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2025: General Discussion

Personally, I would absolutely say that I would prefer a Premier Inn breakfast to that of the Alton Towers hotels currently. Admittedly, you pay separately for Premier Inn breakfast whereas you don’t pay for Alton Towers breakfast, but I would say that the choice is typically a lot wider at Premier Inn.

I agree that the hotels aren’t as horrific as they’re often made out to be, but having been to mainland Europe in the last few years, I think they fall quite considerably short of the hotel offerings in parks out there, particularly given the price point Alton Towers charges. Europa Park’s Hotel Castillo Alcazar was absolutely stunning and leagues ahead in almost every sense, and PortAventura’s Hotel Gold River was also absolutely stunning and leagues ahead in almost every sense despite being reasonably cheap compared to the Alton Towers and Europa Park hotels.
 
On the topic of hotel sausages - a good pal of mine is an accountant in the HO of a smallish hotel chain, and he once told me the biggest procurement decision was sausage supplier.

In quantity, huge savings can be made when compromising sausage quality - but it’s also one of the major feedback points from guests.

As a nation, we’ll forgive a lot. But not poor sausages, lumpy beds and pubes on parade.
 
Benzin said:
Chessie's main hotel was initially run by Holiday Inn.

Shows how it all works in cycles.
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As I understand it, DIC who took over Tussauds from Charterhouse had a pre-existing relationship with IHG.

It's a minor point - but the hotel was not run by Holiday Inn, it was run *as* as Holiday Inn according to the brand standards set by IHG. I can't remember who it was running the hotel, I think it was the hotel-operating arm of DIC. Indeed there was talk at the time that when the Alton Towers hotels were due for refurb they'd probably end up adopting an IHG symbol.

IHG don't run many hotels themselves.
 
The
Leigh said:
After attempting to consume an Aramark “sausage” last year at breakfast in Secret Garden, I can say Premier Inn is significantly better in the sense that their food can actually be considered food.
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I didn't notice much difference in quality between my breakfast at Secret Garden in 2019 and 2024. The ingrediants seemed to be the same really, down to the syrups provided for pancakes being Brakes (major catering supplier) own brand.

The issue is the variety I think, although 2024 had a better fruit selection than 2019. But still just a bit lacking in little things like jam/spreads and the extras that make it feel like a "hotel breakfast".
 
I had the hotel sausages last September and found them fine. I think a lot of it is down to how long they've been under the heat lights. Maybe I was lucky and got a freshly cooked batch.

I've had worse with Asda's 20pk frozen ones last year - they weren't their own brand but some name I've never heard of - I think it was a stop-gap as their own-brand ones now are much better.
 
So I spent some time at the Feb half term event yesterday, it’s very much the same as last year (with added spinball), but it’s clear there has definitely been some cuts compared to previous years. The treasure hunt is pretty much identical to last year, same quests, clues etc. the two shows are also identical with no changes at all.

However the biggest cut is the prize for the quest, last year you got a branded pen to complete the treasure hunt, this year you don’t with only the actor having a pen, then you have the prizes which have been cut. Last year you got a tote bag, coin, key ring and a selection of chocolate bars:
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This year you get a coin, a chocolate bar and a mini bag of sweets:
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The event is fine for what it is, but it’s a shame that nothing has changed, and I’m guessing that is probably based on the cuts which are coming soon to ents. It also felt a lot busier than last years event when I visited.
 
djtruefitt said:
So I spent some time at the Feb half term event yesterday, it’s very much the same as last year (with added spinball), but it’s clear there has definitely been some cuts compared to previous years. The treasure hunt is pretty much identical to last year, same quests, clues etc. the two shows are also identical with no changes at all.
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In fairness something being the same as before isn’t a cut and the addition of Spinball makes it an improvement.

I’m not sure it’s a reasonable expectation for small scale events to be changed every year either. If something worked and was well received then I can understand them wanting to use it again (though I can’t speak for either of those requirements being true), especially when the target audience are more likely to either not remember or not experience it annually.
 
It’s certainly not catered for people like me but from watching a couple of vlogs, if you’re of a certain age and throw yourself into it (eg watch the shows, do the treasure hunt) then it’s a good offering and combined with rides makes for a full day.

A good event and watching the vlogs really highlights the quality, professionalism and enthusiasm of the ents team. They should be treated as Towers’ MVPs not the first ones out of the door.
 
The Hospitality tent has had some new signs and now fits in with the other things in that area that have had a similar change in style like the vending machine huts and the snack huts

1739832372126.png

Construction noises coming from Katanga Canyon, with a skip outside in the car park and new wooden posts on pallets near by:


From: https://youtu.be/LXP8BREkXGo?si=kJ19JVwL7J9ela8P&t=147

And it looks like Blade has gone:

1739832895246.png
 
John said:
Translation: "we've fired most of our cleaners, so rather than having a fixed cleaning rota we're asking our guests to let us know which toilets the one guy we kept on should head to next"
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Still don’t know whether the entrance plaza toilets at the end of the day, or the random porta kabin at Chessington entrance, are the worst.

Both pale into insignificance compared to any Costa toilet though.

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Toilets aside I guess targeted/spot cleaning is a good idea as long as they are prompt at responding and don’t just sit on reports until the end of the day. Nothing worse in summertime than full bins and the associated wasps everywhere. Especially in the queue lines.
 
James said:
Ideally though, there should not be full bins or dirty toilets regularly that customers are required to report. There should be regular schedules in place to prevent this.
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To be fair I think most of the ones in the parks were good, just the queues got quite full as they wouldnt be emptied untill the end of the day
 
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