EVENING MEAL at the CALADONIAN HOTEL, Oban

This Scottish thing is beginning to turn into a full on whinge …..

We ate at the CALADONIAN HOTEL, a 4 star hotel – really??

The waiting staff had no idea of grooming and appeared to have been chosen by a man under strict instructions by his wife, their charms, to be well hidden for fear of inflaming the staff and/or customers.

My meal was in pitta bread and came with chips. I didn't want chips. That seemed a major challenge to the charmless one. Could I have extra salad instead? Could I? Hmmm she'd see what the chef could do, but held out little hope.

What arrived was a long, toasted, floury bap. I asked if it was my meal, as I expected pitta bread.

Two charmless ones told me, in no uncertain terms, that this was pitta bread.

No ladies, it wasn't. Please tell your 'chef'. AND while you're at it, why was the tiny amount of salad I was served (not any extra) so limp it was chewy? The filling in the bap was nice though.

AM I HAPPY NOW???  

No, simply disappointed at your shabby attempt to be sheik.

The Kelvin Hotel, Oban. Friday 9.7.10

What is it about Scotland?         

Admittedly it's come a long way since I first came here as a small child (Scots grand dad), but , boy has it got a way to go before it's in any way up to par.

The hotel needed a scrub, some new stair carpet and it's breakfast arrangements sorted; oh and our shower didn't work (room 5) and Grahams soap dish was fixed on upside down (room 3) causing the soap to slide off!

We chose the place because it cost enough to be smart AND is opposite the ferry terminal and serves breakfast as part of the deal.

PERFECT.

Their idea of breakfast, for people who are catching the 8.30am ferry, is to do table service from 7.30am. Got to get to the ferry by 7.45am, so no time to order and then wait for food to be cooked, let alone eat it as well. They did have continental brekky, it was about as minimal as possible.

The staff were pleasant, but inflexible.

So, KELVIN HOTEL, OBAN, you seem to be missing the point: we're the CUSTOMERS, you're selling a SERVICE.

WHICH PART OF CUSTOMER SERVICE DON'T YOU GET?

Or is it part of your business plan to have a dozen customers in a place that can accommodate something like 40 people? Less than half full at the height of the tourist season? Gotta be time to look at what you're offering, and here's a suggestion -

Get yourselves to INNIS CHONAIN GUEST HOUSE, about half what we paid, clean, smart and brekky from 5.30am. While you're there, open your eyes and mind and take note/s.

PLEASE

On the up side: we'll use THE KELVIN SCALE against which to judge all services and accommodation   we meet in future. 

The Kelvin Hotel scores a full 10, a score, I'm sure you'll agree, to be avoided at all costs by anyone involved in hospitality.