Soldier refused room at hotel

[MentalSarcasm]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7596798.stm

A soldier home on leave after being injured in Afghanistan was refused a room by a hotel when he showed his military ID card at reception. Corporal Tomos Stringer, 23, from Gwynedd, was visiting a wounded colleague in Surrey when he was turned away from the Metro Hotel in Woking.


Well if I ever stay in Woking I won't be going to that hotel. Would be interesting to hear the reasoning behind their anti-military policy.

[singlecoil]

Could it be because he is Welsh, rather than because he is a soldier?

[Eric Mc]

Sounds very odd.

I wonder is there a bit more to this story.

[Rebuker]

They may be used to squaddies behaving like pissed up fools and fighting and wrecking things. Unfortunately for him, his many local brethren may have set the tone for the hotel's reaction to his kind.

Management has a right to refuse admission without reason. Tough.

Being a soldier or being whatever does not entitle anyone to entry to a private establishment.

But this is conjecture. Better to hear the full story instead of letting the BBC have us reaching for the Watchdog SAE.

[Cara Van Man]

They probably didn't take kindly to having the windows blown in, the door kicked through and then him slotting the 'jingly' cleaner in the kitchen.

Edited by Cara Van Man on Thursday 4th September 08:48

[Tim.s]

Pretty much normal for squaddies im afraid, especially in or near garrison towns.

A forces ID card often makes you about as welcome as a fart in a lift and the owners attitude will often be backed up with an example of when 'one of your fellow soldiers once left a dirty cup in his room, in 1977'

[mel]

I've got to be honest and say I've been around soldiers and the military all my life and if I owned a nice hotel business that I'd put my life and sole into building up and of which I was righty proud of the high standards it set, I'd be very very loathed to let rooms out to Squaddies. Rather that the dirty cup in 1977 analogy I'd be more likely to expect something along the lines of "Your 6 collegues who smashed up the bar fighting amongst themselves, kept all the guests awake spitroasting some old salt, coiled one down in the lift and then did a runner without paying the bill"

As with all things there are not doubt two sides to the story but the media will present only the one that suits them. But I will say it doesn't show alot of tact if a receptionist simply said "no military personel allowed" every case would need to be assesed on it's merits. But it's certainly nothing new and I know plenty of places that will turn you away if they even think you're military, lets face it you're even one step below stag parties on the evolutionary scale.

[Cara Van Man]

mel said:

I've got to be honest and say I've been around soldiers and the military all my life and if I owned a nice hotel business that I'd put my life and sole into building up and of which I was righty proud of the high standards it set, I'd be very very loathed to let rooms out to Squaddies. Rather that the dirty cup in 1977 analogy I'd be more likely to expect something along the lines of "Your 6 collegues who smashed up the bar fighting amongst themselves, kept all the guests awake spitroasting some old salt, coiled one down in the lift and then did a runner without paying the bill"

As with all things there are not doubt two sides to the story but the media will present only the one that suits them. But I will say it doesn't show alot of tact if a receptionist simply said "no military personel allowed" every case would need to be assesed on it's merits. But it's certainly nothing new and I know plenty of places that will turn you away if they even think you're military, lets face it you're even one step below stag parties on the evolutionary scale.

I agree, sort of.

I'd be mightily pissed off if I'd been turned away. I obviously hold a military ID card, but am past all the 'squaddie' stuff. Where do you draw the line?

And I wonder for what reason did he show his ID? A hotel reception has no business asking to see it. Or was he showing off? Or trying to get a discount, maybe?

[Badgerboy]

Cara Van Man said:

mel said:

I've got to be honest and say I've been around soldiers and the military all my life and if I owned a nice hotel business that I'd put my life and sole into building up and of which I was righty proud of the high standards it set, I'd be very very loathed to let rooms out to Squaddies. Rather that the dirty cup in 1977 analogy I'd be more likely to expect something along the lines of "Your 6 collegues who smashed up the bar fighting amongst themselves, kept all the guests awake spitroasting some old salt, coiled one down in the lift and then did a runner without paying the bill"

As with all things there are not doubt two sides to the story but the media will present only the one that suits them. But I will say it doesn't show alot of tact if a receptionist simply said "no military personel allowed" every case would need to be assesed on it's merits. But it's certainly nothing new and I know plenty of places that will turn you away if they even think you're military, lets face it you're even one step below stag parties on the evolutionary scale.

I agree, sort of.

I'd be mightily pissed off if I'd been turned away. I obviously hold a military ID card, but am past all the 'squaddie' stuff. Where do you draw the line?

And I wonder for what reason did he show his ID? A hotel reception has no business asking to see it. Or was he showing off? Or trying to get a discount, maybe?

I think it depends on who is toting the card. My 1250 never gave me problems, often a better service! (And police were generally more understanding when they pulled you over)

[Thudd]

Tim.s said:

Pretty much normal for squaddies im afraid, especially in or near garrison towns.

A forces ID card often makes you about as welcome as a fart in a lift and the owners attitude will often be backed up with an example of when 'one of your fellow soldiers once left a dirty cup in his room, in 1977'

Two squaddies, one cup?

[filski666]

MentalSarcasm said:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7596798.stm

A soldier home on leave after being injured in Afghanistan was refused a room by a hotel when he showed his military ID card at reception. Corporal Tomos Stringer, 23, from Gwynedd, was visiting a wounded colleague in Surrey when he was turned away from the Metro Hotel in Woking.


Well if I ever stay in Woking I won't be going to that hotel. Would be interesting to hear the reasoning behind their anti-military policy.

Woking is a st hole anyway - they did him a favour!

[Cara Van Man]

Badgerboy said:

Cara Van Man said:

mel said:

I've got to be honest and say I've been around soldiers and the military all my life and if I owned a nice hotel business that I'd put my life and sole into building up and of which I was righty proud of the high standards it set, I'd be very very loathed to let rooms out to Squaddies. Rather that the dirty cup in 1977 analogy I'd be more likely to expect something along the lines of "Your 6 collegues who smashed up the bar fighting amongst themselves, kept all the guests awake spitroasting some old salt, coiled one down in the lift and then did a runner without paying the bill"

As with all things there are not doubt two sides to the story but the media will present only the one that suits them. But I will say it doesn't show alot of tact if a receptionist simply said "no military personel allowed" every case would need to be assesed on it's merits. But it's certainly nothing new and I know plenty of places that will turn you away if they even think you're military, lets face it you're even one step below stag parties on the evolutionary scale.

I agree, sort of.

I'd be mightily pissed off if I'd been turned away. I obviously hold a military ID card, but am past all the 'squaddie' stuff. Where do you draw the line?

And I wonder for what reason did he show his ID? A hotel reception has no business asking to see it. Or was he showing off? Or trying to get a discount, maybe?

I think it depends on who is toting the card. My 1250 never gave me problems, often a better service! (And police were generally more understanding when they pulled you over)

Agreed.

apart from the time I got pulled over by an ex-RAF copper and we got chatting. All seemed to be going well and I thought I'd get off with a ticking off, until he asked what trade I was and when I told him he promptly pulled his book out and started writing

[Alleggerita]

Thudd said:

Tim.s said:

Pretty much normal for squaddies im afraid, especially in or near garrison towns.

A forces ID card often makes you about as welcome as a fart in a lift and the owners attitude will often be backed up with an example of when 'one of your fellow soldiers once left a dirty cup in his room, in 1977'

Two squaddies, one cup?

[mel]

Nick, you're of an age where it's probably not obvious to the uninformed what you do for a living, you could just as easilly give the impression that you made blankets in the factory rather than stacked them in the stores, especially if accompanied by your wife and family I assume also that you grew up in the culture where military id cards were not flashed around willy nilly because if they were mad irish men tried to slot you.

But young lads don't always give off that impression, picture the scene (and I'm not saying this was the case because I don't know) But a young lad early twenties turns up at the hotel, wearing faded jeans, dessert boots, a maroon t shirt with a big pegasus on it, a big suunto watch with a shroud, a bulldog, a union flag and a pair of para wings tatooed on his forarm, carring a burgen and drinking from an open can of stella. He has no credit card and says he'll pay when he checks out. The fact that he then offers a military id card is frankly irrelevant as you could tell that when he walked in the door, but would you really want to go out of your way to offer him a room on the same weekend as the South Yorkshire Womans Institute are having their conference?

Discrimination? yes I'd say so, would it cause the same outcry if it was a same sex couple, a 35 stone heffa, or a full bakri wearing muslim that got turned away? Oh most deffinately yes, Is it morally right? no probably not. But would you do it if it was your £5M hotel that had just be refurbished? Honestly? I probably would.

Edited by mel on Thursday 4th September 09:40

[filski666]

Cara Van Man said:

mel said:

I've got to be honest and say I've been around soldiers and the military all my life and if I owned a nice hotel business that I'd put my life and sole into building up and of which I was righty proud of the high standards it set, I'd be very very loathed to let rooms out to Squaddies. Rather that the dirty cup in 1977 analogy I'd be more likely to expect something along the lines of "Your 6 collegues who smashed up the bar fighting amongst themselves, kept all the guests awake spitroasting some old salt, coiled one down in the lift and then did a runner without paying the bill"

As with all things there are not doubt two sides to the story but the media will present only the one that suits them. But I will say it doesn't show alot of tact if a receptionist simply said "no military personel allowed" every case would need to be assesed on it's merits. But it's certainly nothing new and I know plenty of places that will turn you away if they even think you're military, lets face it you're even one step below stag parties on the evolutionary scale.

I agree, sort of.

I'd be mightily pissed off if I'd been turned away. I obviously hold a military ID card, but am past all the 'squaddie' stuff. Where do you draw the line?

And I wonder for what reason did he show his ID? A hotel reception has no business asking to see it. Or was he showing off? Or trying to get a discount, maybe?

When you check into a hotel you have to show a form of ID, be it passport, driving licence or, in his case, a military ID.

[Balmoral Green]

Eric Mc said:

Sounds very odd.

I wonder is there a bit more to this story.

I would bet rather a large sum of money that the story is mostly made up and heavily embellished cobblers.

I reckon there will be a very simple and straightforward reason he was turned away, but if it was revealed the story would negate itself and there would be no point in running it.

Media lies, half truths and misrepresentation, I guarantee it.

'Slept in his car'

[Balmoral Green]

Yes, I can come to a conclusion without being in possession of the full facts

[Chris71]

Balmoral Green said:

Eric Mc said:

Sounds very odd.

I wonder is there a bit more to this story.

I would bet rather a large sum of money that the story is mostly made up and heavily embellished cobblers.

I reckon there will be a very simple and straightforward reason he was turned away, but if it was revealed the story would negate itself and there would be no point in running it.

Media lies, half truths and misrepresentation, I guarantee it.

'Slept in his car'

I suspect so.

It's not unknown for squaddies to hit the town as soon as they get back - he may have been ten pints down at the time he requested a room!

[Horse_Apple]

MentalSarcasm said:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7596798.stm

A soldier home on leave after being injured in Afghanistan was refused a room by a hotel when he showed his military ID card at reception. Corporal Tomos Stringer, 23, from Gwynedd, was visiting a wounded colleague in Surrey when he was turned away from the Metro Hotel in Woking.


Well if I ever stay in Woking I won't be going to that hotel. Would be interesting to hear the reasoning behind their anti-military policy.

Maybe after visiting his mate he was totally bladdered?

Or was the hotel the Taliban Country House Retreat and Spa?

[Cara Van Man]

filski666 said:

Cara Van Man said:

mel said:

I've got to be honest and say I've been around soldiers and the military all my life and if I owned a nice hotel business that I'd put my life and sole into building up and of which I was righty proud of the high standards it set, I'd be very very loathed to let rooms out to Squaddies. Rather that the dirty cup in 1977 analogy I'd be more likely to expect something along the lines of "Your 6 collegues who smashed up the bar fighting amongst themselves, kept all the guests awake spitroasting some old salt, coiled one down in the lift and then did a runner without paying the bill"

As with all things there are not doubt two sides to the story but the media will present only the one that suits them. But I will say it doesn't show alot of tact if a receptionist simply said "no military personel allowed" every case would need to be assesed on it's merits. But it's certainly nothing new and I know plenty of places that will turn you away if they even think you're military, lets face it you're even one step below stag parties on the evolutionary scale.

I agree, sort of.

I'd be mightily pissed off if I'd been turned away. I obviously hold a military ID card, but am past all the 'squaddie' stuff. Where do you draw the line?

And I wonder for what reason did he show his ID? A hotel reception has no business asking to see it. Or was he showing off? Or trying to get a discount, maybe?

When you check into a hotel you have to show a form of ID, be it passport, driving licence or, in his case, a military ID.

Yes, you do need to show ID, but a military ID should only be used for 1 thing. Access to a base.

It always pisses me off when companies try and take a photcopy of mine if I chosse to use it as ID, I refuse to let them as it is a restricted document.