• Added: 25th of November 2008
• Area: Oldham
• Category: Sightseeing and Attractions

Oldham OL3 5LU

Happyjaw said
Pennine Helicopters fail to deliver
I was hoping to review a wonderful experience, a great gift idea and some exceptional service reports on Pennine Helicopters, but, I've found myself entirely unable to and I can only review based on the complete lack of service we've had so far.

I paid £115 for a co-pilot seat on a helicopter pleasure flight for my Dad for his 50th birthday, thinking this would be a great experience for him. So, I bought the voucher in August ready for his birthday in September and gave it to him with a booking for
the next day.

The company have a number of different sites they fly from and destinations and possible flight routes in addition to the potential seating allocation. All that information can be found on their website, I'm afraid I'm not writing to fly their flag for them, if only I were.


That flight never took off and none of his booked flights have done since then.

My Dad and I have made multiple bookings which the company have cancelled because of the weather, there was also a cancellation because the helicopter was grounded due to malfunction. You have to call an answering service each morning you have a booking, which lets you know if the flight will go ahead.... or not in this case. Ever.

So, 14 months later and more than 10 cancellations later my Dad is sick of booking flights which are cancelled and I'm sick of him still not receiving his birthday gift.

I called the company 3 weeks ago to ask for a refund since they have been been able to deliver in a 'reasonable amount of time', therefore enabling my Dad to take the money and actually use it for something instead of it gaining interest in Pennine's coffers.
Through a 25 minute call I was basically refused a refund with more excuses than a teenager who's late for curfew. Apparently it's not their fault the weather has been abysmal (true but irrelevant to the sale of goods act), three people have recently been killed in helicopter accidents and surely I don't want my Dad to be at risk (obviously), that the money paid out will have only paid for the insurance to cover each flight which never took place (rubbish and not my problem since I paid for a flight not their policy) and numerous other well rehearsed reasons why they should not refund.

The information the pilot gave, perhaps without meaning to, is that lots of people have asked for refunds and no one gets them, unless something terrible has happened, or so I'm told.
It has been known that the current record for cancelled flights is either 13 or 15, but no one seemed sure.

My Dad then chose to book one more flight, which, if undelivered will have the full support of one of the pilots (Chris) who we spoke to, get a full refund.
At this stage you might imagine I'm more than upset about the extended delay in my Dad actually having his gift.

So, the day came and went, the flight was cancelled yet again!
My Dad and I both called the pilot who has been advised to step back from the situation by the company and now refuses to help us obtain a refund.

We now stand at 12 cancellations in total, over 14 months of time and disappointment and the company steadfastly refuse to refund in full.

In fact they've refused a refund at all at this stage, not even the 75%.
Legally they haven't been able to deliver the service within a 'reasonable amount of time' so they are in breach of contract.

This company are so shady it's scary! So, in terms of reviewing the company to be a good gift idea I'd steer well clear. You may not undertake the flight in anything like the timescale you hope for, which could spoil the whole experience and if you choose to cancel, you won't get all your money back.

To put it in perspective, you could have a house built in half the time Pennine have had to deliver their service so far. Or you could conceive, gestate, give birth to and be suffering the sleepless nights of a baby in 5 months less.

• Added: 25th of August 2008
• Area: Sheffield
• Category: Motoring

Sheffield S2 4DG

Happyjaw said
Potentially unlawful situation with car hire
A car rental just outside the city centre, in a less than salubrious area but some of the better prices in Sheffield for car hire.
I once rented a car to travel to Kent and back over a long weekend. It was the first time I had rented a car and I was a little nervous about caring for it. My own, rather smaller car was around 7 years old and I felt comfortable, the brand new Vauxhall Vectra has around 12 miles on the clock when I picked it up and of course it was immaculate.
We checked over the car for any scratches in order that they not be attributed to my lack of care and off I drove.
3 days later I brought it back, we checked over the car, they signed it off as being in the condition in which I had collected it and returned my deposit, all well and good.
Except an hour later they suddenly rang to claim thee was a nail in the rather expensive Firestone tyre and they had deducted the cost of the tyre and fitting back off my card. This was just shy of £100.
They also insisted that they only used one garage and that the tyre had to be Firestone, which just happens to be one of the expensive branded tyres. The price of the tyre was at the normal public rate, which strikes me as suspicious, a company which incurs huge motor maintenance bills would surely set up a deal with a local garage or stockist to lower costs.
The fitting rate was reasonable but again at normal public rates.
I was furious!
I argued that the car had been accepted as being back with them and signed to that effect and they had no right taking money back off my plastic after the event, surely that's what the signature was all about - that it had been certified.
The arguments progressed throughout my working day and once I got home from work I really put my mind to it, I strongly felt that as a female driver they had decided to take advantage, either to replace a tyre on another car, or one of their own or something else hokey. Something made me feel uncomfortable. All the staff I spoke to were male and all seemed to reinforce one another, again leading me to the 'innocent female' situation and how they might have been trying it on.
I also pointed out that the nail in the tyre may well have occurred on their property and since they didn't lift the entire car to check the part of the tyre in contact with the tarmac, there was no way to say they had checked the entire car when lending it to me, perhaps the tyre had contained a nail all along.
This was disputed but of course, when I asked for evidence they were unable to provide it.
I was spitting feathers for almost 24 hours in dealing with them and over that time their resistance decreased until finally they gave in and repaid the £100 back onto my card.
I made it graphically clear that I would be watching my account and if any money was deducted again I would contact the office of fair trading and the police.

I would suggest if anyone encounters any such situations with this company, male or female, do contest it. Turn up unannounced and demand to see the damage. Find costs of the replacement if it is your fault and don't allow them to decide who or where it will go at your expense.
And don't trust them with your plastic, make your deposit in cash or cheque form.

• Added: 25th of August 2008
• Area: Sheffield
• Category: Health and Medical

Sheffield S11 9NE

Happyjaw said
All saints!
This hospice is one of Sheffield's pride, a private hospice, primarily for those terminally ill and most often with cancer. It sounds a terrible place to be but that couldn't be further from the truth.
From arriving to the doors the differences to other services are obvious, the building has a positive atmosphere. The staff are welcoming and friendly and you begin to relax a little.
The building is comfortable and cool, there are some of the usual items, hard wearing chairs, practical tables and muted prints on the wall but it's quite inviting.
The standard of care is fantastic, the nurses are happy to develop an emotional relationship, treating each person with kindness and getting to know them, their likes, dislikes, fears and loves and most of all their needs. Not just needing medication or a particular diet, but needing a manicure to help them feel human, to see a hairdresser to make them feel pampered.... and those services are offered.
The visitors are looked after too, everyone is respected and left to spend time with the person they are visiting, there are no difficult staff asking you to leave for rest hour or lunch, they let the resident make their own mind up.
There are nice wards and there are also very nice private rooms, for those most ill or who are nearing death so their family can be private. You can hear the sounds of birds singing, especially first thing in the morning and it's a nice sound in such a place.
There's also a lovely coffee lounge for those visiting or those..... waiting. Drinks and nibbles and comfortable chairs and sofas. There is a large fish tank which is well placed in there and it opens out onto a verandah which adjoins the wards and overlooks the gardens.

Part of St Luke's fundraising is the switching on of the lights, a regular Christmas event where a donation can be made in the name of a loved on and a light will be lit in their name.
It's a hugely emotional experience and an incredible tribute.

There's been some recent altercations about St Luke's moving residency to a public park which was donated to the people of Sheffield and the city council are possibly going to sell them the land. But it isn't theirs to sell and St Luke's may not have painted the picture in the most honest light.

Car parking at the current building is lousy.
However, the recent news in Sheffield is that the council have granted a licence to move to new premises nearer the city centre. My understanding is that the building has been in similar use before and stands in the S2 area, from 2009/2010, the address may well have changed.

• Added: 25th of August 2008
• Area: Sheffield
• Category: Shops and Amenities

Sheffield S8 0RY

Happyjaw said
I'd Venture to say no thanks!
A hugely marketed photography studio in Sheffield.
Gorgeous gorgeous pictures!
I bought one of the marketing vouchers from one of the display stands in a shopping centre, for £25, this was a free session and a 10X8 print coupon or the equivalent value in money off a larger order.
A great studio, we felt quite awkward but we soon had a riot and it shows in the pictures.

The cost is just unreal!
We were treated to a great display of our pictures, sat in a darkened room, music on and al our family photos on screen to be ooohhed and aaahed over, we were given drinks and made to feel comfortable.
It's an absolutely emotional killer! It was beautiful and they know exactly how to work your emotions like a puppet. Everyone I know who has been has ended up spending a fortune, because of the lovely pictures and the emotional photo display.
At that time there were desktop pictures available at £45 each, which sounds expensive to some and not to others, we ordered several of that size to put together in a collage arrangement on the wall. They've since stopped selling those sizes and I believe the next price is around £110 per picture, a larger but unknown size. I believe most people were buying those and possibly enlarging them at home.
Our friends have each spent nearer 2K each and all of them are still paying it off in installments.
For those reason I dislike the place. One friend is still paying hers off and has since had a another baby who is missing from those pictures, which creates another emotional dilemma, once they've got you......

Further to all that, once they'd taken our money the customer service dropped off. It took ages to get our pictures and even then no one rang to say they'd arrived at the store, it was only our calls which prompted them to check when they did arrive.

They give various incentives to get you extra free pics, my partners mother bought a voucher in order that we all congregate as a family and have pictures taken. We travelled to another store which was nearer for the bulk of the family and had a totally different experience, we felt awkward and mostly stayed awkward, the photographer wasn't much good for loosening us all up.
When we viewed the pictures it was already much later on that it should be and it took 6 months to get the prints, 6 months! Again, only because we followed it up. Then they promised to organise it and still it took another 2 weeks before there was any movement.
In the end we did get our prints and they made a mess and duplicated it, their loss our gain, at last!

You can do your own pictures with the same effects, don't be blinded by the lovely pictures on display.
Don't be suckered by the emotionally trapping photo display.
Do not take your credit card with you when you see the pictures.

• Added: 25th of August 2008
• Area: Sheffield
• Category: Shopping

Sheffield S1 2HB

Happyjaw said
Lifestyles of the rich (and maybe the famous)
I like John Lewis, or Cole Brothers as we know our local branch here in in Sheffield. It's a quality department store with a respectable clientele.
A general stereotype in Sheffield it has had a reputation of being for the older generation but I believe John Lewis has remade itself into a label of quality for anyone who can afford it.
I like the make-up concessions, the staff here, though apparently equally trained to those in certain large chain chemists, seem classier, have more impeccable manners and pay more attention than others. They listen to the client, a crucial part of selling a product if you ask me.
I like the scent counter, they are patient and knowledgeable rather than desperate to sell you anything.
I like to take time over scents, I also like to wander off and once back later, or another day, once I've lived with a scent for a while, the assistants at John Lewis are great with this and knock themselves out to help but will not judge or push sell a product if you shop the way I do.
I'm not a fan of the haberdashery, it's little dated in stock for my liking but that's more personal taste than store issues.
Clothing, fabrics and electricals each have specific areas, furniture takes almost a whole floor and there are carpets and no end of other items in between.
I like the store at Christmas, it has that old fashioned store feel to it then and it makes me happy.

The car park is abysmal, each space suited perhaps to the cars purchased in the 1950's but by far insignificant for more than a modern day pushbike. Parking here is like adding a premium to your insurance, your paintwork is not safe!
Some staff can be a little too snooty, if you aren't dressed in the usual manner of the usual John Lewis clientele, it can be a very different service experience. I've been through harassed and rushed in casual clothing buying a bottle of shampoo and treated as entirely insignificant, but a week later, buying the same range of products but with time on my hands and a classy looking wrap draped over my shoulders, I was apparently much more worthy of their notice, manners and time.

• Added: 25th of August 2008
• Area: Sheffield
• Category: Motoring

Sheffield S2 4SE

Happyjaw said
Mr Exhaust saved my bacon
I whizzed in here today, hoping they had tyres and were still open and I was devastated to find the chap working just rolling down the shutters. He did however, agree to get a quote for the tyre I desperately needed to pass my MOT, had a look and quoted a £35 fitted for an economy tyre. That suited my needs well enough to complete the MOT so I asked when they would open on Monday, 8.30 am came the reply but, pull it inside and I'll do it now.
What a great service!.
The chap was friendly, helpful and decent, he did the tyre, gave me some advice on a practical note about my car and charged exactly as he said he would.
Based on that I gave him some extra cash to go and buy himself a well earned pint!
There's a comfortable and clean waiting area for clients.
Tyres and various other items are kept in stock, ready for people just dropping in for work to be done in a short time. The title Mr Exhaust suggests that would be the main trade.
I found the chap I dealt with to be an excellent representation of what seems to be good business to know about.

The only downfall I almost fell foul of, is that they close at 12.30 on a Saturday. Not ideal if you work full time and struggle to get your car for repairs.

• Added: 25th of August 2008
• Area: Sheffield
• Category: Motoring

Sheffield S2 3EN

Happyjaw said
MOT on the DOT
A unbiased MOT centre. They don't do work on vehicles so do not benefit from telling anyone about problems, plus there's a free retest so again, nothing more to be earned.
I went in last week for my MOT, I rang on the Wednesday and got an appointment for late on Saturday morning, not bad and the receptionist was quite polite and flexible.
I went in on Saturday, running slightly late, which they had no problems with and they have done the MOT in a very short time whilst I waited.
It failed, on a tyre and I had until the need of the next working day, Monday, to being it back for a free retest. I'm guessing the shortened time is because I have a slightly older car which might in fact develop some sort of fault in a short time, as is the nature of cars. So this would mean they would fulfill their legal obligation by only retesting the the failed part instead of costing themselves money by having to do a full retest. That seems fair to me.
So I whizzed off to get a new tyre and had the car back to them first thing on Monday morning. I'd barely sat down to wait when I was told it had passed and given the test certificate.
I'd also had a bulb out at the back but this didn't earn me a fail because one of the bonus aspects of DOT MOT is that they increase the price slightly to incorporate small fixes like this. I knew about the bulb but didn't need to worry as I knew they would deal with on the spot.
I paid £49.95, which is comparatively expensive yet I'm satisfied with that because the chances of me passing without visiting another garage for repairs, is much higher due to the in house repairs.
They've just begun doing services, apparently at customers requests. Which seems a great idea, though I haven't had one.
You can also earn £15 off your next MOT if you recommend a friend who has something done there.
£49.95 is perhaps a little too high, Peugeot are currently doing £25 MOTs on ALL cars and a bulb is less than £5 but for minimum hassle, sometimes it is well worth it.

• Added: 25th of August 2008
• Area: Ashby De La Zouch
• Category: Sightseeing and Attractions

Ashby De La Zouch

Happyjaw said
A lovely visitor attraction
I really love this place, it's peaceful and pleasant and steeped in history.
Ruined now but once glorious, the castle began as a manor house in the 12th century. It achieved castle status sometime in the 15th century, when the hall and buttery had been enlarged, with a solar to the east and a large kitchen added to the west, thereby increasing the square footage of the building.

Later, between 1474 and his death by execution in 1483, Edward IV's Chamberlain Lord Hastings added the chapel and the enormous Hastings Tower which visitors can now enter and appreciate the far reaching views from the top of the 24 metre tower.

There's an underground tunnel between the kitchen and the tower, probably made during the Civil War and accessible today as a visitor.
In recent years archaeologists have investigated the mysterious castle garden, famous for its elaborately shaped sunken features.

My personal experiences at this venue are fantastic, I've spent a considerable amount of time there, including overnight and was once treated to a strange situation where someone was entirely convinced her had seen me run in front of him, half way down the length of the chapel, yet in fact I was at the far end. I watched him chasing 'me' unaware of whom he thought he was chasing and assuming someone else was some distance ahead.
We also found that photographs of the venue which included my friends had strange images on the prints which were not there at the time.

Toilets: Accessible WC in shop.
Shop: Access via a ramp and double doors.
Access:
Access to castle: Via 200m of grass, but assistance may be required.
Parking:
Parking (restricted on site, please park in town car park - charge applies).
Hearing Impaired Visitors:
Tape tours with hearing loop included in admission price.
Group Discount:
15% discount for groups of 11 or more plus a free place for every additional 20 paying passengers. Free entry for coach driver and tour leader.

None of the English Heritage properties are cheap to enter these days, though on this particular site you can get a family ticket for just under £10.

• Added: 25th of August 2008
• Area: Newquay
• Category: Sightseeing and Attractions

Newquay TR7 2LZ

Happyjaw said
Zootopia
Newquay Zoo was an unexpected pleasure and I really enjoyed it.
We saw creatures such as lions, zebras, penguins, monkeys, skinks (yes, blue tongued skinks at that!), tapirs and various other creatures I hadn't heard of and a multitude of those I had.
They all appeared to be living in suitable sized enclosures and looked in good health as far as my untrained eye can tell.
I really enjoyed a leisurely walk around the whole place, we saw various feeding demonstrations and talks about the zoo residents and came away with a much expanded knowledge of the animals and birds in particular .( Did you know a lion's roar can be heard for miles? And that zoo's can make up some of their income by selling lion manure?)
We had taken a picnic lunch and were fascinated to see the demonstrations of a peacock in full feathery regalia for the benefit of the picnic crowd, that was lunchtime entertainment for sure.
I especially enjoyed the tropical house which features an enormous enclosure and the focus is on the creatures inside, not the visitor desire for platitudes of health and safety and well presented stairs, this place was all about the inhabitants and it was a fascination. We saw tiny marmoset monkeys and their hair clutching young climbing the trees, tiny birds in the foliage, butterflies darting about and no end of other creatures living side by side in a fantastic habitat which looked like a fabulous set piece for the next Tarzan movie!
You can climb the stairs which rise to mezzanine levels beside the habitat to see every part of it at eye level, that was great too.
I'd recommend a visit to anyone.
The gift shop is heaving with absolute junk. I wanted a nice souvenir to remind me of a lovely day but I couldn't find a single thing which I thought was appropriate or cost a reasonable amount of money.

• Added: 25th of August 2008
• Area: Westminster
• Category: Events and Entertainment

London SW1Y 4QL
020 7930 8800

Happyjaw said
Historical theatre
Originally this is the site of a theatre built in it's first incarnation in 1663, making it the oldest theatre in London, though it's 4th actual building as others have burnt down. This one has stood safe since 1812. I hear Andrew Lloyd Webber owns it now.
It's a grand venue, a lovely decorative portico at the front and inset busts of historic figures in the walls and internal recesses.
The entry is lovely and in this instance the front of house staff are well dressed.
There's a second area just by the stairs, a circular hallway, which in this case held a concession stand for the Lord Of The Rings show.
Then, down stairs to a bar, then bizarrely back up stairs to the stalls.
The theatre is a very stereotypical layout, with stall, dress circle, circle and balcony/gods in terms of seating. There are side boxes, but, as ever, with restricted views.
For this show the set leached into the auditorium, blending the space between Middle Earth and reality and it was a fantastic use of the space.
This show made use of every part of the stage with an enormous and complex revolving set, a good sign for the future in terms of it's capacity to create new innovation and design in theatre.
A great show in a lovely theatre.
The staff can be somewhat abrupt, one in particular today was rude to me when I accidentally took a picture with my partners camera phone. (Using his phone and no clue how to actually get to the part I wanted to use, never mind what to do when I got there!) It was of the back of someone elses head but the staff member was awfully shirty, even when I showed him the accidental picture. I wasn't happy and it slightly spoiled my enjoyment of the show.

Later, when selling ice cream they ran out before even half of the enormous queue were served, rather silly given the advance bookings!
When purchasing at the concession stand they had no bags to take away your merchandise. For what otherwise appears to be a very professional looking and grandiose place the customer service and manners are distinctly lacking.

The seats are very uncomfortable after the first hour, it's certainly time someone decided that if the audience pays £60 a head, you expect more than the 1900's style seats.