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UKPinfest 2026 - August 28th, 29th & 30th

How many rooms has this hotel got to be booked out so quick. The problem I have found is that there isn't much if any accommodation close to the hotel as an alternative.
 
How many rooms has this hotel got to be booked out so quick. The problem I have found is that there isn't much if any accommodation close to the hotel as an alternative.
 
And those who booked as Machine donors last week, who were not given that code by Phil.
There are not usually 90 machine donors, so there is a lot of people who seem to have booked with that code.
Clearly some "machine donors" leaked the info to their mates.

Don't think the hotel will give a list though (GDPR etc).
 
To be honest im more than annoyed with how this has panned out.

Already purchased a pinfest ticket annoyingly.

Last year was a nightmare for the room, this year even worse.
 

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Last year it was sold out and I was told I could go on a waiting list and the week after they got in touch with a spare room I do know a couple of others that were quite far down on the list and they got rooms too so it's definitely worth doing.
I think it would definitely be different if people had to pay something upfront for the room
 
Whilst I know this isn’t ideal and the system has been abused there’s not a lot I can do. I will be looking at changing the way rooms are booked for 2027.

The Staverton golf club is nearby. A short taxi ride away. I’ve stayed there myself and it’s a nice place.
 
Whilst I know this isn’t ideal and the system has been abused there’s not a lot I can do. I will be looking at changing the way rooms are booked for 2027.

The Staverton golf club is nearby. A short taxi ride away. I’ve stayed there myself and it’s a nice place.


Cant even get in the Staverton.
Just rang. They are ringing me back.

This is so bad that thus has happened.

They never returned the call....
 
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The fact the hotel dont take any money to secure a booking also means people can book without even checking if they will be in the country next august. If there was an even £20 non refundable deposit to secure the room it would not sell out as quickly.
Unfortuanetly the hotel don't do this and it would be too much of a headache for big phil to book them all and then resell them to the community.

I have stayed offsite many times but have stayed onsite the last few years as it is just easier...
 
The fact the hotel dont take any money to secure a booking also means people can book without even checking if they will be in the country next august. If there was an even £20 non refundable deposit to secure the room it would not sell out as quickly.
Unfortuanetly the hotel don't do this and it would be too much of a headache for big phil to book them all and then resell them to the community.

I have stayed offsite many times but have stayed onsite the last few years as it is just easier...
That's what I think the problem is you could easily book even a couple of rooms just incase someone you know might want to go.
That's why it's worth going on the list too
 
I don't think the issue is about other accommodation being available or not, the issue is people abusing the system. If you state things will be available on one date, yet they are allowed to be booked before that date, that is either bad communication, or apathy. I hope all the 'donators' bring plenty if machines.
 
Hopefully the organisers can get a list of all bookers claiming to be machine donors and make sure they subsequently bring a machine?

Unfortunately with all the data protection stuff we have now thats not a possibility.

Will be interesting to see when the machine donations thread goes up how many names end up on it, and if we dont end up with at least 90 names on it then I hope any person who has booked a donator room and is not bringing a pin feels like the massive bellend they are all weekend, as their selfishness has ruined many peoples day today and they should be ashamed of themselves.
 
Someone who is bringing a van with 8 machines in can book 8 different rooms and then say that each person has a room because their machine is in the van.

Unfortunately people will always find a way to abuse any system. Especially if there isn't a cost upfront and no risk.

The only way I could see it working would be for Phil to book a number of rooms upfront, and then allocate them himself to known donors, but it would be a lot of work for him, and no doubt still attract complaints.

Payment up front without a refund would also stop the chancers. Again as the hotel don't do that, it would fall on Phil to organise and consolidate.

It wouldn't take a lot of working out that Pinfest is the August Bank Holiday weekend every year. People could book rooms themselves straightaway. But they wouldn't get the discount, but likely still worth it, rather than risk the inconvenience of not being in the hotel.
 
Unfortunately with all the data protection stuff we have now thats not a possibility.

Will be interesting to see when the machine donations thread goes up how many names end up on it, and if we dont end up with at least 90 names on it then I hope any person who has booked a donator room and is not bringing a pin feels like the massive bellend they are all weekend, as their selfishness has ruined many peoples day today and they should be ashamed of themselves.
And anyone that leaked the donator code
 
Get on the waiting list folks, it worked well for many people last/this year.
Can’t plan work around a possibility. Last year ago I planned it around the Aug Bank Holiday - and the hotel stuffed that one too.
In conclusion - bollox to the Mercure and bollox to any fake donors.
👍
 
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Get on the waiting list folks, it worked well for many people last/this year.
For me Alan, it's not really about not getting a room, it's about making it fair for all. The donators, maintenance, and all the Pinfest team should get first dibs. However if you state a certain date, yet the hotel allows bookings before that date, then something is broken. People that have chanced it today, should have been told by the hotel that allocation doesn't open until Tuesday, pretty simple. The hotel won't lose out as it will always sell out, but everyone would be starting with the same chance. If I don't get a room due to others booking first, so be it. If I don't get one because people have taken advantage, that's a different matter.
 
campervan in the carpark maybe?
For me Alan, it's not really about not getting a room, it's about making it fair for all. The donators, maintenance, and all the Pinfest team should get first dibs. However if you state a certain date, yet the hotel allows bookings before that date, then something is broken. People that have chanced it today, should have been told by the hotel that allocation doesn't open until Tuesday, pretty simple. The hotel won't lose out as it will always sell out, but everyone would be starting with the same chance. If I don't get a room due to others booking first, so be it. If I don't get one because people have taken advantage, that's a different matter.
Honestly, from the hotels perspective the people taking the calls probably thought they were doing people a favour by taking calls early, for today i mean. i bet they just don't understand the impact it could have.
 
campervan in the carpark maybe?

Honestly, from the hotels perspective the people taking the calls probably thought they were doing people a favour by taking calls early, for today i mean. i bet they just don't understand the impact it could have.
Nah Bo***cks! If they have been told Tuesday its Tuesday. Its not difficult to say sorry phone back tomorrow
 
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