Ep 7. Curtis House Inn

In Hotel Hell season 2 episode 7, Gordon Ramsay visits the Curtis House Inn, a historic establishment located in Woodbury, Connecticut. The inn has been family-owned for over 250 years and is run by sisters Karan and Christine. The sisters inherited the inn from their parents, who ran it for over 30 years, but have been struggling to keep it afloat. The inn has only six guest rooms, a restaurant, and a bar, but despite its size, the business has not been doing well financially.

Gordon arrives at the inn unannounced and is disappointed by the exterior appearance, which he describes as "stale and uninviting." When he enters, he sees that the decor is outdated, and the dining room is empty. He is not optimistic and proceeds to meet the owners, who welcome him warmly.

Gordon begins by inspecting the kitchen and is appalled by what he discovers. The equipment is old and dirty, and the fridge is filled with expired food. He confronts Karan and Christine, who are defensive and unwilling to acknowledge the poor condition of the kitchen. Despite their reluctance, Gordon orders them to clean and sanitize the kitchen, and he cleans the fridge himself.

Next, he examines the bedroom and is disappointed by their state. The bedding is old and stained, and the room lacks basic amenities such as a television or a phone. Gordon expresses his concern to Karan and Christine and tells them that the rooms need refurbishing and updating.

Gordon invites locals for dinner, and the restaurant is packed. He teaches the staff how to cook salmon and lamb rack, and the guests are impressed with the food. However, when Karan steps in as a server, she is unable to keep up with the demands of the guests, and the service suffers.

The next day, Gordon sits down with Karan and Christine to discuss their financial situation. He tells them that their menu is overpriced and that they will need to make difficult decisions to cut costs. He advises them to reduce the menu items, redecorate the inn, and update the website to attract more customers.

Finally, after making the necessary changes, Gordon returns to the Curtis House Inn for a final inspection. He is delighted with the transformation, and so are Karan and Christine. The dining room is full, the kitchen is clean, and the rooms have been updated. Gordon congratulates the sisters on their hard work and tells them that they have a bright future ahead of them.

The episode is emotional, and it highlights the struggles that small business owners face. Gordon's bold and straightforward approach helps the sisters realize the changes they need to make to make their business successful. The episode is an excellent reminder that sometimes, success is about taking risks and making tough decisions.