Gutted. Mini break spoiled.

[JoborPlay]

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!

Glad you have a resolution and that they can get you in to at least one of their restaurants

Agree you need it all in writing especially with this lot!

I bet some people will not turn up on the night, perhaps because of being advised that they have been in contact with someone with Covid. So might be worth asking that if that happens on the Saturday night, can you move to the Michelin star one?

Glad it's sorted, but I still think I'd ask the hotel to pay for the taxi to and from your other restaurant booking. It seems as though the 35% discount is to apologise for their second cock up, not their original one. It seems a bit galling to have to use the discount on paying for a taxi you shouldn't have needed in the first place.

Refund the entire booking and look for something else.

So it sounds like the reason they were still offering DBB despite being ‘full’ is because they expected to get more people in. As things have turned out with rates being so high that is not going to wash with the paying public. Even it’s legal, it feels unsafe.

Good lord, they sound so disorganised it’s unbelievable.

No offence but people recommending the Old Stamp House etc are crazy - reservations are released 3 months in advance and book up fast. Plus they don’t even do a dinner session on Friday night at the moment.
Not surprised OP has found it hard to find a restaurant.

We went to the lakes back in June. I booked the hotel in March and found most restaurants already fully booked at that point. You can’t just find a great restaurant a few days before in the lakes area. I hope you still have a great stay OP (despite the recent issue) but you have my sympathy, finding a dinner spot this late on must have been tricky and spoilt the run up to your stay.

Yeah definitely email them and ask that they confirm everything in writing.

Glad you have a resolution of sorts.

No offence but people recommending the Old Stamp House etc are crazy - reservations are released 3 months in advance and book up fast

but with the "pinging" going on people might find there are cancellations to be had

@Buffs

Refund the entire booking and look for something else.

I've tried to find something else but we're fixed on dates and location to a degree and with everyone having UK holidays all the good places are full.

@fellrunner85

The Drunken Duck is excellent too, though more gastropubby than fine dining.

If we’re taking drunken duck at Ambleside it’s a pub, a nice pub but not on the same level.

@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?

They already have - OP's !

@JoborPlay

UPDATE:

A further fuck up has actually led to a sort of satisfactory conclusion.

They cancelled the hotel booking and refunded the deposit. They then rang apologising - they meant to cancel a different booking but got the wrong one. They have re-booked us, changed us to a B&B rate and cancelled the deposit - i.e. given us a 35% discount. They've also slotted us in to restaurant 2 (not the Michelin star one) on the Saturday night and I've booked in to 1863 for the Friday and booked a taxi each way in advance. The 35% discount will pay for the taxi and Fridays meal.

I'd still prefer the original deal but when I spoke with them on the phone they explained that there is a private function on the Friday night and the Saturday night was booked up before our reservation was even made - she thinks the error was allowing a DB&B rate to be booked in the first place. She also said they had over booked hoping to be able to be able to reduce social distancing in the room and the kitchen, but that hasn't worked out.

Sounds as though they have owned up to their mistake and done their best to fix it for you. I hope you have a lovely time. No photographs please because that would be sooo tacky and pretentious but please come back and tell us what you choose to eat.

Especially breakfast, I love a good breakfast.

I didn’t like 1863 much. We were staying. They wouldn’t allow us to eat our cheese and biscuits and finish wine in “lounge” area. (((Pre covid))

I think this is one of the moments when you pick up the phone and change your name to Karen.

Their mistake and they acknowledged it. It’s up to them to sort it.

OP, however irritating it might be don't let it spoil your break. Hopefully they will be extra welcoming to you, either way most important thing is you are going to have a nice meal and good time

L’Enclume? That's really shitty. If they have room to house you they have room to feed you. What arseholes - there is no where else to eat round there.

RTT! Sorry. Sounds like a nice resolution.

Agree with you on Holbeck Ghyll - we used to go there for Christmas and it was lovely, but it's been disappointing both times we have been recently. Forest Side is fab for next time!

Careful about too much complaining if you want to return. The staff have long memories - gently gently and they may sort the prob. I’d never never complain before my food arrives.

UPDATE;

Synopsis- Askham hall allowed us to book 2 nights dinner, bed and breakfast at the Queen's head and dinner at Allium, Askham halls Michelin star restaurant. Later, they rang to say there was no restaurant availability for either night, at either restaurant. They didn't apologize and just asked I contact them when I'd decided to cancel or change to b&b.

Due to lack of availability, we decided to do the b&b option. They fucked they up by cancelling it whole booking but realised before it was too late ms rebooked up and took off a substantial amount of money. I'd also secured us a booking at a lovely restaurant thanks to Mumsnet recommendations. All good, or so I thought.

2 days later, still no email confirmation of the booking. Emailed them and received confirmation but without the discount. Talked to them about but basically got nowhere. Weekend came. As we were on our way got an urgent voicemail asking is to call them.

They'd double booked the room. But not to worry, they'd asked the bride and groom at Askham hall (which was booked out for an exclusive use wedding) of we could use a room there! So we could go there. But couldn't use the bar, or have breakfast at the restaurant, or use the grounds. Because of the wedding (in no way do I feel the b&g were unreasonable about this).

Anyway, we didn't feel comfortable crashing a wedding, so DH found us somewhere else and we ended up staying at Appleby Castle, which is a totally different type of place but quite the adventure!

So yeah, be wary of Askham hall. They fuck up not once, but 4 times!

@JoborPlay

UPDATE;

Synopsis- Askham hall allowed us to book 2 nights dinner, bed and breakfast at the Queen's head and dinner at Allium, Askham halls Michelin star restaurant. Later, they rang to say there was no restaurant availability for either night, at either restaurant. They didn't apologize and just asked I contact them when I'd decided to cancel or change to b&b.

Due to lack of availability, we decided to do the b&b option. They fucked they up by cancelling it whole booking but realised before it was too late ms rebooked up and took off a substantial amount of money. I'd also secured us a booking at a lovely restaurant thanks to Mumsnet recommendations. All good, or so I thought.

2 days later, still no email confirmation of the booking. Emailed them and received confirmation but without the discount. Talked to them about but basically got nowhere. Weekend came. As we were on our way got an urgent voicemail asking is to call them.

They'd double booked the room. But not to worry, they'd asked the bride and groom at Askham hall (which was booked out for an exclusive use wedding) of we could use a room there! So we could go there. But couldn't use the bar, or have breakfast at the restaurant, or use the grounds. Because of the wedding (in no way do I feel the b&g were unreasonable about this).

Anyway, we didn't feel comfortable crashing a wedding, so DH found us somewhere else and we ended up staying at Appleby Castle, which is a totally different type of place but quite the adventure!

So yeah, be wary of Askham hall. They fuck up not once, but 4 times!

Good on you for naming them, it sounds shambolic. Pleased you still managed to get away and have an adventure!

And the food at 1863 is the best I've ever had. I suspect the abba sound track has prevented the Michelin star, though I loved the relaxed u pretentious atmosphere.

@Zilla1

I would bat it back and say the purpose of the booking was directly linked to the food and ask what they propose to do and remind them you've incurred significant costs to prepare so they can't just offer to cancel the accommodation booking and expect everything to be fine? Ask them to describe exactly what went wrong. Good luck.

Do this.

Lunificent thread has moved on a bit since that!