Shap Wells Hotel

We'd been here twice before, but this third visit, after the change of ownership, was a real letdown. We paid good money for a terrible stay and won't be back. The assistant manager said February was a bad time to visit because much of the staff had been laid off, and that we should have come in March. Then why take our booking and money? The room was freezing after the heating went off at 1 a.m. on a night when it was snowing and -2 degrees outside. It didn't come back on until 3:30 or 4 p.m. the next day. We later learned it was being switched off every day to save money. The bath and shower were miserable, and we couldn't get hot water for the bath. When we asked for help, we were brushed off. The assistant manager said he'd send maintenance to check the heating, but no one came. My husband has diabetes, and the hotel advertised light lunches, so we thought getting him a sandwich would be no problem. At 2 p.m., we were told the chef was lazy and asleep. The assistant manager said he'd try to wake him. Our two coffees never arrived, and the sandwich took 45 minutes. The bar stayed closed throughout our visit, so there was nowhere to sit with other guests in the evening. If you managed to find someone able to serve a drink, they'd bring it to you because the bar area was shut off. Dogs were allowed in the restaurant; one barked and growled, making us very uncomfortable. The Wi-Fi was down most of the time. The Freeview TV was the only option in the room, and its signal kept breaking up. There was no smart TV. Outside, we had to walk carefully over ice from the hotel door because no one had gritted the area.

The owner and manager was warm, welcoming, and clearly proud of this place. The buffet breakfast was tasty and had plenty of choice, and the Art Deco character is lovely. I'd happily recommend a visit. If you can, ask for a room in the main building when you book 🙂

The food was a real highlight, especially the steak and ale pie, which had what felt like half a cow in it. Staff were friendly and helpful, and the public rooms have a striking Agatha Christie, At Bertrams Hotel kind of look. We were there in a wonderfully remote spot, and the old fashioned charm suited the 19th century building. The rooms are small and a bit tired, but they've been adapted to include en suite bathrooms. Making them bigger would mean knocking down interior walls, so to me their size adds to the character. We paid £99 for two people, including bed, breakfast and dinner, on what I think was the Sunday night offer through March. A bargain. We didn't spot the elusive Red Squirrels, so we have an excuse to return. Thanks for a lovely evening. If you're after a modern Holiday Inn or Travelodge, this probably isn't your place.

The food was excellent, with lots of options for each of the three courses every night, and the breakfast was delicious, fried bread and all. I stayed four nights and had a super time. My room had a lovely rural view, and I saw the red squirrels. Staff were helpful, the rooms were cleaned daily, and the bedding was changed once during my stay. Biscuits on the tea tray would be a nice addition. I recommend it!