The Lion

I couldn’t thank them properly at the time because I was so stressed, so I wanted to leave a note about how much they helped on a really difficult night. Returning from Heathrow during storm Claudia, I found all the roads to my home town flooded. Emergency services advised me to stop for the night, and this was the only place I could find. The gentleman on the phone was lovely, and the hotel was cosy and squeaky clean. Free parking at the back was much needed. The bathroom was modern and nicely heated. I had no phone adaptor, and they lent me one, then pointed me to a nearby charging station for my car. Breakfast was included and great, cooked to order with exceptional service. My son had said he didn’t want breakfast, but ended up ordering pancakes and devoured them, saying they were really nice and proper homemade.

That was the joke of the year for me. I came in for food and drinks, but staff said they couldn’t serve me because a table of six was coming and it would be too difficult. Meanwhile, two men were finishing their mains and moving on to dessert, and the six men didn’t arrive for another hour or so. I sat there hungry, drinking on an empty stomach and trying to hold off hunger with crisps. I spent quite a lot, but this was my first and last visit. The staff were unpleasant, and if they can’t manage one extra meal over three hours because six lads are expected, they shouldn’t be running a restaurant. I’ll make sure people in town hear how incompetent they are. There’s a lot of room for improvement. Never again!

There were nine of us dropping in for tea and cake, and the staff quickly made a table ready. The cake was delicious, and it’s such a lovely place!

The room wasn’t cleaned during our three-night stay in June, which was a real service letdown. I noticed after the second night and told the person serving breakfast the next morning, but when we returned it still hadn’t been done. I’ve never stayed in a hotel where they don’t clean the room daily. The staff were quick and friendly, and breakfast had a good range of sweet and savoury choices. We also ate there on our first night and liked the meal. It’s close to the heritage museum and the big pit, both very nice.