Booking.com are trying to charge me £400 for damage after my son fell through a broken bed in nightmare hotel

Anthony Allison took his three children for a short break in Blackpool - but the Barron's Hotel was 'nothing like it looks in the pictures' advertised on booking.com.

The walls were peeling, it felt 'dirty' and nothing was as it appeared on the site.

He told Blackpool Gazette: "It had no restaurant, and there was building work going on. It advertised a mini-golf course, but when we got there it was just an [alley] full of graffiti."

To make things worse, his ten year old son 'fell through' the bed when he sat down.

"We walked into the room and I was mortified. It was like a box room, and then he went to sit down and went through the bed."

READ MORE: My hotel photos were used by scammers.

'The light was buzzing'

So Mr Allison asked for another room, which he was offered. But that was not much better.

"I walked in the bathroom and heard buzzing, really loud from the light. Then I noticed there was a live wire hanging in the bedroom. It was horrific."

We couldn't wait to leave

The family left early the next morning, as they 'couldn't wait to leave'.

But the nightmare didn't end there.

READ MORE: Barron's Hotel in battle to serve booze.

"I got home and booking.com were trying to take £400 out of my account because the hotel were accusing us of cutting the wires and breaking the bed. It's absurd. All I wanted was a nice break for the kids, especially as my 16 year old daughter is doing her exams."

'Outrageous' and 'concerning' actions

StayBlackpool approached Mr Allison to offer his support after spotting a negative review.

Ian White, a director of StayBlackpool, told Blackpool Gazette: "To learn that Via Booking.com the property is attempting to demand £400 for damages is outrageous . The evidence shown, clearly shows serious concerns. 

It is interesting to see that in attempts to hide the negative stories the team at the Barron's have removed all the posts from their Facebook Page. The property's listing on Booking.com has also changed and is now listed as the Tamarind Cove and Barron's Hotel in the hope of hiding the reality of what to expect."

StayBlackpool have for a long while campaigned for a "License to Trade".

Mr White added: "Sadly this property too often proves why we must continue our fight so that the paying public receive a decent Blackpool Experience. Yes properties will have bad days but here, is a property where there are certainly far too many.

Sadly poor standards are not enforceable though the dangerous light fitting hanging from the wall with no bulb really need enforcement action."

Booking.com and Barron's Hotel have been approached for a comment.

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