Would You Spend $450 A Night For This Barren Room? | Hotel Rescue | Abode

Clacton-on-Sea, the holiday destination of the 50s. But with tourism falling in recent years, many hotels were forced to close. Including the infamous The Royal Hotel. Micheal and Tammy bought the hotel after already running a successful wedding venue. However, they found out running a hotel isn’t what they thought. Businesswoman, Ruth Watson, is here to help so that their hotel doesn’t fail before it even opens!
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[@cherrybarb4651]

"After 14 months they're still not sure what goes where". Michael: "I'm a very visual person and babble babble". Ruth: "You mean you can't read a plan?"😄 Gotta love how Ruth cuts through all the BS.

[@bethturner4070]

"I bought it because it was blue." 2:50 Brilliant.

[@sonaterese799]

Making money does not mean you are a businessman - I cringed at Michaels lack of business sense and thought he needed to come back down to earth

[@sararichardson737]

Noted!

[@jamessmithson-br7rm]

Glad it eventually got bought by someone else. It’s been done up (without the themed rooms) and seems to get alright reviews.

[@Kristy-dg7ki]

This hotel is beautiful now and so posh and I live in the flats at the top

[@kkdd6413]

I love Ruth's style and manner. Just the right amount of constructive criticism and encouragement ❣️

[@noreengardner1075]

Any themed design makes my skin crawl.

[@gillmiller3702]

@@noreengardner1075 Just looking at the designer hotel they featured gave me a headsche.

[@janegrey4374]

He bought it because he liked the color and he did not share with his girlfriend that it hadn't been successful for 30 years. What does it say about the relationship when one person makes big money decisions without discussing it with their partner/spouse.

[@amywalker3647]

It usually says that it’s a man.

[@janegrey4374]

@@amywalker3647 😄😆🤣

[@annettewiltshire1425]

Right at the beginning of the video Tammy was introduced as Michael’s girlfriend not partner.

[@gardenroom65]

She wasn’t there for that. Where’s his ex wife?

[@Welshy]

@@amywalker3647 misandry aside tammy clearly showed no interest in it anyway and even on the show didnt put any effort in, its his money and if he wanted to buy it thats up to him you dont need to be such a blatant man hating sexist

[@samanthaabreu782]

Well, it didn't need to be a gamble if you took your head out of the clouds and started to see it as a real business.

[@aquamom2]

Can't believe Ruth didn't insist they draw up a plan with a budget...

[@gillmiller3702]

@@aquamom2 maybe they left out of the programme, there does seem to be a lack of constructive solutions and plans.

[@dudeorduuude5211]

If he is a developer, no idea how he makes money as this was a complete mess and he had no sense to hire an architect and interior designer?

[@lillyrose3545]

It’s insanity! He also decides on materials for the project as they come up, not a budget. I can’t imagine that! He seems like he may have ADHD

[@dudeorduuude5211]

@@lillyrose3545 the only thing I can think of is he normally works on a team and others take care of the details.

[@newgabe09]

he might be one of those 'developers' who buys land and makes money getting someone to draw imaginary lines on it

[@cherryrotella3714]

Seems he nor her can manage to make the smallest of decisions

[@themadplotter]

Probably bought stuff in the credit crunch and turned them into hmo. Basically a slumlord.

[@eliakimjosephsophia4542]

They should have done the ballroom and kitchen first of and got that opened for the summer season. Then in the autumn-winter time do the rest of the restoration.

[@dlross173]

Yeah. And just did like the first 10 rooms- plain and quick. The summer season would be ready to go.

[@frenchartantiquesparis424]

This is really sad on all levels...... the lack of planning, the final reveal at the end, and of course, the marriage

[@akashmukhopadhyay9335]

They are technically not married

[@twistoffate4791]

@@akashmukhopadhyay9335 I noticed that. Our narrator introduced them as Michael Crittendon and Tammy (sounds like) Marge. So, I thought they were either not married or married except Tammy chose to keep her maiden name.

[@lynnedelacy2841]

They were introduced as boyfriend and girlfriend

[@shastac1396]

Ugh. This combination of ignorance, arrogance and blind confidence is unbearable to watch.

[@sallybrite1530]

It's a show.

[@babycakes9337]

I envy his cluelessness and just jumping in taking risks. Some of us overthink things and never end up chasing our dreams.

[@janeclarkson8471]

He walked away I believe! Fools rush in!

[@njcanuck]

How do you get so much money from the bank without a written business plan?? I’m amazed he had money to invest- head in the clouds.

[@barbarat5729]

Same thing I thought. Most banks-you had better show up with a written plan or don't bother.

[@ClaireBeatty]

Collateral? Other businesses?

[@twistoffate4791]

The ballroom, even though it's in a centralized, ground floor location, could have still been a bar. We have a local hotel that did just that. Bar-goers enter through an exterior glass door and walk down a hallway to get to the bar. At that point, there stands a door guy.

[@ihateithereseason2]

So.. Mike is huge fan of baths within his design decisions. Gotta luv that

[@WeSombreGhosts]

You have to admire These peoples audacity an vision but sometimes it’s a case of more money then sense,the stress alone must be horrendous.

[@thomashall1267]

Who hired the kid painting under the windowsill at 23.17... you paid too much. LOL

[@kellyconnell8003]

If these owners want to waste money they can give it to me and I will happily waste it on myself. WHAT dumbbells, both of them couldn't answer a doorbell if it rang!

[@watrewatre1982]

THEY R NO BETTER THAN THE STATUE IN THE MOVIE "NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM" THAT ALWAYS UTTER THE WORDS DUM-DUM.....YOU GIVE ME GUM-GUM 😂

[@mattneillninasmom]

From what I could gather, the hotel was sold at auction with a recommended price of $800 to $1 million pounds and eventually bought by father & son hoteliers who seem to be managing successfully, judging from the recent reviews.

[@mdorn6592]

Ouch! thanks for the info I wasn't able to find it

[@i.m.7710]

Very sad. And it’s only a 3 star hotel now.

[@kristilisakleiner9384]

Thanks for the update, needed the closure

[@helenachase5627]

Only 1 million pounds. Such a shame

[@davidawilliams252]

I just looked it up and while the food looks delicious, the decor is cheesy, cheap and half-done. 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@theoriginalcarterfamily]

Ruth is the best! i love all her shows :)

[@LisaNH934]

She has her own Instagram and website - I think she is in her 70s now? I love her shows too 👍

[@theoriginalcarterfamily]

@@LisaNH934 yeah she is 72 now I can’t see her doing anymore tv shows now sadly :( I always wanted her to return as the hotel inspector

[@twistoffate4791]

@@theoriginalcarterfamily Ruth would be a great fit for that show.

[@akashmukhopadhyay9335]

Ruth is a great businesswoman, the man is completely clueless. Ruth immediately pinpointed his lack of literally everything on each visit. It was anxious to watch him and I felt Ruth's anxiety.

[@newgabe09]

the common element in every one of these and Alex Polizzi's shows (I'm having a binge) seems to be a clueless bloke.

[@amywalker3647]

@@newgabe09 it’s the one thing we can count on. I don’t think I’ve seen one of these shows where the boyfriend or husband isn’t the one who decides he wants a hotel or BnB and brings the long suffering wife or girlfriend along to work like a dog for the next 20 years.

[@sarahjaynescott]

@@newgabe09 with a huge ego

[@sarahjaynescott]

@@amywalker3647 exactly! They only have the wife for all of that unpaid labour while he sits in the bar / office doing "accounts"

[@ladylibertywdc8324]

Why on earth do these new business owners not hire a design firm to produce the much needed visual plans: space plans & complete construction documents, schedules for FFE? Crazy money-waster owner.

[@waffle_chair9269]

I’m wondering the same!!! They would actually save money , and essentially the service would end up free given the amount of time (they’ve taken wasting potential income that could be earning sooner) and their mistakes, mortgage payments etc. time is money is a memo these 2 didn’t get 😂

[@virginiamoss7045]

In the US the golden rule in business for large projects like this is to never, ever use your own money; you enlist investors until you get enough to do the project right in as little time as possible. Later, when it is solidly successful, you can use the profits you get with your share to buy out the others and it's all yours, if full ownership is important to you.

[@annettevillain4352]

Ruth, "did you season this?" He should have told her, you can always add seasoning, but you can't take it out.

[@sherim132]

More money and ego than brains. A designer would have saved him.

[@jewels3895]

Sentimental Purchase Have enough on there plate already. Possibly Michael saved it from a bulldozer....!? Huge project !Huge!

[@brians9436]

I would have liked to have seen the finished product

[@Flash3-22]

Did an online search and it has been completely refurbished and looks lovely.

[@annaroy1694]

They should have finished the restaurant/ball room and opened then finished the hotel side.

[@janeclarkson8471]

Love the wrought iron. I would have all clean, modern, all white linen /Cotten; a TOUCH of plush and with a light Edwardian/Art Nuveau theme. ALL WHITE BATHROOMS/SHOWERS with enough “put down” shelves and spaces. Sorry, my dream. This couple unfortunately didn’t gel at all! Good Luck for their future.

[@marklippitt8224]

Hi Ben and Dawn, Hope you’ve had a great week! I’m a bit late this week but just woke up with a cuppa and your video, now I’m ready for the day😊 Amazing progress guys, bet it’s feeling a lot warmer now. So happy you got your bedroom sorted and was able to sit and enjoy your Xmas dinner at the table. All the best for 2024 can’t wait to see what it brings for you. Well done, you should be so proud ❤

[@cautiouscoyote8590]

Uh... Did you mean this message for here????

[@marklippitt8224]

@@cautiouscoyote8590 no I’m not even sure how that happened, oops sorry

[@ellesimon4149]

Tammy was smart to just remain a girlfriend so she won't be responsible for his huge financial debts.

[@thebubbacontinuum2645]

Or she could have found a man who really wanted her, married him, and had a family before the biological clock ran out. There is only one reason for having a girlfriend for 9 years.

[@ellesimon4149]

@@thebubbacontinuum2645 Maybe she doesn't want to have kids?

[@Coastpsych_fi99]

@@thebubbacontinuum2645dodged a bullet having kids with the wrong person

[@virginiamoss7045]

Or she could have spent her time and talents building her own business and been totally free to do whatever she wanted without having to answer to anyone.

[@Welshy]

being an obvious sugar baby isnt what id call smart, came off as lazy but shes the woman and hes the man so everyone blames him

[@bojack40]

When i hear ‘theme’ rooms, i know it will be naff.

[@brocktoon8]

There are so many people with money who have the most tacky taste and think that is "glamorous" or "classy" but it is anything but. That hotel they visited was incredibly tacky and trashy looking. Like a Russian billionaire's house.

[@barbarat5729]

Thank you. Glad I wasn't the only one who thought it was unbelievably tacky and utterly overdone.

[@karmelicanke]

I couldn't think how to describe that hotel and 'Russian Billionaire look' says it all. You've got it spot on!

[@twistoffate4791]

@@karmelicanke No wonder it was called "The Crazy Bear" lol.

[@garrywallace1007]

It was the worst example Ruth could have showed them...

[@countesscable]

My jaw hit the floor when I saw that hotel… it was VILE!!! It looks like a brothel. Tacky and tasteless.

[@leeschnitz9782]

Does anyone know if they ever got this up and running and managed it themselves? I know its open now and run by someone else.

[@lorrainebennett7528]

Oh dear... how was he ever a successful developer? He seems clueless!

[@tropics71]

This is so frustrating to watch, I'd know exactly what to do and I'd keep the rooms pretty neutral cause they already have beachfront, so it will go well executed right. 🤦🏼‍♀️smh

[@waffle_chair9269]

A project manager could’ve cost a fortune, and it still would’ve been free when you compare what they’ve wasted in time and mistakes.

[@atodaso1668]

Does the major have to walk around in that?

[@dana_m8643]

Looks like Vinne Jones

[@trishahopkins8199]

If you want to realise good seaside hotel design just go and look at Olga Polizzi's hotel in Cornwall. Its lovely.

[@janeclarkson8471]

I visited it last year and went to eat at Alex's restaurant. All absolutely perfect! 👌👌👏❤️

[@JeanneBaney]

What lovely pages! Happy belated Thanksgiving! It’s always a good time to be thankful! 😊

[@cravan1982]

What a waste of 47:38 of my time. Didn't see the finished product...

[@lesliewatts7537]

A fool and his money are soon parted...............................

[@clarea1801]

I remember this hotel being on four in a bed

[@twistoffate4791]

What does that mean???

[@twistoffate4791]

@bina nocht Thanks, lol. I finally Googled & the show popped up.

[@sararichardson737]

Naive or not totally courageous. Animo!

[@evamaisoumenosgood]

I see on Google that the hotel is open, and that they have two restaurants... I wonder if the couple in this episode sold the hotel and someone else finished it. It was sad to see, though, that the relationship of the couple was affected by the business. And yes, it is very difficult to work with your spouse/partner.

[@lynnedelacy2841]

Yep it was sold a year after this was filmed at auction for between £800 k - £1 million after Michael walked away from the project

[@lynnedelacy2841]

I wonder how much money was actually invested by Michael -was it £3 million and it already sold for only £800k -1 million Also the second half of the £3 million was financed from his other businesses - so I wonder what impact it had on those

[@lynnedelacy2841]

What exactly was Tammy’s contribution ?

[@deezildee4556]

Ruth is our ladies rival to Gordon Ramsey, lol 🤣 On behalf of Australia 🇦🇺 I apologise for Tammy 🤦

[@annettewiltshire1425]

Why are you apologising for Tammy?

[@sapphire22011]

Right fro the first opening lines here, I could tell what was going to happen. They had already been working on it a year and had no idea of the layout? That causes HAVOC with builders with everything from sewage to drains, plumbing to electrics cod it usually means u have to keep going back and redoing or relocating things that should have been decided on months before. Builders are quick to take advantage and charge double and triple for this cos they will claim.that its time wasted that they could be onto other jobs plus tbh some of them wi tell u they are so cheesed off with chopping and changing, they couldn't care less at that stage. I personally didn't like the second hotel Ruth sent them to it was SOOOO dark

[@elizabethpaints]

This is like seeing a bad car accident and you can't help but slow down...but with this couple, I don't think I can watch the entire show. : /

[@sarahlowe8922]

What is it with themed rooms? It's such a tacky idea.

[@sararichardson737]

It’s interesting but I cannot relate to the ambition: another hotel?

[@pm2886]

They run a weddings business, but not married. He controls the money, and won't give her a budget. Hmmm

[@ClaireBeatty]

SHE runs that business. No indication that he’s involved in that.

[@gillmiller3702]

she ran her own wedding buisiness , he had nothing to do with it.

[@wendymisirly5826]

Michael left the project and the property was auctioned off in 2010

[@mujkocka]

Well 2008 won’t have been easy

[@MissX905]

He lost a ton of money by selling it. I wonder if he was able to pay back on the loans he took out to fix the place. If you look online the hotel is very nice and is in business with very good reviews. Too bad for this guy not being able to make his dream for the hotel a reality. I wonder if the gf stayed with him or even better did he marry her?

[@wendymisirly5826]

@@MissX905 The bank auction it off he lost everything

[@newgabe09]

@@MissX905 not better for her. He's a waste of time.

[@gracec3418]

Really sorry to read that Michael left the project and sold the property on. I hope one day he might take a second swing at it, as he will know to have everything planned out and budgeted second time round. I did not think Tammy was very supportive - - Michael was getting lost in the details [themed rooms, etc.] and Tammy would have done better to have steered him to an overview, as Ruth was trying to do. Instead Tammy just stuck her nose in design books and let it all unravel. Ruth was 100% right : the one theme they needed, was how to style the ballroom space. Decor of rooms at that point should have been secondary to the main areas of the hotel. Hope Michael can one day buy the hotel back - and see his dream come true.

Some people are not fit to do some things, and him selling was prob one of the rare good decisions he made.

[@jckonstanz]

To be fair Tammy wasn’t keen on owning a hotel in Clacton in the first place.

[@newgabe09]

Thank heavens the property went to someone else or it would still be a building site. Tammy was no doubt worn out by years of supporting this timewaste of a bloke. Something wrong upstairs- stoner?

[@gillmiller3702]

I hope he doesn't and who can blame Tammy for leaving him?

[@Welshy]

14:50 damn tammie really isnt doing anything, if it had been the other way around the editors would've chastidest the guy

[@gillmiller3702]

nope.

[@proconsumersafety]

There was a large insect on that large ugly chandelier in that one hotel the visited. Its ok when someone takes on a task when they do not have experience, but when they ignore professional advice, they get what they deserve.

[@fionabuck3937]

I dont understand how they could do all that work for 3 million

[@dpotengy1]

I think is very difficult to have a MASSIVE project like that amd not have the support of its lover. The whole project on the hall and the whole thing was really wrong. I saw it by the building's plant. Anyway... By the time they started seeing that the advices were for changes they should paused and start over. Besides makong a huge 23 rooms hotel, they should have half down the rooms making them bigger and more specious. Remake the plans for reception and Ballroom.... Etc. And maybe make small apts, with small kitchens...by connecting the rooms and rent it as bnb or even for short or long-term rental. Better than lose it as bankruptcy. Anyway... I hope all is well and that they made it together.

[@eugeniustheodidactus8890]

Refreshing to at least see online that the Royal is ostensibly up and running.

[@PeterMyers-ly7ut]

but not by them...

[@kathleenmartin7498]

I disagree with Ruth on omelets, I like mine cooked!!

[@virginiamoss7045]

Yes, Russian oligarch décor in the Crazy Bear hotel. Hideous! Not a good example.

[@lillyrose3545]

The theme rooms is so very cringy. Please don’t.

[@newgabe09]

fortunately for the building the idiot went away and some actual hoteliers /designers stepped in. Website now looks good.

[@auzzygirl8175]

Sadly Michael is very naive, disorganised and destined to failure.

[@misplacedsouthern1236]

It’s difficult to find any follow up on your projects after the show. It just seems to drop off the earth. As a tv show, how can I as a viewer find out anymore. I stumbled on here while looking on the TV at your site.

[@erzr]

They split up and he spent over 4million on a project that sold to seasoned hoteliers for 670,000 pounds. He is still 1.2 million in debt and filled for bankruptcy chapter 14 and now works as a bouncer for the last 5 yeas.

[@RichieRich1234RICH]

Not surprised. That was a huge money pit. You get whatever you can up and running and make money.

[@anotherlife9329]

Serves him well for having been irresponsible and selfish for years.

[@Elleliza3501]

That's not true at all. In 2017 he turned an Essex hotel into a care home. Currently he's doing a major redevelopment in Northamptonshire. He is still listed as the owner of the Royal as of 2023, though an article says it was auctioned off for £800K in 2010. And his net worth is estimated at £49m... though that is unconfirmed. Anyway, it doesn't look like he's suffering.

[@user-ge3jk6fg1l]

Don’t be so nasty. I wish them both well and hope he makes another fortune for himself. Good luck guys ❤

[@janeclarkson8471]

He got what he deserved. Impulse purchase for ridiculous reasons. Spent money like quicksilver: didn't fully inform his girlfriend (probably expected her to go along with it but shed more sense Han he) who though it was a blinkered idea. Shevgad her own business anyway. She wasn't interested. She new he was arrogant and selfish beyond belief. I believe she carried on with her business and he lost millions. Definitely not an astute businessman just thought he was. He reaped what he'd sewn. I've no sympathy with this type irresponsibility.

[@margolenney6032]

Dell boy was here!

[@ouiouane8311]

Money is wasted on the wealthy.

[@tracyjacobs7862]

So Michael sold the Royal at auction in 2010 🤨

[@bernadettecrawford3656]

Good luck

[@mirandalugay4016]

This woman was no help to this man.

[@MissX905]

She knows him and likely knew this was only a "pipe dream" and it was going to fail in the end and she wanted no part of that. She wasn't going down with the ship financially. Glad she stayed clear as he lost a ton of money on it as he auctioned it off in the end. Nice hotel now tho, has very good reviews.

[@virginiamoss7045]

@@MissX905 The bank likely auctioned it off, not him. He most likely defaulted on the loan and the bank took it back.

[@maggyabc]

Well, he didn't let her be part of his plan to buy and run a hotel. That's not how it's done in a partnership. When Ruth asked, who decides, he said,'the one with the cheque book, that would be me'. He just delivered the part of the decoration to her, but also here he didn't want her to decide but always first come and ask. HE excluded her.

[@taniagarciaduenas2522]

Ok grazie Dio se a presente 😗😗😗

[@angelaglanville9377]

As a property developer it seems he was very successful. I think he just got too big for his boots.

[@linricks3634]

Tammy is not interested in this project, and it shows.

[@gillmiller3702]

''In his blood'' Did he bribe her to say that?

[@MichaelAndersxq28guy]

Rooms can be had for $95/£75 a night. But not from Michael.

[@lynncaldwell8345]

Themed rooms?No way.

[@beverlyeick435]

Why don’t these people hire architects?

[@traceymagee]

What an awful name for a pub “the moon and starfish” 🤢

[@bloomjoy]

Wish him the best!

[@LeeJahn-ih9xu]

Nice to see a lovely comment, so many nasty rude people putting him and it her down, I think they are trying as best and good in him taking the risk

[@jkl1202]

The Aussie girlfriend sounds very English. Aussie accent is all gone.

[@kathleentallon3763]

What a sad disaster. 😢

[@debbebunch9973]

What about INVESTORS?

[@janeclarkson8471]

He is a self indulgent, selfish idiot who is hopelessly ignorant of planning and design elements of a hotel: and on such a large scale. Plus not discussing it with his wife/partner, is appalling. How can he be so nonchalant and foolish. Mostly he had terrible ideas.

[@marybedward9381]

I don’t know what possessed them. Great courage.

[@lizmacrae4970]

Hope is not a plan….

[@chrissymoss514]

What does the title have to do with the actual content of this vid? I hate clickbait 😡

[@KSMP]

There's an ex wife somewhere shoveling popcorn into her mouth watching this go down in flames and the younger girlfriend mentally preparing for the breakup while on camera. I bet she loved the "market research" phase but she's made it clear she wants nothing to do with the actual work once the thing opens.

[@annaroy1694]

She has her own business so why would she get involved after it's finished! As for ex-wife etc comment...rubbish!

[@KSMP]

@@annaroy1694 you sound like a bitter ex wife yourself!

[@carolinegathercole8473]

He is in cuckoo land

[@mteokay1246]

Ruth seem too chatty and too young-catholic-school-girl-giggly when shes with Michael. Hmm.

[@waynec8894]

I have no idea why people even get in to it they all ready had lot why the f would you do any more

[@ivanolsen7966]

24:00 what is with that bed head ..... what a ...cold ... unromantic ....decor ..... FAIL !

[@monicahamm3353]

why arrogant narcissistic people don't hire a seasoned professional architect and building manager..... and come up with a plan from minute one...... to get the hotel and restaurant and rooms open, open, open as quickly as possible........

[@coastliner5848]

Michael is hot - lucky Tammy!

[@libertyblueskyes2564]

OMG I WOULD HAVE MADE IT A HORROR VENUE, with ghosts and candles and cosplay employees

[@sarahsmyth5383]

plenty of ghouls walking around Clacton on sea 😆

[@adamben-shimon7513]

He is the worse developer I have ever seen. He doesn’t know what he is doing!

[@charmainkilloran86]

Themed rooms are dreadful.

[@graceandglory1948]

In a word...Hideous.

[@ES-7766]

You see this repeatedly, men making bad business decisions and the wives paying the consequences.

[@barbarat5729]

That goes both ways.

[@JamesBond-qv2ht]

An unmarried man can do what he likes with the money he earns.

[@atodaso1668]

Women spend 80% of the money on average.

[@anotherlife9329]

@@JamesBond-qv2ht He can do so alone without trying to drag another person into it while lying to her. Nobody obligated him to get a girlfriend and to waste her time.

[@AaronOBryan60]

The young lady seems like a spoiled child

[@newgabe09]

I think she's just trying to not to scream in public at the idiot she's hanging out with.