Entertainment in ATH has reduced a lot over the years. In the 90s there was 'The Magic Makers', Alton Towers answer to the Red Coats. They would do a mini disco with kids, arts and crafts around the ship and do their own show with singing and dancing. In later years you had Dickie Hart and Tanya Hyde, more of a cabaret and drag act. Tanya was the manageress of the Alton Towers Hotel and usually started off the night stumbling down the stairs falling on to a poor soul at the bottom of the stairs (usually an attractive man). Then you had Pirate Bill the children's entertainer who was there for an eternity, I felt his act got a bit dated in the later years before he retired but he was brilliant, very friendly person.
There were a few different forms of entertainment thrown in-between these, my memory gets a bit more vague as the years go on. In the 90s there was a heavy focus on characters and them having links to the hotel, whether it was the hotel manageress, or the hotel gardener, the magic makers that 'make' the Alton Towers Magic...
In more recent years as
@siralgenon has pointed out the hotel had a full piece band which really added a great atmosphere. The hotel never had lighting rigs and these appeared around the time entertainment stepped up a notch with the band, which added a lot more of an atmosphere.
The singers these days are by no means appalling, however there has been a huge drop in what the hotel offers in terms of entertainment. Much like the theme park it was at the forefront in the 90s, not so much now.
They've experimented with a band performing in the Conference Centre in the past and I think that was a good way forward for alleviating the noise complaints in ATH. I'm surprised they haven't given that another go in more recent years given we now have the Enchanted Village, as it could suit as a good central base for entertainment in the evenings. All they need to do is advertise heavily throughout the accommodation. This idea would of course be best for school holidays and peak periods only.
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The single file queue for Dragon Bar is always odd. I've never found service great/quick, even in the glory days. I wonder whether people perceive the service as worse due to the removal of table service.
Table service disappeared around the early 2000s. My most recent memory of it existing was in 2004/05. Having drinks (and snacks!) brought to the table was great and it's a huge shame this service no longer exists.
I think the breakfast setup as works now is OK. It's usually peak time around 8-8:30 where you have to queue. I always go the minute it opens, no queue and the majority of the time staff leave you to sit where you please. While breakfast has improved slowly in recent years (2019 was mildly better) I do miss how much better it was. Many moons ago breakfast would change every single year, one year you would get fresh ground coffee or a pot of tea brought to your table, one year you would get a platter of hot pastries and bakes, and one year they brought all hot food on a stand (sausages, egg, bacon, mushrooms and beans) and you wouldn't need to leave the table at all. That last one season!