The Angel Inn

The dinner on Valentine's night is what turned this into a disappointing stay. My cod was so salty it was inedible, and when I told the waitress, she snapped that I should have mentioned it earlier. I hadn't understood what was wrong when she first hurried past asking if everything was okay. My partner hadn't known there was a problem either, and we were both upset by her response. I couldn't have raised it before figuring out what was wrong. I wanted the fish replaced, but nobody offered that. They brought more mash instead. We shared a chocolate mousse, which tasted good, though the presentation was poor (see photo). The place was expensive, perhaps especially because we went for my partner's birthday weekend near Valentine's Day, and I expected more for the price. The room itself was lovely, but small, as was the ensuite, and some might find it cramped. Reaching it meant climbing a steep flight of stairs, so I wouldn't recommend it for anyone large or with mobility issues. I liked the underfloor bathroom heating and the wonky charm of the old building. There was a large coffee machine, which we didn't use. My partner had forgotten his shaving kit, and reception didn't have any spares. I think a good hotel should keep basic necessities for men and women. Breakfast meant leaving the hotel and walking up the road to its sister property. That might be pleasant in sunshine, but a nuisance in rain or if walking is difficult. Breakfast was a letdown. I like the cold buffet at a good mainstream hotel, with little salads, nuts and seeds for yoghurt, fruit salad, pastries, cold meats, and cheese. On our first morning, there were only cereals and bread to toast. Two covered dishes labelled “cold meats” and “cheese” were empty, as was the bowl marked “yoghurt”. Breakfast ran from 08:30 to 10:30, and we arrived at 09:45, which didn't seem particularly late. We came earlier the next day and found some fruit salad and rather unexciting cold meat and cheese, but still no pastries, nuts and seeds, or salads. The cooked breakfast was ordinary but came promptly. The beans with dinner were undercooked, which dulled their flavour, but were still acceptable. The mash with what I think was smoked fish was tasty. I was very hungry and tried to eat the cod, but it made me feel ill. I know people often avoid telling restaurant staff when a dish is bad because they don't want a scene. I think the kitchen should know, and if you raise it in the right way, staff usually respond well. That wasn't my experience. Without the salty fish and the waitress's attitude, I'd have called the stay good, though still overpriced for the food and accommodation. I did like the quirky little room.