[Prince Monalulu]

Info I got from listening to R4's Frontrow program.
The Butler was the Directors 'in' to Claridges.
She got married there and met the Butler, so got interested in interviewing him and talking about his life and the hotel.
IIRC Her husband proposed there or they had their first blind date there so she's got a lot of affection for the place and a particular table.

[Re-Minder]

Just watching this now, no way would i ever pay that kind of money to stay in an upmarket Travelodge, as its been mentioned on the thread before i shall say it again, even if i was a true blue tory the vile excesses of money on show would be enough to make me a socialist.

I bet a lot of the staff ARE minimum wage workers from eastern europe.

[Prince Monalulu]

Originally Posted by Re-Minder

Just watching this now, no way would i ever pay that kind of money to stay in an upmarket Travelodge, as its been mentioned on the thread before i shall say it again, even if i was a true blue tory the vile excesses of money on show would be enough to make me a socialist.

I bet a lot of the staff ARE minimum wage workers from eastern europe.

Look up Tatoosh and Octopus, how much they're worth and who owns them, it'll cheer you up no end
Hospitality/service industry, lots of immigrants and badly paid, your point being?

[Parker45]

Originally Posted by Phyllis Stein

Normal rooms start from about £400 I think.

Yes, you can get a room for £390 which is a lot less than I expected. I've stayed in some comparatively quite unremarkable £300 hotel rooms.

[late8]

Hotel was nice but I have seen better. Did anyone notice how worn the carpets were and scuffs on the skirting boards?

Also the rooms seemed to be small and pokey compared to a lot of other grand hotels. I wasn't blown away. If I had that money, the Savoy etc are better choices.

[Reggie Rebel]

Well if I could afford it I'd stay there. As it is the washing machine boxes at the back of Comets are looking cosy

[Creamtea]

Originally Posted by Pretzel

The hotel looked very very nice, and obviously to have such personal service and attention to detail must be great, but somehow it didn't make me want to stay there. Which is the way watching these shows usually do. Strange, because it's a beautiful place. Although.. in a couple of shots the Melchers suite did look rather like an up market care home, so maybe that it's.
Also the tree- well no, I don't care if they did call in a Parisian designer (was it?), they overpaid. It looked like a market town Debenhams, trying to be trendy. A real tree, dressed traditionally would have been far better.

And lol at the child who said she loved the place because it's 'very Art Deco' - I love posh kids.

The tree itself was fine. The male fairy in a suit was hideous, as were the slumped rag dolls lolling around the base of the tree looking like a bunch of corpses. As per, money doesn't always buy taste.

[Thine Wonk]

Originally Posted by don roberto

I've never considered myself to be a socialist or even left of centre but watching this I can't help thinking there is something immoral in the way some people spend the sort of money mentioned!

What to generate jobs and income for the hotels and it's employees, which in turn they spend? It all trickles down you know.

Silly socialists.

[Dan Fortesque]

Originally Posted by Re-Minder

Just watching this now, no way would i ever pay that kind of money to stay in an upmarket Travelodge, as its been mentioned on the thread before i shall say it again, even if i was a true blue tory the vile excesses of money on show would be enough to make me a socialist.

I bet a lot of the staff ARE minimum wage workers from eastern europe.

Agreed. Whether they create jobs or not it still seems so wrong that some people have so much money whilst a significant number of people live in poverty in this world.

[Parker45]

Originally Posted by Dan Fortesque

Agreed. Whether they create jobs or not it still seems so wrong that some people have so much money whilst a significant number of people live in poverty in this world.

That's always been how things are and most wealthy people nowadays have created money, not inherited it.

[derek500]

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

What to generate jobs and income for the hotels and it's employees, which in turn they spend? It all trickles down you know.

Not forgetting the 20% VAT they're paying too.

[LostFool]

Originally Posted by Dan Fortesque

Agreed. Whether they create jobs or not it still seems so wrong that some people have so much money whilst a significant number of people live in poverty in this world.

It may seem "wrong" to you but that's just the way the wicked world works. At least wealthy people stopping at Claridges are spending their money in the UK rather than another country.

[goldberry1]

My feelings are ambivalent about this programme -

It was great to have a look around such a place and to learn how it ticks, yes and imagine staying there and being so rich. I assume we'll be shown the kitchen and about the food on offer in another episode - hope so.

However, then all my socialist principles kick in - could I, even if I was rich be so extravagent? If you've worked hard and also give lots of money to charity a little luxury is ok I guess - but would I go over the top - probably not. I wouldn't be asking for the decor to be changed especially for me.
How the other half lives eh!

[Mark39London]

I thought it was a good and entertaining programme, about a famous London landmark.

You don’t have to be hugely rich to eat or stay there either, as long as you avoid the suites and pick an offer.

We stayed last year for a weekend and had a lovely time. The staff are about as friendly and helpful as you could possibly get.

[goldberry1]

[quote=Mark39London;62761017]I thought it was a good and entertaining programme, about a famous London landmark.

You don’t have to be hugely rich to eat or stay there either, as long as you avoid the suites and pick an offer.

We stayed last year for a weekend and had a lovely time. The staff are about as friendly and helpful as you could possibly get.[/QUOTE]

That's nice to hear.

[Saigo]

Lots of people on this thread who don't understand money.

[oldhag]

Originally Posted by Saigo

Lots of people on this thread who don't understand money.

I don't know anyone who does understand it.

[latinloulou]

Originally Posted by guernseysnail

Very true, we never had cash left behind, usually the odd sock or underwear!

I kid you not, in a hotel I worked in one guest left a life size inflatable sheep - strangely the guest didn't phone and ask for it back

[cookie_princess]

Wow. I'm glad that deputy head of housekeeping Anne is not my boss!!! lol

[Zayna99]

Made me laugh when that lady said the worst thing they ever did was give Gordon Ramsay an 11 year lease on the restaurant.

[Tommo781]

Well, whatever the adverse comments on this forum - I LOVED the programme!

[don roberto]

Originally posted by Thine Wonk:

What to generate jobs and income for the hotels and it's employees, which in turn they spend? It all trickles down you know.

Silly socialists.

Re. your final comment, as I wrote originally, I'm no socialist but it doesn't stop me feeling a tad uneasy at the way some people spend money. There is luxury and comfort and there is obscene expenditure but hey, each to their own I suppose!

As to generating jobs, it appeared that the majority of the employees shown were foreign so not a lot of employment for locals! That's another debate, not for here!

As to the money guests spend, that American couple apparently only left the hotel twice during their 16 (?) day stay so not exactly splashing out around the West End eh?

Edit: Meant to add that Claridges is owned by the Barclay Bros who, according to some reports are tax exiles spending much of their time living in Monaco - for "health reasons" apparently! Hmm.

[Stansfield]

Originally Posted by Phyllis Stein

The manager is a German John Barrowman.

I thought Thomas Kochs was more like Dale Winton....and the Telephone Operator with Google at his finger tips, was very funny, straight from central casting....Lift guy John was a Star....but what's with the 'Fashion' Artist in Residence....

Originally Posted by Zayna99

Made me laugh when that lady said the worst thing they ever did was give Gordon Ramsay an 11 year lease on the restaurant.

Really liked Jack and {keys} Norma....there for 16 Days, and only went out twice.

[LostFool]

Originally Posted by Stansfield

Really liked Jack and {keys} Norma....there for 16 Days, and only went out twice.

I suppose it's the same as many Brits who go abroad and never leave their All Inclusive hotel.

[StaxVolt]

Originally Posted by don roberto

Meant to add that Claridges is owned by the Barclay Bros who, according to some reports are tax exiles spending much of their time living in Monaco - for "health reasons" apparently! Hmm.

It occurred to me to google that fact Don Roberto as I did wonder how much UK tax they paid on their £60+ million turnover, so thanks for saving me the trouble. Can't say I'm surprised though .


Fwiw I enjoyed the programme as I'm always curious about the super-rich.I thought Ms Hambro cut quite a sad figure but not one I could feel in any way sorry for.The elderly American couple I felt a lot more happy for ... they didn't seem to be over-demanding and were probably easy to cater to.I was sorry that Mrs M.popped off (didn't think she'd be the one to go first) but Good Luck to them for spending their money how they pleased,they certainly worked for it and I suppose there are many similar stories from the computing world.


I thought the New York guy was a huckster and anybody who paid his ludicrous fees were certifiable.I mean,super-rich people have personal assistants don't they?


As somebody who orders from the menu with a 'big eye' on the right hand side of it,I'll never stay at the like of Claridge's,and even if my finances were miraculously transformed,I would still be checking the price.I suppose therein we have the saying "How the other half lives" or at least,those who never have to consider the cost/price of anything.If there are more of this programme than I'll be watching.