Bell Hotel

Breakfast had a great range, and the hotel is handy for both the town and railway station. We loved our stay. The room was lovely, looking out over the river, and dinner in the restaurant on Saturday was great with spot-on service. Becky checked us in on Friday and looked after us in the restaurant, so a special thank you to her and all the staff. Can't wait to come back.

The food itself was a bright spot: our mains arrived together after around 40 minutes, hot, well presented and very good quality. The desserts took about as long, and nobody offered us another drink. When we were ready to pay, the waiting staff had vanished, so I eventually went to the bar. By then it felt as if they wanted us gone, and the lack of attention made it easy to see why someone might walk out without paying. Drinks at the start had been prompt, and they brought table water too. The menu wasn't huge but had enough choice, though prices were a little above the average pub or restaurant. We were warned service could be slower because of the large groups. We'd booked a table for two in the conservatory for 7.30pm well ahead of time. At first the waiter ignored us, then said we couldn't sit in the area we'd reserved because of two big dining groups. After I complained a bit, they found us a free table for two. It's a shame no one phoned to discuss the change. Those groups probably weren't last-minute bookings, and we could have been flexible or rearranged if we'd been asked. The Bell Hotel is in a striking spot in Sandwich beside the old toll bridge and riverside car park. The historic building has a big patio for good weather, with the dining room in a raised conservatory and the bar on a lower level. Still, it was a memorable evening for all the wrong reasons. They clearly couldn't manage the number of diners midweek, and we won't be back anytime soon. Very disappointing for a Shepherd & Neame place, which I'd thought highly of before. Overall, 5/10.

A vegetarian Sunday lunch at the bell was a real letdown. The nut roast was mostly rice and didn't have any nuts, and the gravy was full of big onion lumps. I didn't enjoy it. When we mentioned it, the server seemed uninterested. We'd eaten there before and the food used to be good quality, so it's a shame it now seems to rely on cheap ingredients.

The front desk service was outstanding, and the rooms were really good, with a great TV and plenty of programmes to choose from. Food and service were just as good. Fantastic hotel. Give everyone a raise, ten stars! And no, this isn't a fake review.