Night Riviera - merged posts, ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

I should add, in fairness, that I did have a Duty Manager on call, but they were sleeping whilst being paid for their overnight shift. Most would only consider coming to my assistance if the world was about to end! I would never have dreamed of waking them up to help me hoover the lounge or set up a meeting room.

In all my time working at the Forte Posthouse Taunton I only ever woke up a Duty Manager on three occasions. Once when we had pikeys on the roof nicking the aluminium lightning conductors and once when I had a guest suffer a heart attack.

A shift I'll never forget was the night Diana, Princess of Wales died. This was the third time I woke a DM^▸ (Dilton Marsh). An internal message came through from Forte Towers (that was the nickname for head office  ) at 5am requesting all hotels in the group bring their flags down to half mast before guests started waking up. I woke the DM to request help to do this and got the response; "**** off. Do it yourself." One of our flags had been tied to the top of the mast rather than run up. I had to shin up the pole and untie it. I fell off and landed on the bonnet of a customer's car. Damn near broke my neck. And what did I get, along with friction burns on my hands, for my a trouble? A verbal warning for damaging a customers car and the threat of worse should I pursue a health and safety claim. Learnt from that just how management in the hospitality trade treat the foot soldiers. Quickly got my Chef qualifications after that (effectively management grade, but still poorly paid) and disappeared to the relative safety of the kitchen.

Many more stories from my time there. Dealing with Oasis and the Gallagher brothers -surprisingly enjoyable. Enjoying the odd cigar and brandy (just a small one!) with Jethro. Having one of Tom King's (former Northern Ireland secretary and MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post - a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London, depending on context) for Bridgwater) Special Branch officers calling me a useless p***k because I wouldn't reopen the bar at 3am. Having Waqar Younis (at the time, playing for Glamorgan) going nuts because someone had 'stolen' the County Championship trophy they'd won earlier that evening defeating Somerset at the County Ground, Taunton. This was the real trophy, over 100 years old, not a replica like you often see presented in other sports. We found it atop a cistern in the ladies toilets!

And last but not least the Romany wedding reception. ^20,000 worth of damage to the hotel, police in riot gear, copper chopper above, Junction 25 of the M5 closed and just me, a barman on overtime and a largely absent DM. The Romanies paid for all the damage though and the hotel made a tidy profit. I got a measly ^20 bonus. Jethro would often tip me more than that just for selling him the odd brandy and cigar!

[bobm]

Is that Forte Hotel the one which is now a Holiday Inn?  Had many a meeting in the reception area there - including one three weeks ago when I caused a bit of uproar.  Stood up from my sofa at the end of the meeting and couldn't undertand why a section of the reception was shouting at me.  Seems I had blocked their view of the finish of the Olympic Cycling on the big tv behind me..... 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Mirror:

I could have driven down to Cornwall but there^s another rather special option... the Night Riviera Sleeper train run by First Great Western. It leaves London Paddington at 23.45 (23.50 on a Sunday) and arrives in Penzance at 08.00 (08.49 on a Monday).

It^s not the most modern of rolling stock but compartments are comfortable, air-conditioned with a TV^▸ (Thames Valley) and the service from the crew of Steve, Anne and Jean was impeccable. The sleeper section has a jolly little bar with friendly host Marion and a clubby atmosphere so you can unwind with a nightcap as the train heads out of London.

It would be fair to say there^s a fair bit of noisy clunking at Exeter... I assume from some kind of carriage shunting, but I nodded off again quickly enough and woke up in time for a nice cuppa and a bacon roll.

The return was just as pleasant. After dropping off my hire car with the friendly chaps at Europcar right by the station, I boarded the 10am Cornishman for London.

It^s very civilised catching up with work as the lush Cornish countryside rushes by (wi-fi would be hugely welcome, though).

But the highlight comes once you cross in to Devon on the 1859 Royal Albert Bridge, a magnificent piece of engineering by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

The high-speed train running right alongside the beach at Dawlish is a genuine thrill, with the carriages so close to the sea you seem to be almost charging through the waves.

Get there
First Great Western advance fares from London to Penzance start at ^15 each way, or from ^49 for a solo sleeper berth. Call: 08457 000 125.

[plymothian]

The Night Riviera is an absolute gem, and sad to say it's only in the last year that I have discovered and used it - twice so far.  The fares are very reasonable, especially for 2 people.  And it makes a day out in London more special, and gives a lot more time in the capital especially for a day out.  London is lovely that early in the morning too - it feels so untouched.

[Surrey 455]

Quite possibly. I don't know the hotel and don't really know Bristol that well, but the two Forte (thf) Posthouses near Heathrow are now Holiday Inns (though one only became a Posthouse after the other was renamed to Forte Crest).

[JayMac]

Forte Posthouse Taunton is indeed now a Holiday Inn. I started work there not long after Rocco Forte lost control of his hotel group following a hostile takeover by Granada. Rocco was even prevented from using his surname in any other hospitality businesses. He had to make do with RF Hotels. He has now reclaimed his name following the break-up and sell off of the Forte Hotel Group portfolio.

[Umberleigh]

The pay issue was a postscript.

I just wanted to point out to Super Guard what this former hotel porter had to do on a regular basis. Yes I had quiet nights but none where I was only responsible for only 28 guests.

I was being a bit tongue in cheek re 'reading a book', but thanks for your reply as I too have worked in Hospitality in the past (20+ years) and I feel it's fair to say that a hotel operator would run the sleeper service with fewer staff.

However, the sleeper crew are excellent and just doing what is asked of them, so no offence intended.

In 2003 I had breakfast on a morning train from Norwich to London, accompanied by the owner, Head Chef and Manager of an independent hotel. An excellent, enjoyable journey, however all three were somewhat disbelieving at the number of staff rostered - at least twice as many as actually required, even for a full sitting.

Small wonder, perhaps, that the restaurant cars were withdrawn on cost grounds...

[Kernow Otter]

Joined the up Cornish Riviera at Par. Standing room only from Bodmin, and no seat reservations valid. Could be an interesting run to London.

[EBrown]

Yes, last nights Riviera was busy. I had a seat all the way to NTA^» (Newton Abbott - next trains) though.

[vacmanfan]

Joined the up Cornish Riviera at Par. Standing room only from Bodmin, and no seat reservations valid. Could be an interesting run to London.

Upgrade??

[vacmanfan]

And no whistles used either! So the sleepers aren't disturbed.

\

Not when I dispatch it! hahaha!  Wakey wakey!

[Temple Meads]

Joined the up Cornish Riviera at Par. Standing room only from Bodmin, and no seat reservations valid. Could be an interesting run to London.

Perfect excuse for a long window leaning session 

[LiskeardRich]

BNM do you still work there? If so I am one of your regular customers I believe (unless there is more than one holiday inn in Taunton). Stay there whenever I visit family in Taunton as it is superior to rival chain hotels in taunton, and normally similar prices.
Once made the mistake of staying in the dump of a Travelodge at Hankridge way. Complained to the Travelodge manager about the cleanliness, and basically in politer terms if it wasnt good enough clean it myself.
I emailed photos to travelodge head office, and their response wasnt even apologetic just made excuses. I didnt mention the managers attitude just the cleanliness with supporting photos to my complaint.

[JayMac]

Sorry, richwarwicker. My gig at the Forte Posthouse Taunton (now Holiday Inn, Taunton) ended in the last century! Worked there from early '96 to late '99.

Travelodge are very hit and miss. I've stayed in some excellent ones, but also had some nights in the less salubrious locations within the chain. I've stayed at the one in Hankridge, Taunton and I agree, it's not one of the best.

Incidentally, Travelodge UK^▸ (United Kingdom) was also originally part of the Forte portfolio, named at start-up as Forte Travelodge. Charles Forte bought the rights from the original US company to operate a UK 'Travelodge' brand in the mid 1980s. The brand stayed in the Forte empire following the hostile takeover of Forte Group by Granada in 1995. When Granada demerged their hospitality business in 2001, form their core media interests, the hotels business was run by another acquisition of Granada called Compass Group. Compass Group was, and is, primarily a foodservice company and on demerger they quickly divested themselves of their hotel portfolio, selling off brands such as 'Travelodge' to venture capitalists and individual former Forte hotels to other companies. Holiday Inn snapped up many Forte Posthouses.

In the halcyon days of the late 1990s I was employed, ultimately, by the same company that paid the wages to the cast of Coronation Street. We even had staff discount for the Granada Studios Tour in Manchester!

[Brucey]

The M48 Severn View Travelodge still issue Forte keyfobs (yes, key not keycard) albeit covered with a Travelodge label.  Except for a lick of paint, little has changed internally.