The Bull Hotel

Amber and Rich made us feel very welcome, and we’ll be back to say hello as well as eat. A friend had recommended the pub’s carvery, so we gave it a try on Sunday 19th April. We both loved it. The carrots were roasted, the crackling was perfect, and we couldn’t find a thing to fault. I’ve already been telling my work friends to try it.

Our stay from May 24th to May 30th turned into a holiday we won’t forget for all the wrong reasons. We came to visit my partner’s sister, who moved to Downton at the end of last year, and we’ll see her again, but we won’t stay here again. We got no refund or compensation despite the problems ruining our holiday. Absolutely outrageous. Avoid this place at all costs. In Room 4, 5, or possibly 45, the toilet seat was broken, there were cobwebs on the walls, and the bedroom smelled strongly of damp. We found out why when we saw mold on the bed. It was disgusting. The smart TV only showed BBC channels, and without Wi-Fi it was useless. We complained and asked my partner’s sister to come in case we needed help translating. She was shocked by the room and ended up speaking for us. Kim, the woman working there, seemed annoyed and said we were keeping her from cleaning the pub. I told her the room shouldn’t have been offered to guests in that state. She asked if she should clean it then, even though that should have been done before we arrived. I said yes, but she still didn’t do a proper job. We asked to move rooms the next day, so we spent the first night on a moldy bed in a damp-smelling room. Waiting for the new room to be cleaned meant cancelling our beach trip. The person meant to drive us had to go to work and couldn’t wait. Nobody offered compensation. We were moved to Room 3 and told it was clean and the TV would work with Wi-Fi. The TV still only had BBC channels, though by then I didn’t care much because the room was a lot cleaner. There was some mold in the corner by the bathtub, which I was prepared to overlook. The toilet seat was broken here too, and the duvet was dirty, though it did have a clean cover. Because Room 3 was in the main building, we were given two keys. The one for the rear entrance didn’t work, leaving us locked out for the evening. My partner’s sister lived nearby and called the hotel late that night. Without her help, we’d have been sleeping on the street. Again, no compensation. On Friday, after another wait, we finally got a working rear door key. We had to cancel yet another beach trip. I asked to speak to the manager, but was told they weren’t there and would call my partner’s sister later that day. Nobody did. She called the manager herself, got no answer, and left a voicemail. We’ve never had a callback or any other response.

We stopped at the Bulls Hotel Downtown after spotting the carvery advertised, and I’m glad we did. The Yorkshire pudding was fantastic, and the stuffing was so good we wanted more. The fresh vegetables tasted lovely, and the meat was succulent rather than dry. The plates were large too. The potatoes were the one thing we didn’t like, so we’d give the meal 9 out of 10. Thanks to the chef, who was lovely and friendly, and keep up the good work.

The carvery the day after our New Year’s stay was fantastic, with generous helpings, good quality food and great value at just £10. The food and drinks were spot on. During the stay, the room was clean, cosy and comfortable, with the character you’d expect from a traditional old pub. It all seemed well cared for. The place felt lively and welcoming, and the live band was excellent. It gave the night a brilliant atmosphere without making it feel overcrowded. Staff were friendly the whole time, and the service stood out. We’d happily return for New Year’s.