Work trip - no food in hotel!

[Boxingshibes]

I'm way for work for the week. I'm staying in a hotel in the middle of nowhere. It took me 4 hours to get here in v hot trains.
Room and hotel lovely but I went down to the bar/ restaurant and asked about dinner- to be told as they have an event on the kitchen is closed.
They offered me a free drink but apologised and said unfortunately there are no takeaways that deliver.
I'm on a meal allowance. I'm pissed off!
And I'm having to pay £200 for taxis for the. Grr
I'm hot hungry and annoyed. Aibu?

That’s pretty awful. Can you get a taxi to pick up a takeaway?

£200?! What are you doing for work somewhere so remote? Is there a petrol station or a corner shop?

Tbh I’d be calling work and getting moved. That’s not viable if you’re meant to be productive and not wasting time seeking out food. Work will need to get their money back from the hotel as they should not have been offering rooms without making it clear no food was available

Nothing i can get to without a taxi but I've looked Nothing. It's 5 miles to the closest town. I'm working next week at an army barracks. Hotel is 5 miles away so taxi there and back. Just annoyed as it was 120 last year same taxi company now it's 200. So I need to claim it back ASAP.

@Boxingshibes it's £200 for a round-trip taxi to the nearest restaurant? Or to the army barracks?

I think the kitchen must have some spare food that they can give you. I appreciate it may not be food that you'd want though.

I think I would make myself firmly unpleasant at the front desk and point out that you will be advising your work that they are in the hole for a massive extra cost just to get you a meal as they hadn’t communicated that their kitchen would be closed. They really can’t scare up a sandwich and a drink??

To army base. I asked if they could make me a sandwich they said no.

That is shocking. You'd think they would have informed guests in advance and made some arrangements for room service at least. I would speak to whoever booked you in there and get rebooked somewhere else.

Unfortunately it's the closest hotel. There is a motel in town but even the squaddies wouldn't stay there. I'll complain to work tomorrow. If I'd known I'd have brought food. I think I'm actually the only guest. It's odd as they said they'd lock up at 10 and then there's no one else here. But the room is lovely.

They're in the middle of nowwhere.

They gave no warning they wouldn't be serving food.

They're perfectly aware there are no takeaway deliveries.

They're refusing to make you a sandwich.

I'd be naming and shaming their arses all over social media right now.

Very unacceptable, could you phone a just eats, they tend to deliver everywhere. Or crisps from the bar (not ideal I know). Or like a pp I’d be kicking up a fuss at reception

From ChatGTP:

🔹 Consumer Protection and Reasonable Expectations
While there’s no specific legal obligation for a hotel to provide food, trading standards and consumer protection laws could apply if:

• The hotel advertised food service (e.g., "restaurant on site," "dinner available") and you relied on that when booking.
• The location is remote with no reasonable access to alternative food options, and this hardship was not made clear in advance.
• They are refusing service due to a private event that wasn’t disclosed ahead of time — this could be considered misrepresentation under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

🔹 What You Can Do If you're in this situation:

1. Check your booking confirmation and website description — was food implied or included?
2. Ask for alternatives — e.g., room service, a takeaway, or packed food.
3. Mention the Consumer Rights Act 2015 if you feel the service you're receiving is not as described or advertised.
4. Complain in writing (email is fine) and request compensation if you had no reasonable access to food due to their event.

🔹 Practical Steps If they refuse to assist and you’re stranded without food:

• Ask to speak to the manager.
• If still unresolved, keep a record of the incident (including dates, photos, and any signage).
• You can escalate it to Trading Standards or make a formal complaint through bodies like:
• ABTA (if part of a package holiday)
• The Ombudsman Service
• Hotel review platforms and social media may also prompt a response.

Summary

• ❌ No legal obligation to provide food.
• ✅ But if they advertised or implied it and you're now stuck, you may have a valid consumer complaint.
• 📝 Document the issue and escalate appropriately.

There must be somewhere that delivers food.

What is the event?
Is there food there? If so could you sneak in?

@ReadingSoManyThreads I will copy that and send it to work. I'm annoyed.

Even if I could work out a delivery I can't really afford it. I'm the sole earner so always eat in the hotel wherever I get sent. The taxis for the week is £50 more than last November so wasn't expecting that. I don't really have the luxury of takeaways as my family also need food.
I'm sorry this has taken a drip feed but not everyone who goes on work trips have disposable income to cover surprise extras.

If the hotel didn't give any warning about closing the restaurant, then this is their problem. If they'e already catering for something, I find it very difficult to believe they couldn't produce a plate of food for you, or even just a couple of sandwiches. If they choose not to, then they will need to bear the costs of getting food from the nearest town.

I'm sorry this has taken a drip feed but not everyone who goes on work trips have disposable income to cover surprise extras.

@Boxingshibes I thought the same thing (fortunately I was ok) when my work credit card had a fault for all employees for 3 days and didn't work for any expenses at all, while I was thousands of miles from home recently. Never assume people can cover it. Do you have a work credit card and can expense a delivery from somewhere distant or a taxi to wherever for dinner?

@Wheech unfortunately I don't have a work card. I have a personal card then claim expenses back. Stupidly we(my team) are out wherever but aren't allowed one but my manager does who never goes anywhere.
I often get frustrated by my team (who are lovely) but they have 2 people working in their family who also comment just put it on a card. Not all of us have extra money just in case. I have a disabled dh, 2 dds at college (expensive) pets and rent in the SE. All to cover from my average salary.

I would go down, plant yourself in reception and tell them you need a meal and what do they suggest you do for food.

That's really poor. Being hungry is horrid.

Hope you manage to get something soon.

I’m not one for making a fuss but as other PP have said plant yourself at reception. The kitchen is only closed because they’ve hired it out. That’s not your problem, make it there’s

hope you get some food

I went back down to reception but was still a no. All staff have now gone. I'll let work know tomorrow maybe they can increase my allowance for the next few days to make up for it.
Hope breakfast is OK. I usually don't eat breakfast but might make an exception.

I would be raising merry hell tomorrow about the unacceptable level of service. If they know there's no food to be had in the vicinity, it's unacceptable of them not to let you know in advance.

Can you steal some leftovers from the function 😂?

@Boxingshibes what country are you in????

Uber eats?