White Hart Hotel by Marstons Inns

The staff were friendly, though I got the impression they’d heard the complaints many times already. On the way down the corridor to my room there was a horrible smell of damp and rot, and a huge cooking pot under a skylight to catch water. A notice in the room said to watch your step, and for good reason: there was a step down as you entered, followed straight away by a slope up into the room. I wouldn’t be surprised if people had been injured there. The shower made a terrible noise, the drain seemed partly blocked and the water wouldn’t run away properly. The next morning there was no hot water.

The bed was very comfortable, the room a nice size, and the food was lovely and good value. The shower was a little cool, but acceptable. Great location and good value for the price. We’ll stay again when we’re in the area.

The staff were excellent and very helpful, and the beds were comfortable enough for us to sleep well. Hot water and water pressure were perfect too. But the room felt extremely dated, with old furniture, squeaky floors and wear showing throughout. The tea and coffee setup wasn’t great, and there weren’t many plug sockets. Near the bathroom, a large old-style boiler and its exposed pipes were in view. There was also a raised, pavement-like section of floor, so the beds couldn’t be pushed fully against the wall and sat awkwardly in the room. The White Hart Hotel is a very old building, and the rooms show it. I wouldn’t choose to stay again unless I had to, given the old room structure.

The staff throughout the hotel were friendly and helpful, and the food was good, tasty and well cooked and presented. The accommodation was clean and the bed comfortable, but the rooms definitely need updating and refurbishing. The ceilings are badly cracked and splitting, possibly from previous water leaks, and the decor in the rooms and hallways lets the place down. The staff do their best to keep on top of the problems.