The Ashbourne Hotel, BW Signature Collection

We left already talking about coming back. This was easily one of the best Sunday lunches we've had, and I'd recommend it to anyone after a top-quality meal. The food was incredible, beautifully served, full of flavour and cooked just right. Every course, from starters to dessert, was delicious, and you could tell care and good ingredients went into each dish. The place felt relaxed but lively, comfortable with a touch of class, somewhere you could happily linger over good food and company. From the moment we arrived, the welcome was warm and the atmosphere inviting. The staff were friendly and attentive, and seemed to care that everyone was enjoying themselves. Nothing felt like too much trouble.

The room was clean, the restaurant food was delicious, and the hotel had a lovely cottage feel with really nice Christmas decorations. I took off a star because there's no lift, and the staff don't help carry bags upstairs. I'd suggest bringing extra hands or packing light.

The bed was mostly springs, and the TV was tilted on its wall bracket in the corner. The room smelled strongly of must, and the bathroom felt like an early 90s student house. It wasn't well maintained. Terrible, I wouldn't recommend it.

The food was the saving grace, it was excellent, and the drinks were reasonably priced. But even with a special deal, one night was enough for me. The hotel seems aimed at single workmen, so expect shorts, baseball caps and swearing while you eat. I'd go farther up the A16 and try the Brackenborough instead. I'm a high-level rewards card member and have stayed at lots of Best Westerns. The road closure made getting there a challenge, and the hotel hadn't warned us. We had to take muddy tracks. Even past check-in time the room wasn't ready, so we waited in a small lounge that reminded me of a dark 1970s pub. I was offered two cups of lukewarm milk passed off as flat whites. Our room was outside the main building, so going to eat meant facing the weather. It was OK, but not what I'd call executive. It got hot at night, the bed was rock hard and badly made, and the quilt was much too warm. The shower bracket was broken, so I had to hold the showerhead with one hand. There was no bathroom blind, the sealant around the window tiles was a bodged mess, and the TV was tiny and wedged in a corner. The staff, apart from one person, work hard but seem overworked.