The Royal Oak

The main issue was getting back into the hotel around 11 pm. We followed the instructions left in our room, but the faulty back-door lock left us outside. No staff were on site, so we waited about an hour for someone to come. They couldn’t get in either, and we had to call someone else for help. There’s no overnight staff, and the nearest towns of note are around 20-30 minutes away. We stayed late last year. The bedroom itself was fine and quiet, and it was handy to have a hair dryer. But the bathroom hadn’t been cleaned properly, with a little faeces on the floor and dark hairs all over. The central desk and water glasses were incredibly grubby too.

The pub is beautifully furnished to modern standards while keeping the charm of its heritage, and there’s a lovely log fire. We had a family meal with lots of young children, and the staff were brilliant with them. Excellent food and absolutely fantastic service. Highly recommended!

We’d booked a table for a multigenerational family Christmas get-together, with everyone travelling some distance to meet at a central spot. They required a £50 deposit upfront, and sent several texts and an email confirming the booking. When we arrived, the pub was dark and nobody answered either of the numbers we’d been given. Since then, they haven’t replied to our messages or emails. Very poor business. Don’t trust them with your booking or your money.

We had a table booked for weeks and drove 90 minutes to meet the rest of the family, only to find the pub closed. Thanks for making our Xmas get-together memorable for all the wrong reasons. I’d give no stars if I could, but one is the minimum. Don’t bother, that’s my recommendation.