Dear Julian,

We are writing to you to express our grave concern over the handling and performance of Britannia Hotels.

Every year the consumer group Which? asks members and the general public to complete an online survey about their experience staying in different hotel chains over the past 12 months. The results from this annual survey are then used to determine the best and worst hotel chain in the UK.

While the competition is fierce, Britannia Hotels has languished in last place for the past eight years, even losing percentage points on its rating and getting worse with each year that passes.

The Britannia hotel chain prides itself on "affordable accommodation in the best locations". Indeed, some of what were Britain's grandest seaside and city hotels are part of its 61-hotel portfolio.

But that is all that can really be said positively about the hotel chain. Upon further investigation of the countless write-ups and individual reviews from over the years, Britannia hotels are in a truly dilapidated state.

Guests have complained of faeces in the bath; discarded condoms on the floors of rooms; insomnia inducing late-night noises; broken and malfunctioning equipment; rude staff; witnessing drug taking; brawling amongst guests; disgusting smells; dodgy heating; dust, hairs, cobwebs and dirty appliances; bloody handprints; and neglected décor in need of repair.

Furthermore, whistle-blowers have reported of discrimination by Britannia Hotels towards particular sections of our society, including those of Irish heritage, by producing “undesirable guests” lists and being asked to decline to provide its services to guests of a certain race or ethnic group, which according to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) showed the hotel chain to have "directly discriminating on the basis of race" and breached the 2010 Equality Act.

For the past eight years, the Britannia hotel chain has been running the industry into the ground. The fact this has been allowed to continue for so long is nothing short of a scandal. Even prior to hitting rock- bottom nearly a decade ago it appears the chain was going through a managed decline.




The impact is now damaging the prospects of towns and cities, especially in the North where the majority of this chain is located – in places like Southport, Scarborough, Bournemouth and Blackpool. Equally bad are Pontins holiday parks which are also part of the Britannia group and are located in North Wales, Somerset, Suffolk and Sussex. Many of these locations have economies reliant on hospitality and tourism and trade on a positive reputation.

Based on the dire experiences, the people who left the reviews are much less likely to return, and based on these dire reviews, people are actively choosing not to visit. Both previous and potential customers have a lasting bad impression of the area. With the hotel chain clearly doing nothing to build back its reputation over the last eight years at least, they are now actively playing a role in discouraging people to visit our towns and cities and the region – either to holiday, work, visit family and friends, or enjoy themselves.

The result is that they are a blight on our local economy and the sectors that have a relationship with them - from theatre and our high streets to restaurants and large national sporting events. Over the near decade, millions of pounds have been lost in potential revenue across our region due to this hotel chain.

I am sure you would agree that this situation is unacceptable, not least from a hygiene risk perspective, and you will be appreciative of the damaging effect this hotel chain is having on our local and regional economy. We believe the threshold has been met for your committee to perform an inquiry into the chain to establish the facts of what is going so drastically wrong, with a view to implementing a route to bring this chain back on track.

We need to build back better from this pandemic, especially in hospitality and tourism. Successful and attractive hotels – whether they are budget or luxury – can be the heart of a local economy. They are crucial in attracting business to a local area, providing jobs and building a strong regional reputation. In some of our towns and cities, hotels are a part of their local identity.

We cannot sit by another year for Which? to predictably name this chain the worst in the UK again. Yours sincerely,





Damien Moore MP

Rt Hon. Conor Burns MP William Wragg MP
Rt Hon. Robert Goodwill MP Jonathan Gullis MP
Dr James Davies MP Andrew Lewer MP
Richard Holden MP Jack Brereton MP
Michael Fabricant MP

State intervention in free market capitalism?
If Damien succeeds in hounding out Brittannia does he have alternative buyers lined up or will we end up with 3 empty hotels, fewer visitors and more people out of work?

Hopefully Damien is successful and we get rid of Brittania

It is very hard to have sympathy with people who go on Which, Trip Advisor, etc to complain only after booking and paying for a Brittania stay instead of looking at the sites before.

Clearly, as the chain is managing to expand in very difficult times they are mining a rich seam of fools and people who are content with their offerings.

The physical condition of the buildings is visibly dire.

Originally Posted by salus.populi

State intervention in free market capitalism?
If Damien succeeds in hounding out Brittannia does he have alternative buyers lined up or will we end up with 3 empty hotels, fewer visitors and more people out of work?

Empty hotels I'm sorry to say, are preferable rather than any hotel rwned by this chain. Look at the Scarisbrick and Prince of Wales not exactly inviting are they.

Originally Posted by hja

Empty hotels I'm sorry to say, are preferable rather than any hotel rwned by this chain. Look at the Scarisbrick and Prince of Wales not exactly inviting are they.

No they're not inviting but they obviously have a market for customers.
If they close down and remain empty don't complain when the knock on effect is more shops, bars and restaurants also closing as visitor numbers to the town decline.
We'd all prefer a better quality hotel operator but obviously none of them were interested.

Perhaps their "Customers" are not knowingly choosing Britannia hotels as you see a lot of coaches pulling up in Eastbank Square and travellers towing suitcases behind them across to the Scarisbrick, the Holiday company may have a deal with them so as to maximise their revenue as surely no one has a repeat coach trip with them.

When you think that the once impressive Prince of Wales was one of the Premier Hotels in the North West and lots of celebrity guests stayed there at Grand National/Open Golf times.

Perhaps they should film I'm a celebrity at one of them.

I can't imagine what laws they would use to prevent Britannia from buying hotels. We live in a free market and if people want to book into their hotels then that is up to them. They have won the award as the worst hotel chain for many years and yet their profits rise year on year.