The Cambridge Hotel: A Revival of Excellence

Morning everybody, how are we? We can sell our own pie that's homemade. Gordon is giving us his recipe for oh my god, this hotel invented pie limos and the ice cream is made fresh here with a brand new ice cream maker and it's locally sourced cream. I'm so excited to try it. Come with me please, enjoy the apple pie, nice to see you, please come through. Beauty-full pile of most to get dig in, call guys if anybody wants this, you better get on it. Oh my gosh, awesome, the world-famous Cambridge hotel apple pie a la mode. That is the best crust I have ever had.

Welcome to the Cambridge Hotel. We now have the best apple pie lamode in let's say the world. People are gonna be excited what do you think? But I'm shocked. You're short. Be happy. I don't know, oh my don't get upset buddy. What's the matter? I'm so happy too. Okay, thank you Lee.

The new Cambridge Hotel is very overwhelming. I can feel a chance. I'm a lot more inspired right now. I feel like I could accomplish anything in the kitchen. I am proud now. There's a new pride in me to say this is where I work. Time to go. I never thought I'd say this but I'm actually quite sad to leave this place because no longer is John in denial he can now stand back and watch his team run the Cambridge properly.

As I'm getting ready to leave, yes, starting to arrive at the new hotel hello. The biggest change of all is not the new decor; it's the fact that guests are loving it at the Cambridge. Beautiful. The restaurant is buzzing. Guests are enjoying the new home-cooked menu that have put together with chef Rich. And you better save room for the pie cuz it's totally different and the hotel's signature dish, pie lamode, is a big hit. Great buzz in there. I mean it's electric and it's the sound of the new Cambridge Hotel only hope now is that they keep it up and keep those customers excited because when it's like that, it's phenomenal.

Tonight went incredibly well. That the fact that I could stay and sit with Shea and Addison was really, really nice. Wow to see you smiling. He's incredible. You know that's you like this place up but I don't what you're living here? No one I don't want to live here. I do not want you living here. Don't live here okay. Tell him that I'm not living here. I hear you give him a hug. He deserves it. He hasn't interfered tonight and you sat down and spent time with your granddaughter. I had a blast.

Yeah, my job is done. Let me tell you no longer our IP okay of the Cambridge. It has a bright future. Long live the Cambridge. Right? Gamma died before Gordon came. I didn't know where to go anymore. With the hotel and getting Gordon here and having him show us what the problem was now I can see that things can be fixed.

I tell you okay, Colin Powell says optimism is a force multiplier. I'm optimistic. Stay optimistic but don't get too involved okay okay. Look after yourselves thank you very much. Stay together thank you thank you thank you. Before I leave this place there's one more person I want to talk to qualit big man so you got three more years left at college right I'm out for okay hear me out okay I want you to keep in touch with me okay I leave my email address because I want to finance those next four years in college personally and help you okay do it for you and keep that dream alive one day of owning your bakery and then when your bakery is open all I want back is a loaf of bread.

Okay, it's pretty unbelievable that he is gonna be able to finance my four years of school well done good job. They can get the watch welcome yeah I'm waiting to finish school and pay em off for their big loaf of bread. You have an amazing pair of hands and a lovely smile don't stop okay and God help you if you fail that college thank you you won't though I know you won't welcome thank you okay when I go to school I'm gonna push myself two hundred times harder I'm gonna sugar in what I can do and how fast I can do it. Good night thank you thank you take care thank you well done thank you good job awesome job hey you deserve it definitely what a week what a place now whatever I see Ella mode I know where he started

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthis is the historic Cambridge Hotel in upstate New York it's set in stunning countryside a few hours drive from Manhattan the hotel has 16 bedrooms and a large restaurant and has had his doors open for almost 150 years welcome to the Cambridge hotel ex-military man and local lawyer John Inhofe persuaded his family to help him buy the hotel in 2007 I remember sitting in my hot tub smoking a cigar drinking bourbon and life was good and I wanted to take my wife someplace nice for dinner so I said why don't we buy the Cambridge hotel and then we'd have a place to go he must have hit me at a weak moment because I said sure with zero hospitality experience between them which one is 827 I don't I don't know the numbers the hotel currently Falls shockingly short of guests expectations it's dingy and there's hair all in through here all over these pillows be nice if we had a remote control there's just gobs of hair even Ed remote control since when the 70s I'm not sleeping here we're checking online when I bought the hotel I didn't intend to be a hands-on owner but I am always at the hotel doing something one person has to be in charge got 84 emails 17 from Jonathan job is a control freak how we doing on that chicken hats working hard we can do better chef it's ready to murder with this venue there's a lot of restrictions to it our budgets really tight the creativity has kind of gone out the window but all the rooms clean all the rooms coming in I am currently the general manager thanks there's no but John takes away my control I have no control but general John's hands-on approach isn't working nobody wants to stay and the hotel is losing thousands of dollars every month John wants to put every penny that we have into this hotel and that is something I am no longer willing to do we are $750,000 in debt but failure is not an option and I don't intend to fail hotel unless I can fix things and fast John and Tina will lose their business and if Gordon Ramsay can't fix us who the hell else can Wow the real sense of grandeur definitely some history here Cambridge Hotel established 1885 home of Pyla moat I've been across America I did not realize it came from here morning good morning welcome to the Gordon and your first name sorry my name is Brittany I'm the manager I have you in room 117 that is $105 during the weekday and 135 dollars on the weekend okay I think Gordon's first I'm president of the hotel is going to be what the are these people doing the camp you tell our IP yes sir see yes it's died you mean no rest in peace is the ghost that huh live here we are haunted oh come on there's a little girl who supposedly haunts the hotel Alice - oh my good god she looks like something out of the Exorcist she was four years old in 1913 when she died but I believe in ghosts at the hotel I absolutely believe in them can I go up the stairs as well and oh god I'll let the owners know I don't know who they are they know I'm here this place is littered with freaky pictures what's upstairs there that is our third floor why is that roped off because it is not accessible to our guests it's about yourself well that's where people say they are if he goes up on the third floor he is going to freak out this is your room oh my god bloody how look at the wallpaper what's the post up that was was that just there so there's no handcuffs no okay so there's not a sex thing really weird thing to have in the back thank you christ almighty I'm not gonna forget this day in a hurry horrible linen rough and nasty holes and the bed doesn't even fit the base honestly I've seen better linen inside hospitals horrible my bedroom is dated and uncomfortable how could anyone think this was good enough for paying customers bye bye gonna meet the owners yes I'll be right back for the owners got that they are Gordon this is Tina and um ha nice to meet you sir John likewise good to see you both it's quite amazing when you drive up and you see this sort of statue of the building isn't it beautiful it's stunning until we get inside hotel experience prior to this was was very very little yeah that was no none none so yeah one what was the profit we lost about three hundred and fifty thousand dollars the first year year to two hundred and fifty thousand dollar profit plus loss so we're in for six hundred thousand dollars within 24 months of business who's funding this well my mom and dad have put in several hundred thousand dollars Wow our children our children your children yes yes Shea has put about 25 thousand dollars on credit cards Shea is you're the oldest daughter you always thought of rice the chef's significant other okay and so my youngest daughter just lettuce ten thousand dollars your youngest daughter she's in college was your house on the line next yes it is up for sale and we would live here we would move on to the third floor where'd you draw the line say stop this is not working you're standing there like pow very confident very happy and like nothing's gone wrong but take your money from your daughter that hasn't even started I won't ever ask on the path of her career I believed that we would be able to turn it around I know but John I'm sorry your parents money your family's money your daughter's money I I do have a positive attitude there's a difference between sounding positive and sounding full of crap he doesn't know me and he doesn't know the situation I'm a military guy I'm not gonna take Chef Ramsay's unbelievable tear how do you manage I don't know how I managed and I was very close to running away several times Wow seriously unreal thank you I've been frustrated for years with him not listening to me when somebody doesn't listen to you for a while you just give up what is that about John that's driven his wife and potential guests away I need to watch the general in action will you do with the Hoover welcome nice to see you sorry about the owner walking through with the Hoover are you joining us for a sleepover or you joining us for dinner yeah actually Kim Jo tell me help you John Key's himself constantly busy but he's busy doing all the wrong things his non stop fussing and fidgeting is killing the hotel's atmosphere the tables in the bar might be clean but I've got an eerie feeling the food's gonna be filthy only one way to find out hello sir who are you good my name is Philip I'll be your server good thank you I'm a little nervous how am I and what would recommend well the soup du jour today is a vegetarian lentil vegetarian lentil yep and what was the soup as your yesterday it was also the vegetarian I was so super be two days actually it's longer than two days um I'll go for the pork and beans duck confit yeah um piler mode okay okay I think we're done okay thank you thank you very much chef orders up great thank you get them going brother get them going I think that Gordon is gonna love the food chef rich is great we put out excellent food you chef Wow look at that this is the pork and beans holy mackerel it it's calling middle both you yeah just touch that make that please oh I can see why we got our IP on the front of the reception those are two medium-rare is right scooter chuck them in the oven please chef ice cold in the middle tell them it's a sous-vide product we cook it to order it disappoints me a little bit that we are boiling bags putting stuff in the microwave I wish we could actually cook with fresher food duck confit and chef said the pork and beans was a sous-vide product and it's cooked to order sous-vide Oh put it back yes they're frozen frozen yes and this plate that's frozen I think that's a sous-vide product as well do we have anything that is homemade are the apple pies made here the apple pies are made here okay can you hurry the desserts please sure thank you so far everything has been terrible surely the hotel's signature dish is gonna be better how's that fine I'm sorry but this is the home of a boiler most but if its own without landlord it should be really badass Alamogordo so this is it this is the that is the paella mode this plate is absolutely roasting the center has it been microwaved it has the apples are raw if there's one thing I was expecting was a decent apple pie and that is gross I need to find out who's responsible for the terrible food here hello if Chef Ramsay criticizes chef's food where is that where is chef I think rich will blow up because rich does take things personally I don't know where to start to be honest what the is going on well tell me what you don't like can you be a little bit more constructive should we start from the pork and beans stone cold it's a sous-vide bravas you don't even cook that no sue me no and can you cook yes so why buy that in price you buy a store-bought frozen piece of pork boiled in a bag and serve it to me stone cold the center you're not even cooking so you're just too lazy to do it that's not true I am NOT Lisa this menu could be run now without you being here yes that's why I designed it this way designed it so you are lazy then I'm not lazy if Gordon calls me lazy or one more time it could cause a problem might be going back to Britain in a body bag that menu stinks of laziness I'm not losing I'm hearing 80 90 hours a week yeah you can't call yourself an executive chef come on do you know it's store-bought I did why would you employ a chef that's two thirds of the menu it's store-bought I think Gordon believes that I'm incompetent in running a hotel but what I'm doing is right your hotel became famous for this apple pie right and this is the dish that is trying to stop your house being put up for sale to keep this place kept I've just what I'm trying to say is there are so many basics wrong I could cry I could seriously I could crack it and look at the apples look the apples are raw not even bait I could scream when I see that and this dish was invented here and this thousands of restaurants across the globe that have copied what you originated have you no idea how luck you are and it resolves to that soggy undercooked soaking wet piss pie can I have a quick word with you for two seconds please I'm struggling to understand what's going on here I need to hear a woman's perspective John is smart in what he does as a lawyer mm-hmm he's awful here I can't get it in his head but between the two of them they're about to take your house down him and John go back and forth when I give suggestions it's pretty much you know up and then it's pushed aside and then John it's making decisions you're about to lose your house I know and he says we are going until I haven't got another penny to put in it is there a rule of business before no no and he's never done anything in his life but be a lawyer and a soldier that is it they may have won lots of battles but he's definitely losing this war let me tell you finally a stranger is seeing what I've been seeing and I'm hoping that John is gonna take something from this and either we're gonna make it go we're gonna shut it up I've seen about as much as I can stand at this hotel the outdated rooms the cheap linens and the prepackaged food how have things got this bad I've got to get some answers what's wrong with this place and who's to blame problem is here is that we have to ask to do something or not allowed to make a decision general manager executive chef we have to run everything arranged on make sure everyone a bath let alone oh dear but he's took over more control that's when I put up my hands okay you want to right you run it it's soulless is littered with antiques that are broken it's got horrendous pictures all over the place disgusting ruse food that comes out of a bag and I don't control any of that stuff I'm not making decisions I told rich that I thought we should cut our food cost have you got the respect from the owners to do your job properly yes or no no I have energy talk I definitely do not make the decisions that I think I should be able to though because she's telling you that and that's what the problem is it's not the ghost Jon they're scaring their regulars away it's youth a chef needs to be a chef and the general manager needs to general manage I'm not a micromanager when we first started this place and that the ideas I had we're all shot shot down that's the kind of stuff no it's coming out you've handicapped a chef the general manager dysfunctional and you're calling all the shots and that corner shop you're a lethal weapon well you may think that no I don't think that I'd know that just heard from your wife your general manager your chef that I'm controlling I will control you like a little Hitler around here and if you don't stop doing what you're doing you'll lose your family business I'm not a micromanager they're not puppets they're your team and if you don't stop doing what you're doing you'll lose your family and the business working out your honor I'm going to bet good night this is all stuff that I've been trying to get across to John for 20 years hmm what's the matter seriously yeah what's the matter I've had it I have had it now he's feeling squashed and I don't have to feel that way anymore I'm not gonna feel that way anymore bedtime boy I'm not looking forward to sleeping in a haunted room I've never seen such a delusional owner and staff that are so desperate to do their jobs and now I sleep in this christ almighty was that as bad as sound comfy I had a sleepless night and believe me it wasn't a ghost that kept me awake it was something far more frightening time to give John and Tina a wake-up call after you please hi guys these are the guests that have been staying in the hotel I've asked them in my room this morning's to help you understand how differently has become her guests actually stay here who'd like to go first I took shower this morning and used what I thought was a clean towel and there was hair in the talent himself was actually very uncomfortable yeah we left our room last night and couldn't lock our door so we had to leave our hotel room door unlocked handle hands how many of you would return here anyone not much of a nice day here John and Tina are you aware of so many problems inside these rooms some of them we are work yeah well I'm more pissed off about than anything is that last night I went downstairs in fact let me show you it was easy if I do this way I forgot my toothbrush I went down to the car and I cannot believe this just watch carefully I went outside so step down the stairs all of a sudden damn I've got myself out we've got no keys to get back in the bloody front door is not locked at night now there's no night porter there's no security and then shock horror I went behind the reception desk and every one of your keys is hanging replicated in the pigeon box duplicate key for every room credit card details personal cell numbers it is all there why is the door not not there's no good reason to go yeah we gotta lock it in a long time no that's two years in this community you have eight major burglars with the last 12 months three registered sex offenders locally in this community I mean how does that make you feel that we were sleeping in this hotel last night and eating every one of us was vulnerable thank you thank you thank you can you stay here with me and lady in general thank you thank you John and Tina have broken the first law of hospitality keep your guests safe John so busy interfering with other people's jobs he's lost sight of what really matters I'm not joking around on the burglaries oh I'm sex a friend I know I know your reputation to be over in seconds and one instant in this hotel because you're not going to walk around this town as a prosecutor a chief lawyer and then be responsible for a serious rape taken in place inside here wake up you're running a business not a courtroom and they're here for an experience not a sentence sell the place because you're not fit to run it sell it because this is madness sell it and keep your house I've just discovered that John has lost sight of the big picture at the hotel the bloody front door is not locked at night and his incompetence is putting the guests safety in jeopardy if John doesn't change his interfering ways he and Tina will lose their home and be forced to live in the hotel's top floor it's time to find out what is like up there hello anyone there hello it's like someone Oh who in the hell put this here it really is hotel hell oh my god come to our hands this place is genuinely disturbing freaky that top floors no place to live but I've got a plan if I force John to see how different things could be here maybe he'll get the message so I'm gonna need Britney's help if we can prove to John and Tina if you take charge and you hold those reins but you can make money this hotel trust me they back off and you step up okay I'm hoping to prove to John that it can be busy it can be fun here tonight we are serving we are doing a bar night oh my god this is terrible we're not a rowdy kids doing shots going crazy bar it's a party party party we're gonna do a drink specials we can get people in the rooms a ladies night tonight I have to pack the place Thanks right this is the first step to change as last-minute preparations take place in the bar in the kitchen there's a new energy in the hotel this is chef Ritchie's chance to prove he can cook with fresh ingredients nothing out of a bag please no preheating all fresh sure Alfred great rich hey sure responsibility to teach these guys how to cook not to reheat is that right scoot yeah I thought he's just sorry culinary school oh good man how do inspired you to be a chef I heard everywhere pushing me to join the culinary field because I wasn't physically able to do any other things like sports and stuff yes disability I've had two heart surgeries and two back surgeries how old you know you move fast that's a big asset they haven't even talked properly yet have you that's incredible so what you want to be when you grow up I would like to have my own bakery and I'll be a professional executive pastry chef Wow all right at all Brittany has gotten the word out but she's in charge tonight and people are flocking into the hotel ladies night is going really well tonight there's a mixed crowd of ages here and everyone hanging out together and having fun what can I do to help you nothing get out nice going great but I don't think John quite understands how important nights like this are because I don't think this guy gets the message John on a show sign come with me having spooked me every time I come in here here's the situation downstairs currently there's a bus and I got put together by your general manager Brittany that's her vision but if you carry on running the Cambridge the way you have been this is what you're gonna have this is what your destiny this on your own so stay up here and sort of enjoy your surroundings how come we get you when I'm ready all right he's so wrong he has no clue and I'm I'm thinking when he comes back up he's gonna ask me what did I learn and I'm gonna say don't I really didn't learn anything pluck him I'm not happy sitting there waiting because I know my guests are downstairs having a party and I kind of felt that I needed to be downstairs for who wants me to sit up here and and you know think that he's all right about all this stuff and dammit he's wrong about me being a control freak with ladies night in full swing Jesse on say I'm Jonah Tina's daughter Shay arrived adjoining the phone I think she's my last chance of getting through to join I say thank you time's running out for you dad for your mother and for their house I can't get through to your father I asked him to go upstairs and just sit and ponder and think that this is your future if you think he's ready to change by all means bring him down and if he's not I don't care keep him out there and keep him up there what's going on I'm just up here sitting down waiting waiting go back go surf I think the point was to try and visualize what could potentially be the future oh no I've been doing a lot of thinking hey I thought my role was about the same all along I feel like it's changed a lot and I think a lot of it is a fear of trusting you don't have to be here all the time and when was the last time you sat down at home and how to dinner with mom you know yeah I feel guilty when I'm not here do you know what's going on downstairs no it's awesome there is a restaurant full of people that are thoroughly enjoying themselves it's happen and it's working without you yeah yeah I'm getting it okay I mean I'm it's gonna be tough for me to backwalk of the working I think it's important for you I think it's important for you and Mom yeah you're making a good point Shay I think you would be able to spend more time with your granddaughter sorry I bet it's possible you don't want this to be your future no you don't want to live here no I don't you have to commit to change yeah yeah all right I understand if mom will put up with me being home more love you I love you too shape I've an epiphany I've just now realized my control is what Dre is dragging the hotel down now I need to make a change in order for my personal life to improve and for my business to get better tonight has been a real success seeing Brittany in charge and rich cooking fresh food gives me real hope but it's Jon capable of letting go my goodness it feels weird it's sounding so quiet now right well done behind the bar well done in the kitchen scooter well done ladies great I mean you couldn't get a seat at the bar within 20 minutes that's how it should be how much do we take center $1400 in two hours $1400 in two hours we made more than the last four Wednesday's are for Thursday's combined Jon you spend the majority night upstairs how was your night it was in a very good night actually no way my daughter Shea opened my eyes to some things I'm here every night because I feel that I need to be here that that is my role as the owner to wave the flag as a military term but when it came from Shea as she said you know dad mm-hmm I know how hard you work and and I promised I wasn't gonna tear up and this all happened without me you trust your subordinates as a commander the most important person you have are your NCOs and chef and Brittany are my NCOs I can't tell you how good is to hear that because you're a tough nut to crack because we have got one hell of a day tomorrow but I need everybody everybody at their best a good job well done what are they I'm hoping that John has finally got that message but it's all lawyer crap tomorrow we'll definitely find out my design team worked all night to bring the hotel into the 21st century now it's time to reveal then you came with your tell to the staff good morning good morning John how you feeling I can't wait to see what you've done in there right you ready to go in the only way we're getting in is with this okay let's go let's go the door is locked so your guests can sleep safe and sound right come upstairs I'm hoping you're gonna love my room I think it's absolutely gorgeous taking the carpet out and putting that flooring in absolutely transformed it the whole paper was expensive in order to enhance a we work with it so we got the back drapes above the vet we have this amazing new floor perfect furniture that fits the room we've got graded every room with brand-new linen and towels $75,000 worth of linen oh my god oh my god we could have never afforded that that is so wonderful I feel like kind of like a kid that comes down Christmas morning and there's so many things under the tree that you're in overload I can't really comprehend everything yet I mean I'm just kind of looking at it ring Wow ready for more room oh my god I could take it Wow Wow I can't wait to actually show a guest upstairs to a room I'm there's one more little thing I want to show you downstairs come with me please in the 1890s that came is your tale gave birth to world-famous Pilar mode and I think that dish can put the hotel back on the map today something I thought was a huge missed opportunity I've been working on an amazing very special apple pie recipe that I'm gonna give to you that you own then it becomes the best apple pie in America and on the back of that we've transformed this room through here - the alamode room completely yeah morning everybody how are we we can sell our own pie that's homemade that Gordon is giving us his recipe for oh my god this Hotel invented pie limos and the ice cream is made fresh here with a brand new ice cream maker and it's locally sourced cream I can't wait to try it come with me please I enjoy the apple pie nice to see you please come through beauty-full pile of most to get dig in call guys if anybody wants this you better get on it oh my gosh awesome the world-famous Cambridge hotel apple pie a la mode that is the best crust I have ever had on a pike welcome to the Cambridge Hotel we now have the best apple pie lamode in let's say the world people gonna be excited what do you think but I'm shocked you're short be happy I don't know oh my don't get upset buddy what's the matter I'm so happy oh good I'm happy too as well you know that okay Thank You Lee seeing how much he James hotel is very overwhelming I can feel a chance I'm a lot more inspired right now I feel like I could accomplish anything in the kitchen I am proud now there's a new pride in me to say this is where I work time to go I never thought I'd say this but I'm actually quite sad to leave this place because no longer is John in denial he can now stand back and watch his team run the Cambridge properly as I'm getting ready to leave yes I starting to arrive at the new hotel hello and the biggest change of all is not the new decor it's the fact that guests are loving it at the Cambridge beautiful the restaurant is buzzing guests are enjoying the new home-cooked menu that have put together with chef rich and you better save room for the pie cuz it's totally different and the hotel's signature dish pie lamode is a big hit great buzz in there I mean it's electric and it's the sound of the new Cambridge otels only hope now is that they keep it up and keep those customers excited because when it's like that it's phenomenal I think tonight went incredibly well that the fact that I could stay and sit with Shea and Addison and funk it was really really nice Wow to see you smiling he's incredible you know that's you like this place up but I don't what you're living here no one I don't want to live here I do not want you living here don't live here okay tell him that I'm not living here I hear you give him a hug he deserves he hasn't interfered tonight and you sat down and spent time with your granddaughter I had a blast yeah my job is done let me tell you no longer our IP okay of the Cambridge it has a bright future long live the Cambridge right gamma died before Gordon came I didn't know where to go anymore with the hotel and getting Gordon here and having him show us what the problem was now I can see that the things can be fixed I tell you okay Colin Powell says optimism is a force multiplier I'm optimistic stay optimistic but don't get too volved okay okay look after yourselves thank you very much stay together thank you thank you thank you before I leave this place there's one more person I want to talk to qualit big man so you got three more years left at college right I'm out for okay hear me out okay I want you to keep in touch with me okay I leave my email address because I want to finance those next four years in college personally and help you okay do it for you and keep that dream alive one day of owning your bakery and then when your bakery is open all I want back is a loaf of bread okay it's pretty unbelievable that he is gonna be able to finance my four years of school well done good job they can get the watch welcome yeah I'm waiting to finish school and pay em off for their big loaf of bread you have an amazing pair of hands and a lovely smile don't stop okay and God help you if you fail that college thank you you won't though I know you won't welcome thank you okay when I go to school I'm gonna push myself two hundred times harder I'm gonna sugar in what I can do and how fast I can do it good night thank you thank you take care thank you well done thank you good job awesome job hey you deserve it definitely what a week what a place now whatever I see Ella mode I know where he startedthis is the historic Cambridge Hotel in upstate New York it's set in stunning countryside a few hours drive from Manhattan the hotel has 16 bedrooms and a large restaurant and has had his doors open for almost 150 years welcome to the Cambridge hotel ex-military man and local lawyer John Inhofe persuaded his family to help him buy the hotel in 2007 I remember sitting in my hot tub smoking a cigar drinking bourbon and life was good and I wanted to take my wife someplace nice for dinner so I said why don't we buy the Cambridge hotel and then we'd have a place to go he must have hit me at a weak moment because I said sure with zero hospitality experience between them which one is 827 I don't I don't know the numbers the hotel currently Falls shockingly short of guests expectations it's dingy and there's hair all in through here all over these pillows be nice if we had a remote control there's just gobs of hair even Ed remote control since when the 70s I'm not sleeping here we're checking online when I bought the hotel I didn't intend to be a hands-on owner but I am always at the hotel doing something one person has to be in charge got 84 emails 17 from Jonathan job is a control freak how we doing on that chicken hats working hard we can do better chef it's ready to murder with this venue there's a lot of restrictions to it our budgets really tight the creativity has kind of gone out the window but all the rooms clean all the rooms coming in I am currently the general manager thanks there's no but John takes away my control I have no control but general John's hands-on approach isn't working nobody wants to stay and the hotel is losing thousands of dollars every month John wants to put every penny that we have into this hotel and that is something I am no longer willing to do we are $750,000 in debt but failure is not an option and I don't intend to fail hotel unless I can fix things and fast John and Tina will lose their business and if Gordon Ramsay can't fix us who the hell else can Wow the real sense of grandeur definitely some history here Cambridge Hotel established 1885 home of Pyla moat I've been across America I did not realize it came from here morning good morning welcome to the Gordon and your first name sorry my name is Brittany I'm the manager I have you in room 117 that is $105 during the weekday and 135 dollars on the weekend okay I think Gordon's first I'm president of the hotel is going to be what the are these people doing the camp you tell our IP yes sir see yes it's died you mean no rest in peace is the ghost that huh live here we are haunted oh come on there's a little girl who supposedly haunts the hotel Alice - oh my good god she looks like something out of the Exorcist she was four years old in 1913 when she died but I believe in ghosts at the hotel I absolutely believe in them can I go up the stairs as well and oh god I'll let the owners know I don't know who they are they know I'm here this place is littered with freaky pictures what's upstairs there that is our third floor why is that roped off because it is not accessible to our guests it's about yourself well that's where people say they are if he goes up on the third floor he is going to freak out this is your room oh my god bloody how look at the wallpaper what's the post up that was was that just there so there's no handcuffs no okay so there's not a sex thing really weird thing to have in the back thank you christ almighty I'm not gonna forget this day in a hurry horrible linen rough and nasty holes and the bed doesn't even fit the base honestly I've seen better linen inside hospitals horrible my bedroom is dated and uncomfortable how could anyone think this was good enough for paying customers bye bye gonna meet the owners yes I'll be right back for the owners got that they are Gordon this is Tina and um ha nice to meet you sir John likewise good to see you both it's quite amazing when you drive up and you see this sort of statue of the building isn't it beautiful it's stunning until we get inside hotel experience prior to this was was very very little yeah that was no none none so yeah one what was the profit we lost about three hundred and fifty thousand dollars the first year year to two hundred and fifty thousand dollar profit plus loss so we're in for six hundred thousand dollars within 24 months of business who's funding this well my mom and dad have put in several hundred thousand dollars Wow our children our children your children yes yes Shea has put about 25 thousand dollars on credit cards Shea is you're the oldest daughter you always thought of rice the chef's significant other okay and so my youngest daughter just lettuce ten thousand dollars your youngest daughter she's in college was your house on the line next yes it is up for sale and we would live here we would move on to the third floor where'd you draw the line say stop this is not working you're standing there like pow very confident very happy and like nothing's gone wrong but take your money from your daughter that hasn't even started I won't ever ask on the path of her career I believed that we would be able to turn it around I know but John I'm sorry your parents money your family's money your daughter's money I I do have a positive attitude there's a difference between sounding positive and sounding full of crap he doesn't know me and he doesn't know the situation I'm a military guy I'm not gonna take Chef Ramsay's unbelievable tear how do you manage I don't know how I managed and I was very close to running away several times Wow seriously unreal thank you I've been frustrated for years with him not listening to me when somebody doesn't listen to you for a while you just give up what is that about John that's driven his wife and potential guests away I need to watch the general in action will you do with the Hoover welcome nice to see you sorry about the owner walking through with the Hoover are you joining us for a sleepover or you joining us for dinner yeah actually Kim Jo tell me help you John Key's himself constantly busy but he's busy doing all the wrong things his non stop fussing and fidgeting is killing the hotel's atmosphere the tables in the bar might be clean but I've got an eerie feeling the food's gonna be filthy only one way to find out hello sir who are you good my name is Philip I'll be your server good thank you I'm a little nervous how am I and what would recommend well the soup du jour today is a vegetarian lentil vegetarian lentil yep and what was the soup as your yesterday it was also the vegetarian I was so super be two days actually it's longer than two days um I'll go for the pork and beans duck confit yeah um piler mode okay okay I think we're done okay thank you thank you very much chef orders up great thank you get them going brother get them going I think that Gordon is gonna love the food chef rich is great we put out excellent food you chef Wow look at that this is the pork and beans holy mackerel it it's calling middle both you yeah just touch that make that please oh I can see why we got our IP on the front of the reception those are two medium-rare is right scooter chuck them in the oven please chef ice cold in the middle tell them it's a sous-vide product we cook it to order it disappoints me a little bit that we are boiling bags putting stuff in the microwave I wish we could actually cook with fresher food duck confit and chef said the pork and beans was a sous-vide product and it's cooked to order sous-vide Oh put it back yes they're frozen frozen yes and this plate that's frozen I think that's a sous-vide product as well do we have anything that is homemade are the apple pies made here the apple pies are made here okay can you hurry the desserts please sure thank you so far everything has been terrible surely the hotel's signature dish is gonna be better how's that fine I'm sorry but this is the home of a boiler most but if its own without landlord it should be really badass Alamogordo so this is it this is the that is the paella mode this plate is absolutely roasting the center has it been microwaved it has the apples are raw if there's one thing I was expecting was a decent apple pie and that is gross I need to find out who's responsible for the terrible food here hello if Chef Ramsay criticizes chef's food where is that where is chef I think rich will blow up because rich does take things personally I don't know where to start to be honest what the is going on well tell me what you don't like can you be a little bit more constructive should we start from the pork and beans stone cold it's a sous-vide bravas you don't even cook that no sue me no and can you cook yes so why buy that in price you buy a store-bought frozen piece of pork boiled in a bag and serve it to me stone cold the center you're not even cooking so you're just too lazy to do it that's not true I am NOT Lisa this menu could be run now without you being here yes that's why I designed it this way designed it so you are lazy then I'm not lazy if Gordon calls me lazy or one more time it could cause a problem might be going back to Britain in a body bag that menu stinks of laziness I'm not losing I'm hearing 80 90 hours a week yeah you can't call yourself an executive chef come on do you know it's store-bought I did why would you employ a chef that's two thirds of the menu it's store-bought I think Gordon believes that I'm incompetent in running a hotel but what I'm doing is right your hotel became famous for this apple pie right and this is the dish that is trying to stop your house being put up for sale to keep this place kept I've just what I'm trying to say is there are so many basics wrong I could cry I could seriously I could crack it and look at the apples look the apples are raw not even bait I could scream when I see that and this dish was invented here and this thousands of restaurants across the globe that have copied what you originated have you no idea how luck you are and it resolves to that soggy undercooked soaking wet piss pie can I have a quick word with you for two seconds please I'm struggling to understand what's going on here I need to hear a woman's perspective John is smart in what he does as a lawyer mm-hmm he's awful here I can't get it in his head but between the two of them they're about to take your house down him and John go back and forth when I give suggestions it's pretty much you know up and then it's pushed aside and then John it's making decisions you're about to lose your house I know and he says we are going until I haven't got another penny to put in it is there a rule of business before no no and he's never done anything in his life but be a lawyer and a soldier that is it they may have won lots of battles but he's definitely losing this war let me tell you finally a stranger is seeing what I've been seeing and I'm hoping that John is gonna take something from this and either we're gonna make it go we're gonna shut it up I've seen about as much as I can stand at this hotel the outdated rooms the cheap linens and the prepackaged food how have things got this bad I've got to get some answers what's wrong with this place and who's to blame problem is here is that we have to ask to do something or not allowed to make a decision general manager executive chef we have to run everything arranged on make sure everyone a bath let alone oh dear but he's took over more control that's when I put up my hands okay you want to right you run it it's soulless is littered with antiques that are broken it's got horrendous pictures all over the place disgusting ruse food that comes out of a bag and I don't control any of that stuff I'm not making decisions I told rich that I thought we should cut our food cost have you got the respect from the owners to do your job properly yes or no no I have energy talk I definitely do not make the decisions that I think I should be able to though because she's telling you that and that's what the problem is it's not the ghost Jon they're scaring their regulars away it's youth a chef needs to be a chef and the general manager needs to general manage I'm not a micromanager when we first started this place and that the ideas I had we're all shot shot down that's the kind of stuff no it's coming out you've handicapped a chef the general manager dysfunctional and you're calling all the shots and that corner shop you're a lethal weapon well you may think that no I don't think that I'd know that just heard from your wife your general manager your chef that I'm controlling I will control you like a little Hitler around here and if you don't stop doing what you're doing you'll lose your family business I'm not a micromanager they're not puppets they're your team and if you don't stop doing what you're doing you'll lose your family and the business working out your honor I'm going to bet good night this is all stuff that I've been trying to get across to John for 20 years hmm what's the matter seriously yeah what's the matter I've had it I have had it now he's feeling squashed and I don't have to feel that way anymore I'm not gonna feel that way anymore bedtime boy I'm not looking forward to sleeping in a haunted room I've never seen such a delusional owner and staff that are so desperate to do their jobs and now I sleep in this christ almighty was that as bad as sound comfy I had a sleepless night and believe me it wasn't a ghost that kept me awake it was something far more frightening time to give John and Tina a wake-up call after you please hi guys these are the guests that have been staying in the hotel I've asked them in my room this morning's to help you understand how differently has become her guests actually stay here who'd like to go first I took shower this morning and used what I thought was a clean towel and there was hair in the talent himself was actually very uncomfortable yeah we left our room last night and couldn't lock our door so we had to leave our hotel room door unlocked handle hands how many of you would return here anyone not much of a nice day here John and Tina are you aware of so many problems inside these rooms some of them we are work yeah well I'm more pissed off about than anything is that last night I went downstairs in fact let me show you it was easy if I do this way I forgot my toothbrush I went down to the car and I cannot believe this just watch carefully I went outside so step down the stairs all of a sudden damn I've got myself out we've got no keys to get back in the bloody front door is not locked at night now there's no night porter there's no security and then shock horror I went behind the reception desk and every one of your keys is hanging replicated in the pigeon box duplicate key for every room credit card details personal cell numbers it is all there why is the door not not there's no good reason to go yeah we gotta lock it in a long time no that's two years in this community you have eight major burglars with the last 12 months three registered sex offenders locally in this community I mean how does that make you feel that we were sleeping in this hotel last night and eating every one of us was vulnerable thank you thank you thank you can you stay here with me and lady in general thank you thank you John and Tina have broken the first law of hospitality keep your guests safe John so busy interfering with other people's jobs he's lost sight of what really matters I'm not joking around on the burglaries oh I'm sex a friend I know I know your reputation to be over in seconds and one instant in this hotel because you're not going to walk around this town as a prosecutor a chief lawyer and then be responsible for a serious rape taken in place inside here wake up you're running a business not a courtroom and they're here for an experience not a sentence sell the place because you're not fit to run it sell it because this is madness sell it and keep your house I've just discovered that John has lost sight of the big picture at the hotel the bloody front door is not locked at night and his incompetence is putting the guests safety in jeopardy if John doesn't change his interfering ways he and Tina will lose their home and be forced to live in the hotel's top floor it's time to find out what is like up there hello anyone there hello it's like someone Oh who in the hell put this here it really is hotel hell oh my god come to our hands this place is genuinely disturbing freaky that top floors no place to live but I've got a plan if I force John to see how different things could be here maybe he'll get the message so I'm gonna need Britney's help if we can prove to John and Tina if you take charge and you hold those reins but you can make money this hotel trust me they back off and you step up okay I'm hoping to prove to John that it can be busy it can be fun here tonight we are serving we are doing a bar night oh my god this is terrible we're not a rowdy kids doing shots going crazy bar it's a party party party we're gonna do a drink specials we can get people in the rooms a ladies night tonight I have to pack the place Thanks right this is the first step to change as last-minute preparations take place in the bar in the kitchen there's a new energy in the hotel this is chef Ritchie's chance to prove he can cook with fresh ingredients nothing out of a bag please no preheating all fresh sure Alfred great rich hey sure responsibility to teach these guys how to cook not to reheat is that right scoot yeah I thought he's just sorry culinary school oh good man how do inspired you to be a chef I heard everywhere pushing me to join the culinary field because I wasn't physically able to do any other things like sports and stuff yes disability I've had two heart surgeries and two back surgeries how old you know you move fast that's a big asset they haven't even talked properly yet have you that's incredible so what you want to be when you grow up I would like to have my own bakery and I'll be a professional executive pastry chef Wow all right at all Brittany has gotten the word out but she's in charge tonight and people are flocking into the hotel ladies night is going really well tonight there's a mixed crowd of ages here and everyone hanging out together and having fun what can I do to help you nothing get out nice going great but I don't think John quite understands how important nights like this are because I don't think this guy gets the message John on a show sign come with me having spooked me every time I come in here here's the situation downstairs currently there's a bus and I got put together by your general manager Brittany that's her vision but if you carry on running the Cambridge the way you have been this is what you're gonna have this is what your destiny this on your own so stay up here and sort of enjoy your surroundings how come we get you when I'm ready all right he's so wrong he has no clue and I'm I'm thinking when he comes back up he's gonna ask me what did I learn and I'm gonna say don't I really didn't learn anything pluck him I'm not happy sitting there waiting because I know my guests are downstairs having a party and I kind of felt that I needed to be downstairs for who wants me to sit up here and and you know think that he's all right about all this stuff and dammit he's wrong about me being a control freak with ladies night in full swing Jesse on say I'm Jonah Tina's daughter Shay arrived adjoining the phone I think she's my last chance of getting through to join I say thank you time's running out for you dad for your mother and for their house I can't get through to your father I asked him to go upstairs and just sit and ponder and think that this is your future if you think he's ready to change by all means bring him down and if he's not I don't care keep him out there and keep him up there what's going on I'm just up here sitting down waiting waiting go back go surf I think the point was to try and visualize what could potentially be the future oh no I've been doing a lot of thinking hey I thought my role was about the same all along I feel like it's changed a lot and I think a lot of it is a fear of trusting you don't have to be here all the time and when was the last time you sat down at home and how to dinner with mom you know yeah I feel guilty when I'm not here do you know what's going on downstairs no it's awesome there is a restaurant full of people that are thoroughly enjoying themselves it's happen and it's working without you yeah yeah I'm getting it okay I mean I'm it's gonna be tough for me to backwalk of the working I think it's important for you I think it's important for you and Mom yeah you're making a good point Shay I think you would be able to spend more time with your granddaughter sorry I bet it's possible you don't want this to be your future no you don't want to live here no I don't you have to commit to change yeah yeah all right I understand if mom will put up with me being home more love you I love you too shape I've an epiphany I've just now realized my control is what Dre is dragging the hotel down now I need to make a change in order for my personal life to improve and for my business to get better tonight has been a real success seeing Brittany in charge and rich cooking fresh food gives me real hope but it's Jon capable of letting go my goodness it feels weird it's sounding so quiet now right well done behind the bar well done in the kitchen scooter well done ladies great I mean you couldn't get a seat at the bar within 20 minutes that's how it should be how much do we take center $1400 in two hours $1400 in two hours we made more than the last four Wednesday's are for Thursday's combined Jon you spend the majority night upstairs how was your night it was in a very good night actually no way my daughter Shea opened my eyes to some things I'm here every night because I feel that I need to be here that that is my role as the owner to wave the flag as a military term but when it came from Shea as she said you know dad mm-hmm I know how hard you work and and I promised I wasn't gonna tear up and this all happened without me you trust your subordinates as a commander the most important person you have are your NCOs and chef and Brittany are my NCOs I can't tell you how good is to hear that because you're a tough nut to crack because we have got one hell of a day tomorrow but I need everybody everybody at their best a good job well done what are they I'm hoping that John has finally got that message but it's all lawyer crap tomorrow we'll definitely find out my design team worked all night to bring the hotel into the 21st century now it's time to reveal then you came with your tell to the staff good morning good morning John how you feeling I can't wait to see what you've done in there right you ready to go in the only way we're getting in is with this okay let's go let's go the door is locked so your guests can sleep safe and sound right come upstairs I'm hoping you're gonna love my room I think it's absolutely gorgeous taking the carpet out and putting that flooring in absolutely transformed it the whole paper was expensive in order to enhance a we work with it so we got the back drapes above the vet we have this amazing new floor perfect furniture that fits the room we've got graded every room with brand-new linen and towels $75,000 worth of linen oh my god oh my god we could have never afforded that that is so wonderful I feel like kind of like a kid that comes down Christmas morning and there's so many things under the tree that you're in overload I can't really comprehend everything yet I mean I'm just kind of looking at it ring Wow ready for more room oh my god I could take it Wow Wow I can't wait to actually show a guest upstairs to a room I'm there's one more little thing I want to show you downstairs come with me please in the 1890s that came is your tale gave birth to world-famous Pilar mode and I think that dish can put the hotel back on the map today something I thought was a huge missed opportunity I've been working on an amazing very special apple pie recipe that I'm gonna give to you that you own then it becomes the best apple pie in America and on the back of that we've transformed this room through here - the alamode room completely yeah morning everybody how are we we can sell our own pie that's homemade that Gordon is giving us his recipe for oh my god this Hotel invented pie limos and the ice cream is made fresh here with a brand new ice cream maker and it's locally sourced cream I can't wait to try it come with me please I enjoy the apple pie nice to see you please come through beauty-full pile of most to get dig in call guys if anybody wants this you better get on it oh my gosh awesome the world-famous Cambridge hotel apple pie a la mode that is the best crust I have ever had on a pike welcome to the Cambridge Hotel we now have the best apple pie lamode in let's say the world people gonna be excited what do you think but I'm shocked you're short be happy I don't know oh my don't get upset buddy what's the matter I'm so happy oh good I'm happy too as well you know that okay Thank You Lee seeing how much he James hotel is very overwhelming I can feel a chance I'm a lot more inspired right now I feel like I could accomplish anything in the kitchen I am proud now there's a new pride in me to say this is where I work time to go I never thought I'd say this but I'm actually quite sad to leave this place because no longer is John in denial he can now stand back and watch his team run the Cambridge properly as I'm getting ready to leave yes I starting to arrive at the new hotel hello and the biggest change of all is not the new decor it's the fact that guests are loving it at the Cambridge beautiful the restaurant is buzzing guests are enjoying the new home-cooked menu that have put together with chef rich and you better save room for the pie cuz it's totally different and the hotel's signature dish pie lamode is a big hit great buzz in there I mean it's electric and it's the sound of the new Cambridge otels only hope now is that they keep it up and keep those customers excited because when it's like that it's phenomenal I think tonight went incredibly well that the fact that I could stay and sit with Shea and Addison and funk it was really really nice Wow to see you smiling he's incredible you know that's you like this place up but I don't what you're living here no one I don't want to live here I do not want you living here don't live here okay tell him that I'm not living here I hear you give him a hug he deserves he hasn't interfered tonight and you sat down and spent time with your granddaughter I had a blast yeah my job is done let me tell you no longer our IP okay of the Cambridge it has a bright future long live the Cambridge right gamma died before Gordon came I didn't know where to go anymore with the hotel and getting Gordon here and having him show us what the problem was now I can see that the things can be fixed I tell you okay Colin Powell says optimism is a force multiplier I'm optimistic stay optimistic but don't get too volved okay okay look after yourselves thank you very much stay together thank you thank you thank you before I leave this place there's one more person I want to talk to qualit big man so you got three more years left at college right I'm out for okay hear me out okay I want you to keep in touch with me okay I leave my email address because I want to finance those next four years in college personally and help you okay do it for you and keep that dream alive one day of owning your bakery and then when your bakery is open all I want back is a loaf of bread okay it's pretty unbelievable that he is gonna be able to finance my four years of school well done good job they can get the watch welcome yeah I'm waiting to finish school and pay em off for their big loaf of bread you have an amazing pair of hands and a lovely smile don't stop okay and God help you if you fail that college thank you you won't though I know you won't welcome thank you okay when I go to school I'm gonna push myself two hundred times harder I'm gonna sugar in what I can do and how fast I can do it good night thank you thank you take care thank you well done thank you good job awesome job hey you deserve it definitely what a week what a place now whatever I see Ella mode I know where he started\n"