Best Western The Ship Hotel

The room itself was clean, spacious and had everything I needed, and the hotel looked lovely. But after a concert, I had an uncomfortable experience in the courtyard with my friend and her family. We went out for a cigarette; there were seats, fairy lights and ashtrays, and the area wasn't closed for the night. After about five minutes, a staff member asked us to keep the noise down. We apologized and whispered for the next ten minutes. Then a younger man came out and told us not to talk at all. We were tired, hadn't been drinking and weren't being rowdy or especially loud, so that felt baffling. He was less pleasant than the first staff member, seemed patronizing and intimidating, and asked for our room numbers. We gave him the wrong one because he made us think he might charge us for talking. When I said we'd sit in silence, he questioned me and answered sarcastically. I couldn't find any other hotel reviews mentioning courtyard noise. If guests can't talk there at night, it should be closed. I've never been told to shut up at a hotel when trying to be respectful. We felt so uncomfortable that we hurried back to our rooms. Glad it was just one night.

The Ship was a convenient place for our guests to stay, close to the town centre, and the beds were comfortable. The only small downside was that our non-air-conditioned room got a little hot. Everything else was just right. We held our wedding there in September 2025. Sarah, the manager, planned it exceptionally well and paid attention to every detail. The hotel team were courteous and so helpful, and they made the day run smoothly. Our guests all said they had a fantastic time. The wedding breakfast was nicely cooked and beautifully presented, and both the ceremony room and dining tables looked lovely. I'd recommend the hotel for a wedding if you don't have a huge budget. Thank you, Ship Hotel!

We booked a table for six after visiting Brooklands museum for my husband's 60th. The restaurant was lovely and we were the only ones there. The starters were all great, but the mains were a different story. I ordered ribs and managed one before cutting into another and seeing oil and grease seep out from underneath. They were too greasy for me to eat, and since leaving yesterday I've been extremely unwell with chronic sickness. When asked why I'd left them, I explained, and the woman just shrugged and said, “Oh, okay, they can be juicy.” It wasn't rib juice, it was shiny grease. I couldn't eat my dinner and wasn't even offered a refund for the ribs. It sadly spoiled what had been a great day.

I couldn't travel down from Scotland because I was pregnant and had health reasons, even though I'd booked a room and gave plenty of notice. I hadn't noticed that the booking was non-cancellable, so that's on me. But there was no understanding of my situation, and I wasn't allowed to send someone else in my place, even though I had someone willing to go. I asked several times if I could pay a cancellation fee as a compromise, but got no answer. This was a really awful experience. It felt like they just wanted the money, charging for an empty room while refusing a replacement guest. Situations like this make a place seem cold and lacking in basic kindness. Please avoid.