Easter is supposed to be a time of renewal. It’s also a time of hope. But as a writer I didn’t feel joyous this Easter.

Whilst staying in a hotel for a seasonal break, I was confronted with loud loyalist bandsmen and their fouled-mouthed hangers-on when going to breakfast. It was 9.30am. Some of those going to celebrate their band outing were teenagers.

The residents’ restaurant was full of young families. But as we waited to be seated, there were non-residents more interested in the bar than breakfast.

To my astonishment, it was open. I couldn’t wait to leave the hotel. I remarked at reception on exiting that opening a bar at that time of the morning was reckless.

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A few hours later the hotel management emailed to say: “This was not a normal day within in the hotel and measures have already been put in place to ensure hotel residents are not impacted at any future event booked at the hotel.”

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