The Butchers Arms Freehouse

The breakfast was the final straw. The landlord served us in the same egg-stained jumper he'd worn the night before, and the sausages were clearly off. They smelled sweet and rancid, and were disgusting and inedible. The landlady called them posh butcher's sausages, but they seemed to have been kept in the fridge far too long. Whether she couldn't smell them or thought we'd believe the explanation, I can't say. She did apologize, but offered no price reduction or other compensation. We skipped breakfast the next day to avoid risking food poisoning, and again there was no mention of money off. The room was rough, cold, and uninviting, though generally clean enough. Getting there meant walking along a dark, slippery route with uneven paths, a real hazard for anyone unsteady on their feet or using a wheelchair or pushchair. In the morning, we could see only a grim patch of lawn and a bench. Inside, it felt like a hop picker's cabin. The room was bitterly cold, with a plug-in radiator that hadn't been switched on in advance, rattly awful beds, no spare blankets, and thin bedding that wasn't warm enough. I had to sleep with my coat over the bed clothes. The bathroom was freezing too, with no heating, and there weren't enough sockets for chargers or computers. The furnishings looked like they'd all come from Wilkos before it went bust. The pub could be beautiful, but it was tired and scruffy. When we went in for a drink, there were just three people and no atmosphere. The barmaid seemed inexperienced and didn't understand our request for a full fat tonic for a G & T. It came without ice or lemon. I know that's picky, but it added to the poor customer service. The landlord was friendly enough when he came over to chat, though seeing his egg-stained jumper should've been a warning. It wasn't cheap. The following weekend, we paid a similar price for a warm, well-decorated place with a lovely bathroom and kitchen just two minutes up the road. I'd strongly advise avoiding this pub and accommodation. The people running it don't seem up to the job or to understand how to run a successful pub or B&B. Since they open only a couple of days a week, I doubt they'll carry on long term.