I recently stayed at the Grand Hotel Sunderland for the first time, and while the hotel itself has a lot going for it, one member of staff completely ruined what should have been a lovely visit.
The hotel rooms are genuinely impressive – spacious, clean, comfortable and well-presented. The facilities are also great, especially the pool area, which is one of the reasons we booked. Everything looked modern and well-kept, and on the surface it felt like a place you’d happily return to.
Unfortunately, the staff were the complete opposite of the warm, welcoming atmosphere the hotel tries to present. In particular, the lady on shift at the pool on 1 August was shockingly rude from the moment we arrived. Every time I glanced over, she was staring at us with a disgusted look, like we were a problem just for being there. It made the whole experience uncomfortable when we were simply trying to enjoy the facilities we had paid for.
When we were leaving, I genuinely didn’t know which way we were supposed to exit, so I went the same way I had gone into the changing rooms as I entered. She said something, but I didn’t hear her, so I politely asked “What?” She then turned around, pointed aggressively, and snapped “You have to go that way” with the most disgusting attitude. There was absolutely no need for her to shout or behave like that, especially when it was my first time staying and I had no idea where I was meant to go.
Her behaviour was rude and unprofessional