A CHEF has hit out at hotel chain Hotel du Vin after receiving a paltry bar voucher in compensation for there being zero housekeeping services during his stay.
Bryan Webb had checked in to the Brighton branch of the boutique chain on Friday when he allegedly received a letter from the reception team apologising for an inconvenience.
Explaining that the hotel was short on staff due to “unusually high occupancy”, Bryan was duly informed that there would be no regular service for stayovers.
In an effort to remedy the situation, the hotel offered him a stingy £7.50 worth of vouchers to spend on drinks in the bar – which Bryan said wouldn’t even cover the cost of a glass of wine.
The letter Bryan received read in full: “We would like to inform you that due to the unusually high occupancy at our hotel today, our housekeeping team is unable to provide regular service for stayovers.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, and appreciate your understanding.
“In an effort to promote eco-friendly practices, we are pleased to offer you £7.50 vouchers per person for drinks at our hotel bar.
“If you require any additional tea, coffee, towels or other amenities, please feel free to dial 0 and contact our reception.”
Bryan seems to have also scrawled a list of his own complaints on the paper, which briefly reads: “Wardrobe. Phone charger. Fridge not cold.”
Bryan claims the wardrobe didn’t close, meaning a light was left on all night, the plug sockets didn’t work, leaving him unable to charge his phone, and the fridge was warm.
Despite informing staff on the first night, nothing had been addressed by the end of his three-night stay.
The “final straw” for the chef was returning to his room still in the state he left it, with the offending letter.
He shared the letter to social media on Friday with the caption: “This is not hospitality. I know the industry is struggling for staff.
“But when you are paying full price for a room, you don’t expect to have to make your own bed and clean your room.
“And an offer of £7.50 off at the bar wouldn’t get you a glass of Muscadet. Shameful.”
His post has since received over 110 likes and more than 50 comments from fellow Brits whose opinions were divided on the inconvenience.
One wrote: “I hope you didn’t pay the full price. That’s appalling.”
A second said: “The hotel doesn’t have enough staffing, consequently they can’t provide the service they promised.
“If everyone accepts this, it’ll become like supermarket self-checkouts.”
Another commented: “And Hotel du Vin is not a budget hotel. I’d expect a substantial reduction on the price per night.”
A fourth however, wrote: “I thought you meant make up the bed when you first arrive. Now that I would be annoyed with.
“Not fussed if it doesn’t get done when I’m out. Just pull up the duvet?”
Another added: “In fairness, how messy can your room get in a couple of days?”
