A hotelier who ran an “awful” guesthouse has been dubbed a real-life Basil Fawlty by a judge, after he clashed with customers over grotty rooms.
John Dixon Hart, 60, wrongly claimed rooms at Minster Garth Guest House, in Beverley, Yorkshire, were either three-star or four-stars, and posted misleading photos of the premises online.
Hull Crown Court also heard that between 2021 and 2022, customers staying at the Beverley hotel lodged complaints that the bedrooms were “shabby”, had stained bedding, and smelled of tobacco.
Dead insects and animal droppings were also allegedly found inside the rooms, whilst other complaints included a missing door handle, “threadbare” carpets, and a broken shower curtain.
A hotelier was dubbed a real-life Basil Fawlty by a judge after misleading customers over grotty rooms in his Yorkshire Hotel
Flickr/Google Street View
Those who complained were met with verbal abuse by Hart, who berated them for expecting “the world” for £40-a-night.
One woman said that Hart has called her a “c***”, whilst another claimed she was called a “f***ing letch” and a “sponger” by the 60-year-old.
He was taken to court by Trading Standards for falsely advertising the 13-bed establishment as a four-star property, posting on popular websites such as Expedia, LateRooms and Booking.com to attract customers.
Judge Mark Bury likened him to Basil Fawlty, John’s Cleese’s famously rude hotel owner in Fawlty Towers, and said that he was “absolutely staggered” that there were any guests whatsoever.
YORKSHIRE LATEST:
The judge likened him to Basil Fawlty, John’s Cleese’s famously rude hotel owner in Fawlty Towers
Flickr
Branding the Grade II listed building a “dump”, Bury said that the hotel did not even merit a one star rating due to the appalling conditions.
Bury said: “I have heard how you treated guests. I’m absolutely staggered you had any.
“I wouldn’t even have dreamed of staying in a guest house like that.
“The idea is that you get back on your feet and run this guest house as it should be and not as Basil Fawlty.”
Michele Stuart-Lofthouse, prosecuting, said one guest recalled they had “no option but to go into town and buy cleaning products themselves ‘given the smell and how awful the room was'".
She added: “There was a bin with all the previous occupants’ rubbish in it.”
He was taken to court by Trading Standards for falsely advertising the 13-bed establishment
Wikimedia Commons
Hart admitted that he had been impolite to guests, blaming heavy drinking for his poor behaviour.
“In the evening, I was in the habit of drinking quite a few vodka and cokes and that worsened my behaviour towards guests,” he told the court.
“We have got 12 or 13 rooms and, if people are all turning up at the same time and demanding attention, it can all get a bit fraught,” he added.
He was given a nine-month suspended sentence and ordered to pay £729 in compensation to eight vexed customers.
Bury concluded by stating that it was a “shocking set of circumstances” and told Hart: “Do not go to the off-licence and buy vodka. All I can do is wish you the best of luck with it.”
