The Dragon Hotel

The Dragon Hotel is well placed for local attractions, shops and restaurants, and felt like great value. Our stay was very pleasant, with friendly, professional staff who were always ready to help and made us feel welcome throughout. The room was spacious, clean and comfortable, with a characterful atmosphere across the hotel. It was easy to relax there after a long day. I'd definitely return and recommend it.

Breakfast was good, and Mia was great while serving it. The hotel has potential, and the staff seemed young and relatively new, with no clear sign of a more experienced person leading things. It felt a bit like a rudderless ship. Would I stay again? Possibly, but I'd want reassurance the problems have been fixed. It wasn't an absolute disaster. We were there for two nights, Boxing Day and the day after, to see family nearby. The whole hotel was cold, and we needed a jumper or coat at breakfast. Our room was icy when we arrived, with the radiators off. Reception said the boiler had been turned off while they were shut on Christmas Day and took time to restart. I don't see how that explains the radiators being off. To their credit, an electric heater was in the room when we returned, and it was warm. But if they had to use expensive electric heaters to make rooms habitable, I can't see how switching the boiler off saved money. The room hadn't been cleaned properly for a long time. Before using the bathroom, I spent half an hour cleaning someone else's hair out of the plughole and scrubbing a filthy toilet. It was black around the rim, as if it hadn't been properly cleaned in months. There was a leaking roof corner, dampness and condensation on the windows, cobwebs in the lamps, and ceiling lights with bare wires showing. The showers had poor water pressure, as other reviews have mentioned. To reach the rooms, you have to pass the kitchen door. I saw two kitchen staff without gloves scratching their noses and faces through that doorway. Parking was terrible. Don't expect a space outside, and the disabled bays weren't monitored. We came and went several times, and none of the cars using them displayed a blue badge.

Montgomery is a lovely little village in a picturesque part of Wales, and the hotel has a charming old-world style with matching furnishings. Our room was beautifully appointed, especially the gorgeous bathroom with its antique-style bath and separate shower. I would stay again, though I'd give it about six and a half out of ten. Avoid the fish and anything like a hash brown, and the food can be very good. The lasagne is recommendable. Service was inconsistent, and the menu had some weaker dishes. The fish in my fish and chips seemed stale, with greasy batter, and sat heavily in my stomach for the rest of the evening. Breakfast was better, apart from a hash-brown-like item that had the same problem. The black pudding tasted good, though it was only a little thicker than the bacon. Breakfast service was confusing. I asked for a full Welsh breakfast, but the server directed me to the buffet. I said I wanted a cooked breakfast, and she left. My wife had cereal and fruit while I waited. She finished before my food appeared, so I asked about it and learned the waitress had forgotten my order. At dinner, I ordered steak with peppercorn sauce and was nearly finished before the sauce arrived.

Montgomery was a charming little village, and we enjoyed our stay in the clean, comfortable room, though it was small. The hotel itself was nice and clean, with a pleasant bar area. But the poor restaurant food and service dragged down the whole experience. On the first night, the meat pie wasn't homemade and had hardly any steak. What little steak there was had an unpleasant texture and taste. The chips were frozen rather than hand-cut, and my partner's salmon pasta was bland. We told the waitress after the meal, but she seemed disinterested. There are other things I could mention, but you get the picture. Expedia's listing advertised a swimming pool. We'd already paid and booked when we were told it was no longer in service, which was the first disappointment.