The Hotel Inspector: Interview with Ruth Watson
22 Aug five's blog | Email this page | 9290 reads
the hotel inspector: interview with ruth watson
how does this series differ from the last two? “The stories have probably got more texture to them and more levels. We have tried to emphasise the business aspect of things more. I think the idea that this is a livelihood and this is how you go about trying to make profits has been given more emphasis than in the last series.”
what will we see in the unseen programmes? “I suppose it’s a bit more light-hearted, a bit more jokey and a bit more about people’s personalities. And maybe storylines that were truncated but were perhaps interesting as a little vignette.”
what is the most bizarre case in this series? “The thing I found the most extraordinary was Michael, who had the hotel at Reading, who just could not see that you had to adjust your pricing according to the market, and was absolutely intransigent to a point where I probably did scream. On a more trivial level, I suppose, Peter at the Grand –being very, very antagonistic right from the word go, before he’d even met me, and being determined that he was going to ‘win’!”
did you meet a lot of resistance this time? “Yes and no. There’s always resistance at one level or another. There’s the initial elation that someone is going to help, and then after the second day there is always utter, complete depression and also anger. Then, as things start to happen, they realise that I’m not just trying to get off on being powerful.”
what are the most common problems you find? “Cleanliness, particularly in the bathrooms, and general appearance. They’re often very shabby from the outside. And not marketing yourself. Too many people think that you just have to open the doors, and everyone should, by divine right, come to your place. The other thing is pricing –I’m quite staggered about how many people are very greedy about their pricing.”
why do the owners not see these problems? “More often than not they’re pretty much aware of some of the shortcomings. It’s just a general fact of human nature that having a third party addressing something always makes you look at things slightly differently... People seem to just wind down to this stationary position where they’re paralysed into not being able to do anything.”
which projects have been the most satisfying? “There was Butley Priory in Suffolk, an absolutely beautiful building, with a proprietor who – by her own admission – doesn’t really want to share the place with customers. We’ve been encouraging them to develop the wedding side of things and a lot of the push went towards making it an event place rather than a B&B. That’s going really well.”
what is wrong with the british hotel industry? “There’s a major problem and the Olympics are going to bring this home to people. There’s too much appalling bed stock which is not in any way accredited. Then, with the stuff that does get accreditation, I think the standards are too low. They’re far too old fashioned. There is a complete lack of style. I think they should actually shut down 50 per cent of what’s out there!”
what makes the perfect hotel? “At the end of the day, being clean, being quiet and having a really good bed and a bathroom that works are the absolutes.”
you are a hotelier, restaurateur, cook, writer, and tv presenter. which role do you enjoy most? “I love being a restaurateur and hotelier. It’s frustrating, it’s hard work, it’s difficult – but it always entertains me. But I have to say I also love being very quiet at home, writing.”
do you have any other projects in the pipeline? “My latest cookbook is out in paperback. It’s called ‘Something for the Weekend’. That’s recipes that feed eight people. We’ve also got the pub across the market square in Orford. We’re purchasing a retail unit in the village as well. And I’m starting to write my next book. So, plenty of things!”
I agree with all comments so far too.
I live in Dunedin NZ and have a 'family' of Manns up the road. All are single 'men' with no wives and kids and all make this Mr Mann look 1st class. Who is breeding these people?
30 Aug 08 at 9:29 am
Is there a more irritating programme on TV. I watched the couple last night in Great Yarmouth because it was advertised as an update but with the exception of the last 5 mins minutes it was simply a repeat disguised under another name.Also why after each commercial break do we need a catch up of the previous 10 mins. In effect I was watching a repeat of a repeat. We all watch movies on TV but after a commercial break we don't have a voice over to remind us of the story line. Why do it? we are not Goldfish. Please stop the swearing. It's so obviously staged and the number of times we are reminded during the programme that Ruth Watson is a highly qualified hotelier is about a hundred times too many.
There is a very enjoyable subject here and Ruth Watson is the person to front it but sack the production team and change the format. Do not treat your viewers as idiots. I have read all the previous e-mails but it appears nobody is quite as agitated as I am over the programme.
12 Jun 08 at 1:32 pm
I love the Hotel Inspector and I look forward to Channel 4s new show with Ruth.
19 Apr 08 at 9:19 am
I like it when cuss the people and I like your coat and when you inspect the hotels what about Hoilday Lets
12 Feb 08 at 12:39 pm
wake up love and come into the real world,she puts her point across fine no wounder she swears and wants to scream because some people want the help but when they are told the truth they do not like it and cant or dont want to see it.
12 Nov 07 at 6:36 pm
wake up love and come into the real world,she puts her point across fine no wounder she swears and wants to scream because some people want the help but when they are told the truth they do not like it and cant or dont want to see it.
12 Nov 07 at 6:34 pm
Ruth needs to be appointed onto the British Tourist Authority Board asap - particularly when British hotels and Guest Houses are so poor and a rip off. We do need people who can speak up about good standards at the right price and also to talk some common sense.
I don't understand why overseas vistors continue to visit the UK - our hotels are dirty and over priced. I recently spend two nights at a place in Bloomsbury, London and paid £80 a night - the room was dirty, the shower did not work, the majority of the staff could not speak English and the English Manager was rude, and when I told him about the faulty shower he told me to look for somewhere else 'What did I want for £80' his very words. This kind of sluff is too common in the UK and is giving the wrong impression to Overseas vistors. The Uk has taken tourism seriously - it needs to be taken as export and given more governmental time.
7 Nov 07 at 11:28 pm
'The Hotel Inspector'certainly makes for compelling viewing. It amazes me that many of the owners do not seem to see what is right under their noses--ie. dirty bathrooms, toilets, broken lamps etc. Whilst I do feel sympathy for the poor souls who are desperately trying to improve their establishments, most of the proprieters seem to need a trip to the opticians.
Having said that, I do not see the need on Ruth's part to use foul language ( I consider this highly unprofessional conduct) Nor to be quite as rude as she allows herself to be. Drive home your point Ruth yes, but you don't need to destroy people in the process.
7 Nov 07 at 3:30 am
Have only seen the last series (Series 2) and its great to have an insight into how people run their hotels.
Its clear that some are trying very hard, some have no idea what they are doing while others clearly don't want to be in the trade at all.
The latest episode with the Dutch couple (Peter and Lidy I think) seemed to show a couple who actually wanted to make an improvement but had lost their way. I think of all the episodes this one has to be the most encouraging - these people looked like they worked so hard - unlike some we don't need to mention!
Despite being a little out of practice at least this bloke looked like he could actually cook! And enjoyed doing it.
Can't wait for the next episode and next series!
28 Sep 07 at 11:00 am
More on the Grand. wierd wierd wiered. Even more bizarre than the cardigans is that Mr. Mann's ego is so large that he is using THESE comments on an easily accessable part of his web site. This is not Fawlty Towers Mr. Mann. The owner of that considerably more stylish establishment than yours was also considerably more stylish than you.
17 Sep 07 at 4:53 pm
More on the Grand. wierd wierd wiered. Even more bizarre than the cardigans is that Mr. Mann's ego is so large that he is using THESE comments on an easily accessable part of his web site. This is not Fawlty Towers Mr. Mann. The owner of that considerably more stylish establishment than yours was also considerably more stylish than you.
17 Sep 07 at 4:53 pm
Dear Channel 5
Thank you again for another great programe The Beech in Reading.It really is complusive viewing.Why not give an end of series party for all of the Hotel owners to see how they are getting on.Invite Ruth ,light touch paper stand back and watch.Guess it would be better than fireworks.
14 Sep 07 at 2:39 pm
I bitterly resent the fact that Peter Mann is using the programme to promote his'hotel'based on the fact that chnges have taken place. We stayed in the Grand AFTER the programme had been completed some months before and it was appalling. The dangeruos wiring had not been replaced, the space which was supposedly the bathroom was dirty and the room was the shabbiest I have ever seen What was this place awarded its one star for? Mr Mann as pointed out somewhere else on this site does not habitually wear a suit but a very very sinister range of cardigans. A memorable stay for sure.One that would be repeated? I would rather sleep on the beach
14 Sep 07 at 9:18 am
I have not watched this show I found forum by accident when trying to find grading of Grand Hotel, to write letter of complaint.
I stayed there recently since this program was made intending to stay for a week as I was in Hastings on business.
The dining room in the basement is clean, but the rest of the hotel is dirty. The manager is smarmy and too nosey he hovers over you all the time.
There is a car repair shop at the back of the hotel and the smelland noise during the day was awful, a taxi firm next door with people coming and going until the early hours then 5am an alarm was sounding for over half an hour, in the morning I could not eat the breakfast, so just ate some toast then back in my room I dropped something on the floor and noticed the filth under the bed. I packed up and left after the one night and went to a travel lodge a couple of miles away.
I cant imagine hhow bad it was before make over, but it is awful now.
13 Sep 07 at 7:40 am
Lonely old man who plays with dolls and teddy bears, I will keep my children away from that hotel.
10 Sep 07 at 4:01 pm
One thing Ruth Watson did not mention in the Grand Hotel show, apart from the fact that Peter Mann cannot cook, was, if you pay for lunch or dinner, Peter Mann walks along the seafront and gets take away meals from the local seafront cafes, then charges you hotel rates for them. Here are his current rates, Bed and Breakfast nightly:- £25-£50 Bed and Breakfast weekly:- £98-£300
Half Board nightly:£25-£70 Half Board weekly:-£168-£450
You can work out what he is charging for an Indian, Chinese or Italian takeaway.
A three course dinner in the Royal Victoria (a top grade seafront hotel in St. Leonards)is £19,50 so it is cheaper to eat there each night.
He used the take away while Ruth Watson was actually filming the show, I would have thought this was an important fact to mention, as it would be cheaper to just walk along to the restuarants and eat in.
10 Sep 07 at 9:22 am
re previous posts, the mayor of Hastings does know Peter Mann, she used to run a hotel on the seafront as well. But I do not think any love was lost between the two of them.
Of course it was staged, Peter Mann is a lot worse than he came over on the film, and he never wears a suit for normal daily business.
I believe the program paid for the dining room to be done.
Yes he did do it to get advetising but mainly to get a higher grading for his hotel.
As to the Mann himself, what a creep, playing and cuddling dolls and teddy bears at his age, and his only friend in the world - the cat.
I noticed the bird s##t in the back, he has an aviary there, I wonder if the RSPCA or evironmental health have ever checked this.
I always loved the 'Hotel Inspector' program, but having seen this episode, I now know how false it is.
He advertises that he has disabled access, I would love someone in a wheelchair to turn up at this hotel without a carer, and see if they can get up the front steps to ring the doorbell, or once inside to get up the reception on the first landing to speak to the owner.
10 Sep 07 at 9:07 am
I agree with Peter Manns comment when he sais "it's a dump".
In the program he said he used to be a civil servant traveling the world, but civil servants need to know how to spell, which he admitted later in the program that he can not do.
Did anyone see the extra half hour on Five Life? with the cat and you could just see the amount of bird droppings at the back, this is next to the kitchen, yuk!!!
No there is no Mrs Mann, she took the daughters away when they were just teenagers and moved to France to keep the girls away from him. The dead plants you saw being removed from the lounge have been put back to where they were.
Before he took over this hotel, it was a lovely place, which I often used to put up members of my family when they came to visit, and the owner, Jill, was a great hotel owner. But then Mr Mann bought it, changed the name to Grand Hotel and it has been a dump ever since.
He may have clean bed linen now but these will soon end up the same as the worn ones Ruth Watson refused to sleep in, and the same cleaner is doing the job, if she could not see the dirt before the 'Hotel Inspector' came, she will not see it now.
10 Sep 07 at 7:06 am
I'm not sure whether it was arrogance, stupidity or laziness on the part of the proprietor that had got this establishment into such a mess. There's no way any half sane person would stay in a dreadful place like that, especially when there's a perfectly good Travelodge about a mile away. Hoteliers in the UK have got to stop confusing squalor with 'character' if they are to survive. What did he think Ruth Watson would say - that everything was lovely??? Good grief.
9 Sep 07 at 4:22 pm
its all so obviously staged, i bet he was gna spend money on the hotel and thought tht he cud put it on tv and make a lil bit more, at the same time advertising his hotel. i live dwn the rd from it (its nt actualy in hastings its in st leonards) and the mayor lives on the same rd and im sure tht they dnt know each other, infact all those ppl in his party i bet dont even know him. lol
7 Sep 07 at 11:08 pm
why are people so resistant to change when 'experts' point the obvious and they are too egotistical or arrogant to take any notice? or is the whole scenario staged to make compelling viewing?
7 Sep 07 at 7:10 pm
Peter Mann - What a legend!!
7 Sep 07 at 4:43 pm
I love this series. I cannot believe there are such fools out there still in business. I find it annoying that there are so many people out there who would give an arm and a leg to be able to own there own business. Must say though, spotted my nephew and wife at the opening party, as local hoteliers. Must speak to them and ask their view. Mine is what a tosser.
7 Sep 07 at 11:14 am
What a great start to the 3rd series.It is extraordinary what people think that they can get away with.I loved the moment when Mr Mann ,refuring to the French flag on the breakfast table said " I melted France" Joking aside ,and with the recent fire in the hotel in Newquay Cornwall.I am surprised that the Grand has not been raised to the ground by fire from the kettle flex in the bedroom.Hope there are many more characters to come.
7 Sep 07 at 9:37 am
I agree Kevin thers no need for it at all, recapping what has happened after every advert!!
I live round the corner from this hotel and never realised just how bad it was, or how bad of a tosser is running it! And this hotel isnt even in Hastings, its in St Leonards, a different town to the west of Hastings.
7 Sep 07 at 12:02 am
Having visited Hastings over the Bank Holiday weekend I am just thankful we did not book into the Grand. I agree with the previous comments that the programme should revisit in 3 to 6 months and I believe the Grand will not have moved forward.
6 Sep 07 at 11:38 pm
Have been an avid viewer for sometime and it only gets better.
This first programme, The Grand Hotel in Hastings - what a patronising character Mr Mann was - he really irritated me to the point that I almost changed channels. I assume there was NO Mrs Mann as the Hotel was lifeless and barren and devoid of any female or artistic touches. I suppose it reflects the owner - devoid and barren!!
One noticeable difference with this series is the fact that Ruth did not get into detail concerning occupancy's rates, turnover, outputs and margins etc. There was also not effort shown to get any accreditation with "stars" or Crown ratings or to market the Hotel in any publication of tourist information.
I would like to see a revisit to the hotel say 6 or 12 month after the show finished to see if the Hotel is still in business, to see if the Hotel has increased occupancy and finally to see if the Hotel had slipped back into its initial dreadful state.
Keep up the great work Ruth and more power to your elbow to improve the horrid minor Hotel and B&B business in the UK - its really dreadful.
6 Sep 07 at 10:43 pm
Hotel inspector is ruined by narration and recapping both totally unnecessary!
6 Sep 07 at 9:31 pm
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