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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give a family run Hotel a Poor Review

568 replies

MistressMia · 30/04/2016 09:55

I stayed at a family run hotel earlier this week in the Midlands and while on the whole it was a nice place a few things bugged me, notably the vegetarian / vegan option or lack off.

It was only 1 night with breakfast included.

Perhaps I'm just too used to London standards, but it really amazes me that things like soya milk / soya yoghurt are not available as standard.

I'm not fully vegan, but haven't drunk milk for ages now, so couldn't have the breakfast cereals.

The hot breakfast consisted of bacon / eggs / beans / mushrooms & grilled tomato. I don't eat eggs. Don't usually have a problem as used to having the option of hash browns. and other veggie alternatives.

AIBU unreasonable to expect establishments to fully cater for those with different diets ? It really peeves me off, considering the charge is the same and veg options don't cost more.

OP posts:
Lweji · 30/04/2016 10:24

You really should have asked about vegetarian options. Or advised them.

Also, many people eat cereals without milk. :)

CaptainCrunch · 30/04/2016 10:24

I feel so sorry for establishments just doing their best, trying to make a living in a difficult market being undermined by miserable, twatty, selfish customer reviews like the one you're about to leave. It's nasty and unnecessary.

AdoraBell · 30/04/2016 10:24

Sorry, that should read I would do the same

TendonQueen · 30/04/2016 10:25

Tripadvisor reviews are full of stuff like this. I saw one the other day that started 'hotel and room excellent but...' and then followed with 8 lines about some minor issue like the plug socket should have been three inches to the left. You'll be in good company OP. Like other posters, I reckon for a vegan diet it would be costly for smaller places to keep fresh soya milk in at all times, but I bet if you'd asked they've have got that in, along with some hash browns.

That said, I know of a 'family run restaurant' that responds to anything negative on Tripadvisor in highly dramatic style, so that if someone says 'service was a bit slow' they reply with 'My day's ruined now! Sat here in tears battling to make a success of my humble family business and people make cruel remarks that wound you to the core..' which makes me think that they should be banned from using the term 'family run' and dragging it through the mud.

SleepyBoBo · 30/04/2016 10:28

Either ask for soya or take some with you. Don't put down a small business because of your entitled London attitude.

NapQueen · 30/04/2016 10:29

I work in a worldwide hotel chain and we get guests call ahead to notify us that they are vegan/coeliac/nut free etc. We can accomodate it, no problem there, but it always good to know in advance so I can make sure the kitchen are briefed and the necessary items are in stock.

You were being unreasonable not to call ahead and ask if they could cater for your requirements.

RaeSkywalker · 30/04/2016 10:29

As others have said, I just call ahead/ notify on booking for dietary requirements, e.g. soya milk. It's always provided when I ask.

Larger hotels often have such items in stock already because they have hundreds of rooms and it gets asked for and used, but smaller independent businesses often don't.

Original poster
MistressMia · 30/04/2016 10:29

Haven't read all the replies (at work today), but this isn't a B & B and is not some dive.

Not 5 (would have booked that if I could find one) but 4.

Markets itself at the luxury end.

When I said 'poor review' I don't actually mean slate them. I meant pointing out what I felt was missing.

OP posts:
RainIsAGoodThing · 30/04/2016 10:30

I do know what you mean - I'm vegetarian and I get very frustrated when restaurants don't provide decent (or any!) options. It's bad business sense above anything else.

If everything else was fine, I'd leave a good review but highlight the lack of choice you had when it came to meals. Reviews aren't to punish companies but to help them learn and improve.

Trills · 30/04/2016 10:33

When I read TripAdvisor I always like to read the low-starred reviews and see what people are complaining about.

A small B&B not having soy milk or a vegan option if you hadn't warned them would be one where I would think "some people's expectations are wrong" - I would not hold it against the B&B.

Mrsmorton · 30/04/2016 10:33

As with any short comings, you should address them at the time. Failing that, in private. Broadcasting it is unfair and makes you sound like a tit.

Imagine if a client/customer of yours went straight to "broadcast" rather than telling you that you'd given the wrong change/pronounced their name wrong etc.

sharknad0 · 30/04/2016 10:33

YABU!

Perhaps I'm just too used to London standards

As said above, even when I book in a decent place in London I always mention diet requirements. It makes life easier for everybody! It takes no time to send a quick email or make a quick phone call, why wouldn't you?

Original poster
MistressMia · 30/04/2016 10:34

Instead of giving a negative review, can you give an informative review simply noting the lack of vegan options and suggesting potential guests who have particular dietary requirements get in touch with the hotel before booking, to see if those requirements can be met

That's exactly what I meant, but are the owners going to feel this is a' bad' review that will affect their trade ?

OP posts:
VinceNoirLovesHowardMoon · 30/04/2016 10:35

A veggie cooked breakfast should be an option including veggie sausages (can be kept in the freezer) and it's not your fault you don't like eggs.
Soya products are very niche, why would they have them as standard? You could have asked in advance.

lostinyonkers · 30/04/2016 10:36

We run a very small B&B and will happily cater for most diet restrictions if advised on booking - we keep veggie sausages and GF bread on hand in the freezer, but get perishables in specially, otherwise much of the soy/almond milk, soy spread, soy yoghurt, GF cereals, chicken sausages etc would be wasted. A friend's DH is coeliac so takes a flask of suitable milk everywhere, even cafes.

To give a bad trip advisor review for this only is incredibly petty. If you're serious about the lack of breakfast, speak to them, not the rest of the world.

ChubbyPolecat · 30/04/2016 10:37

In the old days people would approach the establishment at least by email to tell them what was missing. Really don't think this warrants a poor review

differentnameforthis · 30/04/2016 10:37

I don't actually mean slate them. I meant pointing out what I felt was missing Best way to do that is to tell them at the time, if you couldn't do that, then comment in their message book, or email them.

I think leaving a review on TA/elsewhere is just a way to put them down. This is the kind of thing that you could have addressed face to face.

CaptainCrunch · 30/04/2016 10:38

Your op and thread title refers to a "poor" review. You're back pedalling now, big time.

Original poster
MistressMia · 30/04/2016 10:38

Soya products are very niche, why would they have them as standard?

Niche ??? OK I'm obviously too used to London.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 30/04/2016 10:38

It's not compulsory to leave a review. You might want to read the thread OP there are quite a lot of questions being asked.

MrsJayy · 30/04/2016 10:39

Why dont you put it on you say something like i assumed hotel would have soya milk should have informed them of my dietry requirements

Trills · 30/04/2016 10:39

You could email them and suggest that they add a line in the booking form to ask for dietary requirements?

You could also leave a review saying "Tell them ahead of time if you want vegan options - I didn't and had not breakfast".

I think you are worrying too much about whether your review will be "bad" or whether it's a problem.

Original poster
MistressMia · 30/04/2016 10:41

Not back peddling, just posting fast in between work. So yes perhaps poorly phrased.

The review would be 5 star but with comments about making improvements

OP posts:
TondelayaDellaVentamiglia · 30/04/2016 10:43

talking of London standards...dd and I were in some hipster cafe in Camden,

DD requested a chocolate milkshake......Hipster chap (with a man bun, a quiff and a designer stubble beard) then reeled off all the options regarding the type of chocolate, the type of icecream and finally the milk. She fixed him with a steely glare and said "Milk, from a cow, thanks"

I asked for a just black coffee, and I think he knew not to take that particular conversation anywhere further :o

And they wonder why people are queued out the damned door and impatient!

and to the OP, just ask, and then you won't be disappointed. Being vegan is not mainstream.

funniestWins · 30/04/2016 10:43

Why couldn't you have eaten the mushrooms and tomatoes?

AIBU unreasonable to expect establishments to fully cater for those with different diets

Yes. You'd be very unreasonable to complain or leave a bad review. How many different diets should they cater for? Halal? Kosher? One of those off-the-scale, can't be in the same building as a peanut allergic diets? All of them or just people who decide that they won't eat certain foods?

To give a family run Hotel a Poor Review