Waynebrook Inn, Est 1865

We arrived with our dog and toddler because the hotel website and its Hopper and AirBNB booking pages all said pets were welcome. The front desk employee took several minutes to acknowledge us, and his McDonalds order was spread across the counter. Just as he was about to take our card, he told us they no longer accept pets. He called his supervisor, who explained over his cell phone that new ownership had changed the policy, despite what the listings said. They offered a refund and told us to contact Hopper, where we had booked. We spent an hour on the phone with Hopper, but they denied the refund.

Honey Brook was a lovely little slice of Americana. We could hear horses and buggies going down the street in the morning, like something from another time. The inn is also handy for getting around, with Reading, Lancaster, Philly, and other places within reach. We had a concert in Reading and getting there and back was easy. The nightly price was $76 all in, and the customer service was fine for what I expected at a two star inn charging around $75. I didn't see any bugs or signs of them in the room. The place is historic, with a pub on site that looked like a nice spot for food, though we didn't go since we'd just eaten at Shady Maple, about a 12 minute drive away. It is dated, so look elsewhere if you want modern amenities. The drop ceiling showed old water damage, and the carpet had scuffs and light stains. That didn't bother me, but it might bother some people. The walls are thin and the floors creak, which comes with an old building. The pillows were flat and there weren't enough of them, and the worn mattress could use a pad or topper. I'd give it four stars. The room and service were about what I'd expect for the price, and the location earns an extra star from me.

The room was quiet enough that we could talk comfortably, and the servers were friendly. We didn't wait long for the food, which arrived hot, and dessert was available so we treated ourselves. The meal was good, though not as fancy as I'd expected. It felt like a comfortable little small town restaurant with a nice atmosphere. We came for the Prime Rib dinner on Friday. The parking lot was full, but the restaurant itself wasn't busy, so I assume the other cars belonged to hotel guests. Dinner for two with prime rib came to around $100 including tip. That seems about right for an anniversary meal, and staying nearby meant we didn't have to drive 45 minutes to a steak house. I'll bring friends here and try lunch sometime too. I hear the lunch menu has a prime rib sandwhich.

We stayed here over Easter and it was such a cozy, peaceful, cute experience. The manager who checked us in that evening was really sweet and helpful, and so was the girl at the front desk I spoke with this morning. My husband and I will definitely come back.