You might expect the first British chef with three Michelin stars to trawl pricy specialist markets for his food.
But Marco Pierre White clearly has an eye for a bargain – and is often spotted at the Aldi close to his hotel, the Rudloe Arms in Corsham, near Bath. The hotel has ’40 charming bedrooms and three shepherd huts’, with rooms costing £199 to £325 a night.
Mr White’s Aldi basket last week was packed with Birra Moretti, free-range eggs and wholemeal bread, all mainstays of his menus.
But while a 330ml bottle of the Italian beer costs £1.99 at Aldi, it sells for a hefty £8 at the hotel.
Mr White, 62, bought the Grade II listed building in 2012 and, following extensive refurbishment, it was soon receiving rave reviews.
Marco Pierre White has been spotted stocking up on goods at the Aldi close to his hotel, the Rudloe Arms in Corsham, near Bath and reselling the items for many times the price
Mr White’s Aldi basket last week was packed with Birra Moretti, free-range eggs and wholemeal bread, all mainstays of his menus. But while a 330ml bottle of the Italian beer costs £1.99 at Aldi, it sells for a hefty £8 at the hotel
But in recent years the curse of Tripadvisor has struck, with guests criticising the three-star hotel and even comparing it to Fawlty Towers.
One customer described the Rudloe Arms as the ‘biggest rip off hotel ever for drinks and food’.
Another said: ‘Someone needs to politely remind Mr White that the hotel is in Wiltshire not Mayfair.’
The chef has also been criticised for blindsiding guests with supplementary charges.
A glass of apple or orange juice at breakfast costs an extra £4.95, and guests are charged £40 if they are found to have brought their own drinks into their room.
The chef has also been criticised for blindsiding guests with supplementary charges. A glass of apple or orange juice at breakfast costs an extra £4.95, and guests are charged £40 if they are found to have brought their own drinks into their room
They can, however, buy a £145 bottle of champagne from the hotel – available for less than £55 in the shops.
A bottle of prosecco is £60 – more than four times the shop price.
Wiltshire Council gave the Rudloe Arms a hygiene level of four out of five last month, noting a concern over ‘confidence in management and control procedures’.
Marco Pierre White’s hotel, the Rudloe Arms in Corsham, near Bath, has received mixed reviews