Travel & Humanitarian Photos
“I don’t give a damn what TripAdvisor says”, declares the proprietor of the Nanford Guest House in Oxford, recently announced as the “Dirtiest Hotel in Britain”.
I have used TripAdvisor quite regularly in the past when planning trips as it’s useful to see what previous occupants have said about a hotel or guest house where I might be planning to stay. Visitors often leave helpful advice like “avoid the rooms on the ground floor” or “Room 6 has a fantastic view of the beach” so it’s a bit like asking a friend to go and check out a place for you before you book.
However, the proprietor of the Nanford clearly doesn’t share my enthusiasm for TripAdvisor and I can understand his reticence. It’s hardly a glowing recommendation and if you check out the individual reports then you’ll find unadulterated comments like “The entrance hall stank of urine, the staff were incredibly rude, the beds had ticks, the shower was a dribble, but best of all what came out of the taps genuinely looked and smelled like it had came from the toilet“
Every cloud has a silver lining of course and the proprietor is currently welcoming a string of journalists keen to check out the accommodation for themselves. The latest report comes from The Guardian and whilst the journos are probably staying at the nearby Randolph Hotel rather than the Nanford, their regular visits is at least giving the proprietor a chance to brush up on his reportedly rusty Customer Service skills.