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Wales Online
a day ago
- Wales Online
Guests rush to defence of Corfu hotel after British gran moaned about lack of chips
Guests rush to defence of Corfu hotel after British gran moaned about lack of chips Lido Corfu Sun Hotel was slammed by 69-year-old Susan Edwards, who claimed there was 'no food we could eat', but other guests have some different opinions Susan Edwards, who had a 'nightmare' holiday in Corfu (Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle ) A displeased British holidaymaker's critique about the lack of English grub at Corfu's Lido Corfu Sun Hotel has prompted fellow vacationers to come to the establishment's defence. The hotel, nestled on the picturesque eastern coast of Greece's famed island, was thrown into the limelight after Susan Edwards, aged 69, condemned her 'nightmare' getaway arranged via TUI, claiming an absence of palatable options with gripes about a shortage of chips leading her to be 'sick to death of looking at rice'. Defending the range of fare on offer, the hotel manager proclaimed the menu 'generous and diverse', highlighting that 'fresh salads, fruits, hot and cold dishes' were readily available each day. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . Following the controversy, a slew of devoted patrons have since descended on Tripadvisor and Google Reviews to rebut Ms Edwards' disparaging comments, as noted by the Mirror. One individual, visibly irked, penned their inaugural Tripadvisor critique denouncing certain visitors as 'pathetic chavs'. The account, set up in direct reaction to the dispute this month, awarded the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel a full five-star accolade, reports the Manchester Evening News. Their impassioned review stated: "Don't listen to pathetic chavvy Brits and Poles who bought the cheapest 'all inclusive' package in existence and demanded type of service only the most entitled and uncouth would. It's a fine, charming little place. Close to water, nice food and clean facilities. Thankfully, no British food!". Article continues below The Corfu hotel where Susan Edwards stayed (Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle ) Another reviewer offered a cheeky riposte to Ms Edwards' complaints, extolling the virtues of the hotel's cuisine and its special attention to Scottish guests. Their review read: "Phenomenal hotel, very comfortable and well located for a relaxing holiday, we are regular visitors. Excellent all inclusive food and drink package, they really go out their way to cater for Scottish visitors. "We enjoyed draught Tennant's lager, Irn Bru was on tap (diet and full fat), square sausage on a roll at breakfast, scotch pies and bridies at lunchtime, and there was always a choice of haggis or mince 'n tatties at dinner. "Tunnock's tea cakes and shortbread were available all day, along with Scottish Blend tea. The staff are lovely and cannot do enough for you. The Greek dishes are also immense, which is a bonus, as Corfu is in Greece." In recent days, following the initial grievance expressed, an array of glowing reviews have also surfaced on Google Reviews for Lido Corfu Sun Hotel, many awarding it a perfect score. One happy visitor commented on the platform: "The food is delicious. The service is great. We arrived at 4am and at 8am we got a room and wristbands and we could use everything. On the day of departure after adding the key to the transfer itself we could use all the facilities and food. We sincerely recommend." Ms Edwards claimed her holiday turned into a nightmare the instant she, along with her family arrived, alleging it was 'horrendous' from the get-go. The gran from Westerhope, Newcastle – who suffers from ulcerative colitis – emphasised the necessity of being 'very careful' about her diet. "On a morning you could have toast, a hard boiled egg, or something in sauce," she recounted. "There was no bacon. For breakfast there was mozzarella and sliced tomatoes. There was no hot bacon or sausage. "One day we had chips. One day out of the whole lot. There were fish, sardines and rice - I was sick to death of looking at rice. There was pasta and salads, none of which were marked (labelled). There was a Greek night where they served kebabs; I couldn't eat that. It's the worst holiday I've ever been on." In response, TUI sympathetically offered Ms Edwards £100 in holiday vouchers, with their representative expressing regret over her ordeal. Article continues below Their spokesperson stated: "Our priority is to ensure customers have the best possible holiday experience, so we are sorry to hear that Ms Edwards felt dissatisfied with her holiday. We have been in touch directly with Ms Edwards to come to a resolution."
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
'I paid €890 for my holiday and spent week sick of rice and desperate for chips'
With the summer holiday season just around the corner, many people across Ireland are gearing up for well-deserved getaways. But for one tourist, what was meant to be a relaxing break, turned into a "nightmare" she won't soon forget. Susan Edwards, 69, from Westerhope in Newcastle upon Tyne, paid €890 for an all-inclusive seven-night holiday at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel in Greece, hoping for sunshine, good food and quality time with her family. Instead, she found herself "sick to death of looking at rice" as the largely local food menu left her group - which consisted of her cousins, aged 77 and 78, her daughter, 30, and second cousin, 50 - frustrated. Susan said the holiday "was horrendous from the minute [they] got there". The hillside hotel, she claimed, offered limited dining options and steep ramps that made even getting around a struggle. After arriving around 2pm on May 12, the group were told poolside food wouldn't be served until 5pm, which Susan described as "one-inch square of baklava". Susan was especially disappointed with the menu, claiming there was "no English food" available. Speaking to Newcastle Chronicle, she claimed: "It was all-inclusive, £750 (€890) each we paid and there was no food we could eat. I have to be careful because I have ulcerative colitis so there's certain things I can't eat. "On a morning you could have toast, a hard boiled egg or something in sauce. There was no bacon. For breakfast there was mozzarella and sliced tomatoes. There was no hot bacon or sausage. "We got chips one day. One day out of the whole lot. There was fish, sardines and rice - I was sick to death of looking at rice. There was pasta and salads, none of this was marked (labelled). One night there was a Greek night and they had kebabs, I couldn't eat that. It's the worst holiday I've ever been on." The drinks selection didn't help either. She alleged: "The all inclusive drinks were wine, lager, ouzo or brandy. Yes, there were soft drinks, but we had to pay €1.50 for water." She added she normally enjoys a bottled lager or Bacardi and Coke, both of which she claims would have cost her €9 at the hotel as it was a different brand. The problems didn't stop at food and drink. Susan claimed there was no entertainment at the hotel, which she described as "stuck there in the middle of nowhere", and its private beach was difficult to reach because of steep terrain. TUI's website describes holidays at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel as being "all about the laidback life" where "ping pong and pool are the liveliest activities on the agenda", aside from the occasional live music and Greek night. It also describes the four-star hotel as having its own private patch of beach "just steps away". Susan added: "There was a private beach but it was so steep we couldn't get down to it and it was 150 yards from the hotel. There's a ramp at the side of the hotel that you have to try and pull your case up when you arrive. My daughter was up and down, up and down, trying to pull everyone's case up for them." Susan said she normally holidays in Spain with her cousins and would always fly with TUI as she trusts the company's reputation for customer care. She added: "In the past I've paid more to get on a TUI flight because if anything happened I've always thought you've got a big company behind you if anything goes wrong. Not anymore. This holiday was a nightmare." TUI offered Susan £100 (€118) in holiday vouchers, but she declined. A TUI UK and Ireland Spokesperson said: "Our priority is to ensure customers have the best possible holiday experience, so we are sorry to hear that Mrs Edwards felt dissatisfied with her holiday. We have been in touch directly with Mrs Edwards to come to a resolution."
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Holidaymaker slams 'horrendous' Corfu trip where there was 'no English food'
Holidaymaker slams 'horrendous' Corfu trip where there was 'no English food' Susan Edwards says she'll 'never book with TUI again' after 'nightmare' trip Susan Edwards had a "nightmare" holiday in Corfu, booked through TUI (Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle ) A holidaymaker said she refuses to book with TUI again after an all-inclusive holiday to Corfu, which she branded a "nightmare". Susan Edwards had paid £750 for a seven-night stay at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel, along with her elderly cousins, daughter, and another cousin. But Susan, 69, from Westerhope, said the holiday was "horrendous from the minute[they] got there." She has specific dietary requirements due to ulcerative colitis, was unhappy with the food available at the hotel and said it was difficult to find suitable meals Susan said: "It was all-inclusive, £750 each we paid and there was no food we could eat and we couldn't have anything to drink. I have to be careful because I have ulcerative colitis so there's certain things I can't eat. The all inclusive drinks were wine, lager, ouzo, or brandy. Yes, there were soft drinks, but we had to pay €1.50 for water." Susan said her party arrived at the hillside hotel at around 2pm on May 12 and were ready to enjoy food and refreshments after a long journey. After climbing a large ramp to reach the hotel reception Susan said she was informed that pool-side food would be served at 5pm for guests, which she claims was a "one-inch square of baklava". However, her dissatisfaction with the food at the hotel became worse the following day when she discovered there was "no English food" available. Describing the food on offer at the hotel, Susan said: "On a morning you could have toast, a hard boiled egg, or something in sauce. Describing the hotel's food options, she said: "On a morning you could have toast, a hard boiled egg, or something in sauce." Article continues below "There was no bacon. For breakfast there was mozzarella and sliced tomatoes. There was no hot bacon or sausage. "We got chips one day. One day out of the whole lot. There was fish, sardines and rice - I was sick to death of looking at rice. There was pasta and salads, none of this was marked (labelled). One night there was a Greek night and they had kebabs, I couldn't eat that. It's the worst holiday I've ever been on." Food on offer during Susan's holiday (Image: Susan Edwards ) Susan further expressed her disappointment as she couldn't enjoy her preferred drink during her holiday because she doesn't fancy ouzo and doesn't consume brandy. She explained that she would normally have bottled lager or one Bacardi and Coke, which she said would have cost her €9 and would have been a different brand. "By the time we paid £750 for the holiday, €70 tourist tax for me and my daughter and an extra £450 for both of our meals, I could have been to the Caribbean on that", Susan lamented. Her disappointment with the holiday has led her to vow not to book with TUI again, reports Chronicle Live. TUI's website paints a picture of holidays at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel as being "all about the laidback life" where "ping pong and pool are the liveliest activities on the agenda", aside from the occasional live music and Greek night. It also describes the four-star hotel as having its own private patch of beach "just steps away". However, Susan claimed there was no entertainment at the hotel which is "stuck there in the middle of nowhere". She added: "There was a private beach but it was so steep we couldn't get down to it and it was 150 yards from the hotel. "There's a ramp at the side of the hotel that you have to try and pull your case up when you arrive. My daughter was up and down, up and down, trying to pull everyone's case up for them." She also described her frustration regarding the hotel's refusal to provide an additional key for the room she was sharing with her daughter. Susan remarked: "I asked for a second key for my daughter because sometimes I get tired in the afternoon and rather than lying in the sun and getting burned. "But if I went up to have a sleep, my daughter wouldn't be able to get into the room. She would have to wake me up to get in. I asked for a second key but I was told 'no, too expensive'." Susan explained that she usually takes her holidays in Spain with her cousins and always opts to fly with TUI, appreciating the security of having "there's a big company behind you if anything goes wrong." Nevertheless, she feels that she cannot travel with them again after being left dissatisfied by their response to her complaints. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here Susan has been offered £100 in holiday vouchers from TUI, however, she claims some holidaymakers she met while at the hotel have been offered more after complaining. Susan has declined TUI's final offer of £100 vouchers. She said: "In the past I've paid more to get on a TUI flight because if anything happened I've always thought you've got a big company behind you if anything goes wrong. Not anymore. This holiday was a nightmare." Article continues below A spokesperson for TUI UK and I stated: "Our priority is to ensure customers have the best possible holiday experience, so we are sorry to hear that Mrs Edwards felt dissatisfied with her holiday. We have been in touch directly with Mrs Edwards to come to a resolution."
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Tourist's 'nightmare' as Corfu hotel 'had no English food' and not enough chips
Susan Edwards complained that her stay at a hotel in Corfu, Greece, came without the 'English food' she liked, and without entertainment or easy access to a private beach A holidaymaker has told how she became "sick to death of looking at rice" after the hotel she stayed at during her picturesque island getaway came with "no English food". Susan Edwards, from Westerhope, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, has refused to book with TUI again after paying for an all-inclusive trip to Corfu where she wasn't offered English food. The mum, 69, had jetted off to the Greek island paradise with her two cousins, aged 77 and 78, 50-year-old second cousin and daughter, 30, on a TUI package holiday. But she said the vacation was "horrendous" from the minute they arrived, and that the Brits were left with "no food" they could eat. Speaking to the Newcastle Chronicle, Susan said the group discovered on the first morning of their stay at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel that there was "no English food" available. The mum, who suffers from ulcerative colitis, lamented the lack of bacon and sausage, saying she and the group were unhappy when they were presented with traditional Greek fare. She said: "On a morning you could have toast, a hard boiled egg, or something in sauce. "There was no bacon. For breakfast there was mozzarella and sliced tomatoes. There was no hot bacon or sausage. We got chips one day. One day out of the whole lot. "There was fish, sardines and rice - I was sick to death of looking at rice. There was pasta and salads, none of this was marked (labelled). One night there was a Greek night and they had kebabs, I couldn't eat that. It's the worst holiday I've ever been on." Susan was also shocked by the drinks on offer, with wine, lager, ouzo, or brandy on the menu. She said she couldn't enjoy any drinks, with water setting guests back €1.50 (£1.27). Usually, she explained, she would have a bottled lager or Bacardi and Coke, which she claimed would have cost €9 (£7.60) and come from a different brand. Susan claimed that, by the time all of her payments had gone through, she could have paid for a trip to the Caribbean instead. She said: "By the time we paid £750 for the holiday, €70 (£59.12) tourist tax for me and my daughter and an extra £450 for both of our meals, I could have been to the Caribbean on that." The mum added she was disappointed to find the group was in a hotel that was "stuck there in the middle of nowhere" with a private beach that was "so steep we couldn't get down to it" and 150 yards away. TUI offered Susan £100 in holiday vouchers, with a spokesperson saying they were "sorry to hear" about her experience. They said: "Our priority is to ensure customers have the best possible holiday experience, so we are sorry to hear that Mrs Edwards felt dissatisfied with her holiday. We have been in touch directly with Mrs Edwards to come to a resolution."
Wales Online
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Original Gogglebox families now from heartbreaking deaths to marriage splits
Original Gogglebox families now from heartbreaking deaths to marriage splits Gogglebox has seen plenty of families come and go over the 12 years it has been airing. Scarlett Moffatt with her parents during their first year on Gogglebox in 2014 (Image: Newcastle Chronicle ) Gogglebox airs on Channel 4 and the reality series first graced screens back in 2013, since becoming a huge hit. Known and loved for the stars' observations and reactions, the series has won numerous awards including a BAFTA and an NTA. The concept of Gogglebox was criticised before the show aired, but it has become one of the network's most-loved shows. There are now versions of the programme all over the world, including Australia, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Mongolia and Norway. Here is all you need to know about the former families and where they are now, over a decade later. The Tapper family in 2024 Article continues below The Tapper family Dad Jonathan, mum Nikki and their children Josh and Amy, became one of the first Gogglebox families. Since Gogglebox, Amy has starred in reality shows Celebs Go Dating and Celebrity Coach Trip, alongside her dad Jonathan. Josh, worked in politics and communications, having gained a place on the Government Communications Apprenticeship scheme. Amy and her dad revealed a couple of years ago they had managed to shed six stone between them. They both look unrecognisable after taking part in Do The Unthinkable Diet with Muscle Foods. Scarlett Moffatt now has a son (Image: Scarlett Moffatt on Instagram ) The Moffatt family Scarlett Moffatt is one of the biggest names to come out of Gogglebox as after only two years on the show, she entered the I'm A Celebrity jungle. She was crowned Queen of the Jungle during the 16th series and joined Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway as a presenter. The whole family went on to star in the controversial Channel 4 series The British Tribe Next Door, where they lived alongside the Himba tribe in Namibia for four weeks. In 2023 Scarlett, 34, revealed she was pregnant with her first child and gave birth to her son in June of that year. Sandi Channer and Sandra Martin in 2015 (Image: GETTY ) Sandi and Sandra Sandra opened up about how her fortunes changed after she left the series almost eight years ago. The grandmother-of-five was left jobless, living in temporary accommodation. Her friend Sandi hinted the pair have got a big project coming up that could change everything. Speaking in the summer of 2024, she told Money Talks: 'Let me tell you, we have a big secret coming up. We're going to be doing a TV show together. 'We can't tell you anything else but watch this space, it's going to be amazing.' Dom and his wife now run a gin company Steph and Dom Parker Steph and Dom were part of the series until 2016 and then ran a bed and breakfast at their Grade I listed house in Kent. Their business went into liquidation in 2021 and they moved to their holiday home in the Canary Islands that year. They now run their own gin company. Stephen and Daniel are still living together (Image: stephengwebb1971/Instagram ) Stephen and Daniel Stephen and Daniel announced back in 2024 they had divorced after six years of marriage. They quit Gogglebox in 2023, saying they wanted to "explore other opportunities". It was an amicable break-up as they vowed to remain friends. In January 2025 Daniel revealed they were still living together while they sold their apartment. Speaking on Best's Suddenly Single podcast, he said: "We cohabit really well together. (The split) was quite a slow process, for a while we were still sleeping in the same bed. "Then when Stephen went on Celebs Go Dating we agreed we'd sleep in separate bedrooms. We've found a way to work together, live together and be dog dads. It's always been about friendship." They both still run their salon together. June and Leon Bernicoff (Image: Channel 4 ) Leon and June Bernicoff Leon and June were the first couple to be cast for Gogglebox and both of their deaths shook the nation. Leon died in December 2017 at the age of 83, and June left the show shortly afterwards. She went on to write her first book about their 60-year relationship, titled Leon And June: Our Story. June then died in May 2020, at the age of 82, following a short illness. Former Gogglebox stars, the late Mary Cook (left), and Marina Wingrove (Image: PA ) Mary Cook and Marina Wingrove Mary and Marina joined in 2016 and they admitted they loved being cheeky, saying the show had given them a new lease of life. Mary, who worked in the hospitality trade, died in August 2021 at the age of 92. Marina, meanwhile, announced her retirement from fundraising back in October 2024, at the age of 89. She had spent 17 years working with charities in the south west. She announced she was ready to stop and rest now, as she would be turning 90 that Christmas. Gogglebox star Viv Woerdenweber (centre), graduating at University of Liverpool ceremony (Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo ) The Woerdenweber family German-born Ralf Woerdenweber, his British wife Viv and their daughter Eve joined the cast for season two. Ralf works for Bosch and Viv runs a goth-themed shop called Twilight, while Eve is working towards a PhD in Psychology Research. She also announced her engagement to her boyfriend Alex in 2020. Article continues below Gogglebox airs on Fridays on Channel 4 at 9pm
