Great story on Sky News about a motel manager in New Zealand who’s banned an entire town from staying in his holiday complex of studio apartments and villas.

The town in question is Wainuiomata, population circa 17,000 - none of whom are now welcome at the Supreme Motor Lodge in Palmerston North, NZ.

The reason for this all-out ban?  Well, it seems the town’s sports teams – regular visitors until recently - are somewhat lacking in manners, leave rubbish strewn around and have scant regard for fellow residents.

When their last stay resulted in all night music and rudeness towards staff, manager Malcolm Glen, who goes by the nickname Basil Fawlty, deemed it the final straw and issued his blanket ban.

basil-fawlty

Even the MP for Wainuiomata is barred: when he phoned to test the ruling, using the old “don’t you know who I am” trick, he was promptly informed by Mr Glen that it mattered not a jot, particularly as he was a Scotsman and therefore didn’t have a vote anyway.

Fair play to the man, I say. And could this be a canny wee marketing campaign, too?  It certainly enticed me to sneak a peek at the motel’s website, and sure enough, it states on the homepage:

“Just to add some extra character to our offering, we have Malcolm (better known as Basil Fawlty) at the helm.”

Sadly, there’s no mention of a Sybil.  Boo.

Related Tags: New Zealand, motel, Basil Fawlty, General