Buckatree Hall Hotel

We had such a lovely stay. The room was clean and really nice, and the reception team and other staff we spoke with made us feel very welcome. The restaurant was closed, but they pointed us towards nearby places. We tried the new dun cow in trench, an amazing Indian grill. It’s a lovely little woodland retreat, and we’ll definitely be back. Next time we’d love to book direct and stay in one of the balcony rooms, waking up to the Wrekin view. We’re looking forward to returning in February while we look for a wedding venue.

We enjoyed a lovely meal at the Huntsman in little Wenlock, and they even agreed to make us breakfast once they heard where we were staying. They said they understood, which says something. We’d been told Buckatree Hall Hotel might be earmarked for refugee housing, but I don’t know how true that is. The hotel offered 10% off a future booking, but it expired at the end of the month we stayed, so there was no chance of using it. We needed three nights in Telford and thought the hotel’s website looked great, with the place just a few minutes away by car. We booked direct, yet it took them 20 minutes to find our reservation. Nobody mentioned there was no bar or restaurant, and we had to discover that ourselves. I paid £80 a night expecting an evening drink at the bar and breakfast in the morning. Neither was available. The bar was closed whenever we checked, there was no working lift, and there was no restaurant. Our room smelled smoky, though not of tobacco, and there was ash on the windowsills. The tea and coffee setup had a dirty cup and only one cup, so we had to ask for another and washed it before using it. The website had made this seem like an easy choice. Don’t be fooled.

We did sleep well in the end. The mattress was firm and comfortable, and the room we were given was a little warmer than the first option. Since we’d arrived late, we agreed to stay there for the night. It was a basic room that needs updating, though. There was mold on the bathroom ceiling and shower curtain, just one small complimentary shampoo and conditioner between two people, and no hand soap. Someone had also left an opened tobacco packet in the dresser drawer. We’d booked at the last minute and were told at check-in that the hotel heating wasn’t working. They asked if that was all right, explaining that refunds weren’t possible after check-in. We asked to check the room temperature before deciding, and they let us. The first room felt too cold for me to sleep in, so they offered us the last available room, a four-poster. On the way through the corridors, there was a horrible smell of tobacco and weed. I wouldn’t choose to stay here again or recommend it. There’s a lot that needs improving. In the right hands this could be a beautiful hotel, but at the moment it sadly isn’t.

This is a budget hotel that looks long past its best. There was no food during my visit, though I did find a takeaway menu for a local Indian restaurant. The bedsheet had an old stain on it.