Guest house hits back at critics
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| Inspection: Reporter Chris Walker takes a look at the Nanford Guest House, in Iffley Road |
A CITY guesthouse branded the country's "dirtiest hotel" in a survey by travellers has hit back at its critics.
Travel website TripAdvisor named the Nanford Guest House, in Iffley Road, the grubbiest hotel in the UK as part of its travellers' choice awards.
However, its manager has leapt to the defence of the £30-a-night venue, saying he believes the award is harsh.
Manager Bart Cronin said: "It's just one website slandering me. Why don't they come down here and take a look at the guesthouse?
"We have six guest houses on the Iffley Road so we must be doing something right."
"They're all en suite rooms and come with a shower and colour television. I charge £30 per person per night. TripAdvisor expect me to roll out the red carpet for that price. If you don't like it, don't stay.
"It isn't affecting my business. It doesn't matter a damn to me."
The award comes 12 months after it was voted the second worst hotel in the country in the same company's survey.
One guest, Matthew Donohoe, 25, from Slough, is about to spend his fourth night at the hotel.
He said: "It's OK. For what you pay, it is pretty good. I have personally stayed in worse and paid more money.
"I think it's clean. It's a bit dusty probably. When you come into this place, you're not expecting a five-star rating.
"I think perhaps people have been a bit harsh. If people are complaining, perhaps they should have spent a bit more money. I haven't got a problem with it."
Oxford City Council said there were six complaints about the Nanford Guest House in 2007, six fewer than the previous year.
Council spokesman Louisa Dean said: "Most of these complaints relate to the lack of cleaning to bedrooms, rude managers and the back yard looking like a scrapyard."
The council fined the hotel in 2004 for offences under the Food Safety Act, but a routine inspection by environmental health offices this month said that standards of food safety were steadily improving.
Richard Webb, group manager for community safety at Oxfordshire County Council, said it had not had any significant complaints about the hotel since it had been in discussions about improvements more than two years ago.
Other hotels in the list include the Manor Court Hotel, in Notting Hill, London, which came second. The Britannia Hotel, in Stockport, was third, and the Europa Hotel, in Gatwick, was voted fourth worst.
Ian Rumgay, European communications manager for TripAdvisor, said: "It isn't TripAdvisor that is slandering Mr Cronin or saying anything about him at all.
"It's the travellers staying at his hotel - they posted their views and opinions on the website. When you post a review on a website, you can give marks for various features like cleanliness.
"Unfortunately, the Nanford had the worst performance on that attribute."
Mr Rumgay said the company had about 10m reviews on its website. TravelAdvisor is an American firm.
6:54am Thursday 17th January 2008
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CommentPosted by: danielle slavin, glasgow on 8:54pm Fri 11 Apr 08
hi i satyed in the silverthorpe guest house near silverstone village, wed 10th april 08, was meant to stay for 4 nights but terminated my stay after the 1st night, due to the uncleanliness of the guest house, first of all we arrived at around 8pm on the wed night was greeted at the door by the lady owner who was rather in a bad state of drunkness, [mary-jane and jim branch] we then got shown to our rooms[ well if you can say that]. in our rooms where a kettle that had fungus and dirty black water at the bottom of it which was not suitable to have a hot drink from, there was no heating at all in the guest house the temperature was -2, the towels that we had used in the morning to have a shower were hung out on the washing line to dry off but had not been washed, there was also a small creature with legs and wings in one of our beds, also the rooms did not lock and as 4 ladies we felt very uncomfortable, our rooms were not tidied[ we didnt expect the room to be spring cleaned but a quick hoover would have been appreciated]. in the end after the first night from hell we moved to a guest house not so far and it was like chalk and cheese, the owner of the new guest house was absoloutley fabulous..
hi i satyed in the silverthorpe guest house near silverstone village, wed 10th april 08, was meant to stay for 4 nights but terminated my stay after the 1st night, due to the uncleanliness of the guest house, first of all we arrived at around 8pm on the wed night was greeted at the door by the lady owner who was rather in a bad state of drunkness, we then got shown to our rooms. in our rooms where a kettle that had fungus and dirty black water at the bottom of it which was not suitable to have a hot drink from, there was no heating at all in the guest house the temperature was -2, the towels that we had used in the morning to have a shower were hung out on the washing line to dry off but had not been washed, there was also a small creature with legs and wings in one of our beds, also the rooms did not lock and as 4 ladies we felt very uncomfortable, our rooms were not tidied. in the end after the first night from hell we moved to a guest house not so far and it was like chalk and cheese, the owner of the new guest house was absoloutley fabulous..
Posted by: Bellamy, Wales on 4:12pm Sun 29 Jun 08
Without doubt the most vile accomodation I have ever witnessed. Despite having paid £40 up front was forced to find alternative accomodation due to the place being incredibly dirty and sleazy. Sadly the owner refused to refund my payment and after a few home truths lost his temper and screamed "GET OUT!" at me. Charming. Later discovered that it was actually voted worst hotel in Britain!!
The towels and linen were totally unwashed and filthy.
The beds had hairs in them.
The carpet hadn't been cleaned in years and was gritty.
The toilet seat was... don't go there.
The bin was full of old rubbish.
The staff were unpleasant.
The corridors smelt of urine.
There were cats in the reception area given total access to the kitchen.
The off road parking was in the dumping ground out back.
The front door was left open overnight meaning anyone could access the building.
Do yourself a favour and don't be drawn on the price as I was. This place is a total disgrace. I hope the owner spends my £40 on a vacuum cleaner.
Without doubt the most vile accomodation I have ever witnessed. Despite having paid £40 up front was forced to find alternative accomodation due to the place being incredibly dirty and sleazy. Sadly the owner refused to refund my payment and after a few home truths lost his temper and screamed "GET OUT!" at me. Charming. Later discovered that it was actually voted worst hotel in Britain!!
The towels and linen were totally unwashed and filthy.
The beds had hairs in them.
The carpet hadn't been cleaned in years and was gritty.
The toilet seat was... don't go there.
The bin was full of old rubbish.
The staff were unpleasant.
The corridors smelt of urine.
There were cats in the reception area given total access to the kitchen.
The off road parking was in the dumping ground out back.
The front door was left open overnight meaning anyone could access the building.
Do yourself a favour and don't be drawn on the price as I was. This place is a total disgrace. I hope the owner spends my £40 on a vacuum cleaner.
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