The Golden Lion Hotel

The staff were friendly, attentive and happy to chat, and a pianist nearby added a nice atmosphere. We got a table quickly at Cronies restaurant for lunch. We skipped starters and ordered steak pie and the monumental burger. Both were very good. The burger was so enormous that I couldn't eat it by hand, as I normally would, but that's a compliment. Well worth a visit.

The food was great, the staff were mostly lovely, and the rooms stayed warm the whole time. We actually had to open the windows, so perhaps management could use that feedback to keep heating costs down. A few newer staff might need to communicate better with customers, though. It also looked like management had plans to renovate the bar area. We were concerned because we'd read comments about cold rooms, but that wasn't our experience at all. Just back from a two day stay with friends, and we'll definitely return.

I've stayed at this hotel a few times, but it feels run down now, and sadly I won't be back. We paid extra for a renovated room on a high floor. It was a little more modern, but nowhere near worth the price. The twin room we'd booked as a double had a mouldy bathroom ceiling, a weak shower and a cold feel. The spare cover in the wardrobe was stained, and the refreshment tray didn't even have a biscuit. Breakfast service was atrocious. The server was nice, so I can't fault her, but the switch from buffet to table service meant a 50 minute wait even though it wasn't busy. The orange juice and bread had run out by 9am, and we and other guests had to ask for them to be replenished. A couple beside us eventually left without eating because they had somewhere else to be. The continental selection was awful, with just one yoghurt and a few unappetising bits of fruit. At £165, this felt like a rip off. Maybe a basic room at £80 or £90 would have set expectations more like a Blackpool B&B, but at that price this was unacceptable.

The rooms were in such poor condition that I kept checking for bed bugs. Stained carpets, chipped and peeling paint, and the most uncomfortable beds I've ever slept in. Amenities were bare bones: a hair and body wash combo, no conditioner, tissues or fridge. The shared Wi-Fi was so weak it was basically unusable in our room. I can't understand the five star reviews. At over $200 after the exchange, the price was outrageous. Based on the state of the rooms, this would maybe be an $80 hotel in the US, if that. Don't pay extra for breakfast. The burnt latte they served us was undrinkable, and there are loads of nice cafes around town.