Colhurst House

The room itself was great and well appointed, but noise from other guests came through. Arriving and checking in felt very average, and the old building doesn’t have much to offer.

The Tartan Room had a very comfortable bed, and the old-fashioned bathroom suited a beautiful old house like this. The house itself is stunning, and the woman who checked us in was wonderful and informative. The rear car park is small, but there’s plenty of parking on the quiet street out front. Our friends were in an upmarket apartment nearby and wished they’d stayed here. There are only four rooms, so book early. I can’t recommend it enough.

The location is central, close to shops and restaurants, and the old period house looks beautiful from outside. We stayed two nights in the White Room. You have to call half an hour before arriving because there’s no staff on site, which felt odd. Someone met us, gave us a brief tour, and said it was up to us to lock up at night. There was no breakfast, despite the sign outside advertising it. The basic kitchen had a cupboard door falling off and not enough cutlery. We couldn’t even find a spoon for coffee in the bedroom. The fridge in our room looked at least 40 years old and its seals needed a good clean. The TV was too small for the room and stuck in a corner. It would make more sense on the drawers at the end of the bed.

The location is excellent, just a short walk from pubs, restaurants and shops, and the grand exterior, garden, verandah and hallway all made a lovely first impression. The receptionist checked us in quickly, though there’s no one on site unless you call half an hour before arrival so they can meet you. We’d stayed at the family’s utterly gorgeous Delgattie Estate the night before, so we had high hopes. We left very disappointed. Our booked Tartan Room was large and looked clean, but the furniture was a poor-condition mix of styles, with tables covered by white cloths or looking tatty. Pictures and rugs shown in the online photos were missing. The sofa looked cheap and was uncomfortable, and the small TV was far across the room, hard to see from the bed or sofa. Although it was cold, there was no fire or way to light one. The ducted heating wasn’t great and the room felt draughty. Bedside lamps weren’t enough to light such a large room, so we had to use the harsh overhead lights. Paint was peeling from the ceiling and the period skirting boards were in really bad shape. The old bathroom had a heat lamp but no other heating. The claw foot bath had an overhead shower and curtain, and getting in and out looked dangerous to us, so we didn’t use it and waited until we got home the next day to shower. I can’t comment on the other rooms or the new wing, but we wouldn’t stay in the Tartan Room again or recommend it. The three stars are basically for the location. It needs a complete refurbishment and could be superb if that were done. Delgattie Estate cost us the same, and I’m sure you won’t be sorry if you book there for Mount Gambier. I’ve written a review for it too.