The Boot at Melbourne

We broke up our journey with an overnight stay at the Boot, and it was excellent. The room was clean, well presented and good. Becky and I are foodies, and our evening meal was fantastic. Breakfast was brilliant too, and the staff were terrific. Highly recommend.

The main problem was the steak. I rarely order one from a pub menu because they can struggle to cook it right, but I made that mistake at Harpurs. The kitchen couldn't get it rare to medium, and it spoiled our meal. The bar was pleasant enough, though the tables were sticky. Also, if you're bringing a dog, look very closely at the booking details. There's a £25 charge, but it only appears in very small print after you've pressed the book button. It isn't made clear on the website or in the pre-booking information. The dog-friendly rooms are very small, and the road noise comes through the single-glazed sash windows. Overall, not a great visit.

The food and service were faultless when we went for an early evening Sunday dinner. The room had a nice atmosphere, and the tables weren't too close together. All in all, a good night out.

I have to be honest, I went to a work Christmas do and was dreading it, but ended up having a lovely time. The atmosphere was relaxed and the food was divine, really wonderful. Service wasn't amazing, but the people serving us were great, and our party was pretty large.