THE spirit of Basil Fawlty is alive and well in Weymouth, according to guests visiting one seafront hotel.
Baffled pensioners staying at the Berkeley Hotel say they could have received similar treatment at the fictional TV hotel Fawlty Towers.
Owners told guests they could 'pack their bags and go' if they didn't like it and even pointed out there was a railway station not far away.
Now Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's Tourist information Centre has asked owners Patricia and Joe Doyle to answer complaints.
Coach tour organisers Coach Holiday Warehouse Ltd say they are surprised at the criticism because other guest feedback forms rate the hotel highly. They say it is the first time they have received complaints about the hotel management.
The Doyles have refused to comment to the Echo directly on the claims. But in a letter to pensioner Betty Bailey, 74, the tour organisers say they understand that Mr Doyle 'did not mean to be offensive' when he told her to wash in the sea.
A letter from Patricia Doyle about pensioner Eric Dyke, 74, says he was told he was free to leave because he had been rude to staff.
8:57am Saturday 24th February 2007
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CommentPosted by: Mrs Sally Wallace, Weymouth on 12:46pm Sat 24 Feb 07
My daughter worked for the Berkely Hotel for some time and she had only praise for the way Mr & Mrs Doyle worked tirelessly for the comfort and well being of their guests. They certainly set her a good example to follow. While she found most of the guests to be very pleasant, there were a few who surprised her at how rude and demanding some of them could be. She also commented on how Mr Doyle had a wonderful sense of humour that made the staff smile when things got tough. Mr & Mrs Doyle showed my daughter great kindness and support while she was working with them. I can only assume that perhaps some of the guests on this occasion had a sense of humour failure?
My daughter worked for the Berkely Hotel for some time and she had only praise for the way Mr & Mrs Doyle worked tirelessly for the comfort and well being of their guests. They certainly set her a good example to follow. While she found most of the guests to be very pleasant, there were a few who surprised her at how rude and demanding some of them could be. She also commented on how Mr Doyle had a wonderful sense of humour that made the staff smile when things got tough. Mr & Mrs Doyle showed my daughter great kindness and support while she was working with them. I can only assume that perhaps some of the guests on this occasion had a sense of humour failure?
Posted by: ANN PARRY, SOUTH WALES on 11:21am Mon 26 Feb 07
MY HUSBAND AND I STAYED AT THE BERKELY HOTEL IN NOVEMBER AND CAN CONFIRM THAT WE TOO THOUGHT WE WERE STAYING AT FAWLTY TOWERS!
WE CONTACTED THE WEYMOUTH TOURIST OFFICE AND THE COACH COMPANY TO REPORT IT BUT WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS WHICH SURPRISED US.THE OWNERS OF THE HOTEL TOLD THE COACH COMPANY THAT WE HAD BEEN RUDE TO THEM WHICH WAS TOTALLY INCORRECT (ALTHOUGH THINGS WERE SO BAD THAT I DID ASK DOYLE IF IT WAS FAWLTY TOWERS)SO IT SEEMS THAT THEIR ANSWER IS ALWAYS TO BLAME THE GUESTS FOR THEIR OWN SHORTCOMINGS.
MY HUSBAND AND I STAYED AT THE BERKELY HOTEL IN NOVEMBER AND CAN CONFIRM THAT WE TOO THOUGHT WE WERE STAYING AT FAWLTY TOWERS!
WE CONTACTED THE WEYMOUTH TOURIST OFFICE AND THE COACH COMPANY TO REPORT IT BUT WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS WHICH SURPRISED US.THE OWNERS OF THE HOTEL TOLD THE COACH COMPANY THAT WE HAD BEEN RUDE TO THEM WHICH WAS TOTALLY INCORRECT (ALTHOUGH THINGS WERE SO BAD THAT I DID ASK DOYLE IF IT WAS FAWLTY TOWERS)SO IT SEEMS THAT THEIR ANSWER IS ALWAYS TO BLAME THE GUESTS FOR THEIR OWN SHORTCOMINGS.
Posted by: Chris Camplisson, Northampton on 10:57pm Fri 2 Mar 07
Wh have just returned from a 5 day stay at The Berkeley Hotel in Weymouth.The food, accommodation, and the welcome from Joe and Pat Doyle was most welcoming. I could not understand how such an article could appear in the papers, I found it completely untrue. Joe Doyle was a most likeable host with a good sense of humour, he had us all in fits of laughter with his quizzes, I have never laughed so much on a five day holiday , I think that most people on the two coaches found this so. The report that some one was 5 mins. late and could not have their soup was untrue, the people in question turned up 45 mins late for their meal and still expected to be fed, you don't turn up expecting a meal when meal time is over. Also they took exception to one of his quizzes, they must have had dirty minds minds then to think of the answers when a perfectly simple answer was right.I would recommend this hotel.
Wh have just returned from a 5 day stay at The Berkeley Hotel in Weymouth.The food, accommodation, and the welcome from Joe and Pat Doyle was most welcoming. I could not understand how such an article could appear in the papers, I found it completely untrue. Joe Doyle was a most likeable host with a good sense of humour, he had us all in fits of laughter with his quizzes, I have never laughed so much on a five day holiday , I think that most people on the two coaches found this so. The report that some one was 5 mins. late and could not have their soup was untrue, the people in question turned up 45 mins late for their meal and still expected to be fed, you don't turn up expecting a meal when meal time is over. Also they took exception to one of his quizzes, they must have had dirty minds minds then to think of the answers when a perfectly simple answer was right.I would recommend this hotel.
Posted by: stella, bristol on 10:15am Mon 5 Mar 07
[bold]bold[/bold] he reminds me of my grandad
he reminds me of my grandad
Posted by: Brett McNally (SOLID GOLD DUO), weymouth on 5:12pm Mon 3 Dec 07
Me and my wife Terri have known Joe and Pat for over 5 years, we have been working for them putting on our show approximately twice a week throughout the years.
What was said about them is sickening and appauling, they are one the most loyal and caring people anybody will ever know, they work very very hard from morning to night trying there best to ensure the guests are treated very well, in fact so well, you would say its more of a home than a hotel. I personally used to work for Joe in the kitchen as a trainee Chef before we started gigging and i understand the pressure that they endeavor through a daay to day basis, what was said in the papers were twisted lies and i have heard Joes version of the story and seen most of the events As i was there. Please Disregaurd any negative feedback in this sladerous way, trust me, if you stay at the hotel you will remember it being one of the nicest and friendliest places you will ever know. Please also bare in mind that, it is impossible to please everyone in this world, some will think its great and some people will try to pick and cause trouble because they appear to have nothing better to do.
[bold]FIGHT FOR BERKELEY HOTEL!!! :D[/bold]
Me and my wife Terri have known Joe and Pat for over 5 years, we have been working for them putting on our show approximately twice a week throughout the years.
What was said about them is sickening and appauling, they are one the most loyal and caring people anybody will ever know, they work very very hard from morning to night trying there best to ensure the guests are treated very well, in fact so well, you would say its more of a home than a hotel. I personally used to work for Joe in the kitchen as a trainee Chef before we started gigging and i understand the pressure that they endeavor through a daay to day basis, what was said in the papers were twisted lies and i have heard Joes version of the story and seen most of the events As i was there. Please Disregaurd any negative feedback in this sladerous way, trust me, if you stay at the hotel you will remember it being one of the nicest and friendliest places you will ever know. Please also bare in mind that, it is impossible to please everyone in this world, some will think its great and some people will try to pick and cause trouble because they appear to have nothing better to do.
FIGHT FOR BERKELEY HOTEL!!! :D
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