The Old Mill Hotel

We had a relaxing night's getaway and chose the all-inclusive deal: bed and breakfast, £25 each towards dinner, and drinks from 6pm to 11pm. The food was great, and there was a good choice of drinks. The hotel is well placed for walking into Ramsbottom. Our room was clean, tidy and very spacious, though a little old fashioned. The bar area is small, so finding a seat might be tricky, and the walls are thin enough that you can hear noisy neighbours. It didn't bother us too much.

We slept comfortably and the staff were friendly throughout. Our room was a bit dated, but it didn't spoil the stay. The coffee machine wasn't working, so we had tea instead, and an extra pillow would've been handy. With the all-inclusive package, we enjoyed the steak pie and gammon, though the fish and chips weren't that good. Service was good, and breakfast had plenty of choice and was very good. We forgot our swimwear, so didn't use the pool, but it looked nice. We'd recommend a stay and would definitely come back.

I was here for two work nights. The adjoining room noise was the biggest problem. My room could be joined to the next one to make a family room, and cheerful neighbours woke me between midnight and 2:30am. I called the night porter at about 1am, but there was no follow-up, which was disappointing. A good night's sleep matters most at a bed and breakfast, and I didn't get one this time. The room was generally clean, though basic, and the staff were welcoming. Breakfast was fresh and well cooked, a nice start to the day. The hotel feels dated in places and could do with a revamp. It's comfortable enough for a short visit, but light sleepers might want earplugs.

The gluten-free handling at dinner left me ill. I have coeliac disease and had checked before booking whether they could cater for it. They said yes, and it was noted at check-in. The menu marked gluten-free options, but when I ordered prawns the waitress said they couldn't be served in panko and could be made in batter instead. There was no separate fryer, and she couldn't guarantee the chips hadn't been cooked in one that had gluten in it. I knew taking the risk wasn't wise, but there wasn't much else to choose from. By 8:30pm I had severe stomach pain, diarrhoea and sickness. Even one breadcrumb can make someone with coeliac disease very poorly, so I felt the staff needed more awareness of cross-contamination. At breakfast I was still feeling the effects and reluctant to eat. A friendly woman took our order, but when I asked about gluten-free choices, she loudly said she'd just had another one of me over there, then listed the options. Managing coeliac disease is hard enough without feeling put on the spot or like a nuisance. I was okay after breakfast, but still affected by the previous night's meal, which spoiled our anniversary trip. The room was basic and very dated, and the pool didn't seem improved since our visit a couple of years ago. Tiles were peeling and the water looked murky. In room 26, the bed was very hard with no give, the shower screen rubber was hanging off, and the bathroom mirror lights didn't work. Sadly, I'm not sure we'll visit The Old Mill again.