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Would you stay here? ITV - The Savoy

(65 Posts)
tidyskatemum Thu 15-Oct-20 21:36:17

I've been watching the ITV programme about the Savoy Hotel and I've been gobsmacked by how it appears to be totally lacking in class. Staff I'd think twice about employing at MacDonalds, including the concierge sitting at his desk and chewing gum, horrendous ill-fitting uniforms, general tackiness and guests who seem to have an awful lot more money than taste. If I had over £500 to spend for a night in a hotel I'm sure I'd be going elsewhere.

merlotgran Thu 15-Oct-20 21:38:23

I agree.

LauraNorder Thu 15-Oct-20 21:40:23

We said the same thing last night, totally tacky and a bit antwacky. Butterfly milk in my tea please.

TwiceAsNice Thu 15-Oct-20 21:49:17

I have been enjoying it in a way. I do agree about the Ill fitting uniforms. That woman that was changing jobs looked dreadful . I can’t believe that boy who proposed spent 10,000 for having a room for a few hours , more money than sense

Chewbacca Thu 15-Oct-20 21:59:13

It's good for a laugh when you're just observing. Possibly not so funny if you're a guest there though. But I assume paying guests know what they're booking in to so you pays your money and you takes your choice

JenniferEccles Thu 15-Oct-20 22:33:47

I agree. What a terrible advertisement for such a wonderful iconic hotel.

Honestly was this really the best they could come up with? We have just spent an hour listening to random staff’s inane chatter.
Most of them sounded as if they belonged in some two star dive, not working for one of the most famous hotels in the world.

Such a pity as the programme could have been so much more interesting.

Georgesgran Thu 15-Oct-20 22:52:19

More money than sense? I felt that ‘the butterfly milk’ woman was quite a sad person. Perhaps it was the only place she could feel ‘looked after’ but at a price?

maddyone Thu 15-Oct-20 23:13:03

£15,000 for a night for a suite. More money than sense I think.

The woman who talked about butterfly milk was quite tacky, I thought. And the 78 year old who’s been going to the American Bar for thirty years was as well in my opinion.

But it was sad at the end, closed because of Coronavirus.

crazyH Thu 15-Oct-20 23:21:34

I think the “butterfly milk” was a joke on us ?

Ellianne Fri 16-Oct-20 08:48:40

I'm a Londoner and could sort of see where the programme was coming from. The staff were quite typical of some of these famous places and the guests seem to like the chirpy chatty style. My friend and her husband stay there every year for their wedding anniversary despite only living 6 miles away.
I've stayed at various London hotels - The Waldorf, The Hyde Park, The Curzon, Crowne Plaza, Premier Inn - they are all different and have their own character. I think maybe the more discreet ones wouldn't make such good TV in terms of the humour.

Yes, it was sad at the end and a bit eerie I thought.

Ellianne Fri 16-Oct-20 08:55:30

PS ... the money more than taste bit did cross my mind too!

Lucca Fri 16-Oct-20 08:59:43

What is “antwacky”?

GrannyGravy13 Fri 16-Oct-20 09:13:09

We have stayed at the Savoy several times and can honestly say that the service and friendliness of staff is second to none.

(Apart from the Savoy Grill which we will
not revisit)

pensionpat Fri 16-Oct-20 09:21:46

I googled butterfly milk. It is a thing, but not from butterflies! It ends up blue. But it sounds wonderfully decadent.

Ellianne Fri 16-Oct-20 09:28:53

Lucca

What is “antwacky”?

I just looked it up! Never heard of it, but quite funny and apt along with tacky!

Jaxjacky Fri 16-Oct-20 09:33:24

I’ve enjoyed it, but then anything new, that doesn’t focus on Covid (apart from the last one), entertains me. To answer the OP, no, I wouldn’t stay there, I could never justify that money and wouldn’t feel comfortable. Might have to wear a frock!!

lemsip Fri 16-Oct-20 09:37:03

I don't think £500 would get anyone a night in the Savoy!.

I enjoy seeing how it all works!

Ellianne Fri 16-Oct-20 09:49:42

Thread derailment, sorry in advance ......

We once paid A LOT of money and stayed in a very posh hotel. In the room next to ours was a princess, and an armed bodyguard sat in a sumptuous chair outside her room 24/7. We were treated equally like royalty at the hotel!

I find it all quite fascinating too.

BlueSky Fri 16-Oct-20 10:00:44

Wow GrannyGravy!
I enjoyed watching the programme but feel sorry for the staff, even though they are apparently well paid (?). Feels like the old Upstairs Downstairs system. I wouldn’t stay because I just couldn’t justify the money.

JenniferEccles Fri 16-Oct-20 10:04:57

I may have misheard but wasn’t it £1,500 per night for a suite not £15,000 ?

GrannyGravy13 Fri 16-Oct-20 10:23:48

I think £1,500.00 is for a standard suite there are several more expensive suites including The Royal Suite which I believe is £15,000.00 per night.

There are usually good deals to be had in many top Hotels if you ring them direct, staying on a Sunday / Monday night is much cheaper than Tuesday/Wednesday. Thursday/Friday/Saturday are on the whole the most expensive.

Teetime Fri 16-Oct-20 10:26:06

I agree. Unprofessional, overpriced, indiscrete and tacky. Claridges is nicer.

Ashcombe Fri 16-Oct-20 10:28:58

Yes, GrannyGravy13, it’s the same when booking Travelodge, in my experience! (Sorry to lower the tone!)

LauraNorder Fri 16-Oct-20 10:33:39

Lucca maybe antwacky is a scouse word. We’ve always used it to describe something very old fashioned. I have no idea how to spell the word but imagine it came from antiquated. It is probably fairly apt as a mix of antique, wacky and tacky.
Mr Norder and I felt that many of the rooms were old fashioned rather than tastefully decorated with lovely period features and antiques as we would have expected hence my description antwacky

jaylucy Fri 16-Oct-20 10:46:25

Considering the reputation that it used to have , I was a bit surprised by some of the staff. The old guard seemed to have the expected attitude, but some of the younger really weren't what you would expect in a place like that!
However, it all comes down to management and the current way of thinking seems to be very much more relaxed - that the staff should be seen more as friends than servants (yeah, that will work well for some guests - not)
I felt quite sorry for the lady that turns up every Friday night to sit alone in the bar. There used to be a lady in my village that used to do a similar thing in the pub across the road from her house - always sat on the same stool, dressed up to the nines (think of Rita from Coronation Street) and was there until closing time. That was her social life.
Sad too at the end when the hotel closed because of Covid. The old style hotels where nothing is too much trouble are still needed and I hope they all eventually pick up the pieces and re open .