Macdonald Tickled Trout

Breakfast was lovely, with fresh local sausage and bacon. The bathroom was spotless, and the room had nice soft furnishings. We slept really well on the comfortable beds with their deep feather pillows. Downstairs feels modern, and there’s a gym, bar, restaurant and lounge. The place looks out over a river and is peaceful. Staff were lovely and helpful. We’ll be back, thank you!

Our dinner was tasty and came in generous portions, and the service made us feel very well looked after. We were there for a private family meal for my sister’s birthday and stayed the night. The hotel is easy to find, just off the M6. Our room was a decent size but looked a little tired. The bathroom was good, with quality toiletries provided. A very good stay.

Breakfast turned into a really unpleasant experience. My wife ordered salmon and scrambled egg, which meant an extra £6. Halfway through our meal, the waitress demanded payment and said the food couldn’t leave the kitchen otherwise. She wouldn’t charge it to the room, even though I’d already paid £22 in advance per breakfast. I had to leave my own meal to fetch a card, while she waited by my table waving the card machine around. It felt very unprofessional. The reception staff were helpful and professional, but the hotel itself is very tired and badly needs refurbishment. Food and drink prices are ridiculous. Never again.

The staff were nice enough, and breakfast was decent. Our ground-floor “deluxe double” wasn’t very big and needs renovating. We got a tired room looking onto the car park instead of the lovely river view, while the cheaper rooms seem to have a better view. I really don’t know how that counted as deluxe.