Royal Mail Hotel

We couldn’t get into the property at all after the side door, which we’d been told had no key, was locked. We’d parked around the back and already felt uneasy about what we saw. The hall and bedroom were dark and musty, and I honestly wasn’t sure if someone had already slept there. We’d entered through an unsecured side door after calling the number on the closed front door and waiting for someone to let us in. She was lovely, though she didn’t seem to be expecting us. The pub and restaurant were closed and in pieces, and the place looked almost derelict. Maybe renovations are underway, but it’s in a sorry state. I stayed here years ago, when it was rough and ready but okay, and thought I’d try it again. That was a mistake. I’m sorry if the owners have fallen on hard times, but this place shouldn’t be advertised and rented in this condition. We had to find somewhere else to stay.

I had a great night’s sleep in the cosy, comfortable old room upstairs. It was special to know I’d eaten, slept, and had a drink in the same hotel where Ned Kelly once shouted everyone drinks. Imagine how raucous that night must have been! Tess, thanks so much for the welcoming smile and wonderful service. It was a pleasure meeting you, and all the best to you and your staff. When I arrived on a Sunday night in late November last year, it was quiet. I got my room, went upstairs to freshen up, then came back down for my first ice-cold beer and a burger with fries. I was glad I ordered early. Within about an hour, the bar was packed with people ordering food, with others at the dining room tables. The burger and fries were excellent, and the lovely manager Tess and her help behind the bar did an amazing job cooking and serving the steady crowd of hungry and thirsty customers.

The Kelly gang history was interesting, and the lady manager was welcoming and helpful. I stopped in for dinner recently. My cutlets were nice, though remember to order gravy. Everyone else enjoyed their meals too, and the food was okay. It was cold inside the pub, and sharing the toilets in the bar wasn’t ideal.

This place definitely isn’t for the faint hearted. We found it looking closed, called the number on the door, then waited ten minutes for a guy to come down and unlock it. Getting to the room meant weaving through what looked like an active construction site, with painters and decorators still working into the evening when we checked in. The room was average, and then came the surprise: shared bathrooms and toilets, which hadn’t been mentioned in booking. The whole place felt a bit sketchy. We took one look and left. Zero stars if I could.