Reads - Page 2

eleanor · #16 02-09-2009, 19:52

Well done Bella. I love your descriptive writing. My husband is an architect who specialises in hotels - i think he should take me to this hotel for research purposes!! lol
Sorry that your poor husband had that awful experience. I'm sure it must have been a worry for you. You will always remember your 30th, won't you?!
Thank you for sharing your visit with us.
Eleanor

jiggggy · #17 03-09-2009, 07:16

Great report, Bella. and I'm glad you had a great time. Is hubby better now?

Belladonna · #18 03-09-2009, 11:22

Oh I agree eleanor, he would be very interested, and perhaps leave you alone to "research" the finer points!
Thanks Jiggs, no, unfortunately its going to get worse before it gets better, plenty of visits to dentist yet to come:

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Sparky · #19 03-09-2009, 12:08

Ouch !!! poor man. And to think Marcus had said "At least you weren't hurt"

The hotel sounded great Bella but i get the impression that the Reads need to do a course on "Customer Care", do they really not deal with any complaints personally?. Very strange for top rated establishment

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Belladonna · #20 03-09-2009, 16:16

We had the feeling that it was a deliberate strategy, and we only ever heard them dealing with something personal, such as, "we dont seem to have a cd/dvd player in our room, yet we see you loan out dvd's. Can we have one please?" Then they would obviously get a "man who can" come up and put one in, and later ask if you received it. Everything that could be dealt with easily and have a happy outcome was dealt with personally if you happened to mention it, but more difficult problems were left to staff management.
This may or maynot be a good idea, but would definately say that the staff would need further training in order to deal with complaints more efficiently and leave the customer walking away feeling happier - not still stressed.
They do like to give the impression of it being a home at which you are a house guest (albeit a paying one), and that does work to a large extent. I did feel a little uncomfortable at hearing quite a long argument - or rant - by one of the owners to staff when there were not enough chairs of the same type for a party of 10.
I understand the need to get it right, and to keep the staff on their toes, just not the need to make it obvious.
But these are small annoyances really, and should in no way stop anyone from visiting.

BonysLad · #21 04-09-2009, 21:53

Bella,

What a fabulous review, At least Michael Winner wasn't there , that would really have been the icing on the cake !!!! Just out of interest and before I get the car out of the garage, roughly what would din din cost for two ???

Hope hubby's teeth are on the mend ??

BonysLad

Belladonna · #22 05-09-2009, 00:03

The Bacchus restaurant standard menu is 69euros each, plus wine from 30euros upwards. Average bottle about 45euros.
7 course taster menu is 89euros each, but if you want accompanied wines its 110euros EXTRA per couple. 2 whites 1 red 2 desert wines.
The Bistro 33 average meal with wine per couple is about 100euros.
The prices are more expensive than some restaurants in London, even taking into account it is a Michelin star restaurant.

med777 · #23 05-09-2009, 01:23

Hiya Bella,

just got back home tonite and came online to check emails etc...and was curious about Reads as I hadnt heard much of late...

ur 'read' kept me up much later than was intended... and sorry Mr B and so glad ur on the mend... but rounded of my PP holiday with a good laugh !

Thanx for sharing

Miriam

Belladonna · #24 05-09-2009, 23:15

Thank you Miriam, hope you had a good holiday too! Hubby is getting used to being the centre of attention now, but we are still waiting for Reads to send on our anniversary card! LOL! Perhaps I had better go back and pick it up personally!

BonysLad · #25 06-09-2009, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belladonna

The Bacchus restaurant standard menu is 69euros each, plus wine from 30euros upwards.
The Bistro 33 average meal with wine per couple is about 100euros.
The prices are more expensive than some restaurants in London, even taking into account it is a Michelin star restaurant.

Bella,

Thanks, as you say quite expensive. However paid £25 per head for breakfast in town a couple of weeks ago at one of the Roux Brothers places . Should have known better to trust the french with an English ( or even Scottish, Jimbo !!!) "full monty" as it was pretty average to say the least. Think Mollies here would have been far better !!!!!

BonysLad

favie · #26 06-09-2009, 20:55

Hi Bella,

Just got round to reading every word of your trip report....wow and what a report.....very enjoyable and you give a great description of the place!
It sounded perfect.....obviously, apart from hubbys terrible accident...hope he is not "too down in the mouth" !!
Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed report

Belladonna · #27 07-09-2009, 15:51

Thank you favie, its very kind of you to say so!

Another good point for the hotel has just come to light. They actually phoned and getting no reply, emailed us to say they had found my dressing gown in the room, which I hadn't even realised I had forgotten to pack! They are now posting it back to me! That's service above and beyond in my book.