Stayed here for one night in April 2008 celebrating our wedding anniversary. We live locally, but have spent several nights here over the last few years on special occasions.

Since our last visit in Feb 2007 the front of the hotel has had a complete facelift - instead of going through a tiny door there are now glass sliding doors and a 'big hotel' style reception area. The bar has been substantially extended - a much needed change.

We had an upgraded room at the back of the hotel - it seems to take forever to get to these rooms but it is interesting to look at the odd antiques along the corridors! The room was as usual palatial - lovely heavy antique furniture, four poster bed, fireplace, enormous bathroom with vast bath and large shower cubicle. We dined in the main restaurant - the food was good. Sadly, for the first time at the hotel, a few niggles appeared:

Toiletries consisted of one shower gel and one shampoo - though more were provided on request.

The CD player didn't work, and reception were unable to provide another.

A minibar has been installed in the bottom of the wardrobes. Strangest set up - the mini bar is empty, and you have to buy a 'pack' if you want anything. The soft drinks pack was around £15, the wine and beer pack (2x1/2 bottles wine, 4 beers, crisps and kit kat) around £25, and spirits and beer pack £35. Niggle was that because of the mini bar there was little room in the wardrobe - only room to hang my coat full length, rest of the minimal space was half hanging only. Didn't bother us as we were only there for one night but would not be good if you were there for longer.

Check in was not until 3.30, but check out was 10.30 - if you wanted to check out up to 1pm a charge of £20 was made. Most 4*s I stay in have a 12 check out.

Cooked breakfast delivered to the room incurred a charge of £10 per breakfast - I've never seen a tray charge at this level anywhere!!

Dinner menu - there were 8 main courses on the menu - 4 were fish, one was unavailable and was was vegetarian, leaving only 2 meat choices plus steaks. Felt this was a little restricted for a restaurant of this type.

When they brought the bill to sign for dinner they had charged for 2 bottles of wine instead of one - as there were only 2 of us we spotted it, but would larger parties?

Service at breakfast was appalling. I note an earlier review mentioned buffet breakfast - ours was served to the table - eventually! We were seated, and then ignored - after helping ourselves to the cold items we had to find a member of staff and ask for drinks and hot items! When it came it was OK - except husband got fried egg instead of the scambled he'd ordered, and his bacon must have been cooked an hour before! Also we noticed, in the bright light of day, that the dining room was not as clean as it could have been.


Overall? This is still a very good hotel, but after the refurbishment seems to have lost its independant, individual feel and replaced it with a more standard hotel atmosphere. Bit sad really - I've known this hotel for years and although some of the work has been a great improvement it is a shame that it now feels very much like part of a large chain.