Riverside Inn

Breakfast was generous, and they provided gluten-free bread when one of us asked. We also slept peacefully in a very comfortable bed, and would definitely stay again on a return to the city. For our birthday overnight, the room was just right, spotlessly clean, and had thoughtful extras. We loved the coffee machine. Contactless check-in worked well for us, the instructions were spot on, and we could park outside.

It was a clean, warm, comfortable, if cosy, place for the night, but I found it somewhat overpriced for what you get. It’s one of the most expensive guesthouses in Ely, possibly because of its Booking.com rating, which I think is extremely misleading. This is an excellent 3-star guesthouse, not a five-star hotel, so don’t expect things like a pool, restaurant, room service, concierge, or valet parking. Those aren’t listed, either. The staff were a little grumpy, though generally OK, and breakfast was OK. It’s a small guesthouse with seven rooms. The bedroom was spotless and well appointed, but small. Rooms 6 and 7 look straight onto a blank brick wall. Choose another room if you want a river view, though there may be a bit more railway noise nearby.

The hotel is lovely, with nice rooms, comfy beds and pillows, and a great shower over the bath. There’s tea and coffee in the room, breakfast has a small but good selection, and the riverside location is handy for the cathedral, shops, and restaurants. Apart from the parking mix-up, we had a pleasant stay, but beware of upsetting Lily! Parking was unclear because there were no spaces outside, so my husband got out to ask where we could leave the car. The lady, who was probably the manager, spoke to us through the Ring doorbell. He hadn’t known there was a door PIN because I hadn’t told him. I already knew the details she said she’d messaged me before we arrived, but I just wanted to find out where the alternative parking was. If she’d simply told us there was free parking on Ship Lane, a two-minute drive away, it would have saved an argument. Instead, she told me to go into the hallway and check the map, then later messaged to say we’d used strong and inappropriate language toward her. We hadn’t, we were talking among ourselves, though she was still listening through the doorbell. She also warned us not to speak to the breakfast staff that way or she’d have to stop serving us.

The location is lovely, and nothing in Ely is very far away. We had a small but well-appointed room at the back of the Inn. There was no view, but it was also very quiet. The Inn is on a busy waterfront, so I imagine the rooms with views may be noisier. Breakfast was decent and should suit most people. There’s no reception, but staff are always available by phone.