John Hunter Motel

This is only a restaurant review. We were visiting grandparents who’d stopped in town for a night, so I can’t comment on the rooms. The woman behind the bar and serving was great. She was covering for someone on a very understaffed night and did her best. She couldn’t make cocktails for my partner or in-laws, and the food was pretty average, which would be fine if it were just that. What really bothered me was the food. I heard a customer ask if there was a different chef that night, and I’m almost certain the server replied, “yes sorry just the boss in tonight.” It was a quiet night, so a wait would have been understandable. Instead, our garlic bread was nearly cold and tasted very raw. The complimentary cheese garlic bread, sent out because two meals had been forgotten, was almost raw too, with what seemed like the cheapest cheese. I’m local, a big bloke and not fussy about food. I’ve never sent a meal back before, but the parmi looked so bad it nearly made me retch. The cheese looked cheap, and the ham was a round slice that looked like plastic from a packet. The menu advertised bacon, but mine came with ham. I asked the woman to send it back and not make another one, and she issued a refund without me asking. Great service from her. I’d heard this was a very nice restaurant a year ago and had been looking forward to trying it, so the poor experience was a shame. I’m sorry to leave a bad review, but that dish made me squirm just looking at it.

The room had a shelf over the head of the bed that seemed like a safety hazard. The hallway carpet was water damaged, and the doors and walls were so dirty it was disgusting. The A/C and bedside table light didn’t work, and I couldn’t turn off the entry light, so I had to sleep with it on all night. There was no milk for hot drinks. I called the house phone for 15 minutes without an answer, then tried the direct number, and was told to wait until morning because reception was closed. Room service rang out several times too, and I was told it would be quicker to walk over and get food. The place was unfriendly and rude. I called to book and was told there were no vacancies, then booked a room online five minutes later. Probably the worst place I’ve stayed, especially for the money.

The room was average. The microwave didn’t work because its switch was faulty, so we had to unplug the TV to use it. A real plus was that the linen was changed, the bed made and the room tidied. At the restaurant, the pasta was really nice, but the garlic bread with bacon and cheese arrived as one uncut piece of bread roll with two pieces of bacon and melted cheese on top. The BBQ chicken and bacon pizza had no bacon at all. Reception and restaurant staff weren’t very friendly or accommodating. After driving 12 hours, we were handed a key without confirmation of who we were or any information. There was nothing in the room about WiFi, room service, phone numbers or facilities. We’d requested a ground floor room in July because of my husband’s mobility issues and received a confirmation email, but none was available when we arrived. We had to climb steep stairs, with no other rooms available. Some of these things may seem small alone, but together they weren’t. I wouldn’t recommend staying here, and we won’t return. There are plenty of other motels in Muswellbrook.

Even though the room was okay, the service ruined the stay. Staff weren’t friendly or helpful, and I was put on hold several times after being transferred three times without getting answers. I’d called to book and was told they were full, then booked a room through Booking.com. It felt like a delay tactic while somebody put an envelope and room number in the safe. After 6pm, apparently no one was on site. We had no milk for hot drinks, and when I called at 9 to ask for milk and order room service, the call rang out. The direct number just got me told to wait until tomorrow for milk. The room phone information card didn’t say food had to be ordered before 8pm, but I was told food couldn’t be ordered after then and that walking over to order would be quicker. They shouldn’t offer room service if they can’t provide it. I won’t stay again and wouldn’t recommend the place. Don’t waste your money. I was very disappointed, and if I could rate the service, it would be zero.