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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:
Seeyounearertime · 30/04/2016 11:43

I love these theads... Grin

"AIBU?"
"Yes you are"
"NO I'M NOT damnit and I'm going to spend every further post to tell you that I'm not being unreasonable and that you're all wrong so ner"

lljkk · 30/04/2016 11:44

How big was this place? Family run sounds like 10 guests maximum, but was it more like 30+ at breakfast?

Giving an overall poor review on this one issue is unfair. Mentioning that it put you off going again in an overall balanced review would be fairer.

TwentyCupsOfTea · 30/04/2016 11:45

One of my favourite pastimes online is reading ridiculous negative reviews about stuff like this. I find it very entertaining, on on that basis alone go ahead and write one!

Thatrabbittrickedme · 30/04/2016 11:47

I'm from London and I think the OP is being entitled and a bit twatty ("London standards" ffs) please don't taint us all with the same brush!

Op you should learn from this to let smaller hotels know of your needs or bring your own stuff. Also maybe stick to 5* places from now on Hmm

Pipestheghost · 30/04/2016 11:49

Go room only next time Hmm

UnGoogleable · 30/04/2016 11:49

If you give them a low-star rating that will impact on their average rating. Some people don't look at the comments, they just look at the stars. I don't think they deserve to be knocked down a star for this.

As so often happens when I read reviews like this, the owners often reply with "If you had only told us / asked / requested ahead of time, we would have been more than happy to accommodate you". But by then it's too late, they've been given a poor rating and they can't change it.

You could still give them a good rating, but mention it in the comments. That can be constructive criticism and useful to others.

And in future, let them know ahead of time.

Sparklingbrook · 30/04/2016 11:49

I like reading the hotel manager replies to stuff like this on TA Grin

BirthdayBetty · 30/04/2016 11:50

Op us being twatty, yep

Bogeyface · 30/04/2016 11:50

ERmm... you do know that Hash Browns have egg in dont you?

BirthdayBetty · 30/04/2016 11:51

Is, even Blush

Buzzardbird · 30/04/2016 11:53

Solihull OP?

curren · 30/04/2016 11:56

You are being ridiculous.

Why not mention it to staff? As a suggestion?

I can't eat lactose at all and have other food allergies. I would expect to book last minute and have every need catered for. Especially if I didn't even give them the heads up.

You booked the day before. Someone could have got soya milk in the next day for your breakfast the day after.

If you don't eat certain things, you have less choice. It's a fact. I don't expect to have the same amount of choice as people who can eat everything. Because it's impossible to cater to every single persons needs.

Original poster
MistressMia · 30/04/2016 11:57

You could still give them a good rating, but mention it in the comments. That can be constructive criticism and useful to others

That's exactly what I was going to do.

And in future, let them know ahead of time.

........was booked with 12 hrs notice

As I said this is near the NEC. Business conference attendees often do things last minute. And we are not going to cart around our own provisions.

The place was half empty. To my mind small family run business can gain an advantage over larger ones by having a better offering.

OP posts:
Ludways · 30/04/2016 11:58

No I want choice and recognition that the same level of service and provisions should be provided

Providing the same amount of meat dishes and vegetarian options will always mean meat eaters have double the choice. I believe that's what she means. I eat very little meat but I do eat meat on occasion, so I'd browse the full menu meaty and veggie.

Sparklingbrook · 30/04/2016 11:58

I look forward to reading your review and their reply.

Ludways · 30/04/2016 11:58

Dammit, that top paragraph should be bold!

thecatfromjapan · 30/04/2016 11:58

I stayed at a small hotel in Greece. I wasn't offered soya milk there, either.Sad

I'm joking. You have to compare like with like, and take context into account.
YABU.
Sure, add a comment about how you think they might improve things by offering soya milk but ...
YABU.

Catsize · 30/04/2016 12:01

OP, you sound like our nightmare former friends from London, for whom we cut our holiday short so they could come and stay. We arrived home at 22:00 and I then got a shopping list from them for the next day. It specified 20 hard-to-get items, for which I had to drive 30mins to the nearest large supermarket after just getting home from a day's travelling. Got their stuff, they stayed for four days and did nothing but complain about how backward things are here compared to London. And they didn't bring so much as a bottle of wine or offer to pay towards their £50 shopping trip.

OP, YABU. Our nearest and very large co-op is not exactly up on the soya/gluten free stuff, so I wouldn't expect your hotel to be.

As a veggie, the breakfast sounds fine to me. No sodding hash browns. Wow. Don't get me wrong, I love a hash brown, but I would not complain about it. You should have let them know about the soya milk in advance, or preferably taken your own.

If you want all-out catering for your dietary requirements, get a caravan and do it yourself.

thecatfromjapan · 30/04/2016 12:02

London ISN'T full of twats. Please don't start London-bashing.
I'd like to point out that there are many vegans outside London, some quite radical, some quite moderate.

OP asked if she was perhaps being unreasonable - I assume because she wanted to know.

People have answered.

WordGetsAround · 30/04/2016 12:03

Think about the enormous amount of waste there would be if small businesses around the country were always stocked for vegan customers! It would be criminal to have so much food thrown away on a regular basis.
Next time let people know in advance of you have any special requirements. If they can't meet them - go elsewhere.

Headofthehive55 · 30/04/2016 12:04

I've never met a vegan. I ask lots of people their dietary preferences as part of my job. Bit odd to assume they would have something that the vast majority of the population won't require.

Catsize · 30/04/2016 12:04

And for the record, most of the London hotels I have stayed in have been rubbish compared to elsewhere.

Headofthehive55 · 30/04/2016 12:09

If only London hotels upped their friendliness standards....

Celticlassie · 30/04/2016 12:10

Just take your own bloody milk with you. If you choose not to drink the same milk as the majority of the population (and presumably the majority of hotel guests) then how hard is it to take a small quantity of milk to ensure you enjoy your breakfast. I am coeliac (so not picky by choice) and I would always email ahead to inform a hotel, plus take some of my own bread.

BoneyBackJefferson · 30/04/2016 12:10

You really should stop being a twat about London.

This ^

and as far as I can see you didn't tell them of any dietary needs.

Oh and as for "I'm not fully vegan". Then you are NOT a vegan.

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