Having read several very grim reviews regarding this hotel, it was with some trepidation that we arrived in our National Holidays Coach after a pleasant, uneventful journey at around 3 pm. That’s where our worries ended. OK So I think the management would agree that the hotel is overdue a little refurbishment, it’s quite tired looking but yet charming in its own way. After a very slick professional check in we were in our room in what seemed like seconds from exiting the Coach. Our twin room on floor 3 was lovely. Nice and bright, clean and ticked all the boxes. The beds were very comfy. Bathroom was fine with everything working, Hot drinks facility was more than adequate, Hairdryer. Flat screen TV, Telephone, etc. All in good working order. Our Towels were changed daily and bed linen was changed after 2 nights of our 4 night stay. The room was cleaned efficiently every day. On our first foray to the dining room we were allocated a table which was to be ours for the remainder of our stay. We did actually share a table with a very nice couple from Blackburn and got on quite well. I’m sure that if we had insisted on a table of our own this would not have been a problem. But we feel that a big part of a holiday is meeting, chatting with and laughing with other people. So we were more than happy to share. As for the food. One word EXCELLENT comes to mind. I was a Chef for several years and I was amazed at the high standard and very balanced choice of the menu. Breakfast started with serve yourself from a good range of cereals and fruit juice etc. Followed by waiter served hot main course from a choice of a simple poached egg on toast or a full 7 item Welsh breakfast. Or anything in between. During breakfast there was a tick box form provided to choose evening meal main course. Dinner at 7 pm consisted of 3 courses. Soup or a cold starter, followed by main course selected as above, which was usually a choice of a Fish dish, a meat dish, accompanied by potatoes and very nice and varied Veg. or a salad. Followed by a choice of 4 or 5 deserts always including a fresh fruit salad for those counting calories. All this helped down with a complimentary glass of wine. Ample coffee was served which most people seemed to take out to the conservatory or bar lounge. The Bar / Lounge area was very pleasant and popular with entertainment provided on 3 of our 4 nights stay. There were lots of sing-along’s, laughter and dancing, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves until quite late. The lone barman was very friendly and efficient and although quite busy there was never more than two or three guests waiting to be served. This is a budget hotel which definitely reaches at least one star higher than its 2 star listing. My wife Kath and I must have spoken to at least 20 other guests and did not hear one complaint. Also every one we spoke to was complimentary about the food. All of the staff were very polite, attentive, and most of all they all seemed to be happy in their work with smiling faces. As proof if it were needed Kath and I were so pleased that we have booked again for September this year. HIGHLY RECCOMMENDED.
