The Hotel

It’s the start of the summer at the struggling 90 bed Cavendish Hotel in Torquay. The roof is leaking and finances are at rock bottom, so desperate for a new lease of life owners Vicky and Andy have agreed to take on hapless hotelier Mark Jenkins for the season as their new entertainments manager. What could possibly go wrong? For one thing there’s Mike, the Cavendish’s feisty head barman who doesn’t take kindly to finding Mark Jenkins on his patch. “He messed up three of his hotels, if he messes this hotel up, I’ll mess him up”. Cue comedy and fireworks as Mark kicks off by bragging that he can fill Mike’s deserted bar in his first 24 hours on the job – “the impossible is my speciality” – and goes hell for leather to come good on his boast. There’s also the fact that Mark has been his own boss since the age of 19 so, as his old pal Alison points out, trying to manage him is going to be a nightmare. For Mark’s employers and workmates at the Cavendish it’s looking like a long, hot, make or break summer. This week we also meet divorced barrister Tim who tries his eccentric best to make up for lost time on a last minute break with grown up son Freddie. Freddie starts the weekend by asking “How am I related to you?”, so will the Cavendish’s unique brand of hospitality – including a leak and a broken loo - put a dampener on their bonding?