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Original poster

Gutted. Mini break spoiled.

126 replies

JoborPlay · 22/07/2021 18:46

I'm gutted. 3 months ago we booked a 2 night stay at a Michelin star restaurant and hotel for my birthday later in the year. It was a dinner, bed and breakfast rate and dinner at the Michelin star restaurant included in the price plus a reservation made at their other restaurant for the other nights stay.

I emailed today to ask what time the reservations were as we wanted to plan some activities in the day time and they've responded saying they are really sorry but someone made a mistake and didn't make the reservation for either restaurant when the booking was made and now they are full.

We can switch to a bed and breakfast rate, but there aren't really any restaurants within walking distance (it's a small village in Cumbria so taxis are very hit and miss) so it would spoil the break a little as one of us would have to drive. We can't move the date as we have 2 young children and only get child care very infrequently.

I'm just a bit gutted. Was really looking forward to it. I've had a look and there's very little availability elsewhere for our dates. Certainly nothing of the same caliber and all much more expensive now.

Just having a rant really!

OP posts:
skywardspieces · 22/07/2021 19:33

Just read your latest messages. So someone messed up at both Rogan and Co and L'enclume? Not acceptable at all. I get that things have been tough on restaurants lately but they need to find a solution for you this weekend.

IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 22/07/2021 19:34

Have their prices gone up since you booked? It may be one of those 'errors'.

CookPassBabtridge · 22/07/2021 19:38

Why on earth can't they just add another table.

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Original poster
JoborPlay · 22/07/2021 19:39

Sorry for being elusive with the details, I'm not being a knob I just don't want to bad-mouth incase they resolve the issue satisfactorily.

The booking says confirmation and just says name of place, price and dates and has directions and contact information. Its very generic.

The page when booking had 2 rates for the same room, 1 b&b, the other with dinner included. It was clear that a reservation was included at each restaurant

OP posts:
Original poster
JoborPlay · 22/07/2021 19:40

@IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves

Have their prices gone up since you booked? It may be one of those 'errors'.
No, there's 1 remaining room for the same price as ours would be b&b rate.
OP posts:
FuckingHateRats · 22/07/2021 19:43

Agree with the others who say this is their fuck up and they need to be finding the solution. Hope they come back with a workable resolution!

Fiddliestofsticks · 22/07/2021 19:44

I simply would have replied, "I'm very sorry to hear about the mistake made by your staff. Please send along the reservation times as soon as you have resolved this."

You need to just act as though the very clear expectiation is that they will come up with a solution.

Original poster
JoborPlay · 22/07/2021 19:44

@Nuggetnugget

I would want to receive eve a full refund if they cannot cancel a newer booking especially as you are resident.
They've offered a full refund, that's not the issue.

It's that I'm struggling to find a replacement.

OP posts:
burnoutbabe · 22/07/2021 19:46

Wouldn't anywhere with a restaurant nearby be better?

Even a city centre hotel with a ton of nearby options.

I'd leave a pretty bad review for them. If you hadn't emailed you'd only have found out when there and be screwed to be able to salvage the weekend!

MyBoysHaveDogsNames · 22/07/2021 19:47

But you don't need to find a replacement. You have a reservation. If they subsequently overbooked, that's on them!

Original poster
JoborPlay · 22/07/2021 19:50

@burnoutbabe

Wouldn't anywhere with a restaurant nearby be better?

Even a city centre hotel with a ton of nearby options.

I'd leave a pretty bad review for them. If you hadn't emailed you'd only have found out when there and be screwed to be able to salvage the weekend!

Our babysitter is in the lakes, so it would mean a 4 hour drive to drop the kids off and a 4 hour drive to collect them again.

Accomodation I can find, but decent restaurants are very booked up. It doesn't have to be Michelin star but we do enjoy good food.

If people have Cumbria based recommendations for food please say!

OP posts:
User018475022 · 22/07/2021 19:51

Sorry, but the people saying a newer booking should be canceled? I know this sucks for the OP but why should somebody else's weekend be ruined for the restaurant's mistake?

cabingirl · 22/07/2021 19:55

Whereabouts in Cumbria will you be if you do take the B&B option?

Original poster
JoborPlay · 22/07/2021 19:59

@cabingirl

Whereabouts in Cumbria will you be if you do take the B&B option?
Near Ullswater
OP posts:
burnoutbabe · 22/07/2021 20:01

@User018475022

Sorry, but the people saying a newer booking should be canceled? I know this sucks for the OP but why should somebody else's weekend be ruined for the restaurant's mistake?
People who are not resident I assume. So can go elsewhere and aren't trapped in the accommodation!

If it's all booked 100 days out then maybe not but if someone booked a few days ago it's not a huge issue to cancel them.

Rioja81 · 22/07/2021 20:02

Because the OP booked first 🤷

StormcloakNord · 22/07/2021 20:02

I'm really meek and mild mannered and I'm the last person to kick up a fuss but honestly I'd be going balls to the wall with this!

You booked so far in advance, and as you said the trip was based around and focused on the food.

I'd be going back to them and saying now you've had time to think about it, that you respectfully ask them that they are going to have to find a way to get you into both bookings as that was the point of the trip, and you booked it well in advance. A newer booking can be cancelled for yours, or they can fit you in somewhere. It's a Michelin star restaurant, they have to accommodate to worse shit than this all the time so just be more insistent!

Mamette · 22/07/2021 20:12

I can’t fathom how they can’t squeeze in a table for two. There are two restaurants involved and you had been flexible with times? Bizarre.

VanGuff · 22/07/2021 20:13

I agree with @myboyshavedogsnames you have a reservation

The fact that they have double booked is not your problem. They need to sort it out. Whether this means adding another table to the restaurant, room service, cancelling someone's booking. They need to find the solution. To simply say we are sorry no one made your booking is not acceptable, you made the booking

Ginger1982 · 22/07/2021 20:13

Yeah they need to fix this. Bat it back to them.

skywardspieces · 22/07/2021 20:15

I know where you are - I think. Get them to pay for your taxi, and try to go for any of the following:

1863 at Pooley Bridge (closest)
Cottage in the Woods (Keswick)
The Samling
Lake Road Kitchen
Lounge on the Green (in Carlisle, but lovely)

If all else fails, Four and Twenty in Penrith is lovely but not as high end. Gutted for you OP, I would hope though they'd be bending over backwards to accommodate you.

kindlyensure · 22/07/2021 20:19

If you don't mind driving about 40 mins, Quince and Medlar in Cockermouth or the Lancrigg in Grasmere are both good (assuming they have spaces on your dates).( I would choose Q&M first.)

skywardspieces · 22/07/2021 20:19

Oh and George and Dragon in Clifton. I would be booking places as a backup, but then very firmly insisting the other place sorts it. If not, I would also be expecting quite a significant discount on the B&B rate.

NakedAttraction · 22/07/2021 20:19

@User018475022

Sorry, but the people saying a newer booking should be canceled? I know this sucks for the OP but why should somebody else's weekend be ruined for the restaurant's mistake?
Well for starters they could cancel someone local who isn’t staying for the weekend and comp them a bottle of wine for when they rebook.
Original poster
JoborPlay · 22/07/2021 20:20

@skywardspieces

I know where you are - I think. Get them to pay for your taxi, and try to go for any of the following:

1863 at Pooley Bridge (closest)
Cottage in the Woods (Keswick)
The Samling
Lake Road Kitchen
Lounge on the Green (in Carlisle, but lovely)

If all else fails, Four and Twenty in Penrith is lovely but not as high end. Gutted for you OP, I would hope though they'd be bending over backwards to accommodate you.

Samling, cottage in the woods and lake road are all full. But I'll try the others. Thanks, you are a star!
OP posts: