The Stroud Hotel

We had a lovely starter and main at the restaurant in The Stroud Hotel for an early Valentine’s dinner on the 13th of February, but dessert was a letdown. We ordered cheesecake and a cheeseboard, and two cheesecakes arrived by mistake. We waited just under ten minutes for the cheeseboard, which was missing the jelly listed on the menu. When we asked, my partner was given an apple crumble mix because they’d run out of jelly. We wouldn’t have ordered it if we’d known beforehand. On my last bite of cheesecake, I crunched down on eggshell. Looking at my photos later, I could see shell clinging to the side of the cake. We told the waiter we were disappointed and were brought a takeaway slice of cheesecake, which we left on the table. Worse, a £20 tip had been added to the bill. We’d planned to tip after the delicious starters and mains, but removed it because of the poor desserts. It’s a shame, but we won’t visit again.

Room 9 was much larger than I expected, with a comfortable bed and a freestanding bathtub. The landing pantry with water, extra milk and fans was useful, as the room was quite warm. The bar was busy and had a nice atmosphere. We didn’t eat there, though the food looked good. The only slight issue was finding staff at hotel reception. Nobody was there at check-in or check-out, so we had to look in the bar. It was busy when we arrived, which meant a bit of a wait. It wasn’t a big deal, and the staff were otherwise friendly and helpful. I’d stay again if I’m in the area.

The Stroud is directly opposite the train station, which makes for a great location. I’ve stayed here several times for work over the past 12 months, and it’s been a pleasure each time. The rooms are comfortable and well designed, with lovely touches like rainfall showers and Nespresso makers, plus very comfortable beds. The service and food are great, and it’s nice to support an independent business in a world full of big chains.

Right in the middle of town, with nice rooms, a great breakfast and good value for money. The staff are super friendly, especially the bar staff, who stayed open a little later for me a couple of times. The team at The Stroud Hotel really makes the stay. Thanks for a great visit.