THE owner of a hotel in the area that won a Channel 4 TV competition has reacted to the victory.

Mark Ingle, who manages the Vale Hotel in Cricklade with wife Helen, has already had 2,000 to 3,000 emails since winning.

The Grade-II listed hotel won last Friday, May 31, out of the four hotels competing across the country.

Mark said: “It’s mad, honestly. It’s mad.

He feels the Vale deserved the win, saying: “Think of the other hotels. Would I stay somewhere that didn't have coffee facilities in the room? No.

“Would I go somewhere that hasn't got a bar? No.

“One guy was saying, he loves chatting to people in the morning for breakfast. Well, in the morning when you're sitting with your family, there's a lot more things going on than some random guy chatting to you.

He said there was “no question” it was the rightful winner, adding: “We definitely produce more facilities and definitely produce value for money.”

The hotel has two restaurants, Jambo Grill and Jicsaw Thai restaurant, which Mark said are “amazing”.

Although not seen on TV, the contestants ate at the Thai restaurant, and “couldn’t believe the food level”.

He added: “The whole team are incredible. But the housekeeping team. Honestly, they are amazing. If you walked in the room now, you'd be like, wow.”

He added: “One of the main team players is my wife. All the staff absolutely adore her. As soon as she walks into the Thai restaurant, they all hug her.”

Mark and Helen returned to take over the management of the restaurant in January. He said this was “definitely a good decision - especially the right decision to marry my wife”.

Mark believes this is a win for the town as well as the hotel.

“There's so much here for people," he said. They use our restaurant on the Monday. They might use the Thai restaurant on Tuesday night. 

“Then they might go down to the Red Lion, or they might go to the White Hart. We encourage them to go everywhere.”

“Hopefully the win brings the right clientele for the hotel. And more people will visit the town.”

With Cricklade being the first town on the Thames, the hotel has plans to launch hotel boats in a couple of months.

The hotel won a plaque thanks to their success.