'Terrible' TripAdvisor review despite saving wedding guest's life

By Oli Gross

- Last updated on GMT

The Carrington Arms' wedding reception hall
The Carrington Arms' wedding reception hall

Related tags Milton keynes

Saving the life of a wedding guest was not enough to save a pub from being rated as “terrible” on TripAdvisor.

A barman at The Carrington Arms in Moulsoe, Milton Keynes, who is a former paramedic, came to the aid of a wedding guest who suffered a heart attack at the reception in a hall managed by the pub.

General manager Peter Dodman told the PMA​: “She died twice during the ordeal. She passed out in the hall and our staff rushed over, cleared the room, and revived her twice.

“What do we have to do to get a good review? Do we need to stop some sort of atrocity, a terrorist attack maybe?”

After recovery the revived guest, who is thought to be in her twenties, and almost all other guests have been full of “glowing” praise to staff at The Carrington Arms.

'Terrible'

But Dodman claims one unsatisfied customer, a family member of the revived guest, booked an overnight stay at the pub for £60, and was outraged when he breakfast was not included in the booking.

The room was charged £77 including two breakfasts, leading to the customer’s “terrible” rating, despite the barman's heroics the night before.

“Not many people make this mistake. I’m not changing the price just for her,” Dodman said.

He added that the customer should have more “perspective and compassion”.

Dodman is raising money for the East Anglian Air Ambulance. So far he has 118 likes on a post about the incident on Facebook​, and will donate £118.

Dodman said TripAdvisor is a “constant battle”, and it’s almost impossible to have unfair complaints removed.

“You have to take ratings with a pinch of salt,” he said.

The full TripAdvisor review states:

"Be aware of what you will be charged!

“After a lovely family wedding I arranged payment before we left and was charged £77.00. I queried this with the manager who was very off-hand stating that it is £60.00 room only and breakfast is separate. Coupled with this he seemed very grumpy when our party met up for breakfast at the same time. He had obviously not hired any extra staff to cater for a large party that weekend. Given his manner and treatment of customers I wouldn't stay again."

Dodman said the pub had to cater for a table of 14 which had not booked for breakfast, despite being at full capacity.

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