A reader got in touch with me yesterday to ask if I've ever head of inspectors visiting a place and not eating or staying there.
Maybe they were doing a recce and the guidebooks in question (this has happened twice) will come back and inspect properly. But has anyone else had similar experiences and what did you do? Is it wise to contact the guidebook and query it or do you think that compromises a property's position?
Had a similar experience a couple of years ago, a visit with follow- ups promised. Puzzled- yes, happy- ?????
It's not on is it. The guidebooks are so mysterious about this but I think they need to be more transparent - these are people's livelihoods when all said and done.
at the AA rosette academy earlier this year, a senior inspector happily told us all that they dont have enough inspectors to visit every restaurant every year, so most places get inspected once every two years (at the most). whilst understandable, it raised several eyebrows at the time, especially when the subject of high profile chefs getting rosette awards within months of opening was raised.
the rationale behind it is that only people with a track record of rosettes will be awarded rosettes so quickly, but that irked a lot of people who have no 'track record' but felt that they were cooking at a certain level. you have to see the point, how do you get a 'track record' if you only get inspected every 24 months or so? i understand the need for consistency, but it has to be one rule for all, surely?