Booking a hotel for a punt

[nike]

I've read a few posts, from fellow punters, who have booked hotels for punts during covid restrictions.
However a friend of mine booked a Premier Inn, in Edinburgh, online and then collected his keys and went to the room. When his punt arrived, he went downstairs to meet her and they both went up the lift, they were followed, by a member of staff, and before they could get into the room, were challenged and told that they had to leave, as the current restrictions did not allow it.
The girl was dressed very normally.
My mate told, the staffer, that their travel was work related and the lady was his spouse, they still got turned away.
Is this a crackdown or just an over zealous , jobsworth, employee?

[myothernameis]

They were followed, by a member of staff, and before they could get into the room, were challenged and told that they had to leave, as the current restrictions did not allow it.

My mate told, the staffer, that their travel was work related and the lady was his spouse, they still got turned away.

Is this a crackdown or just an over zealous , jobsworth, employee?

I would say, the employee was just doing his job, and maybe before speaking to your friend, has check the booking details.  Booking details will show his address, and if locally, he is probably been busted

From hotel,

however we won’t be able to accommodate stays for leisure purposes at any of our hotels.

[Papertrail2019]

Would suggest not booking hotel rooms and stick to self-catering apartments if you're doing outcalls.

[nike]

I would say, the employee was just doing his job, and maybe before speaking to your friend, has check the booking details.  Booking details will show his address, and if locally, he is probably been busted

From hotel,

Surely that would have shown up, at check in.

[kayak]

I've been travelling and staying in hotels regularly during lockdown, as I'm an essential worker, and I'm still working all over the UK. My experience has been that they're very strict, and always ask if I have the app, and also make me complete the form which asks what work I'm doing etc. In some cases I've been the only person in the hotel on a particular night, so I was very conspicuous. I wouldn't chance an outcall for these reasons at all.

[AnotherTime]

I was hoping to meet a female from SA, so I tested the waters by booking a day room in a central Edinburgh hotel. The booking went through perfectly fine but I received an email a few hours later informing me that I should test and trace app on my phone when booking in and reminding me that essential travel only is currently allowed. It was a firm but gentle reminder that a greater level of oversight is undoubtedly occurring on all bookings presently.

[Tw24]

Its frustrating but as well as being forced to police the restrictions because of the law I suspect a lot of hotel staff are looking out to any risks to their own health as well as the risk of the business being shut down or hitting the papers due to an outbreak. Jumpy staff in a quiet reception area are never a great combo for a punt. I've not needed to as yet but I think I'd be looking at a flat on air BnB etc.

[BearGuy]

Surely that would have shown up, at check in.

Maybe they got more suspicious when the girl turned up later and this prompted a closer look?

[JRWK]

I wouldn't book a hotel at the moment, but if I had to, I'd book room for 2 adults and make sure we arrived together

[CrespinWolfe]

I recently booked a Hilton in Glasgow and brought back a girl I’d picked up on Tinder. I checked in myself and then brought her in a few hours later. The receptionist definitely seen us but no challenge was made. That was at the tail end of last year right enough, so might have been before things got tightened up.