To give a family run Hotel a Poor Review

[MistressMia]

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.

That's exactly what I meant, but are the owners going to feel this is a' bad' review that will affect their trade ? No and other customers will see your post as rather 'niche'.

Alternatively Don't leave a review like that, you'll look like a knob

You would be fine to mention that they didn't have a vegetarian selection as it's easy enough for them to get some veggie sausages and hash browns and bung them in the freezer for future veggie visitors. Vegetarians not vegans would have been fine with the eggs I presume, so it's really only vegans that have a limited choice.

I agree with everyone else, soya milk and soya yoghurt are not things I consider to be standard and if you wanted them you should have notified them in advance.

Trills - I can understand that aspect. However, if your diet is restricted, for whatever reason, then surely when staying in a hotel or going to a restaurant, it would be sensible to call ahead to let the staff know? Otherwise, disappointment can surely ensue, unnecessarily.

This must be the first example I've seen of a vegan not telling everybody. Pure comedy genius cdtaylor .

Is it unreasonable to expect establishments to fully cater for those with different diets?

No, but they need to know about the requirement in order to cater for it.

...TBH I just don't think that being veggie/not having dairy are just not that unusual anymore.

They did cater for vegetarians though. It's not their fault you don't eat eggs?

I don't eat mushrooms, eggs, tomatoes, sausages, cereal, or milk. I don't expect people to know this if I don't tell them.

....was booked with 12 hours notice.
Plenty of time for them to buy milk/yoghurt for you at least. There are shops outside of London you know.

I'm not vegetarian or vegan, and I sometimes have a lovely breakfast of herbal or fruit tea with a spoonful of honey, toast and marmalade or Marmite (or mushrooms or tomatoes) and a bowl of fruit. Lasts me 'till mid-afternoon, usually

That would barely last me until breakfast

funniestWins

YABU. Even being a vegetarian is not that usual in rural areas and vegetarians do eat eggs. You should have specified you are a vegan when you booked (although I think you probably would have been disappointed even then because the owners would have been inexperienced). Can't you take your own soya milk? Also people have breakfast cereal with fruit juice, too.

EvansOvalPies

Yes I've said that above.

The OP had an unreasonable expectation that her dietary choices would be catered for with no warning. She seems unaware of how unusual her choices are.

Whether she is "fully vegan" or whether "not fully vegan" is a thing that exists is irrelevant and seems to be just a way to criticise.

Im really craving a full breakfast (no hash browns) now

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

But you dont know if they dont have the option to cater for this if prewarned. As you didnt feel the need to prewarn.

I have a dd who is vegetarian a close friend who is coeliac when we go out we ensure that restaurants know prior if going somewhere less mainstream . It isnt hard. A quick email and usually people are falling overthemselves to help.

I really like hash browns.

You mention about having a carton if long life soya milk and some veggie sausages in the freezer.

Did you say when you checked in that you'd like these options in the morning? As otherwise, why would they be useful?

I've been to lots of large, posh hotels that don't have veggie sausages in the breakfast buffet because eggs, mushrooms etc are the "veggie options"

Oh sorry, Trills misunderstood.

I accept that the ubiquity of dairy free alternatives in national coffee chains and supermarkets has obviously clouded my expectations.

I still don't think however that these are that 'way out' that they should now just be part of a standard offering.

And I still think that there should be some thought put into providing more options and interesting alternatives in hotels and restaurants that would cover a wider range of dietary requirements but that would also appeal to the 'standard' guest or diner.

But most breakfast buffet items are vegetarian, once pastries etc are included

And I still think that there should be some thought put into providing more options and interesting alternatives in hotels and restaurants that would cover a wider range of dietary requirements but that would also appeal to the 'standard' guest or diner.

I think that's fair. There are lots of nice dishes that would "normally" be gluten-free or dairy-free without needing to be amended to be "special".

So you expected a small family sun hotel to cater for all diets because supermarkets sell soy milk and Starbucks have it?

That doesn't even make sense

This must be the first example I've seen of a vegan not telling everybody.

"And I still think that there should be some thought put into providing more options and interesting alternatives in hotels and restaurants that would cover a wider range of dietary requirements but that would also appeal to the 'standard' guest or diner."

A good fry is one of the best things about staying in a hotel. I'd suggest that most 'standard' guests are happy to tuck in to it and those who aren't can munch their muesli or yoghurts and juice / continental breakfasts.

Yabu....

If in doubt to a 'small family run' type place with such specific needs.

Take your own.

A coffee chain will often have soy milk but then various kinds of milk are a bulk need for them. But there will be free gluten or dairy free cake/sandwich options - maybe 1-2 on a list of 15-20

Most of a cooked breakfast is vegetarian except for 2 items when I was vegetarian I didn't eat meat substitute so would have been happy with eggs tomato and mushrooms there is a difference between lack of choice and them not providing something you fancy eating

I still don't think however that these are that 'way out' that they should now just be part of a standard offering.

For many small establishments they are 'out there.' YABU.