A SOUTHAMPTON family’s Christmas dinner was ruined after a nightmare meal at a hotel.

After a tough 2016 stricken with illness and bereavement, Dala Rogers and her family pre-booked and paid £1,700 for festive meal for 31 people at the Holiday Inn, in Fareham.

Dala said they had pre-ordered their meal at the hotel back in October but had to send another sheet with order details to hotel staff the Wednesday before Christmas after the original document was lost.

She added it only got worse, with staff refusing to bring them drinks - telling them to order at the bar - not allowing parents to sit next to their children and with cold and incorrect starters and soups.

Dala said after two hours, at which point they still had not reached their roast dinners, she and her family decided to leave, demanding a refund.

But hotel managers refused to give them their money back because they had eaten food, although it was only the first two courses which she claimed they had hardly touched.

“The kids were starving and very upset – we ended up going home and having ham sandwiches for our Christmas dinner,” Dala said.

“I was crying and upset and so was my mum... it was awful.”

After police were called to the hotel the family left with the promise they would be given a refund at a later date.

Manager of Holiday Inn Fareham-Solent, Paul Ellison, said: “We are very proud of our Christmas Day lunch service and so we offered a full refund to the group of diners because they were unhappy with their experience. 

“Unfortunately, due to behaviour in the group turning antisocial towards members of staff and other guests, the police were called in to resolve the matter.”