Can I stay in a hotel? Don't even know any more!

[GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy]

I have a job interview at the end of the month which is 250 miles away and lasts for two days (if I don't get culled after day one!)
I'll need stay stay down there after day one, preferably somewhere nearish the place. Looking at hotels on booking.com, they say they're only accepting bookings from essential workers and they will need to show proof. I'm guessing I'm not counted in essential workers here? I'm a teacher if that makes a difference? I'll give them a ring later, just wondering if anyone knew...

Give them a ring. Teacher is a key worker and an interview is travelling for work so should be ok.

Yes, my OH is just back from a week in a Travel Lodge in the SW of England.
No catering facilities- he had to buy food from Tesco and eat in his room/ had pizza delivery.

I would have thought a teacher plus job interview would be allowed but like you say you'll call first so you won't just rock up hoping to be allowed to stay.

Good luck for the interview 👍🏻

Yes you can, but there will be no services or facilities available, some still offer room service.

Why are they interviewing in person? Seems very odd - all interviews our school have done and friends have taken have been via zoom. I think they are being unreasonable asking you to travel 250 miles unnecessarily... or am I missing something?!

For England travelling/staying for work purposes should be OK..from one Hotel chain's website:

"In line with the latest government restrictions, guests staying for work, education or other legally permitted reasons can still stay with us. However, we’re unable to accommodate stays for leisure purposes."

However as speakout has mentioned unless the hotel does room service be prepared to self cater/order food to be delivered..hotel restaurants are closed AFAIK across the whole UK.

I use hotels for work frequently. You select "travelling for work" on the booking site. I have never been asked for "proof" of why I am there, although it does ask you to have it available (which I do).
As PP have said, a lot don't have catering facilities at the moment, however my experience is that if you book a pub or similar, they are far more likely to provide food (room service) than the chain hotels.
Some of the chains are also providing accommodation for e. g. NHS staff, so if you would be concerned by finding yourself surrounded by paramedics in a Travel Lodge, that's something to consider.
Take your own hand gel if you book a chain hotel, their dispensers always seem to be empty for days on end!

Thanks for your help everyone, that's great!
@MrsHerculePoirot It's a Headteacher job and I wasn't able to visit before applying, so I can see why they need candidates to actually have a look around before they appoint. A logistical nightmare though - I'll have to drive down on the evening after hearing whether I'm being kept on, I think.

Oh, thanks for the tips about meals and catering, too. Useful to know!

@GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy ah I can see how it would be different for head job! I did think that after posting! Good luck with it!

Thank you - it's my first one so very nervous!!

Good luck!

My pilot friend just stayed in a hotel to do some training, pilots aren’t essential and he hasn’t flown with work in nearly a year but he was still allowed.

And bored out of his mind with nothing to do but that’s another matter!

My pilot friend just stayed in a hotel to do some training, pilots aren’t essential

Not sure what gave you that impression because in reality most commercial pilots and cabin crew have been on most countries essential workers list along with most others working in the transport and logistic industries right from the start of all this.

A pilot qualified on a type not currently operating ( some airline have grounded some of their fleets TFN) may well have not flown for a year but they may well be required to do recurrent simulator and other training in order to keep their licence valid for when they are finally required to return to flying.

That may mean them staying local to the airport or training base for a few days and they are then allowed to use hotels under the work caveat.

Hope that helps....