Seniors Network - Hall of Shame

My wife and I attended the NPC convention in Blackpool in May 2006. Since we are not very keen on small claustrophobic hotel rooms we decided to go to a large hotel in the centre of Blackpool. It looked fantastic on the Internet - it looked luxurious and it had some special offers!

So we booked the Grand Metropole in Blackpool for 4 days.

We travelled from Scotland - stopped at a few stops and after 4 hours on the road we arrived at the hotel - and had to wait for 10 minutes - in a traffic queue on the prom - while someone sorted the entrance gates.

In the Hotel we had to wait for over an hour, with 300 other Seniors, to get checked in. Eventually there was a shout that we could book in and get our keys. We queued for about 20 minutes at the reception and booked in. Lo and behold we were asked for our money upfront! This had never happened to us before. When we booked by email it clearly said that we pay on leaving. However we paid up and got our keys. By this time we were exhausted and were looking forward to a refreshing shower and clean up.

The lifts were too busy so we manhandled our cases up 2 flights of stairs and along miles of corridors to get to our room. The stairway was dominated by a fluttering strip of wallpaper about 30 feet long - hanging down. The corridors were in a sore need of redecorating. As we entered the room we heard the sound of trams and other traffic. We could not see the traffic very well because of the dust ingrained windows. They looked as if they had not been cleaned since Billy Butlin owned the hotel. One window was sealed by duct tape - possibly by a previous visitor to keep out draughts?

So we tried to settle in. I was ready for a shower so I checked for hot water etc. It was then that I noticed the lower half of the shower cubicle was covered with black fungus! The kind of stuff we get in the shower if its not cleaned for months!

I went back down to the reception and asked for a member of management. Some 10 minutes later a lady arrived in our room . She immediately started making excuses for the "contractors". I then suggested that she send a manager along to see us. The Deputy Hotel Manager eventually arrived and we insisted on being shown a better room. He explained that we were the first complaint the he had.. He then led us as we tramped all over the hotel to a room with a sea view (his words).

On entering the room the first view we had was of dirty windows and if you looked carefully through the dust and the scaffolding you could see the sea. We then noticed a film of dust all over the room.

At this point we decided that the hotel was just too dirty to risk even one night. The thought of sleeping in that hotel was abhorrent. We asked for our money back. We tried phoning a few other hotels but there was no reply. Since it was now after 6pm I expect the staff were busy with evening meals.

The deputy manager explained that they were refurbishing 4 rooms but they would not be available till the next month. He then suggested that we could move to one of their sister hotels - The Norbreck Castle or the Savoy. By this time it was after 6pm - we were totally exhausted and we did not relish hunting for a new hotel so we accepted his offer and set off for the Savoy.

We eventually arrived at the Savoy, thoroughly tired, fed up looking at hotel rooms, and as it was reasonably clean - we decided to stay.

The question is: How can hotels get away with such blatant poor accommodation and highway robbery? Is the Metropole used as a receiving station for the Savoy and the Norbreck?

We particularly noticed the SAME deputy hotel manager telling the reporter that his was the first complaint they had had! He told the reporter he could transfer to the Norbreck or the Savoy.

The Harry Ramsden Experience by John Lynch

My wife and I attended the NPC convention in Blackpool in May 2005. We decided to go self-catering. We landed lucky in that we found a nice flat with 2 bedrooms, sitting room, kitchen, bathroom. More than enough room to move around. We decided to do very little cooking and opted to "eat out". One evening we looked forward to eating at Harry Ramsden's where in past years we have had enjoyable meals.

We were given copies of the "Seniors Menu" which offered a 2 course meal with coffee. The menu had some small print that stated that the fish portion may be "smaller than the picture" (or words to that effect). My mouth was watering when I saw other diners being served with huge fish extending over plates that looked about 12 inches long. Eventually we were served our fish and realised that the small print was an understatement. The plates were a little bigger than side plates. The fish looked remarkably like the Harry Ramsden frozen fillets - they were about 5" by 2" - and even with a pile of chips there was plenty of room left on the plate. - the chips did not look very attractive and consisted of about 25% "scraps" as well as a few with their very own "eyes".

The promised bread & butter did not materialise, even after a gentle reminder. The (first) cafetiere of coffee dispensed a very watery looking coffee. All in all a complete disaster!

I complained to the manager at Harry Ramsden - Blackpool and, to give him credit, he scrapped the bill but I still had a "bad taste" in my mouth. I also complained to the HQ of Compass - who now own Harry Ramsden and offered them the opportunity to respond. I am now waiting for their reply.

The following evening we tried Morrison's (the supermarket) famous Fish & Chips. The meal was cooked to order and the fish was twice the size of HRs - It was well presented and there were no scraps in the chips. a very enjoyable meal - much better value than Harry Ramsden. I sincerely hope that the standards of the Blackpool Morrisons are transferred to my local Safeway (please). The Morrison quality is mainly based on the fact that each meal is "cooked to order".

My verdict on Harry Ramsden - Blackpool. The "Seniors Menu" is not a bargain but exploitation of "Seniors" with poor quality products - a Rip-Off!

Grand Metropole Hotel in Blackpool

Grand Metropole Hotel
in Blackpool