No outside food allowed at hotel

[whenicomehomedrunk]

I’m away for a couple of nights at a hotel, they have a restaurant so I thought I’d just eat here.

I get here and it’s closed for refurbishment for three nights! I went out and got fish and chips to eat in my room but they told me that outside food isn’t allowed in the hotel, because of the restaurant…

Which isn’t open! I’ve asked if they’re serious and they said yes, they made me eat outside the hotel on a bench by the beach.

AIBU or is this utterly fucking nuts?

Ridiculous - where do they expect you to eat?

Madness! This happened to my parents recently at a travel lodge and they suggested people get takeaways and use their tables to eat at. A much more reasonable response

I’d be leaving a scathing review on Tripadvisor and asking for a discount or refund. Probably in the other order.

I know that the hotel industry is struggling g in the UK but how does this make others want to visit.

You could also name and shame
on here.

That's crazy. I could understand it if they were serving food, but what else do they expect you to do?

I would have been tempted to take the fish and chips in anyway - what are they going to do, wrestle them off you?

Put something in your bag. How will they know ?

Every time I have wanted to eat food in a hotel room from outside, I have sneaked it in. Same for wine.

Hotels get very uppity about these things! Agree it is doubly ridiculous when there's no restaurant!

I stayed in an inn room with a friend years ago and went to the shop to get some bits. Innkeeper clocked a bottle of wine sticking out of my bag and said she didn't permit drinking wine in the room unless it was bought from their premises. I apologised and said no problem, I will buy some wine from the bar to which she told me they did not provide take-out. I said oh no problem, I'll go get friend and we'll have a drink at the bar instead. She said the bar was not open. I exchanged an odd look with her for a good few seconds!

Anyway since then yes, food/booze is sneaked in very stealthily!

Me and DP stayed in a hotel room recently. We'd planned to go out for dinner but we were both tired and couldn't be bothered dressing up and going out for the evening.

I discovered that night that pot noodles and expensive champagne actually rather compliment one another.

Did you ask them what the alternative was? Would love to have heard them try and rationalise their argument. Surely they can't expect everyone to go out and eat each evening?

I would be very cross at both the nonsensical enforcement of 'rules' and the fact I hadn't been informed prior to arrival that the restaurant would be closed.

Years ago I waitresses at a Hilton and I was amazed that they happily brought people cutlery and crockery on room service for their take aways. Absolute opposite of this. I’d be really annoyed if I booked for a restaurant and it was closed and letting you get take aways is the least they could do

Yes seems crazy. Earlier this year I took outside food into a Travelodge where the restaurant was open (took it to our room), went to ask if we could borrow cutlery and they offered us plates too! Surely the hotel can't dictate what you can and can't take to a hotel room (unless it's something illegal)?

I’ve never had this issue before, I’ve ordered takeaway to a hotel multiple times

That's ridiculous! I have never heard of such a ridiculous policy!!

Me neither. I often bring food from outside into hotel rooms and have never once had an issue. Your contract with the hotel is for accommodation, not dining, so why should you be obliged to eat at the restaurant, even if it was open?

That’s ridiculous. I’ve had takeaways and brought alcohol (in the past, I don’t drink now) into hotels loads of times and the staff don’t give a fuck

That's crazy even if the restaurant was open. At least you know to hide it tomorrow.
I definitely be writing a review!

I'd take it to my room surreptitiously. Arrogant twats.

Absolutely not! Fair enough that they say no if sit down eating is available on site. If it’s not then do not ask. Bring you food in and ignore them. And review accordingly.

You should write a complaint in which you challenge the hotel. They were unable to provide food, yet they didn't allow any food from outside the premises.
Say that you felt let down by the lack of food service and also humilliated by having to consume food outside, when you are a paying guest.
Look for compensation/voucher/juicy discount on the next booking!

I can't be doing with crap like this. I would definitely be smuggling stuff in.

Surely you just say "But the restaurant is closed"
And walk past them to enjoy your fish and chips. What are they going to call? call the police?!

I left to eat because I couldn’t be doing with the fuss about it and to be fair tomorrow I will be trying to find a pub for a roast, but still!

We stayed in a boutique hotel and in the room the service list stated if you drank wine in your room they charged £10.00 corkage, we laughed as we popped the cork quietly.

That's insane..! Never heard of that, anywhere. Is it in the T&Cs? And regardless, the restaurant is closed, so are you just supposed to starve?

I once put cheese in a hotel minibar, only to come back to my room and discover that the cleaner had removed it, left it on top of the minibar where it would go off and put a notice telling me I could not put my own food in the minibar. So the much-advertised minibar was, in fact, just there to sell me miniature bottles of alcohol at vastly inflated prices.

It was a waste of effort on their part because this was Gran Canaria and there was a supermarket selling chilled cans of premixed Cuba Libre for a couple of quid.

That's bonkers, I did a thread last year where the hotel, (middle of no where, no car and no delivery apps delivered) restaurant was closed.
I've also stayed in boutique places with a corkage fee- so I took all my rubbish home with me!
Some places have stupid rules tgen they complain when people dont come back!

I agree, but you cant smuggle in fish and chips !!!