Hume Hotel & Spa

We visited here for dinner after a long 6 hour drive to Nelson since there was only one other restaurant open in town and it was very busy. When we walked in, we decided to go to the Library Lounge because the other 2 restaurants were closing for the night. A middle aged woman with short, dark hair was one of the hosts for the evening, and was extremely rude to us. I am an 18 year old visiting from Australia, my Canadian companion (a 65 year old who was a flight attendant for many many years with a major Canadian airline), was raving about how good the Hume Hotel food and service has been in recent years. I was absolutely appalled and disgusted by the way we were both treated by the server. As soon as we got to the door, the server allowed us to choose a table of our liking and gave us both a menu. We then waited around 10 minutes to be helped again. When she came back, she brought water over to us and then she asked for my ID. I didn’t have it on me at the time but assumed it didn’t matter because we both weren’t ordering drinks and just wanted something to eat. She then rudely stated “I cannot serve you in this room” and then snatched the water back off the table and turned and walked away. My companion then said in a polite tone “We aren’t ordering drinks, we just would like to order something to eat”. The server then replied “I can’t serve her” before turning and walking away. I was absolutely shocked and embarrassed as to the way she handled the incident. For the both of us, it was done on purpose to show authority over who she “believes she is”. She embarrassed us both in front of a room full of people and we both went home hungry and unable to have anything to eat. THIS IS DISCRIMINATION. As stated in BC's Liquor Primary Handbook, it says minors are only allowed in liquor-primary establishments if they are accompanied by a - “Parent, guardian, stepparent, grandparent, spouse of the minor or another adult who could reasonably be expected to act in place of a parent and be responsible for supervision of the minor”. I was accompanied by someone much older, who is well and truly qualified to accompany me and to be rudely turned down service because of my age just because it’s YOUR company policy, it goes against the law! This all could have been handled in a much more professional and polite manner (if she asked me at the door when we first got there). It wouldn’t have been a problem this way, but our experience and the way we have been treated has left a bad taste and name for the hotel, management and the staff. Never will we return to this hotel or restaurant, nor will we recommended to anyone. I am truly appalled.

Beautiful hotel and location