robertshaw5133
January 4, 2025
I would rarely give 5/5 always thinking there is always room for improvement but im feeling generous in this new year and yes there was one niggle. I took advantage of a January offer of DBB as a Christmas pressie for my wife. Normally its standard price would be bit too much for us to afford ot want to pay. The entrance is along a very long track with 3 automated gates which adds to the suspense. When it comes into view is the first + or i should say the second + as the first was the courteous response when initially booking. Lovely to crunch walk across a stone/gravel paving to the steps. On entering the building you immediately get that sense of grandeur. Checking in was a lovely experience as we were given a couple of glasses of fizz and pointed to a lovely seated area. The friendly receptionist came over and had the time to engage in pleasant conversation before the formalities and giving us directions to our room, a classic in one wing. I think it's always difficult to make a corridor with doors along it not look like an old folks home especially with fire regs needing to be adhered to. The lighting helped to overcome my opinion. The opposite corridors in the posher side had some very nice wall lighting to further dispel my old folks home view.Room was very spacious, clean and simply but nicely furnished and decorated The old telephone adding an old touch. Room was very warm. Sizeable bathroom with shower. Coffee and tea making facilities were fine but with my pet hate of UHT milk sachets (fresh milk was available if asked for). To shorten review...Dinner was very good, staff were excellent,friendly and helpful and the dining saloon made you feel special. Retiring to the snug for a few more drinks and time to chill and chat to other guests who all equally enjoyed their meals from the Winter Warmer menu. Pleasantly surprised that the drinks werent over inflated in price. , a little more expensive but still cheaper than London prices. Choice for breakfast was good and tasty eggs benedict, although the coffee was very strong ,not that hot and tasted as though it had been standing for a while. I know the staff would have replaced it if asked but only wanted the one cup. I think we missed the toast or werent shown where it was but to be honest we were pretty full after a cereal . On checking out we opted to do the free audio tour around the house and the grounds and this was really good, took a good hour and half to do house plus grounds. The ethos of the owners in taking on the hall and its function as a hotel and wedding venue was to be applauded. Left the niggle to the end . The room we had was very close to either a fan or what I believe was a central heating pump. The noise from it being transmitted along the pipework? was enough to prevent my wife sleeping , i eventually overcame it by putting wet tissue in my ears as an ear plug, finally dropping off around 4am whilst my wife gave in and read her book. I appreciate the size of boile