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Topic ID 6119

18/08/2011 by Steve

"The Office": Finally revealed

"The Office Hertford is a new bijou bed and *breakfast establishment with prices starting from just £50 per night." www.roomsattheoffice.co.uk The spelling mistake in the main menu isn't exactly an advertisement for the Fore Street based web design company who did the site.


Replies

Reply ID 82702

18/08/2011 by Leo Densian

Yes, well done AWD. I count 5 spelling mistakes (2 are duplicates to be fair). Any advance? [:)]


Reply ID 82703

18/08/2011 by Leo Densian

Make that 6!


Reply ID 82704

18/08/2011 by James007

quote:
Originally posted by Leo Densian
Make that 6!
Apart from the most obvious spelling mistakes; Tarriffs, Parliment (Square) and Stanstead (Airport), I think that the main problem is the shocking grammar throughout the whole website. Saying that, I like the fact that "We can provide conference rooms which be fully staffed with tea & coffee" [8D] Steve, forgive me for saying this but where is the menu? [:I] All I can see is the 'arrangement' of a continental breakfast - images of Manuel sprinting to and from Cafe Rouge in the rain are all I can think of. [B)] This place should have become a wine bar as, if I remember correctly, was the original intention or did I dream it?


Reply ID 82705

18/08/2011 by publandlord

I think Steve might mean the Home page.

quote:
Originally posted by James007
quote:
Originally posted by Leo Densian
Make that 6!
Apart from the most obvious spelling mistakes; Tarriffs, Parliment (Square) and Stanstead (Airport), I think that the main problem is the shocking grammar throughout the whole website. Saying that, I like the fact that "We can provide conference rooms which be fully staffed with tea & coffee" [8D] Steve, forgive me for saying this but where is the menu? [:I] All I can see is the 'arrangement' of a continental breakfast - images of Manuel sprinting to and from Cafe Rouge in the rain are all I can think of. [B)] This place should have become a wine bar as, if I remember correctly, was the original intention or did I dream it?


Reply ID 82706

18/08/2011 by shunt

quote:
Originally posted by James007
quote:
Originally posted by Leo Densian
Make that 6!
Apart from the most obvious spelling mistakes; Tarriffs, Parliment (Square) and Stanstead (Airport), I think that the main problem is the shocking grammar throughout the whole website. Saying that, I like the fact that "We can provide conference rooms which be fully staffed with tea & coffee" [8D] Steve, forgive me for saying this but where is the menu? [:I] All I can see is the 'arrangement' of a continental breakfast - images of Manuel sprinting to and from Cafe Rouge in the rain are all I can think of. [B)] This place should have become a wine bar as, if I remember correctly, was the original intention or did I dream it?
The original plan included many functions, including licensed bars, but rooms were always intended. The financial climate has changed dramatically several times since the original building was purchased. It's hardly surprising that the purpose to which it is to be put has been adapted too.


Reply ID 82707

19/08/2011 by Drama Queen

Hmmm, where does one park one's car or motorbike? and when it says "cooked breakfast can be arranged" does this mean that there is no kitchen staff available that can cook? Where does the food come from? Has this been set up as a B&B because of the olympics next year??? Bad grammar and incorrect spellings on basic English words does not bode well and is not professional in any sense. I hope whoever has set up the website and/or the proprietors read these posts and get it correct asap! Start professionally or lose your credibility.


Reply ID 82709

19/08/2011 by Victor Meldrew

quote:
Originally posted by Drama Queen
Hmmm, where does one park one's car or motorbike? and when it says "cooked breakfast can be arranged" does this mean that there is no kitchen staff available that can cook? Where does the food come from? Has this been set up as a B&B because of the olympics next year??? Bad grammar and incorrect spellings on basic English words does not bode well and is not professional in any sense. I hope whoever has set up the website and/or the proprietors read these posts and get it correct asap! Start professionally or lose your credibility.
Ah hmm!


Reply ID 82710

19/08/2011 by Gemma

It doesnt help that also the pictures are awful. Really not selling it - the one of the stairs on About Us being the worst.


Reply ID 82714

19/08/2011 by James007

quote:
Originally posted by Drama Queen
Hmmm, where does one park one's car or motorbike? and when it says "cooked breakfast can be arranged" does this mean that there is no kitchen staff available that can cook? Where does the food come from? Has this been set up as a B&B because of the olympics next year??? Bad grammar and incorrect spellings on basic English words does not bode well and is not professional in any sense. I hope whoever has set up the website and/or the proprietors read these posts and get it correct asap! Start professionally or lose your credibility.
I'd love to see the business succeed however 'Fail to prepare, then prepare to fail.'


Reply ID 82724

19/08/2011 by Leo Densian

quote:
Originally posted by James007 I'd love to see the business succeed
Me too, but at c.£400 per night if fully booked (by my calculation)I suspect returns on the investment will be a long time coming.


Reply ID 82726

19/08/2011 by Steve

Interestingly, if you do a search on their telephone number (01992 440707) it comes out as a letting agent in Broxbourne, who interestingly, also have a website designed by the same company. Terry Leadbetter anyone? http://www.4networking.biz/Members/Details/24345 And of course there's the fact that there's no sign of life in the building.


Reply ID 82728

20/08/2011 by kevsaunders

I've spent the last twenty or more years scraping a living as a freelance copywriter and it really depresses me that people get paid for rubbish like this. It's not just spelling and grammar and punctuation - it's the way you can tell the truth in a way that's sometimes elegant, if not poetic, and that uses the fewest words to the greatest effect. Just because it's marketing copy doesn't mean it has to be rubbish. Actually, if you want your marketing message to mean anything it has to be very good. But maybe I'm just twitter and bisted,


Reply ID 82731

20/08/2011 by James007

quote:
Originally posted by kevsaunders
I've spent the last twenty or more years scraping a living as a freelance copywriter and it really depresses me that people get paid for rubbish like this. It's not just spelling and grammar and punctuation - it's the way you can tell the truth in a way that's sometimes elegant, if not poetic, and that uses the fewest words to the greatest effect. Just because it's marketing copy doesn't mean it has to be rubbish. Actually, if you want your marketing message to mean anything it has to be very good. But maybe I'm just twitter and bisted,
Great post! I've also noticed that a lot of the information has been provided from Wikipedia too. [:(!] Ps - Has anyone else noticed the similarly elegant Master's House 'swishy' detail in the background of the web site.


Reply ID 82812

25/08/2011 by Ewoowar

I'm glad to see the business finally operational but the web site is awful.


Reply ID 82816

25/08/2011 by Steve

quote:
Originally posted by Ewoowar
I'm glad to see the business finally operational but the web site is awful.
The existence of a website is not necessarily indicative of a business being operational. Pay a visit to the premises and you might get a different impression. [:)]


Reply ID 85255

22/12/2011 by Taxing

Did this place ever actually open, as when I've cycled past I've never noticed any signs of activity? Incidentally the website is still up and running, but a sneaky call to the phone number, sounded like it was diverted to a mobile and then a gentleman answered as "Blue Top"


Reply ID 85256

22/12/2011 by Ewoowar

I don't think it ever did open and I believe the freehold is currently available for £1,650,000. Blue Top are a letting agents and they let the studio apartment that was built to the rear/side of The Office (http://www.bluetoplettings.com/viewproperty.php?lettingid=199)


Reply ID 85257

22/12/2011 by exiled_in_Reading

im staggered that the hertford market dictates that someone will pay (in essence) 600 quid a month to live in a single room!


Reply ID 85258

22/12/2011 by Ewoowar

I'm staggered the main part of the property has been empty for so long.


Reply ID 85259

22/12/2011 by Marilyn

There was some research done a while ago when the owner / a previous owner not sure which wanted to name it as it would have been in years gone by, only one name was found, they didn't use it and chose "The Office" instead. I don't know why they didn't like "Pisspot Hall" it has a certain ring about it!


Reply ID 85260

22/12/2011 by Woody

For info, The Office has opened. A colleague of mine booked in for a 4 night stay recently whilst working in the area. She was not impressed and changed her booking for the following week to another location.


Reply ID 85420

09/01/2012 by Kay AS

quote:
Originally posted by kevsaunders
I've spent the last twenty or more years scraping a living as a freelance copywriter and it really depresses me that people get paid for rubbish like this. It's not just spelling and grammar and punctuation - it's the way you can tell the truth in a way that's sometimes elegant, if not poetic, and that uses the fewest words to the greatest effect. Just because it's marketing copy doesn't mean it has to be rubbish. Actually, if you want your marketing message to mean anything it has to be very good. But maybe I'm just twitter and bisted,
Me too. It's a bugbear of mine to see poor spelling and grammar anywhere - but especially on 'professional' websites and marketing materials!


Reply ID 95273

26/08/2013 by Gregory Fowler

This used to be our family home, the house I grew up in. Gregory Fowler


23 replies