The Northgate

Chris made the booking process easy from the start and was so accommodating and helpful. We held a small wedding reception in a private dining room at The Northgate, and the room was stunning, as was the rest of the restaurant. Every dish was delicious and our guests were delighted with the food. The service was fantastic from beginning to end. My husband and I plan to come back every year, and I'd recommend the place to anyone!

A handy spot for the town centre, with good-sized, well-appointed rooms and a decent amount of free parking on site. The setup was a bit unusual, though. It felt more like an Airbnb than a hotel, since the former hotel is unmanned and you pick up your keys from an outside box before coming and going without seeing staff. That worked fine for me, but I can see it not suiting everyone.

I didn't stay in the rooms or eat dinner at The Northgate, but I did notice how nicely designed and decorated it was inside the Victorian house. I came across the cocktail bar after someone recommended it. David, the General Manager, greeted me and asked what sort of cocktail I liked. When I said a Sidecar, he enthusiastically offered to make one even though it wasn't on the menu. It was delicious. I was impressed that he was willing and able to make something there was no expectation for him to know, and to me that's the mark of a skilled mixologist. He suggested a few other drinks too, but I ordered the Sidecar again because it was so good. Thanks, David. Northgate, he's a keeper! I left very happy and content by the end of the night 😊

The room felt comfortable temperature-wise, and the interior was really nice. I enjoyed the plaice cooked two ways and was very pleased with the egg Custard tart. Service was pretty good as well. The toilets could use some attention, but that wouldn't put me off coming back.