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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:
Sparklingbrook · 30/04/2016 11:00

Sounds like the sort of place that can deal with any dietary requirements if you let them know what you want then.

MrsJayy · 30/04/2016 11:01

Are you back in London now maybe you should just relax with a soya latte and dont give this a second thought nobody needs to leave a T A review

Eeeek686 · 30/04/2016 11:02

Oh and also note your disappointment in 'lack of veggie breakfast' basically meant no veggie sausage or hash browns, as in fact that did offer veggies breakfast - Eggs, Beans, mushroom, tomato, presumably toast? As someone with a mostly veggie diet I would consider that more than enticing! And again, the fact that you don't eat eggs is definitely more unusual and should've been mentioned prior.

So i forgot to say in previous post but basically I think overall Yanbu to presume in this day and age some catering to vegetarian/dairy free diets, but Yadbu to expect it as an automatic entitlement and leave critical review based on this... Better surely just to mention on check out, and even with follow up email? Otherwise it's just PA!

AndTakeYourPenguinWithYou · 30/04/2016 11:03

"family run" usually means small. You should have said in your OP if it was a large hotel. Which I think you knew.

Marmalade85 · 30/04/2016 11:04

You are not even fully vegan!

Sparklingbrook · 30/04/2016 11:05

Is it family run but owned by a chain?

littledrummergirl · 30/04/2016 11:05

Why didnt you have beans on toast? You don't need butter and it's vegan. Dietary need catered for Grin

MuttonCadet · 30/04/2016 11:05

Hash browns with a full English breakfast? Eugh, is that what London is like?

Sounds horrifically American to me, I'll stick to the provinces thanks.

(Where soy milk is available, but no-one drinks it because it makes Yorkshire tea taste vile).

ApocalypseNowt · 30/04/2016 11:08

Here, have this Biscuit. It's vegan.

WhatchaMaCalllit · 30/04/2016 11:09

If I were you OP, I'd email the hotel first with your issues, particularly as you mention that the owners are not around at the moment. Give them a 'right to reply' that doesn't involve posting all of the details on Trip Advisor or on MN.

Then, if you're not happy with their response (or if they don't respond at all), take it to Trip Advisor and then post that you did try to advise the hotel owners first but they responded X, Y or Z to your comments.

I wouldn't post the issues on TA first though.

superwormissuperstrong · 30/04/2016 11:09

You are being inconsistent regarding the hotel size I think to justify your argument - you clearly have a bee in your bonnet about this.
But the right thing is to talk to them at the time - whoever was in charge while you stayed there.
Although I don't think they should have these things as standard for a vegan but yes to vegetarian options. Your point should have been that their website or email confirmation note should highlight that customers should advise if they have special dietary requirements than can then be provided for if requested. It is too much to expect it on the morning you turn up in the restaurant expecting your breakfast.
Its bad manners to just do anonymous bad reviews if you've not tried to address it at the time. Your review could then either be good - yes they acknowledge they could improve and will ask future guests if they have dietary requirements or poor - that they dismissed your concerns and will not be changing anything

Original poster
MistressMia · 30/04/2016 11:12

Is it family run but owned by a chain?

No fully family owned. ... That's why I'm holding off saying anything in the review (which is 5 star across the board for all the other attributes) as I don't want their business to be adversely affected.

OTOH though, as someone reading a hotel review I would find it helpful to know that the hotel didn't have such facilities / options.

I feel like if I don't say anything ( and that is the easier option), places will never change.

OP posts:
Ememem84 · 30/04/2016 11:13

Am staying in Jerusalem tomorrow. I've looked at the most recent bad reviews for my hotel in trip adviser.

The worst two are that there is too much choice for breakfast. And the pool closes at 6pm.

I think I'm going to be ok.

NoelHeadbands · 30/04/2016 11:13

But you should have said something at the time

Trills · 30/04/2016 11:14

They won't be adversely affected by one review that is not 5 stars.

Or by a review that mentions the absence of a thing that they genuinely do not have.

Why are you so worried about this? Are you this anxious about other things?

Sparklingbrook · 30/04/2016 11:14

It probably says in their blurb that they can cater for any requirements and to let them know if you need anything. If I was nearly a Vegan I would ask beforehand. I wouldn't expect them to 'change'.

NoelHeadbands · 30/04/2016 11:15

Actually if you're giving a 5 star review but mentioning the veggie/ soy thing then no, you're not going to put anyone off

MrsJayy · 30/04/2016 11:16

I dont think their hotel will suffer with 1 review saying they didnt have soya yoghurt just say Lovely stay vegan breakfast options lacking slightly

Original poster
MistressMia · 30/04/2016 11:17

This was a very last minute day before booking. I had another thread a few days ago asking for recommendations for hotels near the NEC as they were all booked out.

So emailing before hand probably wouldn't have helped and TBH I just don't think being veggie / not having dairy is not that unusual anymore.

For those saying about wastage. A carton of Soya milk costs a pound. Considering I'm not having the more expensive bacon, is it really that much to keep some long life milk and throw away any unused ?

They are near an international conference centre. It makes good business sense to cater to as wide a variety of diets as possible.

OP posts:
Pipestheghost · 30/04/2016 11:17

Ffs, get over yourself

Sparklycat · 30/04/2016 11:17

Even the hotel chains don't put soya milk in their rooms or have it for breakfast. I always ring ahead to request it.

BarbaraofSeville · 30/04/2016 11:17

I wouldn't expect the average family run hotel in London having a selection of vegan milks anyway unless that was a USP for the hotel perhaps because it was run by that Ella woman or one or her crowd.

YABU for eating cereal anyway. Apart from porridge it's all shit and you can have porridge with water anyway.

Sparklingbrook · 30/04/2016 11:17

Anyone not veggie/vegan would just skim past those comments anyway. Even people that are veggie/vegan might be a bit Hmm

sandylion · 30/04/2016 11:17

Unreal. I'm a Vegetarian and i would check ahead with the hotel. Soya on tap? Are you for real? Stick to London love.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 30/04/2016 11:18

I'm surprised people consider soya as not standard .The big coffee chains have it and I live in the arse end of nowhere and the local independency coffee shops don't bat an eyelid when you ask for it.