We spent 3 days (two nights) at this hotel, whilst visiting friends in Lincolnshire. It was our second stay at the hotel. We stayed on a bed and breakfast basis.
The Olde Barn Hotel is what I would describe as a rustic hotel which stands in open countryside. It is easily accessed from the A1 – Travelling south on the A1 about 12 miles from Newark, take the turn off for Marston. Follow a country road for about a mile and there you will find the hotel.
The Hotel has a large car park. A variety of rooms can be booked, standard, superior suites and executive suites. Disabled bedrooms are on the ground floor. The hotel prides its self on its disability awareness. There is a range of equipment available for disabled guests who require it and it is free of charge. Conference facilities, restaurants are all on the ground floor.
We selected a standard room and requested a quiet room. Our room was clean, tidy with everything you would expect from a "standard" room. We did have a kettle that didn't work but almost as soon as we reported it we got a new one.
We particularly enjoyed the hotel spa. We swam in the 15 metre heated swimming pool, which overlooks farmland. We used the steam room, sauna and jacuzzi. Beauty treatments are available at the Spa but the need to be prebooked. A fitness suite is also available. Visiting the spa after a long journey left us revived and relaxed for our evening meal.
The hotel has a good sized restaurant as well as the bar serving bar meals. We only ate in the hotel the first night and chose to have a bar meal. We were not disappointed, the food was absolutely delicious and we sent our compliments to the chef. Food and drink prices we found competitive.. Breakfasts provided a good choice from the serve yourself buffet. I did think the standard of breakfast food was a bit mediocre, nothing special but then perhaps after such a great bar meal the previous evening my expectations had been raised.
Outside the hotel, there is little to do. There is a long country lane with little room for pedestrians, so going out for a walk, in my opinion was not impossible but not desirable. The upside of this is the hotel has the benefit of a rural locality with the amenities of towns such as Grantham and Nottingham a short drive away.
Our first stay a few years ago was midweek,our most recent was at a weekend. It is worth noting that the hotel is popular for weddings (as well as stag and hen packages). Wedding Receptions did take place during our second stay and one night we were disurbed by drunken guests in adjoining rooms slamming doors and generally moving furniture around. The hotel's business conference facilities seem to be well used midweek, when life may be a little quieter. I will return to the hotel, but perhaps will stick to a midweek booking!.
During out stay staff were friendly and helpful.
