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The implacable and indomitable Travelling Gourmet TM encounters a very obnoxious person in a…

MOST handicap unfriendly Bed & Breakfast establishment at the corner with Linton Road and Banbury Road in Oxford. Parklands B & B is fairly comfortable…BUT when I stayed in Room 38 on the 3rd floor and also the highest floor, I had to climb 35 steps and 4 flights of stairs to get there!! Luckily I am fit and exercise very day! I arrived in the early evening at 20:08 straight from the airport in London. Frankly, lugging a big suitcase after a flight from Austria, this is not something you volunteer for! Luckily the staff, helpful Alison helped me to carry up my bag. We both worked together to carry my bag up. I was pleased with her helpfulness and kindness. I had arrived at 20:08 in the evening. Credit where credit is due and the Breakfast is quite good. I liked the Full English Breakfast comprising Heinz Baked Beans, Eggs any style, Cumberland Sausage, Grilled Tomato, Mushrooms and my favourite…Black Pudding…served by cheerful Wendy.  I loved the GIGANTIC 3-Eggs Omelette with everything! Huge and very yummie!

UNFORTUNATELY, on the Saturday night that I was leaving at 20:52, I asked another staff called Laura very politely and nicely to help me with my suitcase to bring it downstairs to check out. Laura refused. I asked her if she had any medical reason not to help me like how Alison had helped me. I did not ask her at any time to carry my bag down single-handedly as I know full well this is a B & B and not a 5 or 6 Star Hotel where one phone call and the Bellman appears to carry your luggage for you. I had merely asked her nicely to HELP me carry my bag down together as what the other staff of Parklands called Alison had done for me. Laura said, “No, I have no medical reason…it is health and safety!” Aesthetically challenged and horizontally challenged Laura then said vehemently, raising her voice belligerently, ” I am NOT going to help you with your heavy bag!” Laura said this without even having a look at my bag! I was extremely annoyed at her outburst and unhelpful, rude and offensive attitude. Imagine my anger when an English/Caucasian lady arrived to check-in and Laura was very nice to her, and carried the medium sized bag of the English lady up the stairs for her. I confronted Laura and told her of my extreme displeasure and said this smacks of Racism. You help an English person but not a Chinese person I told her bluntly! Laura flew into a maniacal rage and started shouting at me and then screamed maniacally at me, “Leave now! I’ll call the Police!” I ignored her imbecilic and wrathful raving and ranting. I told her very firmly that I had done nothing wrong and it was she who was totally at fault. In fact, if I were to raise a formal and official complaint to the Equality and Human Rights Commission of the UK about her and the Parklands B & B…Parklands B & B and Laura will be in very serious trouble. This can all be borne out if the management of Parklands and the Director, Rob Atkinson reviews the CCTV footage of the reception area. And ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free! (John 8:32) I may still bring this up to the EHRC of the UK.

I would strongly advice people wanting to stay in Oxford NOT to stay in Parklands B & B, if they are disabled/handicapped or do not want to climb up many long flights of stairs lugging their bags and suitcases. All the rooms are on the 2nd or 3rd floor. The ground floor is the Breakfast Room , Lounge and Reception and Office. Parklands is not disable friendly at all! If you have problems with arthritis or rhematism and joint problems too, I advise you not to stay here. As long as Parklands B & B employ horrible and obnoxious and racist staff like Laura, they are not hospitable or guest friendly either!!! I would recommend the Remont as a better place to stay in Oxford. Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gourmet TM is a world renowned Travel, Food and Wine Writer/Editor