"A Good Scrap I Fear! Is an in-depth look into what it takes to run a Devonshire hotel. There’s family heritage and entertaining moments shared from behind the scenes that will appeal to memoir fans, but this book goes one step further to share more of the practicalities of surviving in the business landscape today."
Visit The Cottage Hotel in Hope Cove Devon and gain insight into what it takes to keep this family run hotel going. The Cottage Hotel has been in William Ireland’s family for two generations, run by his grandparents and his parents before him. A traditional hotel that sees a whopping 80% of their bookings made by returning customers, A Good Scrap I Fear! Showcases the loyalty and connection formed between the hotel and its staff, visitors and even the business’ tradespeople. The hospitality sector has seen significant changes and hardships over the years and through the book Ireland shares how they’ve faced them all, from offering meal deliveries during COVID lockdowns to the frustrating drawn out fight with the local planning department to make changes that are vital to sustaining a viable business, with the jobs, accommodation and services it provides. Born out of a frustration with said planning process and inspired by the author’s mum beginning to write their story down, William Ireland shares tales from behind the check-in counter, with plenty of pictures to depict the hotel’s history, the oddities and anecdotes of running a hotel, the guests, the mishaps and the fight to grow but also to survive in a significantly changed landscape. Though obviously an important issue to the author, with the title being taken from an unprofessional comment made by the former leader of the Council in regards to the Hotel’s case, Ireland contains the majority of the planning issues to a single chapter. It details obstructive officials, repeated and sometimes unnecessary hoop jumping and the spiralling costs of endless surveys, forms and resubmitted plans and highlights a system that seems unnecessarily convoluted, contrary and detrimental to many. To a lay-person reading this it paints a shameful picture of a confusing resistance to a long-standing family business in a popular location, and on a broader scale improvements to the hospitality industry in a country where hospitality is one of its largest sectors in terms of employment and the economy. While documenting this aspect of building and sustaining a business, the author calls for reform to the planning process for a clearer and fairer. A Good Scrap I Fear! Is an in-depth look into what it takes to run a Devonshire hotel. There’s family heritage and entertaining moments shared from behind the scenes that will appeal to memoir fans, but this book goes one step further to share more of the practicalities of surviving in the business landscape today.
Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
| Primary Genre | Indie Author Books |
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Endorsed by Alex Polizzi and Michael Cochrane, and supported by legal professionals, this is a rare blend of humour, heartbreak, and accountability. It will resonate with anyone who has dealt with local authorities, run a small business, or wondered how power operates behind closed doors. There are two reasons behind this book... First, my lovely Mum began writing her own chapter See Chapter Two, and that became my inspiration. Second—Planning. A Judge once advised me to write a book rather than spend two years battling the planning department. He said many judges are institutionalised and reluctant to ‘roll the dice’. This journey has been cathartic. Now, let’s be honest—planning is mind-numbingly boring. My friends told me, “Just shut up about planning!” So, I’ve taken their advice… sort of. Instead of a dry planning manual, I’ve created a scrapbook-style collection of anecdotes from the world of hospitality—a life I’ve truly lived and breathed. And yes, there’s a little planning thrown in for good measure. From SAS troops defending the hotel, police callouts, father-to-son wisdom, to the everyday chaos that makes this life extraordinary. You’ll find stories of: Guests’ lost property (with batteries!) Development for survival Lockdown living War stories rekindled by our guests Local farmer functions Neighbours—the good, the bad, and the morally questionable Growing up in a hotel from six months old, sharing birthdays and celebrations with everyone... The title? Explained in an email from the former Council leader see Page 192. She wanted “a good scrap”—now it’s my turn. Revenge is a dish best served cold. I hope this book sparks the change we desperately need. People in power who affect the lives of others must be held accountable. If you’ve experienced unjustified or unaccountable planning decisions, please share your story and evidence at www.agoodscrapifearbook.co.uk. Together, our voices will be stronger. With enough momentum, we aim to gather 100,000 signatures to lobby Parliament for reform—and fuel the fire for investigative journalists to dig deeper.
A Good Scrap I Fear! features in the following genres: Indie Author Books, Indie Books We Love, Biographies & Autobiographies
A Good Scrap I Fear! is available in Paperback
A Good Scrap I Fear! was written by William Ireland and published by William Ireland
