The Bear Inn And Burwash Motel

Four months on, they still haven't replied to any of our messages. No refund or compensation was offered. I raised it with Booking.com and my bank, but got nowhere. DO NOT STAY HERE. We arrived around 4pm. At first the room seemed fair for its rating: clean, tidy and functional, with patio doors opening onto a small enclosed area and then the gardens. But the doors wouldn't open. I went back to the bar for a key, which didn't work, then returned and was handed a bunch of keys to try. Eventually one worked. After spending the afternoon digging over my father's grave, I wanted a shower, but there was no hot water. The bar staff member apologized and said his brother would go into the loft to press a switch. He didn't seem surprised there was no hot water. While we waited, we found there was no TV remote either. We were told it had been stolen, so you had to reach behind the TV and press the buttons by feel. We ordered food. The cod and chips was good and much needed, the staff were pleasant and the bar was comfortable. After a few drinks and some pool, three hours had passed and there was still no hot water. The same staff member said his brother was on his way back to flick the switch, and the water should be hot within five minutes. We'd already been waiting three hours and weren't sure anything had been done. At 7:56pm we finally heard someone in the loft. At 8:10pm, the water was still cold. We tried changing TV channels by blindly pressing buttons, and ended up with subtitles we couldn't turn off and the volume so high even a deaf granny might appreciate it. At 8:30pm there was still no hot water. While one of us went back to the bar, the other got extra pillows from the wardrobe to make the wait more comfortable. They had no pillowcases, which we could have overlooked, but the stains were stomach-churning. The bar staff then said the hot-water problem had been going on for days. The man who'd gone into the loft had tried to fix it, but had gone home without even checking whether it worked. The motel was full, so we couldn't move rooms. We were told to try the Rose and Crown up the road, but they were full too. We asked for a refund and were told the staff weren't authorized to give one. No one offered any other help or even a complimentary drink. The only suggestion was to call an emergency plumber, though by 9pm they weren't confident they could find one. We can't blame the girls behind the bar, but someone should have taken responsibility. We'd flagged the issue over five hours earlier. Nobody came to see us or check the shower, and I spent the day going back and forth to the bar. I emailed the contact address and got no reply. Nothing changed overnight, and there was no apology or follow-up. We left very annoyed, and they hadn't even provided enough toilet paper. It's a shame, as the village looked pretty and the location was nice. From what we heard, they may have known about the problem when they accepted our booking. If they'd told us, we could've found somewhere else to stay.

The Harvey's Sussex best was the only real ale available, and it was in good condition. We stopped for a late lunch on a quiet Thursday, with only two other customers there. My minced beef and onion pie and my wife's chicken supreme were both tasty, nicely presented and reasonably priced, with fresh vegetables cooked well alongside. A good experience.

A relaxing, lovely weekend. The rooms were clean and had everything we needed, and the outdoor seating area had wonderful views stretching for miles. The pub was great too, with friendly staff and locals who made us feel welcome. The food was tasty and well presented, especially the Sunday carvery. Would definitely recommend.

We stayed overnight and really liked the rooms. They were well kept, with good showers and very comfortable beds. Everyone on staff welcomed people as soon as they came through the door, whether regulars or first-timers like us. The food was seriously tasty and well priced too. This place has the lot, and I'd recommend it to anyone without hesitation.