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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why people go on Four in a Bed

114 replies

Millieja · 26/08/2017 20:00

If you haven't seen it, it's basically this:

Several b&b owners stay in each others' b&bs, rate each one and pay what they think the night's stay and breakfast is worth.

Every contestant, without fail, becomes extremely upset and offended when their establishment is criticised. There are tears every single time.

It's completely understandable why they get so upset and it's actually quite painful to watch.

Why do they put themselves through it when the winner doesn't even get a great prize? All they win is a crappy plaque!

OP posts:
Piffpaffpoff · 26/08/2017 20:00

All publicity is good publicity?

LottieDoubtie · 26/08/2017 20:01

But you can boast about the plaque online and drum up business for your BB! Unless someone finds a pube in a drain and then you might as well sell up there and then 😃

EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans · 26/08/2017 20:01

I don't get why people go on any of those programmes really.

Original poster
Millieja · 26/08/2017 20:06

Lottie the chance of someone finding a pube is a lot more likely than not, going by what I've seen of it. Being on the programme seems a risky publicity strategy!

OP posts:
KurriKurri · 26/08/2017 20:09

A friend of mine did it - because she just saw it as a big advertising opportunity (and her place is really lovely) she was asked to do it by the TV company IIRC.(As in they sought her out rather than her seeking them out)
I don't know if she's got any more business out of it though.

thesleepystorm · 26/08/2017 20:09

That programme fucks me off as the cheapest one always wins

TinyBarista · 26/08/2017 20:11

I've seen this. It's odd behaviour all round.
Or .... it could be me.
Am I the only one not closely inspecting the tops of hotel wardrobes, failing to peer intimately down the loo, and grading my egg on a Michelin star basis?

OstentatiousWanking · 26/08/2017 20:32

I love the cuntishness of it.

exLtEveDallas · 26/08/2017 20:37

We've stayed at two winning B&Bs/Pubs (before they appeared on the show).

The one was absolutely lovey, and we were really pleased it won. The other was run by a very temperamental bloke who had a hissy fit in the bar when someone complained about his dog walking across the bar (the actually bar, not the floor). He was quite precious on the show as well (and his dog was nowhere to be seen). Cheap though.

LottieDoubtie · 26/08/2017 20:37

Yup the cheapest one always wins and the expensive ones are always fucked over by some twat who says the place is perfect but I wouldn't pay more than £65 a night for utopia so I am paying £63.20 😃

LazyDailyMailJournos · 26/08/2017 20:39

It's fucking batshit!

They stay in each others' B&Bs and go through the rooms in forensic detail to check for 'cleanliness'. Seriously, Gil Grissom and the CSI team have nothing on these people. I saw an episode once where they pulled apart a chest of drawers and pounced on a tiny ball of lint that was on the carpet underneath the bottom drawer. This was used as evidence of the room being dirty and resulted in them marking it down on the score sheet. Understandably, the B&B owners were a bit gobsmacked when they found this out - and unsurprisingly they returned the favour when they stayed at their competitor's establishment. Bizarrely, the competitor got really upset when they were marked down for some lint under a chest of drawers and accused the other couple of being petty, despite the fact they'd started the whole ridiculous nonsense!

I also find it utterly enraging when you get the inevitable sanctimonious couple who refuse to pay full price for their room because they would 'never stay somewhere so expensive in real life and it's not reflective of what we charge'. Despite the fact the room they stayed in is 5* and gorgeous whereas their own B&B is a shithole for stag and hen parties.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 26/08/2017 20:40

Isn't it supposed to be judged on what is best value for money, so it's not that surprising that the cheaper end wins. Some of them are vair, vair posh, but I wouldn't pay £200 for a night's b&b.

Thurlow · 26/08/2017 20:41

Its always the cheap ones that win because it's pretty hard to argue with a clean B&B that does a reasonable breakfast for £60. But I've been tempted by the pricier ones that don't win, so it's still good advertising.

I do love the idea that hosts need to be really involved. I don't want to see my 'hosts' or have a two hour conversation with them, I just want to have a nice weekend away!

Ace programme though. Got me through two maternity leaves.

apostropheuse · 26/08/2017 20:41

I'm akways amazed at the B & Bs that are deemed filthy.

I must have terribly low standards Blush

grecian100 · 26/08/2017 20:44

I love FIAB and I am a member of the FB page Blush Quite a few people have complained that they were"set up" by C4 as they were matched with other B &B's strategically for entertainment purposes. There is also a Jeremy Kyle element of riling up contestants against each other.

The latest 'scandal' I remember was the Asian bloke in a yoga retreat who took FIAB to court for damages against his health caused by the stress of the programme. He claimed they purposely misrepresented his business and chose rival contestants who mocked the ethos of his establishment.

Original poster
Millieja · 26/08/2017 20:45

I think it's a bit unfair as you have places all over the country competing with one another. I remember one in Brighton, that was priced fairly for the area, receiving a lot less than their nightly rate from the other competitors on the basis that it was too expensive, when that's just how much it costs to stay in Brighton. And of course personal feelings come into it - you'll get people paying less for a place just because they're fucked off with that particular owner. It's not really a true reflection of how good the B&B is.

OP posts:
ClashCityRocker · 26/08/2017 20:46

Who the hell looks in the shower trap anyway?

I've seen a few on four in a bed that have also been on the hotel inspector so suspect it can be a desperate bid to drum up some interest...

Regardless of what the bnb was like there are some people who will go there just because it's been on telly, particularly if there's a quirky owner, even if it looks a bit shit.

FiveStarService · 26/08/2017 20:46

There's always one owner 'playing the game' by criticising and undercutting the rest. On confrontation, they are totally shocked and upset to be called out on their usually ridiculous behaviour.

Brittbugs80 · 26/08/2017 20:46

I don't understand how it's fair though. If you are pitting people in the same line of business against each other to rate their b&b, they won't (and rarely) give really glowing reviews and give high marks.

It always seems (on the few times I watch it) that you get one couple that are nice and pay in full, one couple that are mega fussy, one couple that remain on the fence and are very British in their not wanting to cause a fuss attitude and then the final couple who slate everything and pay the smallest amount.

LakieLady · 26/08/2017 20:47

I love Four in a Bed. I love the way they all bitch about each other, and that some of the places are so naff.

Thurlow · 26/08/2017 20:49

Now the Hotel Inspector, there's a great show girl crush on Alex

JuniUmiZoomi · 26/08/2017 20:50

I used to work with someone who runs a B&B. It's in Bath and it looks stunning on the website. He's a great chap and his partner is a chef. They'd walk off with it! However, he said he's been asked loads of times but never would as he finds the nitpicking searching totally ridiculous and he wouldn't have the patience for it. I do enjoy watching it although it's absolute trash.

DioneTheDiabolist · 26/08/2017 20:52

They do it for my entertainment and I salute them.Grin

IndianaMoleWoman · 26/08/2017 20:52

I live FIAB, my favourite is the one where the guest pulls off the duvet, sheets and mattress protector and is adamant there is mold all over the mattress. The B&B owner is horrified, then checks all his other mattresses and realises it's just the pattern printed on the mattress, but buys a completely new mattress for the looney reviewer anyway.

I think that pubes are found so frequently that a certain percentage must be planted by the guests. Imagine being so desperate to promote your own business that you'd pull out your own pube and show it on camera just to try and undermine a rival host. Bleurgh!

Ginorchoc · 26/08/2017 20:53

I know someone who went on it and then ended up presenting a Channel5 programme assisting wannabe B&B owners. Lovely lady though.