The Windermere Hotel

The lake view from our room was stunning, and the location was great. That was the one thing the hotel had going for it. The place was seriously dated and grubby, with 1970s bedroom furniture and a depressing feel throughout. It brought Fawlty Towers to mind. The bar wasn't open, and a staff member told me I could try to find someone to pour me a drink. I only stayed because it was just one night. 0 out of 10, I don't recommend it.

We had a quiet stay and slept well. The bedrooms were decent, spotless, and had immaculate bedding with a comfy mattress and pillows, though a few parts looked tired. We found the lounge smart and true to the building's age, a lovely spot to unwind. The old building has plenty of history, and the location works well for Windermere and other villages. Staff were friendly and polite. The food was much better than we expected: served hot and quickly, and tasty too. We'd heard the hotel sometimes gets poor reviews, but we found them unfair. We couldn't find a fault, and plenty of people we spoke to felt the same. We'd recommend it for the price and location, and would stay again.

Check-in was quick and easy. I'd left my charger at home, but the receptionist had spares and lent one to me. The location is handy, easy to find as you drive into Windermere, with bars and restaurants less than a five-minute walk away. Parking was straightforward and there were plenty of spaces. My room was clean and tidy, with enough towels, a working TV and a comfortable bed. It was very hot, though, and hard to sleep. There was only one cup, with all the coffee sachets stored in it, so I had to tip them out. A separate cup and a glass for water would have been nice.

The carpets in the room hadn't been vacuumed in months and stank of dog. Dinner was total crap, all frozen rubbish, and breakfast wasn't any better. The staff weren't very nice either. The hotel needs a refurb, and they know it, they're waiting for new owners to get started. But my sister had already paid for our holiday before that happened. The whole stay was a load of crap. I'll tell people not to go there for a nice break, and sing it from the rooftops.