The Bell Gate House

Honestly, this was one of the worst places I've stayed. The rooms were grotty, the outside was uninviting, and the bathroom didn't seem clean at all. The fridge was noisy and kept coming to life during our stay, startling us, and the TV remote didn't work. The reviews are nothing but malicious lies from two faced customers.

We found the hotel comfortable and clean, with cozy rooms and comfortable beds. The staff were fantastic, polite, welcoming, and glad to help with any request. We'd accidentally booked a week later, but they found us a room and helped fit us in. There are lots of food and breakfast choices a short walk away, and the location is great value. Thanks for helping us out of a difficult situation. We really appreciate it.

The staff were nice and polite, and the rooms were clean. The location is perfect, and I'd definitely choose it again if I needed to come back. The rooms are small, but that's all you need if you're just spending the night. Breakfast was listed in the room, though it was just tea and coffee. One personal suggestion: a mattress topper would be great. My back hurt after two nights, though that's because I have back pain.

My wife and I, both over 60, had a two-night stay at Bell Gate House that was easily the worst accommodation experience we've had. We struggled with our luggage on three flights of stairs to the top-floor room, and there was no lift. The room was tiny, with no wardrobe or proper hanging space, so we had to live out of our suitcases. A very small corner window made it feel claustrophobic, and the bathroom shelf slanted so much that toiletries slid off. A few hours after we arrived, my wife found that the shower was broken. Its temperature knob spun freely, leaving the water constantly scalding hot, so neither of us could shower properly. I told Mark, the family friend and caretaker looking after the property while the owners were away. He said he'd look into it, but it still wasn't fixed when we returned. I raised it again with the cleaner the next morning, and she said she'd pass it on. It was never repaired during our stay. I paid £120 in cash. At the end, I went through the problems with Mark and asked for a £20 goodwill refund for the major inconvenience of having no usable shower for two days. He refused, saying, "only the bosses can do that." That felt like a lame excuse, especially since he was handling cash for bookings while the owners were reportedly in India. As we left, he was extremely patronising and said, "have a good day." This was a catalogue of failures, from maintenance to customer service. The broken shower, unsuitable room assignment, poor living conditions, and refusal to compensate us for the serious inconvenience were a disgrace. I strongly advise people to avoid Bell Gate House. I'll never stay there again.