
6 x 60' for Five
Alex Polizzi returns for a third time as The Hotel Inspector in Five's well established format. Her mission is to give the owners the tools to turn their businesses around and make their hotels places that their customers will enjoy and return to. Alex, the granddaughter of the late Lord Forte and niece of Sir Rocco Forte and who runs the award-winning Hotel Endsleigh in Devon has been travelling all over the country for the sixth series.
She starts with the three star Astor Hotel in Plymouth which is struggling in the face of stiff competition from a plethora of chain hotels that have moved into the city. The 62 bedroom hotel has been described by web reviewers as ‘urgently needing the help of the Hotel Inspector’ but when Polizzi tries to ride to its rescue she discovers the proud Persian owner is reluctant to accept criticism of his beloved hotel.
Artist Residence in Brighton is the brainwave of 21-year-old student Justin Salisbury who has staffed his uniquely decorated B&B with up-and-coming young artists. But it’s far from the boutique experience the website promises and has been described as the worst hotel in Brighton. Polizzi thinks it’s more suitable for ‘teenage runaways’ and wants Justin to ‘grow balls’ as he’s disrespecting both his guests and the art.
The Rutland Arms Hotel in Bakewell is situated on the foot of the Peak District National Park and has been owned for the last 12 years by eccentric ex-solicitor David Donegan. However the 35 bedroom hotel is far from a perfect picture postcard. Polizzi is astonished to find a hotel with no manager, a pitiful room rate and an owner who would rather clean 'bogs' than manage his staff. Although David has sunk £750,000 pounds into the business the hotel is yet to make a bean. Alex faces an uphill challenge if she's to turn the fortunes of the Rutland Arms around.
The Sandygate Hotel near Rotherham has a pitiful occupancy rate, but it’s 6ft 6in Elvis loving chef and owner seems more interested in his restaurant than his rooms, and when Polizzi tries to ring the changes in the kitchen she comes up against stiff resistance.
Windsors in Chertsey is a bistro/wine bar with six bedrooms which its owner and former air hostess Melanie White insists as marketing as a hotel. But after 20 years at the helm Mel has become jaded and has developed an aversion to guests, particularly complaining Americans and ‘short, bald northerners’. With the business in dire straits Mel has called in the Hotel Inspector, but when her taste is called into question she begins to have second thoughts.
Historic Kingston House in the rolling Devon countryside, offers five star luxury accommodation. Owners Michael and Elizabeth Corfield gambled on a costly Conference Centre. But it's not paying its way and last year the business made a loss. Now in their late 70's, the Corfields were hoping for an easier life. Right now it's anything but. When the Hotel Inspector comes to the rescue, the Corfields struggle with her criticism and Alex discovers it’s tough to teach two old dogs new tricks.
22 July 2010
On Five
“...a hilarious and often cringe making new series” TV Times
OK! *****
“...a hilarious and often cringe making new series” TV Times
“...an entertaining, frustrating battle of wills” Radio Times
“You know you are being entertained when find yourself shaking your head at a television screen.” Daily Mail
“Alex Polizzi is to hotels what Mary Portas is to shops.” The Mirror
“...you couldn’t have written a more entertaining creature for a fix-it show” Radio Times
Putul Verma
Executive producers:
Neil Edwards and Melanie Leach

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