Peppers Craigieburn Hotel

We spent quite a while on the outdoor area on level 2 before and after our friends' wedding. The balconies were cosy and a nice size, and the Belmore Room looked lovely with the wedding party's chosen decor. The lawns and shrubs were beautifully maintained, while the big trees by the parking area gave shade and were lovely to see. The buffet breakfast was impressive, especially the Boston beans. Meal service was a little clunky because dishes came out at staggered times, and could have been smoother.

We enjoyed the view, the relaxing lobby with its fireplace burning all day and night, and dinner at Hickory's. The breakfast buffet was good, and parking was free. We were upgraded to a balcony room, which was spacious, with lovely Appelles toiletries and a great shower pressure. Still, the room itself felt due for an update. The bed and pillows were uncomfortable, and the toilet roll was awkwardly placed and hard to reach. There was no fly screen, so beetles came in when we tried to get some air. We stayed three nights for a nearby wedding. Although we asked for the room to be tidied and cleaned, no service came for two days until we raised it at reception. Even then, the cleaning was incomplete, with items not replenished and rubbish left on the floor. We requested a baby cot, but it was poor quality, seemed unclean, and had a hard, uncomfortable mattress, so we couldn't use it. There was no lift. Staff helpfully called ahead to ask our preference, so we chose the ground floor because we had a pram, but the large staircase at the entrance was still a problem. Carrying luggage and a pram up those steps was hard, and the stairs could be an accident risk for wedding guests in heels, especially in the rain with a toddler. We love the area, but wouldn't be returning to Peppers anytime soon.

The garden and location are lovely, but the rooms were badly run down, with leaking taps, corroded fittings, and ceilings damaged by water. We were offered an upgrade, though that room was tired too. They also didn't tell us the restaurant was fully booked and room service wasn't available, just as most local restaurants were booked for Valentines Day. Breakfast included square processed bread. At $360 a night, it felt like very poor value and below Peppers' standard. It's a shame this fabulous old building isn't being looked after.

The grounds are exquisite and the rooms are wonderful. The restaurant served excellent food, and its staff were beautifully mannered. All the staff were kind and considerate and made our stay memorable. Thanks for making it so enjoyable. I'd gladly come back time and time again.