A Very British Hotel - Episode 3
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- čas přidán 24. 06. 2024
- The final part of this three part documentary from Oxford Scientific Films showing the luxury Mandarin Oriental Hotel situated in Hyde Park & Knightsbridge of London. In the final instalment, we see some of the familiar faces at the hotel, get to go behind the scenes at a book launch for a famous author and also see how much items will go for at auction before the hotel is prepared to be renovated. The final episode was broadcast on channel 4 on Thursday March 16th at 9pm.
- Zábava
I need to steal Francois' "Thank you, I'm always wonderful" response when someone asks how I am.
Yes, I will be using this at work; as I wok on the phones and a front desk-type position. I learned a lot from watching Franscois.
Guests should be charged for the carpets, shocking that people would treat a room like that with such disrespect. It is shocking how little the staff are being paid considering how much they charge for the rooms.
Rich bastards and treat staff like 2nd best. F right off to them
Any one of US will be charged for it .
you do realize with the amount they pay for the rooms they deserve to what they like if i was paying that money i wouldent care about recking the carpet
and the staff get paid an insane amount compared to a hotel its over a grand a month when the national avergage is about 600 to 800 so stop acting like you know what your talkng about
@@jimmyormerod4075it is a hotel ?
Good! I'm glad they charged those inconsiderate guests the £10,000+ for having ruined the carpeting. Just because people have money (usually new money), it doesn't mean that they can act like barbarians and inconvenience people.
The way the smile fell off that guy's face looking at the child! 😆😆😆
I googled Francois. He seems to have changed jobs and now seems to work for Chanel. The new child friendly policies were probably a factor.
Francois Xavier somehow manages to be obsequious yet condescending at the same time !
He's a pompous ass !
That's the French way...
he's French, what do you expect?
Exactly
Perfectly spotted and described 😉
It's a certain type of French stereotype.
But I know some lovely French Canadians who aren't like this at all.
OTOH Parisians often look down on 'people from the colonies'
( as do some insufferable Brits)
Uriah Heep
François could have his own show. He is amazing!
I am in love with that man ......His personality is truly French and he glows !
Amusing seeing everyone studiously not saying what they really think about having the damn children there.
Bravo! My thoughts exactly.
Many of the staff (not all obviously) in hotel's like this are basically actors. How do money' wealthy people know if people truly like them? Not a nice world really.
Need child-free hotels.
My son would get his ears blistered if he created a horrendous mess or broke something!! AND I would offer to pay for the damage 😡 His iPad would be confiscated and I would NOT be stopping there..
Is your son circumcised?
Being a gentlemen or a lady has nothing to do with richness and that is quite obvious from what we saw in the footage.
Yep
The entire staff of that hotel, are incredible. Although, I do not have the privilege of ever affording a stay at the Mandarin. I would be so happy to spend time with the staff. The concierge alone, sold me on the experience. I will now be using the expression "I wish you the most pleasant afternoon." Ah, so wonderful!
The delightful Francois Xavier! So charming and well mannered and has such loyalty and regard for the hotel as well as being so courteous and helpful to the guests.
It's business though.. don't be fooled. If you've got ample money they'll gladly serve you
I binged watched all 3 episodes last night, this was fascinating. I loved the French Concierge, that man does his job with over the top Flair!!!
Too pretentious for me.
Yes, love him, he makes the whole experience.
Some amazing restraint with these employees dealing with spoiled children and their elitist, enabling parents!....
The only time i was staying in a Hotel as an Adult was in Budapest.
Great Hotel, very polite Hotelworkers. It was not a 5 star Hotel but i loved it.
Food was amazing! Houskeeping did their job very very well! Room was cleaned every day.
I did try to keep it in order as much as i could- shared it with a co worker. Was a Workplacetrip.
Left a tip and a Thank you note.
Also, don't leave Towles on the floor... after 3 day when i needed a new one, i left it on the sind with a note to please have a fresh one.
I got it and also some extra sweets on the Pillows.. next day i heard the workers talking in English( not all of them were local) that this room was the easiest to clean and that out of the group were were the most polite..
I felt bad that the others of the my group behaved badly. Yeah, it was a trip and someone gives you a service and you pay for it.. But that doesn't mean you are above them and it's ok to missbehave.
You used your towels for 3 days!
Loved reading this comment 🙂
I thought in Europe people don’t tip.
Thanks for uploading this. Loved the part where you took your Nan for tea. Hope you still work in the hotel.
“Thank you for asking, I’m always wonderful “ Love it !
He was dripping with insincerity IMV 😉
@@regant.cameron8237 Yes, I know
I really love these episodes!! I'd like to see more than just 3 though!! 🍯🍫🎂🍷💃🎉🎋💄😎🌴
I have a feeling that the management are very nice to the customers but not necessarily to other employees. I think it must be a stressful and difficult place to work. Nevertheless the food looks delicious!
Snobbery at its finest!
It's the customers who are paying all the bills. The management have to ensure that the highest standards are maintained, to justify what they charge.
I wouldn’t want to work for Paul!
I'm rather disgusted that anyone would leave lovely hotel rooms in such deplorable condition. Garbage strewn all over the floor, ruined carpets; it is appalling. Clearly, some members of high society, have low class.
QM Their behaviour has little to do with their being middle easterners; people of all ethnicities and cultures can be pigs. There are low class wealthy people everywhere, my parents called them nouveau riche, Many nouveau riche have no respect for the hard work of domestic and service staff, so will act like this and where I grew up, they were looked down upon for that very reason: oafish, boorish upstarts who treated staff like garbage. Again though, you find that in any part of the world. Cheers.
Why are you attacking me? How old are you? I never called you names, nor was I really disagreeing with you that they were low class. It's called "a conversation", and in conversations people exchange information and thoughts. That's all my comment was; an exchange of thoughts. For you to come back with vehement vitriol directed at me, is absurd, but hey..I guess that's you.
Grow up, you're acting like something that just crawled out of the gutter.
Hilary C And there are some poor people who have very good manners. Maybe they don’t know all the right phrases, but they have gracious hospitality. And I’ve met wonderfully nice rich people, too.
The mother who did not properly supervise her child in the gym - she is so fortunate the child was not badly injured by broken glass.
In the Hampton Inn I’ve stayed in recently, children under 14 years old are not allowed in the gym.
Tina, of course there are. Good and bad in all walks of life. :)
Interesting series. I really felt for the girl in the kitchen. I think I'd be as sensitive as her starting off at such a job, and I'm a lot older than she is. Kudos to her for handling that type of stress. I think it would serve these hotels well if they paid some attention to teaching all employees how to speak to each other in a tactful and polite way under hectic conditions.
I just love Francoise and to hear all his lines at the front desk!!
Staff should be paid more if it's a good hotel.
Hotel staff have always been poorly paid
WOW....who is that doorman, the Olympic athlete ??? What a hunk !!
Ron Shapley
First episode. He was on track to be a successful athlete, but had to switch careers, because of an accident.
@obrbob194 forget what ???
Darvin Edwards
'Sank you so much for asking, am always wonderful,' this is such a great download
Wow I did enjoy the 3 episode! It's tough business to stay on top, but build great character and business. Xavier the concierge kind of guy you love to hate.....his special, even arrogant BUT you can count on him....and this is VALUABLE!
How is it a very British hotel, it’s own by an Arab Prince, most of the staff are from Eastern Europe and the majority of guests are foreign!
Ahh Mr Bentley.A true Gentleman. He was the first Dep.GM that I worked for as a Savoy Management trainee back in the 1970's. He was a great hotelier, but I am surprised that he is representing a chain hotel group. When I left to join Hilton Hotels, he refused to speak to me again. But I never lost respect for him. I am old and retired now, how he keeps going I'll never know, good luck to him.
Why would he refuse to speak to you?
@plumeria66 it wasn't done to leave to go to one of "those" hotels. Working for the Savoy group in those days was very sniffy, you had to have gone to the right School right family in those days. A different time different people and different rules.
Leaving I suppose was like jumping ship, a traitor.
@@chunkychinn I see.
Man, kids can do what they want now. When I stayed with my parents in 5 star hotels when I was below 10, we would have been scolded so much if we were to have stained carpets to the point that they had to pay for carpets to be changed.
I recently was checking into the MO in Kuala Lumpur for a staycation and this family had kids who were literally screaming and crawling all over the lobby with nothing from the parents. It’s such a disruption and fail of atmosphere for everyone else.
Children aren’t being taught respect for anyone or anything these days
It does make you wonder why the parents are not capable of teaching children good manners. Surely wealthy people can afford well trained nannies to instill good manners into their children if the parents are incapable of doing this themselves.
good decision of the front desk manager.
If somebody is stupid and can't look after the children they have to pay for changing the carpet.
And the broken mirror which was clearly a cry for attention by the neglected child because the mother was not engaging with her children while peddling.
Watched All three episodes right in a row..having worked housekeeping, Night Audit, Accounting in hotel industry..I understood so much and lol too.
A wonderfully directed, filmed and edited piece of current history! There is something so typically British about the hotel and, amazingly, the multinational staff; to stay here is to pay for an experience with all the nuances that are revealed in these three episodes!! Thank you!!
"Wha'd they call it? Trev - Fondu" Classic Londoner
Great show, I would love to see more episodes like that.
My niece and her husband stayed at a beautiful hotel in Paris for a few days. They took their 5 year old son with them who, in a few unguarded moments, took a crayon and drew on the wallpapered wall. Quite rightly, my niece was charged to repaper the damaged section… $3,000 (15 years ago) 🤪 I have a feeling they did the entire room.
great watch, all three!
Glad you enjoyed them, it was fantastic to be a part of it all
" Thank you, Sir! I wish you the most pleasant afternoon, EVER ! ..... Oh dearrr!! Oh dear!! " !!!!
even his colleague is like "
god, this is so embarrassing"
@@teleportedfunk lol I can relate worked before in a reception along an older gay guy was funny sometimes but mainly awkward specialy for Arabs as they are not used to see open homophobia
He's far more impressed with his queen act than anyone else is.
The best gift you can give children is respect and it’s free
What a wonderful series! Please keep making these episodes Channel 4! Absolutely love this series!
I just love Francoise the French concierge -straight out of the movies-he does a great job in playing the part and I’m sure he’s a guest favorite!
He is a rough top.
And people wonder why everyone hates the French!
This was A Very, very, Educational Video, Experience. All!!! THE STAFF OFTHE "GREAT MANDARIN HOTEL" ARE OVER THE TOP WONDERFUL, PROFESIONAL, KIND, COURTEOUS, MOST LOVING. 👏 BRILLIANT, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. I have Watched all (3) Episodes.
For me it was an HONOR to see the great citizens of the U.K ALWAYS GIVING THEIR VERY BEST, THEY ARE VERY RECILIANT. ALL MY LOVE, REVERENCE AND RESPECT TO EVERYONE IN THIS VIDEO. THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME SMILE.
SHALOM. ❤ ❤
The Frenchman is a real piece of work. Cynical and sarcastic. He doesn't like children.
Nobody in hospitality business likes children. Let´s be fair.
He doesn’t like anyone 😂 …and he knows we know that
He's a complete pita, don't like him at all
Paul is a task master who Cracks his whip.
Damn good at his job though. He ain't a nanny...
Casey seems so competent and ambitious for a 19yo pastry chef. I wonder what she's up to now.
That horse was so well behaved
And it was hung like one too 🤣🤣🤣
Much better behaved than some of the guests!
I could not stay there knowing that the kids are so out of control.
Everyone’s so genuinely kind and hospitable...
Handkerchiefs, empty bottles and all that trash on the floor, even if they know that someone is cleaning this mess up, this people have to spend their time -between the cleaning- living in the room. Who the hell enjoys living in a room surrounded by all that filth?
This was far from five star not to mention poor treatment of underpaid staff! Great location yes! Everything else was normal standard of hospitality and guest service. I felt particularly sad for the poor Pastry apprentice working below minimum wages.
dozdeshabb this is the reality of all pastry cooks all over the world and it's not just limited to London. Because she is working at such a prestigious hotel where so many people would die to enter, hence her pay is so low! It is just a supply and demand for the hotel. That's why many people drop out of being a chef after a few years when their passion fizzles out and money becomes a more pressing problem.
Pamela, I am a baker and Chef by trade. I began working in high end hotels at the start but have been self employed for most of my career. My wages then paid my expenses. I supported myself and my young family then. We stayed at the job and fought to keep it. Min wages at the entry level fast food , yes. As pastry department on a high end ? Good lock keeping good help!
Hi! I am a pastry chef by trade and have been for a few years working in various high end hotels, albeit from another side of the world. But sadly the wage levels for all low entry level chefs in hotels are this way. What they do exchange for, they exchange for in exposure and experience when the hotels do such luxurious events, year end bonuses which can amount to quite alot, additional hotel benefits and lastly and most importantly, future easily accessible job search to the whole world. Sadly, there are many who do not last after 3 months and drop out and we are left with too much chefs and not enough cooks.
Very good! A beautiful hotel with a wonderful staff.
Paid shit money beautiful my ars .
@@aculligan56234 lol if you say so, you must know!
I have so enjoyed this series.
This Hotel is my dream stay. No other 5 star Hotel in London excites me more than the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park. From the food, the fantastic service to the awesome staff. It should be rated 6 stars....
The name "Mandarin Oriental - Hyde Park" is too long. Morons!
Hardly the very best. Try Claridge's, The Connaught, The Berkeley, Duke's or Brown's. These are not chain Hotels like the Mandarin,but takes a person of some standing in society to understand this.Personally I hate chain Hotels and I don't like pretentious staff.
@@chunkychinn MOTEL 6 is the very best.
@@busterbiloxi3833 who? What? Motel??? You're in lala land
@@chunkychinn hahahahaha it was 5 years ago 😂 and yes since then well....... Claridge's or that Lanesborough?? That comes with butler's LoL.
The french concierge is a riot. Is he for real or is it an act?
hahahahahaah i like him though, he makes the documentary more exciting and fun
I hope to high-heavens he is legit! I would watch a show just following him around.
I wouldn't hire him regardless of what he pretends to be. A Gilette razor would be good for his looks.
He's playing a role and he knows it. Camp goes along way in reminding paying guests that they are having a good time. Of course he's over the top, he's supposed to be.
too gay to watch
I would never want anyone to jump at my every whim. They are still human beings just like myself and in that we are equal. They can still deliver service with high quality but they shouldn't have to do it the second i ask.
I can not comprehend ever... how some people can afford such luxury and on the other side people living in poverty and misery!!! Where is God's sense for justice
Why don't you find God and ask straight out?
I'm sure God would say work hard and go and get a job so they too can afford luxuries and stop blaming me... 🤔
Communism
they have no respect for the people who work there and 'clean up. how spoiled can u be? it's such a beautiful hotel. and I don't care who u r if u don't pay u don't stay
🎉I love this please keep adding more❣️
Enjoyed every minute.
Thank you Peggy! Make sure you watch episode 2, that's my episode!
Thank ypu sir and I wish you the most pleasant afternoon ever
"How brill!" - Love it.....and François Xavier - dapper, knowledgeable, inscrutable ❤
If one of my children decided to kick someone else's mirror and breaks it - you bet your arse I'd want to know about it! & his arse it going to pay for every damn cent!
As for the mother who was present and obviously knew what her child had done.... WTF!
What a great show! Wish there were more to view. Thanks for the upload.
Francois is hysterical...like a movie character. He seems like he really finds humanity in its entirety to be distasteful. Now, the balding putz in charge of the staff is verbally abusive to them. From the simpering, kowtowing and pretentiousness of certain staff and the self important guests, the lot make me happy to be an average joe! Surprised I didn’t recognize Bill Nighy as the narrator! He’s a favorite of mine.
He is being very rude. . no need for that. I worked in 5 star hotels. Our management treated everyone with respect. This fuking plonker wants a slap. He is lucky I'm not there
Francois looked liked he could cheerfully have stabbed those children, despite his feigned smile :-)
The concierge Francois is one of the hotel's longest serving staff, his courtesy and good manners, plus a wonderful French accent certainly show why that is.
I cannot understand why anyone would refer to him as pretentious, he is well spoken which maybe some people are not accustomed to and may find pretentious?
yeah Bill
Enjoyed!
Any more episodes?
Thanks for the ones you have uploaded
Listening to Francois reminds me so much of Lambert Wilson as the Merovingian in the Matrix movies. 😛
Thank you Paul for uploading, I am from the US and only recently got acquainted with London. Fascinating.
The kid that broke the mirror was most likely not a one off for him and the Mother should have known that. The parents should pay, the kid should be disciplined, but most likely he was given a treat and told not to feel "bad".
That's the modern way. Children never do anything wrong-if they are your own. It's the others that are imperfect.
That seemed to be one of the rare occasions Roman manned up and charged the guests for damage.
Watching this in 2020.
Loved it
Glad you enjoyed it! Hopefully you enjoy my episode too (episode 2)
It's so important that the Hotel charged parents, ill-mannered children must lern to respect private property and social rules in general.
Given that the parents have staff managing that amount of a hotel bill I doubt that any repercussions come to the children. Otherwise someone would have pulled the kids up early on
The duck dish is like half of an appetizer
Love love this documentary!
Cheers and Vivat for the employees as well the governor and director !
This series all 3 left me hungry for more. I also worked at a 5 star and then a over the top Country club. It was so real to revisit this via this film. Thank you! David Jenson westgate hotel San Diego Fairbanks country club Rancho Santa Fe ca.
The tackily dressed couple look like real life versions of the Wormwood parents from Mathilda. Yikes!
Yes, straight from Kentucky Fried Chicken!
I would stay there if I had unlimited money, I love that there is a level of excellence required by staff and I can appreciate that.
Bullshit. They need to stop that balding manager from being verbally abusive to the staff. . no need for that. And the uniform is that of a four star. Shit.
Army officers freed your country your ungrateful ol' bat
Why cant these people get a nanny or baby sitter to watch their darling offspring. Surely they can afford them.
I love that they have old style genteel 50's style phones at the concierge desk and that the desk is small and overly ornate, rather than high tech computer screens - I love it.
Ah, the lovely Paul O'Grady at Jilly Coopers book launch ❤
Francois Xavier needs to extend his grin to his eyes. This was especially evident when he dealt with the kids. It’s a big turn down when a parent sees a man give his child a dead smile that turns off with a blink. Either your heart is in it, or it’s not.
hi I've never been to the hotel but I look forward to someday being there
People who don't corral their kids shouldn't be allowed to bring the kids. Having money does NOT give you permission to let the little shits run wild in a fine hotel. Teach them manners and good behavior. My parents had no money, but my Dad was Navy and my mom was a teacher. My brother and I were taught discipline and manners. If we broke something or stained a rug, we would have been hung up by the ankles.
Sandra Nelson
I think you are a rude lady..
Also some one from very poor family..
And doesn’t matter who ur parents were they were rude n cruel as well..
Peace Lover what's wrong with you? Sandra was NOT rude in any way. She's absolutely correct.
Do you consider good manners calling people (children) " the little s....s" ?!!!
The 'ambassador's' shirt reminds me of a chintz tablecloth.
Pretentious!
@@jeanlind7540 Yes he is a bit.
françois has the most fake friendly smile :D i love it
This has helped me realize I'm against 5 stars hotels.
Being a foodie from way back...I wouldn't eat anything that I have seen there for consumption except perhaps the scones with double cream and then they better be all butter ( preferably grass fed cows) and strawberry jam at least as good as a strawberry jam made with fletcher strawberries....
Jilly Cooper: Queen of the Vulgarians!
Francois Xavier now works for Chanel in Client Experience-the perfect job for him!
Are you serious?
Very British with a Frog on the desk
The Frenchman should forever be known as the Chief Brownnoser...
After you've eaten dinner.You need to go out and find Fish Chips and mushy peas !! With a side dish of curry sauce.The food of the Gods !!
It's a wonder that there's a sea bass left in the world
Francois Xavier and Michel Girard from Gilmore Girls.....twin brothers by different mothers.....Monsieur Xavier would be worth a visit
As part of the high end hospitality industry for over 20 years, I now find that parents expect all professionals especially teachers to parent the children. Hello???!!!$$$
"People jumping at your whim..." (THAT isn't what good service is about, Lady..) xx SF
17,000 per year for a pastry chef is unacceptable. Even a beginning one. Britian and the hotel are still in the dark ages of class society when it comes to any sort of living wages. I hope they choke on their "scones."
Imagine, some are paying that a night just for a room
Well first of all. That was FIVE years ago. Things have changed. Might be best before you struggle to climb onto your soapbox and attempt to give some one that one piece of your mind you do some actual research.
As for your "I hope they choke on their "scones." comment. I see the only class you achieved was during school.
Give me a Travlelodge any day
Must be hard saving even for that on your salary🤣🤣🤣🤣
I found it hilarious when he said " oh he is si British, the suit his style". The gentleman in question lives in Venice and had knly just said that his suit was Italian. Of course it is. No one has more class than Italians !!! Thats why they are world famous.
Of course you should charge to replace the carpet, these were not accidents.
If I could afford to stay in a place like this, I'm not sure I would want to handle the egos. I'd rather stay at a 3 star hotel and not be faced with snobs everywhere.
Thx Paul 😁😁😁😁
Your Nan was adorable! 😁
Admit it, Francois-Xavier is adorable.