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Tonight on Hotel Hell, I'm trying to breathe life back into a historic country inn. Yeah, it smells like [__] The hotel's arrogant owner, Robert Dean II, I've always thought you should live with nice things if you can afford the inn like his personal castle and treats his loyal staff with disdain. Go on then, you pompous [__] Excuse me. Don't talk to me like that. Well, what's wrong with it? Is this hotel beyond my help? I'm barely surviving financially and emotionally. I mean, I'm going to lose everything. The historic Juniper Hill Inn sits on a hilltop above the quaint village of Windsor, Vermont.
Built in 1902, the country mansion boasts 28 luxurious bedrooms and two grand dining rooms. It is filled with original works of art and antiques. All of these are quality. Antique dealer Robert Dean II and his boyfriend Ari Nikki bought the business 6 years ago. I've always thought that you should live with nice things if you can afford them. I like this. It looks good there, Robert. I thought you'd like it. The guests that we don't want here are people who don't have a lot of money.
The inn may look the part, but despite Robert's dreams of an elite country estate, the hotel is barely functioning. Robert Dean has no hotel or no restaurant experience. The prices may be a little bit high for locals. $350 two-night minimum, so that's $700. The lack of communication is very frustrating. Where are you? I know the customers see that every day. I need my key, too, cuz I guess at this point I can't even get in my room. Okay. With bookings at an all-time low, the hotel is in serious financial trouble. But that doesn't stop Robert from living
a millionaire's dream. Robert believes this place is his playground. Yeah. And a playground for his friends. to have a lot of clothes made by your wife. He comps all their meals and rooms, but we never get tips. They're having a hard time paying me because they give away all of their money and food to their friends, showing off, using this as their private castle. With hardly any paying guests, it's no wonder that this inn is in the red. Yes, we are losing money. More or less like $200,000 a year. I think that the place is going to be closed, and it's That's very sad.
Gordon is going to come into this place and say this place is [__] If I don't stop this business from bleeding money, it's doomed. I'd love to own an inn in a setting like this. If you get it right, you'd make an absolute fortune. Before I get to Juniper Hill, I want to find out what the townsfolk think of their local inn. Hello. How are you? Very well, and yourself? Yeah, rather. I've been driving all morning. Um how's Juniper Hill Inn? You're going to love it. It's beautiful. And reputation?
It tends to be a little on the high end for our area. Okay. But I would love to have a place to go to locally. Do they not invite locals up there? I feel um that I'd be interrupting. I feel like I'd be intruding. I really What a shame. Thank you so much. Have a great day. Welcome to Windsor. Thank you very much indeed. Take care. Enjoy your visit. Thank you. Here we are. Juniper Hill Inn. Now, who in the hell would bring an RV all the way up here and not stay in that stunning hotel?
Look at it. My god, that's beautiful. Wow. Okay. Round to the front door. Can't believe they haven't cleared the snow for guests to come in. Wow. You're kidding me. It's locked. That's not very welcoming. Why would you have a big mansion guests can't arrive through the front [__] door? Jesus. Who wants to enter through the back door? Mr. Ramsay is here. I need you to do room one right away. Wow. At least these doors are open.
Finally. Hello there. How are you? How are you, Mr. Ramsay? back, Gordon, please. Let me help with the nightmare. Oh, We Were you over there? I was at the front door, yes. Okay. This is actually our entrance, and in the winter, because of snow, Ready? we have to keep that locked, cuz otherwise the snow load comes off and kills people. Yeah, it can. Have you killed anyone so far? No. Where's all this stuff from? Um an aftermath of a antiques fair. Yeah. This looks like it could be a beautiful room, but you can't tell because it's stuffed with so much clutter. That's the reception desk.
No. My god, so what is that? That is our bar right now. You are kidding me. This is the bar? Yes. Made what, then? Martinies. God bless him. Uh made of pigs. Pig martini. Well, we have three rescue pot-bellied pigs. You have three pigs here? Right. What is that for? Were you born with this in your mouth? Yeah, I don't know where it is. Honestly? Uh actually, no. That was a gift from So, yeah.
Robert obviously loves to show off all his expensive antiques, but as a guest, I don't feel comfortable. I feel like I'm in a museum. This is the main formal dining room. This big chair here is for one. Uh just kind of we're known as a romantic destination and Just out of interest, how do Well, we would move the table. Move it for me, please? Yes. Wow, so you've got a sofa on the table. We thought it was kind of nice to have like a cozy banquette.
Oh. Well, three US presidents have dined here. Oh, really? Which ones? Uh Teddy Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge. Teddy Roosevelt dined in here. Wow. I wanted to try to give them a little bit of sense of the history of Juniper Hill. Wow, okay. So, that's the dining room. Well, we have two dining rooms. Mm, God. You must be busy with two dining rooms. Well, I wish we were busy. Bloody hell.
We have spurts of being incredibly busy. Right. Uh where we lack is all the other times. Really? Yeah. This place looks like a millionaire's mansion, not a struggling business. I've got to scratch beneath the surface. This place per week uh is turning how much? We're lucky if we're doing, you know, 15,000 a month. What does it cost to keep the place open? 30. Really? Yeah. So, you're losing $200,000 a year. It's been a nightmare. We maintained our room rates thinking that the economy wouldn't be this long a haul.
We've all experienced those kind of difficulties and myself included, but you navigate your way out of that recession. Unfortunately, my partner lost his job. We expected him to have his job for a little longer. He must have gained a substantial payout for retirement. It's all been put into this. How much? Over a million dollars. A million dollars into this already? Yes. And does he have an active role in the business?
He tries to maintain the accounting and he helps just about with everything. Uh we're in trouble. Trouble? You'd never guess from the look of this place. It's more like Buckingham Palace than Skid Row. Do you know what? Um Robert, honestly, I'd like to go straight to my room if you wouldn't mind, please. All Wow. This goes on. It does. It's the largest colonial revival mansion in New England. And more paintings. And you're in the Maxwell Evarts Suite, which is the original uh Okay. Wow, beautiful room. And uh I mean, this is uh This is a beautiful room, but what is that smell?
I mean, seriously. It's It does smell. Yeah, it smells [__] I mean, that is horrific. Oh my god, it smells like sewage. Coming up, Robert's staff turn on him. I was supposed to tell you the truth, right? The truth is all I want to know. I'm telling you exactly how I feel and how the people that I work with feel. The entire staff is ready to walk out. You can talk to him, HE'S YOUR [__] CHEF. I'm beyond angry, I'm beyond pissed off. And I have to step in.
How dare you? YOU STILL HAVEN'T GOT IT. Get your head out of your ass and start getting a little [__] real. Excuse me. Go on then, you pompous [__] I'm at Vermont's Juniper Hill Inn and I've just met its owner, Robert Dean the second, who's filled his hotel with expensive art and antiques. Were you born with this in your mouth? But he can't fill his rooms and his business is struggling. You're losing $200,000 a year. It's been a nightmare. And no wonder, because although the room he's put me in looks nice, Beautiful room. it has one major drawback.
What is that smell? It smells like raw sewage. We had a plumbing issue and it's shat under the bed and Um How much? This room goes for $350 a night. $350 a night for a room that smells of Well, You're kidding me. We haven't rented it, though. Bloody hell. It's been out of use for um 4 months. 4 months? Yeah. Oh, come on. It has been. This is crazy. It is crazy. It just makes sense. I've got to get out of here. This thing's [__] Is there another room, please?
Yes, I have room, too. Bloody hell. I didn't realize. $350 dollars to be caked in [__] Wow, it's gorgeous and this one doesn't smell like crap. I'm going to quickly unpack and then I would like to have a quick bite of lunch. Okay, I'll tell the I'll notify the chef. What time does the restaurant close for lunch? I know it's 2:30. actually don't serve lunch normally. But we're happy to prepare you something. Is that a joke? We serve breakfast and dinner. stop, stop, stop, stop. You don't actually serve lunch. No. The restaurant's closed for lunch.
Yes. If someone requests lunch, we'll make lunch for them, but Could you prepare lunch for me? Uh yes, I can I'll tell the chef. Please. Okay. Uh thank you. Yes. Not open for lunch. Gordon is going to want lunch. Huh? Gordon wants lunch. What am I supposed to do with that information? Hm. That's a welcome breath of fresh air on the back of that disgusting smell of crap in that room. I can't believe it. And the rooms are gorgeous and yet they How could you have a room that has been smelling for months that bad and then he sticks me in it.
What a muppet. Despite the hideous smell in that first guest room, I've still worked up quite an appetite. Hello. Hi, how are you? Barbara. Barbara, how glamorous are you? I'm nice to see you. Likewise. I have a mad crush on Gordon as he knows I'm a cougar. And how old are you now? I don't know. You don't know? Last week I turned 70. You're kidding me. You look a million dollars. my year. 70. Watch out, Joan Collins. I'm telling you now.
Bloody hell. Barbara, what's wrong with this place? Well, in a nutshell. Don't get any people. Mhm. Like pulling teeth to get my paycheck. You don't get paid? It takes forever to get my paycheck and when I do, it's usually something's left out. on a minute, you don't get paid and when you do Not on time. We're supposed to get paid every 2 weeks. So, what do you earn a fortnight? I made 6,000 this year. $6,000 a year? That's ridiculous. You know, you got to have the money flowing and it's always come to a standstill at this point. My last paycheck was $48.
Unbelievable. Robert's obviously got enough money to fill the guest rooms with fine art and antique furniture, but he doesn't pay his staff. Um I'm starving. What would you recommend? The crab cakes with a little salad. So, this is the dinner menu. Okay. Because we're not open for lunch. Right. And the lamb sounds great as well. You want the lamb? Yeah. All right. Darling, is this a prefix menu or Yeah. Cuz there's no prices on here. What sort of restaurant doesn't have prices on the menu? It's like a club for millionaires
where if you have to ask, you can't afford it. I've got a supplement of $15 for my lamb. How much is Enough charge for the lamb. Is Robert nearby? How much is it for three courses? $59. $59? So, if we had the lamb, it would be $74. People are horrified at the price of the food. This is why a lot of people think that Juniper Hill is snobbish. When we typically take a reservation, we will tell people it's a three-course meal. But that's for the residents. I'm talking about a local coming in here. We're reservation only though. So, nobody walks in. We don't have walk-ins.
How can you expect to appeal to the locals? Um we haven't identified the appropriate people to come here or Hold on a minute. What do you mean appropriate people? Hold on. People who can afford $59 for three courses. Appropriate people? What a snob. Where does he think he is? The Ritz? And where's your table? Which one's your Uh well, most of the time I eat in our RV, our motor coach. Say that again? Uh we have a motor coach to the side. Right. And where did it come from? Is it yours? You rent it? Yeah, it's ours. We I mean, we owe on it, but we bought it and You bought it?
Yeah. And how much was that? Over $100,000. A You're 3 years away from 50. You should not be living in an RV. We don't live in an RV. It is a motor coach, which is the higher end version of an RV. It is that psychological break for us, and it gives me a place to relax and kind of unwind. I actually love it. I could live there the rest of my life, to be honest with you. It's quiet, it's clean. I suppose if this place doesn't get fixed, then you might be in there full-time, yeah?
I've just sat down for lunch at the Juniper Hill here. Hello. And already I've found out the staff aren't paid on time. Like pulling teeth to get my paycheck. And the owner's living in a camper outside. How much was that? Over $100,000. This place is baffling. I hope the food makes more sense. Excellent. Wow. Where are the crab cakes? Oh, that's them there, underneath there. Are they mini crab cakes? Are we uh The chef has decided that those are the size that he needs to serve.
Mhm. I mean, that tastes dreadful. That thing tastes sort of washy and soapy. And $20 for that? He's as cheap with his crab cakes as he is with his staff. Now for the lamb, with Robert's ridiculous $15 extra charge. It's a rack of lamb encrusted in macadamia nuts, fresh herbs, and a little bit of Dijon mustard. It's served with a honey vinegar reduction. It's not even cooked properly. I'll rest it and take that off. I was getting nervous when you see white fat like that on the side of the chop.
Is it to your liking? I mean it's pretty raw in the center. You like the flavor of it, though, the honey garlic? I'm I'm not satisfied with the quality of the food that's coming out of the kitchen. I believe our chef has a learning curve to be where he needs to be. Thank you. We just lost our other chef. Why did the chef leave? I'm supposed to tell you the truth, right? The truth is all I want to know. Why did the chef leave? Well, her paycheck. She put all her everything on her charge cards and then she just figured she wasn't paid back for what she The chef bought produce on her credit card?
She did everything. She was the best chef ever. That's dreadful. I'm starving. Um the peanut butter chocolate decadence. I could do with some of that. Pick me up, please. Thank you. God. A chef that left because she had to buy produce on her own credit card. I mean, this guy's priorities are upside down. Bit like this inn. Hey, are you ready? This he said he doesn't care for the sweetness, this fat around it. He didn't care for the flavor of the honey gar.
Wow. Thank you very much. Did you cut it in half? Cuz it looks like someone's taken it. And where's the other half gone? Uh it goes to the another person who ordered. I know, I want my other half. $74. This place is insane. Listen, half my dessert's missing. If you think I'm spending $74 for a dessert that is half cooked. Mhm. It's actually quite nice. There is hope. I'm sorry. I wouldn't say that is not a dessert that he made. Barbara made it.
No. Somebody else makes desserts? It's ordered. Like store-bought? Like through one of our purveyors. What? Where's the chef? He's in the kitchen. Can you get him out, please? Yes. What? How chef? Julian, in my opinion, is not living up to his potential as a chef. He will try to cut corners, and I think Gordon needs to know these things. I've just spent $74 for three plates of absolute dire, dated, [__] food. Crab cakes. Yes, sir. You can't put two little half testicle-sized [__] crab cakes that came from a can. There's bigger [__] cakes.
Chef. At a [__] canapé party. My lamb was cold in the middle. The fat was white. It was almost like a mouthful of sugar. The best tasting dish for me was the [__] chocolate peanut thing that I got served half a portion. That's not even made [__] in house. What is this? There's no synergy here. There is honestly a lack of communication often. Sometimes when I'm in the middle of doing breakfast service for all the 10 people that we randomly get, I get five texts from him asking me a question.
So, why are you texting him? If you have a question, you should maybe leave the RV and come out and talk to us. Why do you text? Are you nitpicking? Are you trying to control him? Are No, I'm trying to make sure I'm I haven't been sleeping very well, to be honest with you, and I've had I've been beaten down. I'll take responsibility for everything that happens in the kitchen. You don't own the place. You own it, yet he's acting more responsible. What do you earn a week, if you don't mind me asking? $1,000? Before taxes, $400.
Jesus Christ almighty. $400 a week to be the head chef in a luxury hotel. That's insane. I mean, you're barely surviving. I'm I'm I don't know that I'm even barely surviving. If you're not happy with your work environment, you should leave. Are you taking the piss, or is this just an abuse for you? What are you doing to these people? These are their livelihoods. This is your responsibility. Rob's world. And you're in an RV, 100 grand.
Everybody is disgusted that you live in that thing. They really are. Because it costs so much money and they can't get their paycheck on time. Well, that is not the case. the issue. We are surrounded by wealth and reminded of poverty at the same time because of that RV. It's a symbol. To me, that RV is a symbol. And it's a symbol that you are separating yourself from everybody else. I'd be very careful about coming down on me too hard. I'm telling you exactly how I feel and how all the people that I work with feel.
Let me tell you how I feel. When you're in your [__] kitchen all day long and you're on the goddamn internet instead of actually trying to perfect a menu and get a menu. How long did I ask for you to make a menu of your own? I'm on the computer, usually it's I'm trying to research menus, research ingredients. Give me a break. I've given you plenty of breaks. I work very long days and I haven't been paid in 3 weeks. There's only been one paycheck that I got on time. Almost the entire staff is ready to walk out because they are tired of not getting paid. Anything to say? No. We did things Oh, please.
It's my first day at the Mont's Juniper Hill Inn and the battle between the chef and the owner I'd be very careful about coming down on me too hard. has turned what should be a charming country inn into a war zone. I'm telling you exactly how I feel. I work very long days and I haven't been paid in 3 weeks. There's only been one paycheck that I got on time. Almost the entire staff is ready to walk out because they are tired of not getting paid. Anything to say? No. We're tired and half the team is broke. I'm beyond angry. I'm beyond pissed off. Well, I just got a new [__] ripped to me.
Gordon says that I live in a fantasy world and that uh I live in a million-dollar RV while our employees can't pay their bills and all of this kind of stuff cuz we don't pay them on time and They're all complaining that they haven't gotten their paychecks this time either. Oh, they haven't? And he said that everything is all about me. I can't believe what a mess this place is. I've got to get off this hill for a bit. There's someone I need to see. Hello, is that Lida? It's Gordon Ramsay. I've got some questions about Robert and Juniper Hill.
Would you mind if I pop over for 5 minutes, please? Great. I'll see you then. Thanks, Lida. I think the old chef that quit will be able to give me some insight into what's wrong with Juniper Hill. Hello. How are you? Good to see you. Come on in. Give me a little insight to what it was like actually working there. I have to say it was very interesting 5 years. Uh things were going very well and then all of a sudden, 2 years into it, they stopped answering the phone. Mhm. Robert I think thought he was too important to answer the phone or he was too busy doing other things. So preoccupied and distracted in a way.
Very preoccupied and distracted and not focused at all on maintaining his own business. Wow. I was getting cut out of a living when they did all this stuff. I used to earn 40, 50,000 dollars in one restaurant and now I'm down to earning uh 15. Were you paid on time? Um not very often. Wow. Um Did you have to use your own money to buy things? All the time. And then I would have to demand to be paid back or we weren't going to open for dinner. His insight. Barbara's been shorted checks a lot. She's barely earning 100 dollars a week, and yet Yeah, and he won't pay her. And then if he had a private party with all his friends, he didn't tip them.
You're kidding me. No. That's just disgusting. I mean, that's where I draw the You can't do that. No. You just can't treat people like that. Now, he's a confirmed snob and he thinks he's above Yeah. the town. He thinks he's untouchable. I'm here to make this place work. And the first thing I'm going to do is burst his bubble. I'd like to be a fly on that wall, but Would you come back and walk through the doors to have a look at it at the end of the week and just come back for dinner?
No. No, just won't go or No, I'm not even interested in getting in a I just fear getting in one more battle with Ari or Robert and What a shame after 5 years. Yeah. Do you think I've got a chance of saving it? The problem here is now is nobody will work there. You know, I'm there to get this place turned around. Those staff deserve a better future. They do. You know, I feel terrible for them. Um listen, thank you. You're very welcome.
Um appreciate your time. Enjoyed it. Thanks, love. Likewise. Good to see you, too. Bye-bye. How sad is that after 5 years of her life dedicated to the Juniper Hill, you know, she won't even step foot in the door. She doesn't want to even see them. The old chef left because she couldn't stand it. And the current chef looks like he's ready to walk, too. I wonder if everyone here is feeling the same frustration.
What's wrong with the place? What's wrong with this place? We're lacking uh paychecks on time. Paychecks? You don't get paid on time, either. No. We're missing basic supplies, too. Basic supplies? We don't even have I mean, Noel purchased gas checks for us today so that uh we've been using scrap pieces of paper. First name is? I'm Ryan Keith. And what do you do? I'm the estate manager here. I do all the maintenance on the house. I've done everything here, though. That's why he likes me to spread out my talents to try and help anybody wherever they need help.
How's morale? Not good. I personally haven't been paid since the 6th of January. Here it is the 1st of February. That's nearly a month, and You pay the employees before paying your bills. When they've done the work, that's their livelihood. I'm amazed you're still here working as hard as you are. Because staff never need to be treated like this, let me tell you. It's always as if what you're saying to him doesn't get through because he sees you as not an equal. He treats me like that and that really bothers me because I feel like I've contributed a lot. It's actually pretty degrading.
This is insane. I'm shocked with what I'm finding at the Juniper Hill Inn. Owner Robert wants to kill his chef. How long did I ask for you to make a menu of your own? And the rest of the staff want to kill Robert. How's morale? Not good. The state manager, Ryan, has told me about some of the problems, but now he wants to show me. If you want to see the root of the problem, let's go to the basement. To the basement? Yes, please. Jesus, what's in there? Everything. Oh, really? It's the majority of it is personal items. No, even the shelves are all lined.
Bloody hell. Look at this place. Oh my god. Look at this stuff. Stereos, wine racks, quilts, chairs, tables, copper pans, more chairs over there. Look at these. Robert prides himself in having to have the very best of everything. Christ, there's enough in here to open three restaurants. Is all this stuff still brand new? Most of it is brand new. Listen, with thousands of dollars, Robert's got so much stuff he could furnish a dozen houses, but he doesn't pay his staff. It's crazy. Where are we going?
Brace yourself, we're going up to the office. You're kidding me. Oh, no. Come on. This is the office. the office? You are kidding me. Not at all. I wanted you to see Jesus Christ, scares me half to death. Oh my gosh, this is insane. It would only take a day or two to sort out this hoarder's heaven, but Robert's left it in chaos. No wonder he spends all day hiding in his RV. This guy has lost the plot. This is disturbing. Please tell me there's no more. Yes, there's more. This is where the pigs are kept. At least they look happy.
Right. Pigs who live a life of luxury while everyone around them suffers. Sounds strangely familiar. Bloody hell. So, the owners live out the pigs live in. There's more. Then check out the storage units. Storage units? You are kidding me. No. Oh my god. This one's all personal items. Look at Oh, Jesus. I mean, I swear to god. This is like a special edition of Hoarders. I mean, honestly, wow. I'm [snorts] in shock, you know that. And this one?
All of this entire storage unit is full of chairs. Oh my god. Look at this stuff. Honestly. I mean, they must be packed with thousands of dollars worth of Hundreds of thousands of dollars. How much stuff does one need? Bloody hell. I can't believe how much stuff Robert has bought. He must have spent a fortune. I've got to meet Robert's partner, Ari, and find out why he's financing all this. I'm Ari. Welcome. My name's Ari. It's a pleasure. Please. Um My god. So, how much money have you put into this business personally?
More or less uh over a million dollars. A million dollars? And how much have you seen back? Nothing. It was all my I uh severance package, it was my income that I had when I was working, and then I retirement Robert's savings are in artwork and antiques. I am supporting this in with my savings. Clearly, this is a beautiful place. But, putting your entire life savings into a sinking ship is insane. And with Robert at the helm treating his staff so poorly, I don't see things getting any better. Robert is in a fantasy world, and I've been struggling all day to get through to him. This place, it's dreamland, a playground for your boyfriend Robert.
Your biggest problem is not Juniper Hill. Your biggest problem is [__] Robert. I'm at Vermont's Juniper Hill Inn and I've just had a difficult conversation with Robert's partner Ari, who seems strangely unconcerned about how bad things really are here. How much money have you put into this business personally? More or less uh over a million dollars. And how much have you seen back? Nothing. But I've tried to make him see who's to blame for the problems. Your biggest problem is [__] Robert. Dinner time is approaching. Word has spread about me being at the inn and the place is bustling.
Hello there. Nice to see you. I'm learning a lot about why the inn is struggling by watching Robert and Ari deal with the new influx of guests. Anyone with any restaurant experience would stagger the seating of guests. But it's if they're just welcoming people to a dinner party at a private house. Hello there. How are you? Robert and Ari seat everyone at once. There, at the corner. Make pretend you're back in 1902. It's uh meant to be a relaxed evening and Order in. And that's a recipe for disaster for Chef Julian and the wait staff.
Chef, I'm making a change on 21. Write it down. Don't tell me. Just write Guess an order. Are you guys kidding me with all these orders? Who sat everybody at once like this? Your best friend. Do we don't know about pacing? How's the bread? Who's writing the tickets? Jimmy, no. Table four, table five. Some of them have names on them. Some of them do not. Who wrote that ticket? It's not even a table. One of them there. Table four. They just got their lobster. Where's table 23? They've got one person at a time. I need less talking in the kitchen, please.
has got no food. I need to put a steak up in the window. Eight people asked me for something. With Julian having been slammed by the owners' dreadful seating, Ari isn't helping the strained atmosphere with an awkward art lesson. But then like this is from 1800 and it was painted for opera house cuz you know what it is. What is it? Come on. Everybody has to know what that is. It's a hand of a going across the Alps with the white elephant. Everybody should know that. On the other side of the house, Robert's also busy giving a lecture. This is one of the original signs to the house. There's a lot of history here.
Uh Teddy Roosevelt actually was best friends with the man or a very good friend with the man who actually built the house, Maxwell Evarts. Do you always get this backed up? I mean Yes. Yeah? When I have poor seating. Robert has groups of his friends come in and sitting them at once. Hey, so you're waiting for your starters then? Yes. Okay. Well, let me check on those for you. Let's see how it's going.
Okay, yeah. Robert Yes. This ticket system is bollocks, you know that? 100 tickets, no time on there, no proper dates, no coordination. Who trains the front of house team? Who's in charge of the restaurant? Who is that? I would be the host and then You'll be the host? Yes. The chef takes over the kitchen. This place is such a mess. Clearly Robert has no idea how to run a hotel. Yeah, I got to go. I'm sorry, I need to go. Yeah, go on. What are you to straighten out the damn drinks cuz they lose We lost 30 something drinks.
Oh my god. Robert, we lost 30 drinks? At least. I often find drinks not written down or just a lack of follow through. And it's a big problem when we're trying to make money. There's no communication between the bar and the dining room. So people get served drinks, but no one remembers to charge for them. But we're losing big money. No kidding, and they're losing their checks and I'm going crazy trying to figure out a system. They have hardly any guests and don't charge the ones they do have. No wonder this place is in the red.
How does that happen? They're supposed to write the drinks down and then apply them to a table and a room and then they go into the computer. The ticket system is bogus and as I feared, seating everyone at once is already causing problems for the staff and the guests. It's on their arm. It's burned. With guests now suffering and the kitchen falling apart from Robert's ill-managed seating, come on. I have to step in.
Um just stop there. You have to be [__] kidding me. This goose liver is burnt to a cinder. Stop. Julian, come around, buddy. I know we're in the [__] and we're busy. Food's dying in the window. A foie gras salad. I mean, honestly, it's like a piece of [__] beef jerky. Where's Ari? Get me Ari urgently. I mean, honestly, come on, guys. Hello. I'll stop that. I just said no. What is that? Foie gras. Well, that's foie gras. That is not foie gras. This is not funny, guys. No, that is not funny. I mean, I know we're in the [__] but does anyone have any standards here?
Yes. Well, can I see them? Can I see something to hold on to cuz right now I just want to get out of here. I can only be as good as I am with the tools that I have. I'm embarrassed and I know that I can do better. I know the staff can do better. First off, no more [__] tickets in the kitchen. Give him 10 minutes to catch up, okay? All right. And Robert, is it possible for first time put the phone away, get your jacket off and [__] dig deep a little bit, yeah? Please. Yeah? Somebody? I'm concerned that food is in the window and it's just dying. Entrees on table six are in the window. Entrees, send them. They shouldn't be sat here. I'm How am I supposed to do everything back here?
Are you with I'm Are you an entrepreneur? I'm with you. Are you an entrepreneur? I keep trying to, you know, find to him. He's your [__] chef. Well, when I try to communicate he says, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no, no. I can't do it." NO, HE DOESN'T. [__] FIND YOUR BALLS AND TELL HIM YOU NEED TO TALK TO HIM. my balls. Do I want him to walk out? going to walk out if you communicate with him. Talk to him, then. Well, I have. Been trying to. So, when he finishes it, send the [__] food. There's always a third dish not ready or dish Well, it might be one OR TWO MINUTES BUT UNLESS YOU [__] ASK, HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO [__] KNOW?
I have been asking. I said, "Where did this chick go?" GO. ASK HIM AGAIN. IT'S the middle of dinner service at Juniper Hill Inn, and Chef Julian is drowning under a flood of orders. How am I supposed to do everything back here? Owner Robert has finally decided to get his hands dirty to try and help, but he's utterly incapable of communicating with his chef. When he finishes it, send the [__] food. It's always a third dish not ready or a fourth dish. Well, it must be one or two MINUTES BEHIND, BUT UNLESS YOU [__] ASK, HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED to [__] know? Where did the soup go, Julian?
Table 23. I just told you one minute ago. I need foie gras. Where I know. I have it right behind me. I said All right. Well, you see how Okay. Julian. Yes. That's what you call communication. It's better communication. That's what you call communication, Robert. There's a difference between interrupting and no communication. And when you [__] put those entrees up there, you make sure they go. You've got to start stepping up and [__] dictating a little bit, cuz this is just madness. I agree. Jesus Christ.
It was fuck-ups from start to finish, and it was a and Gordon saw that. Dreadful. With an owner and chef so incapable of communicating with each other, it's no surprise the diners are unhappy, and they're not the only ones. While Robert and Ari are living the dream, their staff are living a nightmare. Hopefully, by gathering everyone in one room, Okay. I can get to the root of the problem. I've never seen a hotel and inn in such disarray. There needs to be structure, and there isn't structure. It's just like a scramble.
It's a mess. There was no order in the kitchen. Nobody took responsibility for any one thing. No one has been taught any standards in any department. Really, it's like I'm I'm racing from thing to thing. Nobody knows what the other one's doing. There's nobody here that is in control willing to take charge. I did 40 [__] dinners by myself tonight. I could help you, and you've never asked. I can cook the rack of lamb. Excuse me? Bragging about one plate is nothing to brag about. Excuse me? I am the boss. You can't call yourself the boss if you don't [__] pay them.
[screaming] I mean, honestly, do you think that's normal, Ari? Do you think that's the way to look after your team? Every pay period, there is a problem with the checks. Every pay period, there's a problem with the checks. lot I don't know what the problem is. I know it's the same two people to know about it first, or do you have to go asking for your salary? I always ask for it. That's absolutely wrong. And the reason is He's lying. No. No, no. He's not lying. I would rather have them wait than write a check that's going to bounce, because I don't How about telling him it's not going to
be ready, rather than having to ask like some skivvy, cap in hand, "Please, sir, may I get paid?" Anybody else have to wait? Yes. How long? 5 days more. I had to wait 5 days. Barbara? I had to wait 5 weeks. You had to what? I had to wait 5 weeks before I got a paycheck. 5 weeks? Guys, you come in and you work your ass off. The least these two guys can do is pay your [__] salary on time. I don't have a secretary, Gordon. I'm sorry. I'm trying to communicate with brides. I'm trying to send out things. I
have to have peaceful time in order to do my work. Are you always this pathetic? I am not pathetic. Well, when are you going to stand up and start showing some respect for your team, and start growing a pair to sort of understand the mess you're in? I understand the mess we're in. I'm fighting for the team. You dug the [__] hole. Yes, we did. And put them in it. So, they're [__] They don't have to work here. Oh my god. know, the bottom line is Oh, how dare you? No, they don't have to work here. How dare you? How [__] dare you? They don't have to work here. Oh my god.
I can't can't disrespectful, disgusting man. They don't have to work here. I don't think you realize how [__] lucky you are. Cuz it wasn't for 1 2 3 4 5 6 of them, you'd be driving that RV miles away from here. Robert definitely needs a reality check. It's life or death right now, and I don't think he actually realizes what kind of jeopardy this place is in. It's not all about you, Robert. Robert's world, Robert bubble, Robert's dream.
You're not the lord of the manor, and you're not the Great Gatsby. You're you're Robert. It's only me in here. Excuse me. Go on then, you pompous [__] Excuse me. Don't talk to me like that. Well, what's wrong with it? I want to know what's wrong Don't speak to me like that. telling you need your head out your ass and start getting a little [__] real. You still haven't got it that this place is sinking. Start paying a little bit more attention to the guys on the ground, understand how hard it is out there, forget your [__] antique roadshow, and start from the bottom running this
business. You're right, there's no structure. It's fragmented. The team needs a leader. They need a structure. They need a mentor. They need some support. And all they get is nitpicked. What kind of motivation is that? All I've heard since I've been here is you're just blaming people. Well, I'm blaming you for not taking charge. Get [__] real. Next time, my Hotel Hell continues. Robert's mismanagement spreads like a virus, this time taking down the kitchen. What's the matter with you? Now, do you want to give me your jacket and I'll do it for you? Open up. Come on. You've just shut down. And there's a revelation so shocking
That is disgusting. I have to do something I've never done before. I think my time's done here. Gordon left. I cannot stand any more of these bloody lies. I just don't seem like I can do it anymore. I know I can't do it. One potato, two potato.
