yes, you would still be unreasonable to "not give a good review". You are going there fully aware of their stance, and that is on you. Leaving a bad review would be spiteful.

I do not think you are being unreasonable, especially seeing they have already agreed over the phone.
Also don't understand those saying they have never seen cheese sandwiches at an afternoon tea. I see it on lots of afternoon tea menus, and we have had it any time we have had afternoon tea. We would normally choose places that have plainer/less fancy options anyway, but have asked if they could do plain cheese before, and never been refused.

We have been offered plain cucumber before too.

@TheAverageJoanne

Somehow on MN it always seems to be the apparently inconsequential topics and queries that inspire the most vitriolic responses.

We start with a simple cheese sandwich scenario and end up with the OP being subjected to an interrogation worthy of MI5, with every tiny detail raked over and dissected!

But the point is - it can't (or won't). We can argue till the cows come home if the hotel being unreasonable not to make a cheese sandwich. But they've been up front, told OP that they won't and she still wants to go, then complain that they won't.

I think most of us are just baffled that OP would still want to go to somewhere that can't cater for her group. Especially given that they've been places before that have worked for everyone. Why not just go back to one of those and reward them for the good service with repeat custom? Why go spend money at a place that isn't going to provide that service?

I think OP would be valid giving a review that said the hotel wasn't flexible for those with dietary restrictions (because it doesn't seem like they are). But it seems daft to be told they're not going to cater for her friend in advance, go anyway, then post a review moaning they wouldn't cater to her friend.

No, it wasn't. John Cleese himself said it was written with the Americans being reasonable and assertive (unlike the English guests who said everything was fine then moaned about it to each other) and Basil being completely at fault for lying about having a chef.

Yup. The joke was on the Americans.

A cheese sandwich (which appears on a different menu) can’t be done? Seriously?

You know the Americans are supposed to be the unreasonable ones there don't you?
Being loud, demanding and ignoring the fact something couldn't be done?

But then you are also advocating a "scathing" review and taking your own food so you probably thought they were clearly in the right too!

OP you are not being unreasonable and your friend is not unreasonable.
The hotel are beyond unreasonable I am reminded of the Fawlty Towers episode with the Americans and the Waldorf salad.
I would cancel and go elsewhere but if you can't I would leave a scrathing review.
I would also take a cheese sandwich in with me and add it to the sandwich selection for your friend.
The hotel are a joke as are a lot of the posters on Mumsnet, the level of vittriol never ceases to amaze me!

Clearly it is worth the angst otherwise you wouldn’t have started the thread…

Just cancel and go somewhere where your friend is catered for and doesn’t have to eat separately beforehand. When you called and they said they couldn’t cater for your friend you should have cancelled the reservation and booked somewhere else. Not decide you’d still go, knowing they weren’t able to cater for you, but not tip/complain online etc.

I had afternoon tea recently and they couldn't have been more helpful in adjusting the menu for my son. Would have thought the company could have made more of an effort for a vegetarian sandwich.....
FWIW I have now gone off afternoon teas as they so rarely have cakes as the sweet part anymore.....they are generally mousse like things!!

So if you rang up and said "hi, we would like book afternoon tea but one of our party is vegetarian, do you cater for that?" And they said "we can do cream cheese and cucumber"

Why did you go ahead when it's not suitable?

Your story keeps changing amyway

Did you mention your friend was vegetarian when you phoned @TheAverageJoanne?