Quality in Tourism Visit Report Guest Accommodation Standard The Ramblers Rest Millington êêêê Guest Accommodation 85% Silver Award, Breakfast Award Visit date: Visit type: QiT No: 03 Dec 2015 Day 600006 The Ramblers Rest 1
Exterior Buildings, paintwork, signage and hanging baskets etc 4 Grounds, gardens and frontage 4 Car parking 4 All Public Areas Stairs, corridors, landings and public WC 4 Dining Room or Restaurant Decoration 5 Furniture, fittings and furnishings 4 Flooring 5 Lighting, heating and ventilation 4 Table appointment 4 Space, comfort and ease of use 4 86% Bedrooms Decoration 4 Furniture, fittings and furnishings 4 Flooring 4 Beds and bedding 5 Lighting, heating and ventilation 5 Bedroom accessories 4 Space, comfort and ease of use 5 88% Bathrooms Decoration 4 Sanitary ware, fixtures and fittings 4 Flooring 4 Lighting, heating and ventilation 4 Towels and toiletries 4 Space, comfort ease of use 4 Cleanliness Public areas 5 Dining room 5 Bedroom 5 Bathroom 5 100% Hospitality and Friendliness Booking and arrival hospitality 4 Hospitality on departure 4 Other hospitality (inc. dinner where provided) 3 Breakfast hospitality and friendliness 5 Service and Efficiency Booking and arrival service 4 Service on departure 4 Other service (inc. dinner where provided) 3 Breakfast service 4 75% Food Quality Breakfast choice / range 4 Breakfast presentation (inc. buffet) 5 Breakfast quality / culinary skills 5 93% 85% Key s and Sectional Consistencies Overall 85% = Level 5; (85% to 100%) Cleanliness 100% = Level 5; (90% to 100%) Bedrooms 88% = Level 5; (85% to 100%) Bathrooms = Level 4; (70% to 84%) Hospitality = Level 4; (75% to 89%) Breakfast 93% = Level 5; (85% to 100%) In order to achieve a star rating the following elements of the assessment need to be satisfied. 1. All Minimum Entry Requirements must be met. (See Minimum Entry Requirement page in this report for detail) 2. The Star rating will be no higher than the level achieved by the overall percentage. 3. Key Area s: All sectional consistency areas must be equal to or higher than the overall rating (No areas to be below the overall) 4. The Star rating will be capped if Key Requirements are not met at each rating level. The Ramblers Rest 2
Executive Summary Overview The Ramblers Rest continues to achieve a Four Star Guest Accommodation rating, and the Silver Accolade and Breakfast Award are continued for a further year. The property sits comfortably in the banding, and where facilities have been enhanced this year, scores have improved. The outside of the property and signage continue to be attractive, and parking is well provided just outside the accommodation on a very good surface. As discussed, the tea shop needs a carbon monoxide detector, as this area has an open fire. The owners continue to be pleased with the rating and the accolades, and are not looking for a higher rating. Items needing attention at the last assessment have all been completed, and Zoe Nesom, the owner was available for the debrief Rooms Seen (4 Rooms) Rooms 1 to 4 were seen with the owner Zoe. Website Feedback The web site was located on the first page of google looking for accommodation in Millington. Also found on the first page, using the name of the accommodation and the web site details. The web site is easy to use, attractive, and information is very accurate. VisitEngland logo and Breakfast Award are well positioned, but suggest the Silver Logo is considered. Also consider adding the wi fi logo, as guests are now looking for this, rather than words. Also consider adding a locator to the heading to further enhance the search facility on google, as discussed. New VisitEngland signage will be sent by e mail. Blog page well used and up to date. Consider adding the access statement as a pdf. Very good links to places of interest, but the John Bull did not open. The web site is not mobile friendly and this needs attention. Cleanliness/Housekeeping The cleanliness of the bedrooms and bathrooms continue to offer an excellent level of cleaning. Chrome and mirrors sparkle. Bathroom floors and walls offer excellent presentation. Bedrooms have been refreshed and surfaces are polished. High and low level dusting completed and flooring offering excellent presentation. Corridors and stairs are free from marks, dusting has been completed and flooring has been well cleaned. The Tea Shop provides an area for breakfast and this offers the same high level of cleaning and presentation, and guests are sure to be impressed. Toilets here offer excellent levels of cleaning. Bedrooms Sky lights to the bedroom doors now have blackout facilities provided. Drinking glasses to the beverage tray enhances the facility and umbrellas are provided for the short walk to the tea shop. The new information folders are excellent and information well provided. Beds continue to offer excellent support, and the new 100% cotton bedding offers excellent quality and presentation, and is reflected in the new score for this area. Bedrooms continue to present similar to last year. Light and heat offer excellent levels and ease of use. Comfortable seating is offered in each room and a coffee table or suitable surface. As discussed, might consider providing a folding table for using a lap top to further enhance the facilities, and wi fi is also provided. Bathrooms Bathrooms continue to offer modern facilities that can be used with ease. The walk-in shower has been fitted with a new stand to provide surface space for guest items. New hanging style shower baskets also work well in the other bathrooms and can be easily cleaned. The Ramblers Rest 3
A jug has been provided in Room 1 for ease of filling the kettle. An attractive covered dish for the cotton wool pads has been provided and larger bath sheets are now standard in all rooms, adding to the ease and comfort of this area. Potential for Improvement Much work has been completed since the last assessment and is to be commended. Could consider providing folding tables for guests having to work in their rooms. Highlights The property presents well, facilities have been well maintained, and enhanced since the last assessment, and cleaning levels remain excellent. Zoe and her team are to be congratulated on such high standards. Angela in the tea shop continues to offer the same exacting standards, matching those found in the accommodation. The Ramblers Rest 4
Minimum Entry Requirements Standard: Designator: Rating: Specialities: Guest Accommodation Guest Accommodation Four Star Silver For a rating to be awarded by VisitEngland a property must meet all: Minimum Entry Requirements Key Requirements, as appropriate to the Star level Any Additional Requirements At the time of our visit, the property did not meet all of the Minimum Entry Requirements and /or Additional Requirements/Key Requirements. The items/services listed below are those required in order to participate within the scheme at the designated level. The rating level may need to be revised if these are not provided by the time of the next assessment visit. Overall Standards Other statutory obligations Carbon monoxide detector needed in the breakfast area in the tea shop. The Ramblers Rest 5
Visit Report Your VisitEngland quality assessment report, comprising scores, star rating and commentary reflects the experience of the Quality in Tourism assessor on the day of the visit. Appeals procedure If for any reason you wish to appeal against the rating awarded, VisitEngland has an established appeals procedure, which Quality in Tourism operates on its behalf. A fee is payable, which is refunded if the appeal is upheld. Applications should be made within 14 days of receipt of the report. For details please contact Quality in Tourism at qualityintourism@uk.g4s.com or telephone 0845 300 6996. Details can also be found at www.qualityintourism.com. Additional visits Visits are generally carried out annually, but if you are aiming for a higher rating or accolade and prefer an earlier visit during the same participation year, this can be arranged for an additional fee. Contact Quality in Tourism for details. Publishing of reports This report may, at your discretion, be displayed in its entirety in any printed material or via electronic media. The Ramblers Rest 6