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Four in a Bed :: New Series (Part 3)


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Old 01-04-2015, 00:03
HumptyDumpy
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Oh Dear, Jennifer from the Tower View is having a spot of bother.

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/ne...lier-1-7185314
Nothing she ever said or did warranted such abuse towards her. S*it, I even agreed with some things that were said. Assault/ vandalism/ other criminal behaviour is never OK, no matter how mean or nasty some B&B'er might come across on the TV. Just don't book there, ffs!
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Old 01-04-2015, 00:19
Lizaj
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As a former student at Liverpool Uni - the area this place is in is one I would avoid like a plague. It not far from where the notorious riots were in the 80s, and was somewhere where single ladies wouldn't walk alone at night.....

I wouldn't call the house or the rooms elegant in any way - and the breakfast looked revolting... And the prices are a bit :eek
I live in Merseyside, I was a student at Liverpool Uni in the late 70s and yes it's an "up and down "area" but like many Liverpool areas money is moving back in to glorious old houses that were once very posh. This looks very much like a case in hand, people buying up grand old places and doing them up. Still mixed but not a dodgy as you might think. But I bet his target market are the young foreign ( and national) tourists . You meet plenty in Liverpool and anyone revisiting the city since the miserable 80s might be surprised.
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Old 01-04-2015, 08:56
CaroUK
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I live in Merseyside, I was a student at Liverpool Uni in the late 70s and yes it's an "up and down "area" but like many Liverpool areas money is moving back in to glorious old houses that were once very posh. This looks very much like a case in hand, people buying up grand old places and doing them up. Still mixed but not a dodgy as you might think. But I bet his target market are the young foreign ( and national) tourists . You meet plenty in Liverpool and anyone revisiting the city since the miserable 80s might be surprised.
Oh I know Liz - i moved down to London in 84 after 9 years in Liverpool, and am well aware that the area where Elegant House is only had one way to go (up from where it was) lots of my friends lived in the Princes Road/ Avenue area and the girls never lasted more than a year there despite the convenience as they hated being virtual prisoners in their own homes after dark because of the muggings and kerbcrawlers. As someone in the carnatic halls - we were warned not to walk through Seffie/ Princes park unless we were in a group as it was considered dangerous - even in daylight for a lone female//////

those of us who elected to live elsewhere didn't visit often as we needed to borrow one of the lads to wait with us at the bus stop to discourage unwanted attention....

John's place reminded me very much of the house where some friends lived - same type of cheap naff furniture and huge empty rooms

That said - you could see that those houses were realy nice in their heyday - and if you watch the Onedin line - you hear them talking about buying new houses in princes road......
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Old 01-04-2015, 13:51
LucyDTrym
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I'm obviously the only one who quite liked Johns place then! It was different and I like different. Yes there were things not so good, like the wardrobes, but that is quite a minor thing and no need to make a massive issue about it. John has ideas about what kind and of establish shment he is aspiring to run and if he gets the clientele then good luck to him.

His breakfast was a bit meagre and not well organised but again, breakfast of greasy sausages and bacon is beyond boring and I am so sick of the daily discussion about eggs. I'd have been glad of the change at Johns.

Lynnn is showing herself up IMO. Going on at John about wardrobes at dinner was out of order. She should have kept that for the feedback form and her behaviour at breakfast was ridiculous.
I think he was aming at the hippie type market, there are loads of people still living who dont want frilly things, and loads of pillows everywhere lol in a room, just plain, and kind of Kitch...he just hasnt got there yet. He did say he only had the place for 18months and the plastic wardrobes were on their way out. I actually preferred his bedrooms to some of the more fussy ones full of frills and stuff....

He must get clients. I would love to just get him to understand his prices are way off beam, and his breakfast which i would have preferred should have been a lot more it looked like he was hoping Jesus would turn up and turn water into wine ........

He is eccentric without doubt, but his place was clean. I think the vegetarian was rude and only being nasty because he mentioned fingerprints on top of her shower. I think she was being way over the top.

I would much prefer his breakfast like you i am sick of all the fuss over fried greasy disgusting breakfast which is totally not good for you anyway, what is it with the british they have to eat that disgusting stuff for breakfast lol.

Anyway i think if he put his prices down, and sorted out his breakfast, and shoved a bit more kitch in his place he would do ok. At least he was honest.....
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Old 01-04-2015, 14:11
CaroUK
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For what he's offering, john needs to drop the prices to a maximum of £80/ night, sort out the furniture and cater an appropriate amount of food and drink for his guests at breakfast time. People don't like having to ask for replenishments, and the amount he put out for 6 people was absolutely pathetic. Why he thought Parma ham and smoked salmon was appropriate on a vegetarian plate, I will never understand!

His prices are an absolute joke compared to full service comfortable hotels in the area which serve decent breakfasts

I haven't got a problem with places serving continental breakfasts only - but they do need to be substantial - and it's not difficult to present it attractively!
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Old 01-04-2015, 15:11
Dejavu
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Freaky breakfast.
I thought that the way he served the orange juice was particularly funny!!!
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Old 01-04-2015, 15:18
Venetian
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She has a point about the cheese on the same plate as the meat but she's still a bitch.
She really came over as one didn't she. I've never seen such a strong reaction to a feedback form, John's comments weren't that bad and she has damaged her own reputation by the way she behaved. I was loving her place but wouldn't book it now.
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Old 01-04-2015, 16:23
LucyDTrym
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I thought that the way he served the orange juice was particularly funny!!!
I wonder if he was winding them up....if you read his reviews they are very good and go back ........

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_R...e_England.html
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Old 01-04-2015, 16:57
Torch81
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I wonder if he was winding them up....if you read his reviews they are very good and go back ........

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_R...e_England.html

Haven't had a chance to read any yet but very few negative reviews by the look of it. So, there certainly does seem to be a market for what he's doing. I wouldn't stay there though.
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Old 01-04-2015, 17:01
Torch81
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Yurt alert!

£125 per night! Nah.
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Old 01-04-2015, 17:01
rhumble
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Missed yesterdays ep, i don't think i missed much though, they all seem a bit unlikeable this week
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Old 01-04-2015, 17:02
BirthdayGirl
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Yurt alert!

£125 per night! Nah.
AND you have to cook your own breakfast

I DONT THINK SO!
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Old 01-04-2015, 17:03
2shy2007
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£120 for a tent? blimey!
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Old 01-04-2015, 17:04
Torch81
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I just don't get the appeal of yurts. And why are they seemingly always so expensive. Totally baffles me.
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Old 01-04-2015, 17:04
rhumble
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What on earth was the muck he served at breakfast i would want my money back
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Old 01-04-2015, 17:05
Torch81
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Missed yesterdays ep, i don't think i missed much though, they all seem a bit unlikeable this week

None of them are very endearing, that's for sure.
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Old 01-04-2015, 17:06
BirthdayGirl
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What on earth was the muck he served at breakfast i would want my money back
You should watch it back, just for the breakfast bit. Worst breakfast I think we've EVER seen on FIAB!
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Old 01-04-2015, 17:07
Torch81
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I'd rather be in a caravan that a yurt. At least you'd get a bathroom of your own.
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Old 01-04-2015, 17:07
rhumble
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"Its £120 a night"

"No thanks, i would rather sleep in my car"
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Old 01-04-2015, 17:08
rhumble
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You should watch it back, just for the breakfast bit. Worst breakfast I think we've EVER seen on FIAB!
i shall give it a watch now ive seen that bit
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Old 01-04-2015, 17:08
2shy2007
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Well that is basic isnt it? that loo looked awful ,the seat was loose.
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Old 01-04-2015, 17:09
SolarSail
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Haven't had a chance to read any yet but very few negative reviews by the look of it. So, there certainly does seem to be a market for what he's doing. I wouldn't stay there though.
A very high proportion of the excellent reviews are made by people who've only ever written the one review. When I take from what someone's written I tend to look at where else they've stayed and how they write etc. Just saying.

I was struck by this person's experience
“Wish I had read the other 1 and 2 star reviews”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 15 December 2014

I tend to be generous in our ratings, however I really not sure how to react to the place. Mother told us if you can't say anything good then don't say anything but I am worried for other people staying here.

First, of all the good points - John was very helpful and a gave us some good tips, a local map and there was something of a faded elegance to the place - large rooms and high ceilings. Some of the furniture was also very grand, but other pieces were from IKEA and it just didn't come together very well. Fresh robes and slippers were provided and the towels were nice and soft. Also advised taxis were very inexpensive which was a great tip and true!

However, John's offering at 'Elegant' House is far from apt. The area is run down. We were advised not to walk some roads at night. Trying to find the place in the first instance is intimidating as there is no signage outside and you end up wondering up and down steps trying to find the house numbers on the doors. Parking is either a very tight squeeze into John's garage/garden but in an even more dodgy area, leave on the street (advised not to leave anything much in it which is always sensible) or across the road in the car park at the front of another large house - which is probably bedsits.

The room and private bathroom were clean, but both looked like they had on-going maintenance. Plenty of hot water.

The lounge and breakfast room were fine. Breakfast was 'continental' and John was an amiable host but the offering was limited and seeing your breakfast prepared in the same room is not something I personally like - I really don't like to see my food being prepared

The email you receive once you have paid for the booking is pretty stark - only at this point did I realise there was no signage outside. The rough area, lack of signage, the fact that if you book you might end up somewhere else and then have to travel to Elegant House for your breakfast, the lack of any reception desk, the lack of fire exit signs in the rooms (I saw two one at the bottom of the stairs and another in the cellar) all led us to ponder just how a) how so many people have rated it so highly visited and b) are the rooms used for any other purpose at other times?

Really sorry John, we liked you, but disliked your offering and thought it was very expensive for what we received and felt misled about what we were going to receive.

Stayed December 2014, travelled as a couple

Am suspecting that the £120 per night is not something that's usually on offer, don't these glamping places generally have a minimum number of nights policy?

Last edited by SolarSail : 01-04-2015 at 17:14. Reason: added to post
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Old 01-04-2015, 17:09
Torch81
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Broom dancing and now Alpaca walking. Give me strength.
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Old 01-04-2015, 17:10
nick202
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That alpaca's a good judge of character
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Old 01-04-2015, 17:10
Torch81
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I was struck by this person's experience



Am suspecting that the £120 per night is not something that's usually on offer, don't these glamping places generally have a minimum number of nights policy?
3 nights minimum often I think?

Thanks for that link, will have a read after.
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