Aidan Guest House

It’s a ten-minute walk to the RSC, and the price was great for the stay. The staff were very friendly and breakfast was good. What’s not to like?

The guest house is only about a ten-minute walk from town, which was the one good part of our two-night break with friends. We won’t be going back. We booked for 8 to 10 July, and I called a few days beforehand to ask about arriving before lunch. The lady said it would be fine because there was nobody staying on Monday and the rooms would be ready. When we got there, the welcome felt cold. Although she handed us the keys, she said the rooms weren’t ready and we couldn’t check in until after 3. Our room was dusty and generally not very clean. The bedding smelled nice but was worn, there was no shower gel, and the shower curtain was unpleasant. The room was very hot. I understand the lady couldn’t control that, but the ceiling fan was out of reach and covered in dust and cobwebs, so we couldn’t use it. The information book said to leave used towels on the floor for fresh ones. We did that the next day, but when we came back late in the afternoon, the towels were still there, the room hadn’t been cleaned and the bed wasn’t made. The website didn’t mention cats, and we wouldn’t have booked if we’d known. One came into the dining room while we were eating breakfast and jumped up by the bread, cereal and milk, then walked across the chopping board before we shooed it out. The next morning my husband found a cat hair on his pancakes.

The room was comfortable and very clean, and breakfast came with an excellent choice. The hosts were warm and welcoming. This lovely B&B is just at the edge of the town centre, and I’ll definitely consider staying again.

Town is only a five-minute walk away, and there’s parking at the back. The rooms were clean, quiet and nice, with tea, coffee and hot chocolate in the room, plus fresh milk in the breakfast room. The shower gel and shampoo were nice too. Breakfast was delicious, with pancakes, continental and full English options. The host was really friendly and welcoming, and her two cats are beautiful. My 12-year-old daughter is already eager to come back.