An Ashington hotel has spoken out after being in the thick of a very heated episode of Four in a Bed this week, which saw filming abandoned after tensions boiled over.
The Portland Hotel, Bar and Kitchen has been on screen in the popular Channel 4 show which sees B&Bs from all over the country compete against each other to win a coveted Four in a Bed plaque.
The Station Road business was represented on the show by general manager Gary Gray and waitress Katrin Keech but, after Gary fell ill during filming, Katrin had to host the other competitors on her own when they visited the North East.
The Portland was up against three other businesses in the TV contest - The Strathdon Guest House in Dundee, Mercia Marina in Derbyshire and Tigh Na Leigh in Perthshire - and it was the owners of the latter, Karen and Graham Smith, who sparked some serious controversy, when they underpaid all of the other hotels and said they wouldn't stay at any of them again, despite giving them high marks.
Their underhand tactics caused a right stink with viewers watching at home and throughout the week, there have been reactions posted on The Portland Hotel's Facebook page.
And after Friday's final episode, which saw filming halted after Karen and Graham's insulting underpayments, The Portland thanked Katrin, who was seen in tears at the end as she said: "Karen and Graham won, I'm fuming about this and I wish them everything, but nothing good."
They posted: "Dearest Katrin. We would like to say a huge thank you, for the enormous effort dedication and loyalty to us here at The Portland.
"Your task we asked of you made more difficult after losing Gary mid show. Most people won’t realise how difficult it was filming up to fifteen hours a day for two weeks ....go girl you're a star.
"Ooh and we’re having T- Shirt’s made With your unforgettable quote 'I wish them everything, but nothing good.'
"Thank you once again from everyone here at The Portland."
In a separate comment to Chronicle Live, management told us: "Katrin’s fine. She was left in tears because of the behaviour at the end that wasn’t shown.
"The support she/we are getting from our customers far and wide is humbling she did an amazing job considering Gary took Ill at the half way point."
