The Hotel Inspector Alex Polizzi 'horrified' by 'ghastly' pub branded a 'new low' for show - before incredible transformation costing just £5k

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The Hotel Inspector Alex Polizzi was left 'horrified' as she looked around a 'ghastly' pub bed and breakfast, branding it a 'new low' for the Channel 5 show. 

The TV presenter met with long-term friends Jack and Danny, who had fulfilled their lifelong dream buying the Castle Inn in East Sussex, a hotel with a large pub and restaurant attached that dates back to the 16th century. 

Alex, 54, met with the best friends, who met working a ski season together in 2010 and had decided to go into business together, at the 20-room property. 

After just six months of running the bed and breakfast together, the duo were struggling to occupy the rooms, causing Jack to have to dip into his wedding savings and Danny to uproot his family from Birmingham to Sussex.

They called in Alex to give them some honest advice and help them boost business by making changes to the decor, and the running, of the Castle Inn. 

However, on arrival, Alex was less than impressed with the hotel's dated decor, hitting out at some 'disgusting' design elements in the rooms, including fake flowers, butterflies and diamanté-encrusted chairs.   

The Hotel Inspector Alex Polizzi was left 'horrified' as she looked around a 'ghastly' pub bed and breakfast, branding it a 'new low' for the Channel 5 show

Alex, 54, met with the best friends Danny and Jack, who met working a ski season together in 2010 and had decided to go into business together, at the 20-room property

Alex admitted she had been left 'horrified' by the 'ghastly' sitting area downstairs in the venue, hitting out that there was little charm to the hotel to bring in travellers looking for a 'country stay' in the South Downs. 

Forming a plan to combat the negative online reviews, Alex invited three duos to stay at the hotel and let them dish out their very honest feedback. 

The guests didn't hold back as they hit out at the decor, with one guest saying of the dining space: 'We use these [the chairs] in mental health hospitals because then people can't throw them at you...'

Shaking her head, Alex was forced to admit of the episode: 'This is a new low.'

Alex planned to get the three sets of guests back after giving the hotel a makeover, seeing if the changes would improve their review of the hotel. 

Gathering a £5,000 make-over budget, the hotel space was completely transformed, the show team got to work modernising the dining area with green panelling walls and fresh furniture. 

While the bedrooms were also made over, with luggage racks, stylish new lamps and the removal of some of the old-fashioned and unnecessary furniture.  

It gave the duo the courage to open up their doors in a 'meet the owners' evening for locals in the village - which proved a roaring success with the guests, who admitted they would be happy to stay again. 

Shaking her head, Alex was forced to admit of the episode: 'This is a new low' as they looked around the dining area 

Gathering a £5,000 make-over budget, the hotel space was completely transformed, the show team got to work modernising the dining area

Catching up with Alex four weeks after the show, Jack and Danny revealed: 'The locals have been raving about the changes, the food offerings, and the new decor. 

'The vibes around the village are great! We've noticed a strong traction in repeat customers and new ones.'

It comes after Alex left bed and breakfast owners squirming with a brutal ultimatum after spotting a major red flag with their business. 

In last week's episode of the Channel 5, owners of the Gatwick Turret, Ram, 62, Anj, 61, and their son, Rai, 37, asked for help from hotelier Alex.

Ram and Anj got into the hotel trade 22 years ago, and Rai joined the family business 10 years ago and they are keen to let him take over in the future. 

The airport hotel is just a mile down the road from Gatwick airport, but there are a lot of other hotels in the area, meaning that there is a lot of competition.  

Rooms at the budget bed and breakfast, which is a 10-bed Victorian property, are priced at £50 to £80, and guests have to pay extra if they want breakfast. 

But the trio were struggling to make profit. 

Ram and Anj got into the hotel trade 22 years ago, and Rai (pictured) joined the family business 10 years ago and they are keen to let him take over in the future

'All the costs, all adds up, money is coming this way, and going another way,' Anj told the camera.

'When you're working so hard, and you check at the end of the month, and you're like... "Really?"' 

Alex told viewers: 'The family are having to run the hotel almost single-handedly to keep staffing costs down. 

'But despite their hard work, their business is barely breaking even and the family are struggling to pay themselves. 

'Anj and Ram have moved out from the hotel and moved down the road to retire, but with limited savings, they are relying on the hotel's non existent profits to see them through their sunset years.' 

Before Alex got stuck in, they sat down and talked about their numbers. 

Alex asked: 'What kind of percentage profit are you?'

'We don't make huge margins,' Rai said. 

In the latest episode of the popular Channel 5 show saw owners of the Gatwick Turret dad Ram, 62, mum Anj, 61, and their son, Rai, 37, ask for help from hotelier Alex, 54 

In our previous year, we did a turn over of a quarter of a million. But we only made a net profit of £15,000.'

Alex replied: 'I'm sure quite a lot of your profitability goes on commission, doesn't it?' 

Rai explained: 'A big chunk of our bookings are through the agency, they charge 15.'

Alex wanted to know what it costed them to put on a room, and Rai told her: 'Each room costs around £4.20 for the linen. The tea, coffee tray, a bottle of water… £3.20.' 

'Adding to cost per room are roughly £6 on housekeeping, £9 towards the £350,000 pound mortgage, £24 on utilities and taxes and £9 commission for those pesky online booking sites,' Alex told viewers.

Alex then told the trio: 'So, the grand total of that, my dears, is £56.

'Lucky lucky you, all this work and all this headache and you're making a profit of about £4 a night per year - not quite enough for retirement!' 

The expert was also keen to know if they pay themselves, to which Rai revealed that they got £1,000 in the bank each month.

A shocked Alex said: 'A £1,000 each a month. Gosh darling, I mean, I'm surprised the government allows it, you’re not even making minimum wage!'

Alex then told them: 'So we either need to make more money or sell it off.' 

After a good nights sleep, Alex shared some of her ideas, such as charging more for their on-site parking, getting rid of their expensive water bottles in the room, and transforming some of the rooms with an air-line theme. 

At the end of the episode, Rai told viewers: 'We've been making an extra £140 a week in our breakfast room, from the takeaway boxes, also we've gained some great feedback from our premium room.

'We've got some great press, there is a whole article here on how we have updated our rooms and more engaged with our guests.

'The business is now heading in the right direction.'

The Hotel Inspector airs Thursdays at 8pm on Channel 5.