The White Rabbit - Maidstone - Kent

My room at the White Rabbit

I recently visited a town called Maidstone in Kent and my overnight stay was in the White Rabbit pub/hotel.
Funny how in some places the customer isn’t always king. I believe that, if I am going to be parting with cash for your services, I must be treated with attention.  In my own work, I offer no less than I would expect. I always stand in place of the customer and think of what he/she would feel seeing this, or that, accessing this or that and being served this way or the other.

Having entered some businesses in this country, I think I would fire half the staff in B&B, hotels or restaurants I visit.

So, we arrived in the White Rabbit after 8pm and the front desk was at the bar. We were ignored for what seemed like an eternity. It didn’t seem as if the place had enough staff to cover the bar and the B&B clients.

Right there on the bar/reception, there were giant flower vases in which water had not been changed for few weeks in my opinion… I would say at least 3 weeks. The flowers were dry and the water was dirty within them.

When we were finally spoken to, the technology didn’t seem to be up to scratch. It must have taken at least 30minutes between the waiting time and being shown what direction the rooms where.

Having been nudged in the right direction, we discovered what seemed like a maze. The doors numbering were so confusing that it would have been just easier if the staff had bothered telling which room was up or down or furthest… and we did all these up and down carrying our luggage and could not return to the reception/bar for help… We’d just had been ignored I am sure.

When we finally found our respective rooms, my colleague who starts work before six am ended up not having his dinner after all that effort.

I on the other hand was hungry and after ditching my luggage decided to head back down stairs to get some dinner… Given the state of the flower vase, I decided to go for a very simple dish... stir fried seasonal vegetables with pan fired salmon… Nope nothing to write home about… some of the vegetables where stone cold and where served with yogurt for some reason and completely tasteless… well, at least the pattern is consistent.

Stained bathroom

Upon returning to my room, I set to have a closer look around. The room was very old and it was a cold night… No instructions on how to work the radiators either. The lights were not too bright, which is good because I may have found more reasons to be uncomfortable.

The loos had not been cleaned properly as the detergent was still waiting to be washed away. The shower area had a massive scale stain on the wall and some hair languishing near the plug hole.

Needless to say we didn’t have the best night sleep at the White Rabbit despite the comfortable bed.

Don’t think I would recommending or checking here again…

Specially would recommend that they remain a pub and work on their customers’ service.

 

The Reviewer

The Royal Albert Hall – Cloudy bay Wine bar

I recently went to see Charles Aznavour in concert in at the Royal Albert Hall. I have never been at the Hall and was looking forward to seeing the inside... and, of course Aznavour. This guy is one of those French musicians who was always on the TV every Sunday afternoon as we relaxed waiting for a new week of school to kick off.

My friend and I arrive a bit too early for the concert and decided the grab bite before the event. So, we headed up to the Cloudy Bay wine bar on the top floor of the Royal Albert Hall.

The place was jam packed with Aznavour’s fans and French people bien sure. The Cloudy Bay wine bar is a very low ceiling narrow curved shaped space with soft lighting and all white decoration.  The lighting is very very soft to the point where you might be at risk if not recognising what is in your plate; I’ve got 4 eyes and still can’t see well…lol.

We went straight to the bar to order before seating and were blanked both by one of the chap serving behind the bar and by a circulating waiter who then, started to talk to us and then completely turn his attention to two older ladies who had just walked in…. aaarrrrgggggh! RUDE!

I found this really amusing; get this, my friend and I were two black 30+ year old ladies in a sea of Caucasians and other light skinned folks. I just thought these two clowns assumed that our cash wasn’t good enough… I do not actually enjoy being serve by such ignorant people. So, we stood there amused and watching the floating waiter trying to avoid us.

Another waiter whose it was the first day came to our rescue and showed us to some empty seat. He was much kinder and we really appreciated his manner and care. Hopefully he will never be tainted by the preferential treatment that his colleagues offer to walking clients depending on their skin colour.

Having wasted time waiting to be seated, there was only 30 minutes left for us to eat something before the show and we ordered the cheese platter, a glass of fizzy wine and a glass of Sauvignon blanc. Cost us £35.00. With quality of service received from the young Caucasian male we could not help but give a good tip while thanking him and wishing him good luck in the job.

It goes without saying that I will visit that bar again so that ignorant people like those waiters will get in the habit of treating EVERYONE in the same manner no matter their skin colour.

The concert was great and Aznavour even at 90 years still got it and his voice has not changed at all. His voice fitted really well with the décor of the Hall. I had never hear him live nor seen the hall before… Both were wow! Other than the wine bar incident, I had a great evening…

A bientot!