The Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel was at the centre of a storm - in a teacup - yesterday over which entrance taxi drivers must use to get to the restrooms.

General Manager Paul Tormey wrote to the drivers who assemble outside the hotel last Thursday asking them to use the West Gate entrance, instead of the main entrance lobby, when going to the bathroom.

He said the lobby was still under renovation, so he wanted to limit traffic through the area as much as possible.

Mr. Tormey asked the drivers to use the restroom near to Harley's restaurant, and said once the renovation work was completedin about a month, they should continue to use that bathroom and entrance, because the other bathrooms would be for guests only.

But The Royal Gazette received a call yesterday morning from a group of disgruntled taxi drivers, who said they felt aggrieved by the change in plan.

A flushed Erwin Whitter, who has been a driver for 25 years, said: "Taxi drivers are upset because they say we can't go into the main hotel to use the bathrooms. It's always been done. Why change it now?

"They are basically saying we have to use the back door. It's the time and the distance it will take. I don't think they want us mingling with the guests."

And another driver, who did not wish to be named said: "We have been asked to use the back door. No other hotel asks us to do that."

But life seemed normal outside the hotel yesterday, with the majority of taxi drivers happy to abide by the the restroom request.

Elvyn Pitcher could not see what the fuss was about.

He said: "It does not bother me. Even if they don't want the locals to mingle, I don't see it as a problem."

And Archie Tucker, who has been a taxi driver since 1948, said: "It does not bother me in the least. "I can go along with their request no problem. I will roll with the punches. I'm not at all offended."

Another taxi driver, who did not wish to be named, said: "They are the same restrooms they would be using anyway - just a different door. It's something about nothing. It doesn't mean anything."

Last night Mr. Tormey said he had heard that some taxi drivers were upset yesterday morning and had invited them to a meeting to discuss the issue, but nobody turned up.

He said: "The Hamilton Princess and the taxi drivers have always enjoyed a very mutually beneficial relationship and there have been no problems...and I don't expect there will be any.

"The West Gate entrance is a door that is used by 90 percent of colleagues, I use it, and some of our guests use it.

"That door is closer to the restrooms than the other door. To keep down traffic in the lobby is important when we are doing renovations.

"I think overall, the taxi drivers have been very supportive. We have enjoyed a wonderful relationship and I'm sure we always will."