LOCALS BANNED FROM THE BAY HOTEL – CAMPS BAY
Saturday was a busy day down in Camps Bay, with some kind of celebration/event going on. Something by the name of “Spring Tide” – resulting in hordes of youngsters over-populating the Camps Bay strip and beach.
The Muse, The Photographer, Eddie S and I decided to take some refuge in the bar at The Bay hotel. It’s a lovely, cosy little bar with great views – a favourite amongst the Camps Bay locals throughout the winter, and summer.
We got to the entrance and got blocked by a security guard who informed us that only hotel residents were allowed access to the hotel.
The Bay hotel – Camps Bay
Locals not welcome
“I beg your pardon?” I retorted, gobsmacked.
“Only hotel guests allowed. Hotel is full,” our security guard friend informed us.
“I can see inside the bar from here, it is completely empty. Are you joking?” I gave the guard the benefit of the doubt – perhaps we were being Punk’d.
“Instructions from management,” he went on.
I realised that perhaps this was the result of the crazy crowds on the beach that day and maybe a blanket instruction had been given to all staff. With this in mind, I thought a bit of communication was in order.
“No problem,” I said, “this makes complete sense. Could you just make a quick call to the manager from the phone in your security booth and let him know that we are local Camps Bay residents.”
I turned to our little crew and informed them that this is obviously a formality and is surely to do with the mayhem on the beach.
The guy came back from making the call and said, “I’m sorry, local residents are not allowed in the hotel – only guests.”
We stood there, gobsmacked. I didn’t know what to say. All I could muster was, “there must be a mistake – did you tell the manager we are locals, who support the hotel throughout winter, when there are no tourists? Can you check again..”
He made another call, came back and said the same thing.
I asked for the manager’s name.
Mario Gomes, is the name he gave me.
And so, Mario Gomes and The Bay hotel, we would just like to thank you for that. It is very interesting to note how you welcome us with open arms in winter and carry on about how special the Capetonians are to you. But then as soon as summer comes, you refuse to let us in to your hotel – with full knowledge that we are locals and supporters of your hotel. Twice.
Not to mention the amount of friends and family we have directed to your establishment in the past..
What a pity.
But let’s hear what the readers out there think of this. Do you think it’s right that The Bay hotel bans locals during summer, but then let’s them in during winter? Perhaps this is standard around the world? We’d love to hear your thoughts – please add to the comments section – below.
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63 Comments
Jambles
26 Oct 2009
Vote with your feet….
Frank
26 Oct 2009
It makes no sense that it would be a seasonal rule, but rather a “if the bar is too crowded” rule, as this may annoy guests. The first priority would be to their guests, but if the bar was quiet, it would be in their favour to create a bit of an atmosphere. Poor management call
FuziJuzi
26 Oct 2009
Oooooo… Massive managment FAIL!
Kel
26 Oct 2009
I have loved the Bay Hotel in both Summer and Winter..Even enjoyed a few session by the pool followed with copious amounts of alcohol and food!? SO this is not cool…definitely ruining my vibe…’rumour’ has it that the pools are actually public property…
ClayOne
26 Oct 2009
In full agreement with comment #3 Epic Fail
SS
26 Oct 2009
Sad, boycott times ahead
andre
26 Oct 2009
maybe its just this monkey manager being an a-hole.
BiD
26 Oct 2009
Always wandered up from the beach and been allowed access in the past – great spot to have a drink/bite to eat and a dip in the pool (they even provided towels) and it’s never been crowded. Disappointing if this has changed.
Glen
26 Oct 2009
Maybe the manager thought it was someone trying there luck to get a nice parking spot, considering camps bay was jam packed and NO parking..could be that?
the Lawyer
26 Oct 2009
Typical but completely UNacceptable.
They need to hear about it for sure.
Steve
26 Oct 2009
This used to happen all the time at the Beacon Island in Plett. It leaves a very sour taste in one’s mouth!
E
26 Oct 2009
We own a restaurant on the strip & we are purely dependent on locals to keep us afloat during winter. In summer it is important to keep notice of the locals and ensure you offer them drinks on the house to keep them coming back next winter. That’s just how it works. So not a good move at the Bay. I’m going to check it out, to see if they send me away!
Couch
26 Oct 2009
These suck balls of regurgitated taint will welcome you with open arms in the winter, ply you with great food and wine and treat you as if you shat gold bars…Come summer time they shaft you and do it without the courtesy of a reach around…I say stuff them Seth and take your business and hard earned cash to those loyal to the vibe.
Madge
26 Oct 2009
A real pity that this is the stance they’ve taken as it is such a lovely spot. Really think they should reconsider this decision.
Jonny P
26 Oct 2009
Just chatted with Mario and he said that he never said anything like that, He says that the one bar is open to the public and was on Saturday.
Mario Gomes grew up in Heidelberg, and matriculated in Riversdal. He went to Swellendam and started working at the Swellengrendel Hotel and was appointed as Hotel manager after 1st year (F&B focus)
fbmanager@thebay.co.za
Telephone +27 76 169 1319
The security also stopped me from double parking in the driveway, awaiting my wife who thought it was a great idea to buy some of those shitty old look frames
Seth, he said that he will be calling you.
Phil
26 Oct 2009
The least old Mario could have done would be to have come down and talk to Seth & Co as after making two calls to him it would have been clear they were being persistent and not ‘chancing’ it.
Seth Rotherham
26 Oct 2009
Hey Jonny P – perhaps then Mario should try to get in touch with his staff – in particular the security guard at the front entrance who called management (claimed he spoke to the manager and gave Mario’s name)TWICE to request that we enter. And TWICE we were refused. Time was around 15h00, Saturday.
Again, I stress, we asked for the name of the manager he had spoken to (twice) and were told Mario.
Seriously – there is not much more to it. I went as an anonymous person and that is how I was treated and that is what happened.
Case closed – the menu at Caprice was good, as usual.
Ron
26 Oct 2009
Sounds to me like someone didn’t get it all that morning and took it out on the patrons! And is not pleading “I did no such thing”…..
Seth, you’re a legend. Its great to know, amidst all the BS, you’re out there, slaving in the hot sun, on a Saturday nogal, to keep those of us who would like to know these things informed. So that’s it for The Bay…..
Thanks!!
Rashid
26 Oct 2009
The manager has obviously been attending the Cormac School of Cordiality.
LovelyS
26 Oct 2009
That is nonsense! How can they not allow locals into the bar when its in OUR area? I have been surrounded by the hospitality industry all my life and this is the first I have heard of locals not being allowed into a hotel. I would love to know how the Directors would feel about this?
PB
26 Oct 2009
It was probably just the porch monkey trying to be the main ou.
Mo
26 Oct 2009
Hey, PB: Are you a retard, or merely an unrepentant bigot? ”Porch Monkey”? What would make you think the use of this term is ok?
Neil
26 Oct 2009
Mo, you tosser, where in the original article does it mention the race of the security guard. Could it be that PB is talking in reference to “organ grinders and their monkeys” Or are you just the kind of bloke that relishes in finding a racial slant in any comment made !!!
yoel
26 Oct 2009
I ALWAYS spend saturdays having brekkie and a lazy pool day by the Bay hotel pool area – so far I have never had any issues with hotel staff,I hope this is note going to become a regular occurance,especially since some of us are more than just “residents”,we pretty much are Camps Bay.
DJ Max1
26 Oct 2009
That guard called someone and that someone would also report to Mario (If it truly wasn’t Mario). Why would the guard give the wrong name to Seth and his friends?
So whether Mario knew of this or not his staff failed him and he is to blame. End of story. Look at the result. I’ve heard about this story from three separate people today already.
Wouter
26 Oct 2009
your arrogance gets the better of you. Who do you think you are? By posting this note, do you think thet will fall to the ground and beg you for your approval? Grow up. I bet that you wont post this, i think your attention-seeking ego is far too fragile to have something critical on your site
Andy Duncan
26 Oct 2009
I suggest that we take Mario to the pump house for the pool and cut off his pinky finger just as a reminder that he would not let guests into his hotel.
Jonny P
26 Oct 2009
Hey Wouter
You got a spoon for that pot. Just because you havent been to “the big city” doesnt mean that you should be so abusive. There is more than one horse in our town buddy. We deal with the crap Winter wheather so that we can enjoy the sun when it comes. Go find a rock and crawl back under it pal.
Simone
26 Oct 2009
@Wouter
Seriously dude, what are you on? This is the theme of 2oceansvibe – it’s what Seth does. He looks out for all of us. He insists on good service, sense and logic. He reports on good brands and bad brands. what are you doing here, anyway?
Are you having something with Mario?
Azza
26 Oct 2009
Mo and Wouter are ruining my Vibe…Spot on with Boycotting the Bay, there are going to be echos in that place come winter! Well Played Seth…
Gulag
26 Oct 2009
Global leadership are coming down. I have just cancelled their stay at the Bay and moved them to the Radisson. The Bay can start to pay for their arrogance.
massimo
26 Oct 2009
come to Hout Bay, we welcome everyone!!!!
tony
26 Oct 2009
prawns!!!
Alex
26 Oct 2009
Shocking. all round FAIL
Rashid
26 Oct 2009
Seth, you should start something like Hello Peter…
b
26 Oct 2009
If this is the first time it’s happened, and the hotel was full and the owners wanted to keep it for the large groups, fair enough, shit happens. What time was it Seth when you went? I’d say don’t be too hard if it’s a once off.
tony
26 Oct 2009
Mario and Wouter sitting in a tree….
Holly Vegas
26 Oct 2009
It was just a frigging mistake on the security guards part, no issue, dont take perfectly good hot spot down just because the security guard was having a bad day.
Mo
26 Oct 2009
@Neil
Actually no, I don’t. In fact, I think the race card is pulled far too often.
Having said that however, ‘porch monkey’ is a derogatory term. I don’t find it acceptable. It’s equivalent in meaning to ‘nigger’. Or ‘spade’. Would you be jumping to PB’s diffence so vociferously if he used any of those terms?
Mo
26 Oct 2009
typo: ‘defence’, not ‘diffence’
Louis-John Rex
26 Oct 2009
must agree with mario the gnome on this one..i dont like locals roaming freely around in the spot i pay for with MY money. keep the pad exclusive seth..
Notomo
26 Oct 2009
@Mo – “vociferously”. I’m almost as offended by such a word on this site as you are by PB’s. You’re not impressing anyone. Live the holiday. In fact, however, in ‘Mospeak’, I would of course mean “subsist the recess”. Whaa ha.
Grant
27 Oct 2009
Maybe it was because you were wearing Prada and not Gucci, you know how those Camps Bay types are. And how did you walk up? Was it a saunter or a catwalk type of vibe? I personally would have gone with the catwalk vibe, it works every time, especially in Camps Bay. And you couldn’t possibly have been wearing those bright those Ray-Bans of yours could you!? They would never have let you in wearing those, you should have gone with the Polo NoFarers, much classier and you would definitely have got in then. It makes me want to platz I tell you! Simply rrrridiculous darling!
PB
27 Oct 2009
Porch Monkey is a derogatory term for bouncers. Calm down to a panic
PB
27 Oct 2009
Porch Monkey is a reference to Bouncers – calm down to a panic
Mo
27 Oct 2009
@Notomo
You know what, perhaps you are absolutely right. And I just don’t get ‘it’, and why you find ‘vociferous’ offensive. And as for impressive, why would anyone find that impressive?
SF
27 Oct 2009
surely hotel residents take preference over locals? if the hotel is full and staff are attending to a ‘full house’, then closing shop for locals is kinda acceptable? or am I wrong? p.s. I’m a local.
Mo
27 Oct 2009
@PB
Mild panic in progress
Thanks for responding, by the way. Still do not think that term is acceptable. Wanna know why? ‘Cos that word has always been used to describe black men in a derogatory fashion. Simply re-branding it doesn’t work. If I was a bouncer at a door, and you called me a Porch Monkey, I think we’d… not be friends.
Then again, this is just my personal opinion. Others may feel completely different about it.
Liz
27 Oct 2009
Exactly the same thing happened to me last year or so when the Manor Hotel in Hout Bay had its revamp. Only guests were suddenly allowed in the bar and terrace for drinks. And this not a hotel that draws in the crowds in the first place.
WTF?
FooFunk
27 Oct 2009
Fuckin wankers! We also live here and would also like to enjoy our own country when the sun comes out. I know how many places go under during the winter so the fact that there is someone out there saving you ass during that time can only mean that you could do them the favor by sharing the love!….penis cheeks!
james
27 Oct 2009
Don’t cry over the smallest thing. All are getting too technical. Who’s knows.. maybe the Pope was there and security was tight.
Grant
27 Oct 2009
The term “racist” has been so overused and overplayed that it has lost all meaning. In SA, calling someone racist usually means that the so-called racist has struck a nerve and the race card is used as a last resort because no other defence can be thought of. language evolves. If there was a dictionary for SA language use, the entry next to racist would read: Word used when the offender has no defence and decides to draw on the countries past to defend his/her indefensible position.”
Porch monkey is term used to describe a pleb, someone who doesn’t make the decisions. You’re reading to much into it mo.
SVR
27 Oct 2009
Only a Racist can call someone a racist.
Elzaan
27 Oct 2009
Seth, we were at your nest (The Cape Royale) over the weekend, wanting to have a coupla drinks at the Sky Bar and we were told exactely the same..
(
.. Elz
Mo
27 Oct 2009
@Grant
I agree with you. Especially in the light of recent comments made by various members of our ruling party over the course of the last few months. Most annoying, as you mention, is when the race card is drawn in response to fair criticism.
And yes, I agree too that language evolves. Clerks II had a pretty funny scene in which one of the characters ‘re-claims’ the term porch monkey. One of the reasons that it’s funny, is that it is absurd. A white middle-American deciding that porch monkey was no longer a racial slur is absurd. And so too do I think that deciding that porch monkey is now no longer a derogatory term due to the evolution of language is premature, and like the scene in Clerks II, funny.
But, I’ve taken up way too much airtime here already. And again, like you say, perhaps I’m reading too much into it. Let’s move onto lighter subject matter!
Seth Rotherham
27 Oct 2009
@Elzaan – I never once referred to The Bay hotel pool. Most hotels only allow residents at the pool. The Cape Royale allows anyone into the bar and restaurant area.. The Sky Bar area is the pool area on the deck – very different to the main hotel bar and restaurant.
Come now.
Naughty.
Ron
27 Oct 2009
@ Mo,
Dude, please help me understand this,when did black people get to sit on the porch in middle America?? Or anywhere else for that matter? And, since I’ve never seen any, are you aware of any porches in the townships? How is this a racist slur??
Brandon
27 Oct 2009
We’ve got tons of places to choose from in CT, so if the Bay doesn’t want us, no sweat we’ll go else where, but seeing as we’re the paying clientelle we’ll vote with our wallets which unlike the Bay, are open whole year. Did someone here say Radisson?
guz nuname
27 Oct 2009
Voila, this is exact the point why I prefer Kloof Street over Camps Bay. So let the Bay suffer in Winter. And the Radisson offers better service anyway
Foranrsole
28 Oct 2009
Treat yourself, stay at The Bay and you might then understand why crowd control is implemented from time to time! I vote for World Peace; the Bay Hotel is FAB!
HD
29 Oct 2009
Calling someone “porch monkey” is tantamount to calling them nigger.
You simply cannot use of this term, even if you don’t think its offensive. It is, and it’s usage indefensible.
Let’s see if you hold the courage of your convictions and let’s see what the court says? Don’t try to defend it, you’re wrong, there’s no middle ground here.
JULIAN
29 Oct 2009
HORRIBLE, JUST HORRIBLE
Brad
09 Nov 2009
The Bay does allow locals at Sandy B and the Pool at Sandy B.
This was a once off problem – and totally inexcusable – Im sure it definitely wont happen again, especially after this article.
We were made to feel most welcome there the other day
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