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Four in a Bed - Season 31 - Episode 04: Northop Hall Country House Hotel (4)
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00:00I'm not sure this is going to be adequate.
00:01And the towel.
00:04Four sets of holiday hosts.
00:06Fantastic.
00:08Check into each other's places.
00:10Hiya, both. Welcome to Hoopers.
00:12And check out one another.
00:14Felt like a bit bland.
00:15Yeah, and you're not.
00:16That's a backhandy compliment.
00:19Today, the group turn up the heat.
00:22Yay! Come on!
00:26As they battle.
00:27Would it be possible to get somebody to pop up and just clean our bathroom?
00:30To be named Best Value for Money.
00:33We got a four.
00:34That's not fair.
00:41The final visit of the week is to Mould in Flintshire,
00:44a Northup Hall Country House hotel,
00:46run by Fritha Jane and Justin Evans,
00:49colleagues angling for compliments.
00:51I'm glad I sat here. It was my better side.
00:53Is it? Yeah.
00:55Oh, yes, that's a good love.
00:56Oh, thank you.
00:56I don't think I have one.
00:58I'm angry from all time.
01:01Guests who want to stay in the frame
01:03can choose from one of 38 rooms
01:06priced at up to £112 per night
01:08and meet hosts who feel at home.
01:11I love getting up in the morning
01:12and come here.
01:13It's got stunning grounds,
01:15loads of character within the building.
01:17It is a really nice place to be.
01:19It's like a small little retreat.
01:21Yeah, I think because you're just nestled
01:22in this little corner of North Wales.
01:24And when it comes to the competition,
01:26this pair hope a refurb won't disturb.
01:30The hotel was closed for a considerable amount of time.
01:33The building does need updating,
01:35which we're in the process of doing.
01:36That's the only concern we've got.
01:38Some of the rooms,
01:39they're just a bit like 80s-tastic, aren't they?
01:42Maybe early 90s.
01:45About to arrive is today's first guest.
01:48A lot of the times when I'm driving in a car,
01:50we'll have a nice little sing-song.
01:51One of my favourite things to do
01:53is just sing some crooner songs.
01:55It is something I do a lot, actually.
01:58Feeling vocal is Paul Hooper,
02:00owner of Hooper's Sandy Beach Guest Rooms
02:02in Swansea, West Glamorgan.
02:05Earlier in the week,
02:06he asked Justin and Fritha to put him in the picture.
02:08If it was a newer place,
02:10what kind of scene would we be painting?
02:11Cows.
02:12Cows.
02:13And trees.
02:15So today, Paul's ready to impose.
02:18We've gleaned a couple of things.
02:19I have a feeling that it could be
02:21more of an old-fashioned building.
02:23I suspect that's going to be grander,
02:26maybe a country park of some type.
02:31It's a really nice old house.
02:33I bet there's some history in that.
02:34No, it looks lovely.
02:36Hi, you're both all right.
02:37Morning.
02:38Welcome to the North of the Pool Country House Hotel.
02:41You're staying in room 305.
02:42The cost of the room is £110.50.
02:45Breakfast is included.
02:47I'll see you later.
02:52I'm really quite pleasantly surprised.
02:54I thought it might have had an older theme.
02:56It's got a bit of freshness to it.
02:57As Paul decides modern life isn't rubbish,
03:00today's next guests are riding on time.
03:04It's a nice-looking tower.
03:05Looks tidy.
03:06Very old.
03:07We've talked about you.
03:08What do you mean, me?
03:12Ageing gracefully are Steve Clarke and Andrew Smith of Kai Court Hotel in Bridge End.
03:17On a previous visit...
03:19Cheers, everyone.
03:20Cheers.
03:21Cheers, guys.
03:21Justin outlined his act of service.
03:24I joined the army from 16 and they put me in the officer's mass.
03:28I ended up doing a lot of high-end functions, royalty was involved.
03:34Wow.
03:34So today, Steve and Andrew are ready to join the ranks.
03:38With his army background, I wonder if there's some sort of connection with the military or something like that.
03:44Yeah, it could be.
03:45Could be an old barracks done up and at five o'clock in the morning we're up there polishing our
03:49boots.
03:53Morning.
03:54Morning.
03:54Morning.
03:55Hi.
03:55Welcome to North of the Pool Country House Hotel.
03:57You'll be staying in room 101.
03:59The cost of the room will be £112 including breakfast.
04:02Enjoy.
04:03Cheers.
04:08Oh, yeah. Quite impressive.
04:10Nice house room.
04:11As Steve and Andrew bed in, today's final guests should be so lucky.
04:16Where does Kylie Minogue get her kebabs from?
04:19I don't know. Where does Kylie Minogue get her kebabs from?
04:21Jason's Donovan.
04:23Spinning around are Sean and Sarah Brady, owners of Silver Fern Glamping in Aberystwyth.
04:29Last time when guests flocked to their shepherd's huts.
04:33Surroundings are gorgeous.
04:34It is nice.
04:35At first there was sheer delight.
04:38OK, that's cute.
04:40This is all right, isn't it?
04:41I could live here.
04:43But Justin and Fritha soon felt the cleanliness was woolly.
04:47Fish slice is actually pretty grubby.
04:50Oh, they're greasy.
04:52It just literally almost slipped up my hand then.
04:54So at feedback...
04:55I'm feeling a seven.
04:57That's really disappointing.
04:58They rammed home the point.
05:01The number of items are holding grease.
05:04I wash all the crockery and utensils myself on every changeover.
05:07But today, Sarah and Sean are not planning to play dirty.
05:11Despite how we feel about some of our feedback, we will continue to be fair and judge on what we
05:16find.
05:17But I was quite taken back with the feedback about the cleanliness.
05:23Morning.
05:24Morning, guys.
05:25Welcome to Northup Hall Country House Hotel.
05:27Price is £110.50.
05:30That's including breakfast.
05:31Brilliant.
05:32Thanks, guys.
05:32Anything else? Just come and let us know.
05:34Will do.
05:38Nice and bright.
05:39Love the colours.
05:40Nice.
05:41With the hosts out of the way, the guests can see if Northup Hall is the bell of the ball.
05:46That's newly painted.
05:47Everything is super clean and tidy.
05:49I like these curtains there.
05:50They're really modern.
05:51Yeah.
05:51Nice.
05:52The view from here.
05:53Super.
05:55Worktops look clean.
05:55Table look clean.
05:57Everything looks clean.
05:58Yeah, I've cleaned the windows on the inside, I think, but not on the outside, which is a shame.
06:02Nice selection of coffee.
06:03Very nice, yeah.
06:05Not a single smear on it.
06:06Someone's done a good job of that.
06:08One of my pet hates is back of house.
06:10Being untidy.
06:11Yeah.
06:11It's a real firm bed.
06:13I suspect that might be a bit too firm for me.
06:16You should just fill that before you paint it.
06:18Yeah.
06:18It just feels a bit rushed to me and not of a high quality.
06:23Very compact.
06:24Yeah.
06:24First impressions, really good.
06:26Looks neat and tidy in here.
06:28Oh, my God.
06:29That's filthy.
06:30Won't be hanging my clothes in there, thank you.
06:32The plumbing's a bit ickledy-pickledy, isn't it?
06:34That should be boxed in.
06:35This shower tray with the brown marks on the top.
06:38I don't think this has been cleaned.
06:40There's all hairs in the bottle.
06:42Some stuff I don't really know what it is.
06:45You can see the grime on the tiles.
06:47This isn't clean.
06:48Oh, I think this panel's actually come out.
06:52That's probably as bad as you can get for a pleggle.
06:55This extractor fan that's falling off the ceiling.
06:57It's just poor workmanship.
06:59Room inspections almost over.
07:01Andrew puts his neck on the line.
07:03Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da.
07:05Stop.
07:07Paul's decompressing.
07:08I am feeling a little bit better.
07:10While Sean and Sarah want repeat business.
07:13I was just wondering,
07:14would it be possible to get somebody to pop up
07:16and just clean our bathroom over?
07:17It's just the bath itself.
07:18There's some hairs in there and some dirt in there.
07:20We'll send something up straight away, thank you.
07:27Writer Daniel Owen, known as the Welsh Charles Dickens,
07:30was born in mould in 1836.
07:33And today, hosts Justin and Fritha hope their guests will enjoy a novel afternoon,
07:38learning fire starting out on their lawn.
07:41I wasn't expecting this at all with Fritha and Justin.
07:43I thought, because we were coming somewhere grand,
07:45I was kind of hoping I was going to be getting a spa treatment.
07:48It probably harks back to his military background.
07:51Yeah.
07:51And with everyone assembled, Justin lights up.
07:55So you've got cotton wool in front of you.
07:56Grab a couple of the balls and just literally start feathering them out a little bit.
08:00You've got a bit of fire light, so just break it up into smaller bits.
08:04This is like a survival skills technique.
08:06I've set many fires in the past when we're camping,
08:09but we usually have a bit of petroleum with us.
08:12With your flints, just literally.
08:18Have you ever had to use it in real life, Justin?
08:20I've not had to use it in that sort of scenario,
08:23but I've taught kids how to do it.
08:25Yeah.
08:25I used to work in a secondary school.
08:27Yeah.
08:28Jack of all trades.
08:29Master of none.
08:31I have a feeling that Sarah and Sean are quite upset with us,
08:34but every bit of feedback we've given has been constructive.
08:38Past feedback fanning the flames.
08:40It's time to see if the group still has that spark.
08:44Oh!
08:45I'm in!
08:46There we are!
08:47Well then.
08:48Did you get that first time?
08:49First time.
08:49Wow.
08:50Come on!
08:51I'm not sure we need much help,
08:53so it allows Justin to concentrate on Andrew.
08:55Point into as if it's a wand and flick.
08:59Well, well.
09:00Easy.
09:01Right.
09:01Lovely.
09:02Well done.
09:04Come on, boys.
09:06Tell you I haven't peeled many potatoes.
09:09Yay!
09:11Come on!
09:11Done.
09:12Go on, Steve.
09:13God, what's the man with this thing?
09:15You got the ant with me, have you?
09:17Your sparks are going upwards.
09:19We need to fluff this out a bit more.
09:21The thinner the better.
09:22Right, here we go.
09:23Go on, give it some welly.
09:25That's it.
09:26Yay!
09:28Well done, mate.
09:29Justin was quite calm and when Steve was struggling a little bit, he just helped him to get that
09:35started.
09:36They know that I would never be involved in arson.
09:41With everyone whittling skewers for toasting marshmallows, Justin's ready for a fireside chat.
09:48This is a therapeutic exercise.
09:50People can relax and chat.
09:53Because that doesn't happen anymore.
09:55No.
09:55I get it.
09:56This takes me back to my father.
09:58We'd have marshmallows in a bonfire.
10:00A long time since I've done this, as you can imagine.
10:02Nice memory, though.
10:04Yeah, great memory.
10:05It was really nice to hear people reminiscing, wasn't it, about childhood.
10:08Yeah.
10:08There's something about sitting around a real fire and it does provoke those thoughts from
10:12the past.
10:13With the afternoon drawing to a close.
10:16Look at the state of that.
10:17I hope, guys, that the marshmallows are the only things that get a roast in come payment
10:21day.
10:23The hosts hope to avoid any blazing rows.
10:27Concentrate on drinks tonight now.
10:29Let friendships ignite.
10:30Or sparks fly.
10:31Yeah.
10:38The final visit of the week is to Mould Flintshire, where this evening hosts Justin and Fritha
10:43have invited their guests outside for a livener on the lawn.
10:47Cheers.
10:48Cheers, guys.
10:48Cheers.
10:50And with glasses raised, Sarah wants the backstory of the building.
10:55So, Fritha Justin, this house has obviously got some history.
10:58Can you tell us a little bit about it?
10:59The house was originally built in the 1870s, basically stayed a manor house up until the
11:061970s and then turned into a hotel.
11:09So, when we took this building on two years ago, it was derelict.
11:12Right.
11:13The focus initially was on doing the spaces on the ground floor and now we're starting
11:17that rolling sort of work on all the rooms that we've got, because we don't want to
11:21not take the revenue.
11:23All the rooms being done.
11:25No.
11:26No.
11:26We're not even halfway there.
11:29It's definitely a big project.
11:31They have a lot of work to do.
11:32This is quite a big house.
11:33And this could be a bit of a money pit.
11:37Renovations ruminated over.
11:39As it's the final night, Steve takes a wander down memory lane.
11:43When we first all got together, I actually thought that Justin was a priest.
11:51And I thought you were probably a spy.
11:54So, my initial impressions were completely wrong.
11:57My first impression of all of you was you were all good people.
12:00And if I didn't think that, I would not have spoken to you at all.
12:03I'd have been like, I'm not interested.
12:05Justin, deal with that.
12:06Deal with it.
12:07Yeah.
12:08Because this is our last evening, I think you started to see a little bit more of the
12:12character of the individuals.
12:14The truth will be when we do the payments.
12:16I don't want to sound soppy.
12:17I actually really appreciate all of you guys.
12:21Yeah.
12:21Looking at what everybody else has done within their business.
12:24A great experience.
12:25Yeah.
12:25Yeah.
12:26It's always great to meet your peers, isn't it?
12:27To share thoughts and ideas.
12:29That took a lot from everybody in here.
12:31It's nice of you to say.
12:32I've got little videos all on my phone of me talking.
12:35I like this bit by her.
12:36I like your phone.
12:37Great.
12:38I have stolen so many great ideas from all of you.
12:40So, Steve, you weren't completely wrong, were you?
12:42She is actually a spy.
12:44I am.
12:44Yeah, I've been perching from you all.
12:47I am confused by Fritha's feedback versus her scores.
12:52Some of the scoring didn't reflect some of the great comments that she gave us.
12:57Yeah, interesting.
12:58Drink's done.
12:59It's back upstairs, where Sarah has more bathroom blues.
13:03The cleaner did pop up, but you can see I've just given it a wipe over now.
13:07Ideally on the second time round, I would have liked to have seen them get that cleaned.
13:12While Steve's rattling around his room.
13:15Now you know why it's called the honeymoon suite.
13:22A new day's dawned in Flintshire.
13:25Slept alright, actually.
13:26Did that squeaky bed keep you awake?
13:28That was the only, I would say, negative, but the bed was comfortable.
13:33Over in his room, Paul's feeling peeved.
13:36I didn't have a very good sleep last night.
13:38The pillows were a bit bouncy for me.
13:39The blackout blinds are a bit low, so there's a lot of light comes in the top of them.
13:44The mattress was way too firm for me.
13:47Downstairs, with breakfast prep underway, the hosts are feeling hopeful.
13:52I am really proud of this breakfast.
13:54They cook to order.
13:55They're with good local produce.
13:57Great team behind me.
13:58I've got every confidence.
13:59And as the guests take their seats.
14:02Morning.
14:03Morning.
14:03Morning guys.
14:04Morning all.
14:04Let's see what we've got for breakfast.
14:06Yeah, looking forward to it.
14:07Waiter Tyler is prepped with the pad.
14:10What can I get for you?
14:11Can I get the full English please, but is it possible to have poached eggs?
14:15Absolutely, yeah.
14:16Can I have the vegetarian breakfast with no mushrooms?
14:19Can I have the large breakfast please, but no black pudding?
14:22No problem at all.
14:23Would you like any coffee or tea to go for your breakfast?
14:25Can I just get a white coffee?
14:27Can I have a pot of tea?
14:28Coffee please.
14:29Medicana.
14:30Thank you very much.
14:31Thank you Tyler.
14:33With orders in, and hot drinks down.
14:36Lovely, thank you.
14:38There's trouble brewing.
14:40My tea's not boiling hot at all.
14:43It's quite lukewarm.
14:45I'll boil the kettle right now for you.
14:46I'll get that.
14:47Thank you very much, cheers.
14:48I did all the coffee, just wondering how you're getting on.
14:50Is it just Americano, is it?
14:52You didn't get yours?
14:54No.
14:55Oh, should be faster.
14:57Breakfast was a little bit of an experience.
14:59It was just all over the place.
15:02Service snafus speculated.
15:04Mushrooms is vegan, isn't it?
15:05That's it.
15:06The hot food is served.
15:08There you go, large breakfast, no black pudding.
15:11And the vegetarian.
15:12Thank you Tyler.
15:13Thank you very much.
15:14The answer?
15:16Tyler, it did say it came with tomatoes.
15:18Oh, of course, yeah.
15:18On the menu it says tomatoes.
15:19I can send some out straight away.
15:21Also, I asked for poached eggs.
15:23Poached eggs, I'll solder them out for you.
15:24It's fine, I'll have them.
15:25Are you sure?
15:25Yeah.
15:25Sorry about that.
15:28Have you been to fault it out?
15:30I've got the tomatoes up, I missed.
15:32Yeah, thank you Tyler.
15:32Sorry for that.
15:35Scrambled eggs, they've cooked quite well.
15:37Tastes alright, but a bit overdone for me.
15:40It's a big chunk of shell I've just eaten.
15:43I've got some eggshell in mine as well.
15:46I've got some salt on it.
15:49Confusion around the orders, missed items,
15:52wasn't a relaxing, enjoyable breakfast.
15:54I think that's the worst scrambled egg I've ever had.
15:57Breakfast causing bother.
15:58The stay as a whole is next on the menu.
16:01The build-up to all of this was interesting, wasn't it?
16:05They alluded to the highest of standards.
16:08The delivery doesn't seem to match that.
16:10No.
16:10No.
16:11They were saying work in progress,
16:12but a bit earlier work in progress.
16:14I think maybe the journey is yet to begin.
16:16It's got so much potential, the place.
16:18The surroundings are beautiful.
16:19They need to have the fundamentals right.
16:21I will close this and get it to a level
16:24and then reopen properly.
16:27Breakfast under their belts.
16:29It's time for the guests
16:30to fill out their anonymous feedback forms.
16:32Let's have a look.
16:34How were your hosts?
16:35Approachable, friendly and helpful.
16:38At ten.
16:39How clean was Northrop Hall Country House Hotel?
16:43Windows were dirty on the outside.
16:46The bathroom was filthy.
16:47Bath and the walls were full of hairs and dirt
16:50and the wardrobe unusable.
16:51I think it's got to be a four.
16:53Yeah.
16:54Mostly clean with some maintenance issues.
16:58Dirty shower tray.
17:00It was an extremely dirty shower drain.
17:03I'm going to give them a six.
17:05How were the facilities?
17:07Love the four-poster bed and beautiful view.
17:12Bathroom is small and the shower panel loose.
17:16Exposed pipes.
17:17What do you think of the facilities?
17:19Seven.
17:19Yeah.
17:20It felt modern and bright in the room.
17:23Yeah.
17:23A lot of the outside areas feel quite unkempt.
17:25Overall, the workmanship was quite poor.
17:28An extractor fan hanging off ceiling.
17:30Let's say six.
17:31Six.
17:32How did you sleep?
17:34Firmous mattress.
17:35I've slept on.
17:37Bouncy pillow.
17:39Resulted in a very poor sleep.
17:42Blacker curtains should be a bit higher.
17:44Light is leaking in through the top.
17:46A four.
17:48Good night's sleep.
17:50Squeaky and creaking bed.
17:52Although, the bed itself, comfortable.
17:55I'd go nine.
17:56Okay.
17:58How was breakfast?
17:59Items missing from plate.
18:02Eggs incorrect and then overcooked.
18:06Eggshell in the scrambled egg.
18:08Chaotic, not a relaxing experience.
18:11A four.
18:12Okay.
18:14The scrambled egg was pretty much inedible.
18:17Tea was lukewarm.
18:19Coffee was light.
18:20Eggshell in the eggs.
18:22Four.
18:23Yeah, four.
18:24So, we've got one final question to answer.
18:27Would you stay here again?
18:28It's a no from me.
18:30I'm going to have to say a no.
18:33It's a no from me, I'm afraid.
18:34Yeah.
18:36Now, the guests must pay what they think their stay was worth.
18:39I think this feels about right.
18:41Well, the cash will be kept secret until the end of the competition.
18:44But for now, Fritha and Justin can see if the guests had a bowl at Northup Hall.
18:49Let's do it.
18:50How were the facilities?
18:51We got a seven.
18:53Okay.
18:54Love the four poster bed and beautiful view.
18:56Amazing.
18:57Small bathroom.
18:58To be fair, for the size of the room, the bathroom is small.
19:01Shower panel loose.
19:02We'll have to get someone up to have a look at that.
19:05Exposed pipes.
19:06Again, we'll take a look at that.
19:08So, how did you sleep?
19:09Nine.
19:10I'm happy with that.
19:11Yes.
19:11Good night's sleep.
19:13Squeaky and creaking bed, but comfortable.
19:15It's an old bed.
19:16How was breakfast for?
19:19Okay.
19:20Disappointing scrambled egg.
19:22Do we ask how people would maybe like their scrambled egg?
19:25Tea lukewarm.
19:26Coffee late.
19:27Egg shelling eggs.
19:28There just needs to be a training day in the kitchen.
19:31See you soon.
19:33Bye.
19:34Will this stay again?
19:36No.
19:37Okay.
19:38I think the breakfast has let her down a little bit.
19:40On to the next.
19:41How were your hosts at Northup Hall Country House Hotel?
19:45Ten.
19:45Wow.
19:46Yay!
19:47Approachable, friendly and helpful.
19:50I'm happy with that.
19:51How clean was Northup Hall Country House Hotel?
19:53Six.
19:54Okay.
19:55Mostly clean, with some maintenance issues.
19:59Dirty shower tray.
20:01I wouldn't say it's dirty.
20:02I would say stained, because it's an old one.
20:05Extremely dirty shower drain.
20:07You've got to have your shower drains in your cleaning checklist.
20:10How did you sleep?
20:11And it's a four.
20:12Whoa.
20:13Firmest mattress I've slept on, along with bouncy pillows,
20:16resulted in a very poor sleep.
20:18Unless people state what mattresses they want, we don't know.
20:22Yeah.
20:23Blackout curtains should be higher, and there's a light bleed at the top.
20:26Fair comment.
20:27We can get someone on that pretty quickly.
20:29See you again soon, thank you.
20:30See you soon.
20:33Would you stay here again?
20:35No.
20:36It's early days for us.
20:37Two down, one to go.
20:38Let's go.
20:39How clean was North at Paul Country House Hotel?
20:42We got a four.
20:43That's not fair.
20:44Windows dirty outside.
20:46Fully aware of the windows, just trying to source that contractor.
20:49Bathroom filthy.
20:51Bath and walls full of hairs and dirt.
20:55Assuming this would be Sean and Sarah.
20:57We cleaned it.
20:58If it was that much of a bigger deal, they should have asked to change rooms.
21:02Yeah.
21:02Wardrobe unusable.
21:04I'm not sure why it would be unusable.
21:07How were the facilities?
21:08We've got a six.
21:10Okay.
21:10Felt modern and bright in room.
21:13Okay, that's a positive.
21:14Yeah.
21:15Outside areas unkempt.
21:17Workmanship poor quality.
21:19We're at the beginning of our journey.
21:20We've inherited the building.
21:22I'm only just warming up.
21:23Extractor fan hanging off ceiling.
21:26Not reported so couldn't be resolved.
21:30How was breakfast for?
21:32This one surprised me actually.
21:34Items missing from plate.
21:36Tomatoes.
21:37The chef just missed out.
21:38Eggs incorrect and then overcooked.
21:41Eggshell and scrambled egg.
21:42Again, training.
21:44Chaotic and not a relaxing experience.
21:47Yeah.
21:47Everything in this hotel is a work in progress.
21:49Yeah.
21:50Bye guys.
21:52See you guys.
21:54I think we both know the answer to this one.
21:57No.
22:00We know we are value for money.
22:02We know we are.
22:03So an underpayment is a personal dig more than a justified underpayment.
22:08Yeah.
22:10Hospitality's hottest competition is about to hit this week's crescendo.
22:15It's the final showdown.
22:16As bills are paid.
22:18I don't know how to respond to that mate.
22:20And scores settled.
22:22You seem to be quite unlucky at all the places you stayed at.
22:26The cleanliness and facilities issues were significant.
22:29So I think it was absolutely fair.
22:31By the way.
22:37Hello.
22:45Hello.
22:51Hello.
22:52Hello.
22:55Hello.
22:56Hello remote.
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