Can They Force This Extra On Us?

[noviceman1]

I recently booked a small party of friends into the restaurant of a local hotel.
As it was our wedding anniversary and the numbers were quite small we just expected to basically mingle in on a separate table with other diners.We went to the restaurant/hotel prior to the date of the meal at the request of the restaurant owner who asked us for the minor details regarding the night.
The member of staff dealing with it said '' we have put you into our ? room,and I will have to charge you an additional charge of £60 for hire of the room...this they said was a charge the government placed on them and they would have to put the charge back on to the customers.''
My question is...can they do this?
Has anyone had a similar charge placed on them?
Is there any laid down ruling of such a charge.?

When I made the original booking I asked them if they could take a small party of approx 15 people on the given date and did not request a separate room but merely a table within their restaurant which is fairly large .

[bednobs]

i think you have 2 choices - either pay it or cancel and go somewhere else

[EDDIE51]

The only reason I can see for this is that the Hotel has a 'residents only' licence . I would tell them 'sorry I'll go somewhere else'

[naomi24]

No, they can't. You didn't ask for a separate room so if that's all they can offer, and want to charge you for it, I'd tell them to forget it and l'd book somewhere else. It's not worth worrrying about.

[dzug2]

That makes no sense (to me) whatsoever

[EDDIE51]

I think I am misunderstanding , do you mean you were staying at the hotel and invited some friends to share a meal ? If so they are totally unjustified to charge you for a room . The bit about the government charge is rubbish.
They are just trying to con you out of more cash.

[boxtops]

Iread it that everyone is going to the hotel for the meal. No, they shouldn't charge you for the room - you didn't ask for it, and it's not your fault they can't accommodate you in the dining room. He's giving you a load of flannel.

[tonywiltshire]

By entering into this booking you made a contract with the hotel, probably a verbal contract. If they quoted you a cost at the time that is part of the contract of which there are 5 parts.
1/ Offer. 2/ Acceptance. 3/ Consideration. 4/Contractual intent. 5/ Capacity.
If they now claim an extra £60 for the use of a room that should have been mentioned at the time of the offer and before your acceptance so that you may consider the charge. If you are unable to resolve this with the hotel your remedy is court action.
If I were to dare to take court action over an anniversary meal with friends I would probably suffer the outrage of my Wife which would be far worse than losing £60.

[SlackAlice]

I'd say no thanks and go somewhere else.

[lozzer50]

change venue they are being greedy