The Hotel Inspector's Alex Polizzi wasted no time delivering an ultimatum to hotel proprietors after identifying a significant issue.

During Thursday's (March 19) instalment of the Channel 5 programme, Alex visited the extensive commuter town of Horley to inspect Gatwick Turret.

The bed and breakfast is operated by 62-year-old Ram, 61-year-old Anj and their 37-year-old son, Rai. The 10-bedroomed Victorian guesthouse sits just a mile from Gatwick Airport, where more than 250,000 flights transport up to 46 million passengers annually.

The location appears ideal for accommodation as numerous travellers require somewhere to stay before or after their journeys. Yet there's substantial competition as Gatwick Turret is amongst over 100 hotels, including big chain brands, fiercely vying for their business.

Whilst the hotel proprietors grapple with substantial overheads in an intensely competitive marketplace, the family have little option but to operate the establishment virtually single-handedly to minimise staffing expenses.

Rai faces considerable pressure as responsibility for running the hotel has recently transferred to him and it falls entirely to him to reverse fortunes for Mum and Dad and discover a method of generating profit, reports The Mirror.

Alex recognised she faced a substantial challenge in helping transform the establishment as she encountered clashing decor and excessive operating expenses.

Before she could properly begin, she quickly identified a concern upon discovering that despite their efforts, the business is barely breaking even and the family are struggling to pay themselves. Alex asked: "Tell me about what it cost you to put on a room?" Rai explained: "Each room costs around £4.20 for the linen. The tea, coffee tray, a bottle of water..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Alex jumped in: "It's expensive water. I wouldn't put a very expensive bottle of water in the room. So what does it cost?" Rai continued: "£3.20."

Alex explained: "Adding to cost per room are roughly £6 on housekeeping, £9 towards the £350,000 pound mortgage, £24 on utilities and taxes and £9 commission for those pesky online booking sites."

She continued: "So, the grand total of that, my dears, is £56. Lucky lucky you, all this work and all this headache and you're making a profit of about £4 a night per year - not quite enough for retirement."

Alex admitted: "There is obviously a problem." She then asked: "Do you pay yourselves? Rai revealed: "A £1,000 each." It was clear Alex was taken aback as she gasped: "A £1,000 each a month. Gosh darling, I mean, I'm surprised the government allows it, you're not even making minimum wage."

Alex gave the owners an ultimatum as she later added: "So we either need to make more money or sell it off."

Following an intensive few days of renovations and minor adjustments, Alex managed to help the family turn things round and business appears to be heading in the right direction as Rai revealed that they are now making an additional £140 a week with their breakfast room and they managed to secure some favourable press.

You can stream The Hotel Inspector on Channel 5