Satis House

After 20 years away, we found it looking much the same, with Thai decoration. Breakfast was good and the staff were friendly, though the service felt more like a B&B than a hotel. The building is lovely and could reach four stars with some effort, but three feels about right for now. Our room needed vacuuming in the corners and under the furniture, and the mattress and showerhead both need replacing.

The building has a lot going for it, but it needs maintenance, and our room wasn't very clean, though it was comfortable enough. Dogs woke me at 05:30 hrs on both mornings. One evening, at 23:00 hrs, I went to reception to ask for them to be quiet. The man there apologized and said he would bring them in, and the noise stopped. People come to hotels to sleep, so I would have thought the animals would be kept under control. I can't recommend it.

The location is great and the place has plenty of potential, which makes the state it’s in a real shame. It’s dark, dingy and messy, with cobwebs everywhere, and needs a complete overhaul. The manager was rude and not hospitable at all. It made for a thoroughly unpleasant stay. Fawlty Towers seems like The Ritz in comparison. Steer clear!

After a night at a modern chain hotel, Satis was a pleasant change, with the charm and drawbacks you’d expect in an older building. The room was spacious, with a very comfortable bed, traditional high-quality decor, and lovely clean white linen and towels. The bathroom was clean too, though the water pressure was low, definitely not a power shower. Breakfast was very good: my smoked salmon and poached eggs on toast were cooked perfectly, and the coffee was good. I arrived just after the kitchen closed, so I ate at the pub a two minute walk away. My colleague arrived earlier and thought his chicken curry was very good. Yoxford is a nice little village, though you probably need a bike or car to get further afield. Darsham station is walkable, but the path isn’t lit, so you’ll need a torch after dark. I’d be happy to stay at Satis again.