JJ Escorted from Novotel Euston by Police

Around 11.30ish on Sunday after the Gala Show of the International Magic Weekend, just as everyone is settling down for the relaxing discussions that always follow a major convention, Chris draws my attention to the fact that people who have popped outside for a cigarette are not being allowed back into the hotel.

They are being stopped by hotel staff.

No matter that five minutes earlier they have just bought expensive drinks which are sitting on the table untouched.

No matter that their coats and bags are still there by the table (and it was very cold outside.)

Unless they were residents they were stuck outside.

No warning had been given.

No explanation... Nothing.

It was the worst display of incompentance at a hotel I have ever had the misfortune to witness.

Georgie and Martin from International were out of the building for a well deserved meal and a bit of a rest so I went up to the reception desk to ask to speak to the manager.

"Sit down and she will be down to see you in a minute."

"Well, if it is just a minute I will wait here..."

Time passes, no manager and I walk the ten yards to the door where people are trying to get in. At one point the doorman opens the door to tell people they can't enter and I put my foot in the door to prevent it from closing...

"Take your foot away or I will call the management" he says.

"Good, that's who I am trying to talk to..." I reply.

A stressed and almost hysterical woman rushes around with a phone to her ear... it is the manager.

"I've called the police," she announces.

Noel Britten, the show producer and compere tells me he has contacted Georgie and Martin, they are on their way and that I should leave it to them. He is quite right. They have to deal with this hotel each year and they will sort it out and as they enter the hotel I go and sit down.

The Police arrive, lots of them.

They must have been surprised to see, not a riot, but loads of people hunched over tables doing card tricks!

The Police talk to the hotel manager, they talk to Georgie and Martin and the senior officier at the scene wanders over to me and asks for the story. I tell him what has been happening... not that much except that people who the hotel had been happy to sell drinks to could not get back into the place to finish them.

Apparently the hotel manager wants the police to go through the hotel asking all the non-residents to leave. Georgie says that I am a resident because she has paid for many rooms that are not being used and I can use one of them... she has the key cards in her bag upstairs.

I go back and sit down. The policeman goes back to manager to explain that it is not the police's job to ask the non-residents to leave, it is the job of the hotel staff.

More discussions and the nice policeman comes over to me and asks me if I can do him a favour. The manager, who has not exchanged one single word with me, wants me escorted out of the hotel. Would I mind leaving?

Anything to help the boys in blue I announce but would they mind if I have some photos taken of this "happening"? Apparently he wasn't too keen on the idea... but Alan Hudson kindly supplied the two photos shown here.

(If anyone else has some more I would love them to send them to us...)

maybe... more later