4NCL 2025-26 Division Three Knights

[Neil Graham]

This Division starts at Dudley this weekend at the new venue of the Copthorne Hotel, Merry Hill.

Looks like an interesting competition will ensue.

[Neil Graham]

The opening weekend of Division Three Knights showed twelve remarkably close rated teams; every match finished as either 4-2, 3½ 2½ or 3-3. Two sides Sussex Martlets 2 and CSC/Kingston 2 are on maximum points with The MASCeeters yet to open their account.

[Tim Spanton]

What did you think of the hotel and its location?

[Ian Thompson]

What did you think of the hotel and its location?

Definitely a budget hotel that does not live up to its "luxury" claims. The playing conditions were quite good, but the bedroom was basic and the breakfast had a limited selection to choose from.

Although I arrived early enough to get a parking space, I heard that later arrivals found the car park was full.

[Roger de Coverly]

Although I arrived early enough to get a parking space, I heard that later arrivals found the car park was full.

There's a road which runs alongside the canal and then turns up the hill beside the hotel. This had plenty of parking space. It's one way with no entry from the roundabout directly outside the hotel. My Sat Nav took me that way. When it told me I had arrived at my destination, I parked up and then looked for the hotel entrance on foot. I think this would have been around 1.15pm when the car park was already mostly full.

There was a bit of a queue at reception, but at least the rooms were available for immediate occupation at no extra charge.

By comparison to previous venues at Telford and Warwick, it seems a long way through the Birmingham suburbs from the motorway when driving. At the cost of a bit of a hike, there's a plentiful choice of eating places in the Merry Hill shopping mall across the canal.

[Tim Spanton]

Ha! Obviously everyone has different priorities. My experience, playing in Div 4, was that it was an above-average hotel, with good WiFi (always a priority for me), and with a huge shopping centre nearby - good for coffee and groceries. I travel by train, and it was a bit of a hike from the station, especially with luggage, but there were convenient pubs along the way.

[Ian Thompson]

There was a bit of a queue at reception, but at least the rooms were available for immediate occupation at no extra charge.

They weren't when I arrived. I asked if it was possible to check-in and the response was that check-in time was 2 pm. I said I knew that, but I was hoping to get an early check-in. The receptionist stepped back and turned away without responding.

Did you notice that their pre-arrival, online, check-in form said check-in was from 2 pm, but wouldn't let you select a time earlier than 3 pm? I chose not to complete it because of that.

I used the express checkout and I'm still waiting to receive my invoice by e-mail.

[LawrenceCooper]

There was a bit of a queue at reception, but at least the rooms were available for immediate occupation at no extra charge.

They weren't when I arrived. I asked if it was possible to check-in and the response was that check-in time was 2 pm. I said I knew that, but I was hoping to get an early check-in. The receptionist stepped back and turned away without responding.

Did you notice that their pre-arrival, online, check-in form said check-in was from 2 pm, but wouldn't let you select a time earlier than 3 pm? I chose not to complete it because of that.

I used the express checkout and I'm still waiting to receive my invoice by e-mail.

At least they honoured your booking. I booked sixteen rooms in July, received written confirmation, but when I forwarded the player's names in September was told we had only been booked in for the Friday night and we would need to look elsewhere for the Saturday. There was no offer of compensation and my two teams ended up five miles away.

[Ian Thompson]

At least they honoured your booking. I booked sixteen rooms in July, received written confirmation, but when I forwarded the player's names in September was told we had only been booked in for the Friday night and we would need to look elsewhere for the Saturday. There was no offer of compensation and my two teams ended up five miles away.

If they'd said that to me I'd have asked them whether they were going to find alternative accommodation and arrange transport between it and the venue, or whether they wanted me to make those arrangements and claim the cost back from them afterwards. I'd also have asked for use of a conference room at the venue for the weekend and for some compensation for the inconvenience.

My personal experience of dealing with hotels that cancel reservations is that they'll try it on by offering nothing to start with, but, when they realise they're not going to get away with that, they'll agree reasonable compensation.

[LawrenceCooper]

At least they honoured your booking. I booked sixteen rooms in July, received written confirmation, but when I forwarded the player's names in September was told we had only been booked in for the Friday night and we would need to look elsewhere for the Saturday. There was no offer of compensation and my two teams ended up five miles away.

If they'd said that to me I'd have asked them whether they were going to find alternative accommodation and arrange transport between it and the venue, or whether they wanted me to make those arrangements and claim the cost back from them afterwards. I'd also have asked for use of a conference room at the venue for the weekend and for some compensation for the inconvenience.

My personal experience of dealing with hotels that cancel reservations is that they'll try it on by offering nothing to start with, but, when they realise they're not going to get away with that, they'll agree reasonable compensation.

I tried most of that (barr the conference room) and the 4NCL officials and hotel contact were also informed. The one redeeming thing was that there was cheaper accommodation available which was close to the station and where we had our team meal. With my teams playing on Saturday loss of preparation time wasn't an issue as my players had a week's notice for their board pairings so it was only Sunday where the loss of 15-20 minutes prep time could, potentially, have impacted the teams. They did, belatedly, offer me seven rooms a week before but I politely declined.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"They did, belatedly, offer me seven rooms a week before but I politely declined."

Did you politely decline with the words, "What ****ing use is that, you morons?"

It makes you wonder if they understand the concept of hotels and travel.

[LawrenceCooper]

"They did, belatedly, offer me seven rooms a week before but I politely declined."

Did you politely decline with the words, "What ****ing use is that, you morons?"

It makes you wonder if they understand the concept of hotels and travel.

I didn't, no. I know hard it is for the 4NCL to find hotels and by that time I had got used to the idea of cheaper hotel rooms, albeit with the convenience of being in the venue. Had I been unable to find a hotel that was cheaper then I may have been less forgiving when the oversight was discovered.

[Nick Ivell]

In my 4NCL career I was lucky when something similar happened to me in Northampton. I was relocated 5 minutes from the venue. It did feel odd, though, not staying at the venue; and 'basic' would be a generous description of the unplanned hotel. I hated the breakfast there.

[NickFaulks]

II hated the breakfast there.

Because you were sitting there by yourself? Strong words, a breakfast is a breakfast, and if it was inadequate you could surely have found something to augment it in Northampton. Yes, I am being argumentative.

[Paul Habershon]

II hated the breakfast there.

Because you were sitting there by yourself? Strong words, a breakfast is a breakfast, and if it was inadequate you could surely have found something to augment it in Northampton. Yes, I am being argumentative.

I wonder how many cafes in Northampton provide breakfast cereal at 9 on a Sunday morning, or ever.

Having spent eleven years in boarding schools I find all 4NCL hotels luxurious. I thought the three-course dinner at the Copthorne, Dudley, last weekend was excellent value @£20.