to want ^Typical English^ tourist spots to have English people serving you?

[IwantJoansbag]

I expect to get flamed for this and called all-sorts, but I don't care.
I'm genuinely curious.

We went out for the day yesterday and stopped off at 3 well-known English tourist spots.
Glastonbury, Cheddar and Wells. (with a little stop off at a pretty little 'supposedly' English market-garden type place - selling Strawberries, Plums, etc) plus we stopped off at an outlet village.

It just seemed wrong that at EVERY place we stopped we were served by Eastern Europeans. I didn't hear ONE English accent (except in the shops), but all the eateries and stalls.... foreign accents.

If I go to a Beer Festival in Germany, its nice to be served by somebody with a German Accent - it adds to the atmosphere.
If I were to go to New York and eat in China Town - its great if the majority of people are Chinese.
Stopping off in a typical Italian Pizza place and the people are mainly Italian! You expect a bit of authenticity.

So, is it too much to ask the same happens in England?
It must be disappointing for the tourists when they come here.

For the record:- I am ONLY talking about typical tourist spots and I've got nothing against people coming to our country to work, but I think that some places (tourist spots where you expect things to be traditional) they should have mainly English people dealing with the public.

I don't care who serves me in places like this, it wouldn't occur to me to care.

I AM concerned about the level of immigration into the UK, and I don't think saying so makes me a racist, any more than the strict criteria some countries have on immigration mean they are inherently racist either.

I read this as "tourist attractions should be olde worlde" (ie not necessarily authentic, but fitting the popular version of the history if their site). It would be like extending the decor to the uniforms, or using an ornate 'mediaeval' typeface instead if a clear one, or giving the food dreadful punning names.

I think the points about taking the best of who applies and some of the reasons behind the demographics of likely applicants, are the right answer. Especially as the range of accents I've noticed in voluntary roles (eg room guides in NT places) is much narrower, and the big difference between those roles and employment as described by OP is the pay.

England isn't some kind of theme park. It's a place where people live and work and move to and away from.

I think the points about taking the best of who applies and some of the reasons behind the demographics of likely applicants, are the right answer. Especially as the range of accents I've noticed in voluntary roles (eg room guides in NT places) is much narrower, and the big difference between those roles and employment as described by OP is the pay.

Interesting.

It really doesnt bother me who serves me anywhere as long as they know their shit.

However, I work in a Hotel in an area that is known for its locals - accent, friendliness etc - and all our desk staff happen to be locals. Not through anything other than chance. The sheer volume of guests who give positive feedback on being served by locals who epitomise the stereotype of the people in our city means that you really are not alone OP.

I don't have an actual spread sheet but i do have a mental list of goady twats in my head and it just got bigger.

Really op? Just do one

There is a lovely beach not so far from us. It seems to be the place of choice for eastern European families - i love it. Makes me feel like im on holiday

People like the op make me feel sad. What does it fucking matter who serves you your cream tea so long as you put the jam and cream on in the right order!

OP you need to start worrying when you find Somerset too multicultural.

Hint: the problem, it's not them it's you.

I work in a Hotel . The sheer volume of guests who give positive feedback on being served by locals who epitomise the stereotype of the people in our city means that you really are not alone OP.

Phew, somebody understands - what I'm getting at!

I don't think that was meant in a complimentary way

Heritage businesses, tourism businesses, heritage-tourism businesses - at the till level they are all just retail OP.

well im not slating the guests that stay - people appreciating being served by localsisnt intrinsically wrong - refusing to use a service because it is not staffed with locals would be wrong.

Ah, you racist, you.

My biggest concern is that you ordered Americano and donuts, neither of which are typical English fare, you hypocrite.

PS - the English spelling is 'doughnut', so you're just crap at being English all round aren't you?

Gosh yes, what a frightfully good idea old fellow, England for the English, I say.
Why those ghastly non-English folks insist on working in cafés and the like I have no idea.
They should stick to behind the scenes stuff like good little forriners, that way we shouldn't have to interact with them at all.
I mean, it's not so bad when you just want your car washed but ordering a cream tea requires a little more refinement, wouldn't you say?

Jolly good show. What, what?

(Where's BoF, I need that Stewart Lee clip! "Those bloody immigrants, coming here, with their skills....")

But a significant percentage of room guides in NT and English Heritage-type places are volunteers, and unpaid - hence a preponderance of white, middle-class older people with the time and money to volunteer. Whereas low-paid service jobs waitressing and on the till in tourist spots are going to attract immigrants, often with limited language skills, precisely because they have fewer options.

I played a costumed Pilgrim just off the Mayflower at the Plymouth Plantation (combination of theme park and Olde Worlde immersion experience on Cape Cod) when I was a foreign student living in the US. With my original working class Irish accent.)

I can see how this happens for local and season events, but I was a bit surprised to be served by someone in the Science Museum who offered me a cup of tea when I had ordered a pot of tea. He struggled to understand what I was asking for and had to refer to a senior member of staff.

"England isn't some kind of theme park"

I interpreted the OP as being about the speciality touristy bits that actually are promoting themselves as a quintessential and authentic experience. And I would equate those specific bits to a theme park.

OP you would just love it at Epcot World Showcase- Each little 'country' is replicated and actually has staff who work there who even look like they are really from that country.

OP you need to start worrying when you find Somerset too multicultural.

We went on a daytrip to Somerset and were expecting it to mainly be like Somerset.
What's wrong with that?

(Glastonbury was amazing, lots of the shopkeepers seemed to get into the spirit of things and dress the part)
It was exactly how I imagined it to be!

ThinkIveBeenHacked- of course the OP isn't alone in thinking like that.

It doesn't mean her attitude is anything other than repugnant.

OP- you really shouldn't take the fact there are others like you as a compliment. It's far from it.

But how would this work? Should non-English people be excluded from working in hospitality and retail anywhere with a significant 'heritage' dimension (so that's central Oxford / Cambridge / London / York...). Seriously? Or could they all do some kind of how-to-sound-RP linguaphone course? What about regional accents? Should those employed in the Lake District all have authentic local accents, or would any English accent do? Should people with English accents not be employed in Scotland or Wales, as presumably they're not authentic either?

But then I'm a forriner with a discernible non-English accent so maybe I'm just biased .

We went on a daytrip to Somerset and were expecting it to mainly be like Somerset.
What's wrong with that?

What's wrong with that is that you apparently forgot to travel by time machine, didn't like the result and now you are misdirecting the blame.

It was like Somerset. That is what Somerset is like.

Oh and it took me a while to fall in to the irony or is it blatant stupidity of your op! Am i the only one who spotted this?

YOU STOPPED OFF AT AN OUTLET VILLAGE!!!!!

Because are quintessentially English aren't they

If you want traditional english then support LOCAL businesses not faux english out of town establishments - ive always thought it was an american thing.

So you are not really concerned about preserving english traditions at all . you are simply racist twat trying to find an excuse to have a pop at migrant workers. Now fuck off and read your daily mail with your traditional english tea from china.

As an aside to this, a teenaged son of friends (of Italian extraction, but several generations back) went for a job in an Italian restaurant in Glasgow. He was asked if he spoke Italian. No. That's OK, they said, we just all pretend and do the accent in front of the customers.

(He didn't get the job - he was a rubbish actor!)

It's obviously a joke thread, guys- didn't you see this?

"At the one place, I ordered an Americano - he gave me a Latte.
We ordered 6 donuts, he gave us 4"

Good try, OP!

And ignore.

Tiredema, I've been to EPCOT. Great place! :)