A PUB landlord was blasted for calling a customer a “dosser” on TripAdvisor – but now he’s a MILLIONAIRE.
Spectators of the online row branded the Jamaica Inn in Cornwall “like Fawlty Towers” when its owner Allen Jackson lashed out at a diner.
The landlord has stuck by his bitter words after biting back at a negative review posted on TripAdvisor.
And Allen can get away with being stubborn – because a year later he’s pocketed a staggering £8million for the sale of the pub.
In May 2021, the hotelier unleashed a torrent of abuse in an email to Lauren Rayan Hallett who was unsatisfied with her experience at the Jamaica Inn.
The NHS worker had criticised her meal and treament from staff at the iconic British pub on a hilltop on Bodmin Moor, which calls itself “Cornwall’s most famous smuggling inn”.
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The star-struck site was immortalised in Daphne du Maurier’s best-selling novel of the same name and was also a centrepiece of a 1939 Alfred Hitchcock horror film.
But Lauren ranked it just one star on TripAdvisor and labelled her stay camping in the car park the “worst experience” she had ever had.
The unhappy camper complained the food was “hugely overpriced … average pub grub” which even the seven-year-old in the group wouldn’t finish.
She also described a “very COLD reception” from staff during one discussion over the £10 fee to stay in the car park, then later during another discussion over ordering more drinks.
So she was gobsmacked to receive a harsh and scathing response from the pub landlord himself Allen two days later.
The abusive email completely denied Lauren’s claims that staff had been unfriendly, citing the inn’s excellent history of reviews and ratings.
Then worst of all, the note took aim at the 30-year-old’s choice to camp overnight at the inn.
Allen wrote in the email: “I am bound to say YOU, the ‘Roving’ soul, are the problem by the way you spoke to these ‘women’, as you refer to them, and not the ladies.
“My guess is you were miffed because you couldn’t stay in our car park overnight for nothing in your motor home, caravan, bivouac, tent or whatever you crawl into at night.
“When faced with the prospect of coughing up a notional tenner for an encampment in my car park and for our facilities you took it out on them.”
He added that her failure to report on the inadequate meal at the time was “a classic behavioural symptom of sour grapes”.
The email concluded with the insulting line: “Go buy yourself a great big mirror you roving car park dosser.
Go buy yourself a great big mirror you roving car park dosser.
Allen Jackson
“Dictionary definition of dosser: a city person who does not have a permanent home and sleeps rough.”
Despite the “absolutely appalling” tone of Allen’s words, the pub landlord has escaped unscathed from the online scrap.
In fact, the business man has managed to bag himself a million pounds for each year he’s owned the property.
Speaking at the time, Allen said he “absolutely” stood by the rant in his email.
Pointing out the venue’s Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor, he said: “There is nothing in my reply that I have any further comments on.
“Many a time over the years there have been occasional one star reviews or two stars where we agree with the complaint, but where we think there is inaccuracies then our policy is to reply robustly.”
He said a “complaint was not made on site” to his knowledge and that “neither member of staff have any recollection of anyone complaining”.
He called “the whole thing all a bit strange”.
He made out I was homeless and it was just really harsh.
Lauren Rayan Hallett
He added “What I believe stemmed this negative reviews is the fact that they had to pay £10 to stay in our car park.
“It’s been an established practice for years that anyone who wants to stay in a camper or caravan overnight in the car park and use the facilities can do and every member of staff knows we charge £10.”
Nonetheless, Lauren wrestled with sleepless nights at the time, fuming about the hurtful email.
She said: “He made out I was homeless and it was just really harsh. I was really taken back and didn’t sleep because I was so cross.
“It’s so shocking especially against the Travelling community to say I couldn’t afford a home in Cornwall. It’s really offensive.
“I’ve never ever experienced like this. I always write good reviews everywhere I go and in Cornwall I don’t really experience poor service or poor food.
“We’ve always gone to nice places with nice food so when I got that response I was embarrassed because he had made out like I was just a rodent trying to get a free night on the car park.”
Onlookers of the online spat were shocked by Allen’s reaction, with one even commented on social media: “Sounds like Fawlty Towers.”
That’s what reviews are for – to give honest feedback
Social media user
Another spectator was horrified by the abusive email: “What a horrible nasty man speaking about his customer like that!
“That’s what reviews are for, to give honest feedback and management are supposed to handle whatever comes at them, good or bad!”
While someone else jumped to defend Allen, saying: “I think the owner has a point, too many people nowadays want something for nothing.”
A local thought that Lauren should have lowered her expectations, writing: “Obviously hasn’t changed in 30 years then. I’m surprised a Cornish resident would go there to be honest. Just for tourist coaches and fans of Daphne Du Maurier – who will be sadly disappointed.”
And another pubgoer suggested: “All could have been sorted with a glass or three of cider.”
Incredibly, this rant wasn’t the only time Allen unleashed his temper on a customer.
In January this year the landlord unloaded a brutal response on a “spoilt” punter who complained about the taste of their coffee.
The owner of Cornwall’s iconic pub blasted Tripadvisor user Stuart M after he gave the establishment a two out of five rating.
However the social media spats may well be the last times Jamaica Inn is at the centre of TripAdvisor rage – as the Coaching Inn Group purchased it from Allen for the eyewatering sum.
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The 18th-Century, 36-bedroom pub just off the A30 holiday route attracts thousands of visitors and coach parties every year, was once owned by the thriller writer Alistair MacLean.
Jamaica Inn was originally constructed around 1750, and has a restaurant, bar, farm shop and gift shop, as well as two museums dedicated to the history of smuggling and Daphne du Maurier.
