Dog & Bear

The shower was immense, and the bed was really comfy. I’ve been coming here for about 20 years, for both work and pleasure. The staff are always great, the place is lovely and warm in winter, and the food and drink are good quality.

The breakfast was really nice, including the vegan option, and there was plenty of fresh juice and bread to toast. We had everything we needed in a comfortable, clean room overlooking a pretty courtyard. The shower took a little getting used to, but it was lovely and hot, and the towels were huge. After our fairly long journey, the very pleasant staff made us feel welcome when we arrived for our Sunday night stay. A nice surprise was finding my favourite tea bags in the room. Thank you, Dog & Bear, and thanks for the Birchalls for a very pleasant stay.

For nearly £1000 for seven people, we expected a much better Christmas Day meal. The function room had no atmosphere, and the whole experience was extremely disappointing. The gravy was much too rich with red wine and overpowered everything. Chorizo replaced the pigs in blankets, which we didn’t enjoy, the vegetables were undercooked and portions very small, and the turkey was just two tiny slices while stuffing took up most of the plate. The food was genuinely awful, a 1/10 from me. I’ve had better Sunday roasts at ordinary local pubs. The waiter was a kind guy, but that didn’t make up for the rest of it. My family and I weren’t impressed and would never return.

The buffet was superb, with plenty of food, and all the staff were so helpful and did everything they could to make sure the party went well. We booked the function room for a family birthday, and it was an ideal size for 30 guests.