1. Background
The Royal Charlston Hotel sits on the sea-front of a popular provincial tourist town. Business was never as good at the Charlston as it was at any other hotel in the resort, probably because of the rumour that once you check in, you may check out rather sooner than expected and in a rather more permanent way.
However, somewhere was needed to take the overspill from the other hotels at the height of the season, and most unusually, right now the Royal Charlston is nearly full.
On the surfact, the hotel was exceptionally pleasant - it certainly didn't appear to be the Bates' Motel! Thirty good sized twin and double rooms, all en-suite, and eight comfortable family rooms. Only Room 8 was never occupied. No-one ever worked out why.....
There's a Housekeeper who cleans the rooms every day; room service is available directly from Chef and the Manager also doubles as the receptionist.
There's a true mix of people staying at the moment - an elderly couple, a loner, a young family, a travelling business man, the secretive couple having an affair and anyone else you care to think of.... the usual cliches.