Washbourne Court - A Von Essen Hotel

Hotel set in a lovely location. Room was good, in one of the buildings next to the main building, although it had a massive bathroom and therefore (presumably) a compact bedroom which didn't have much empty floor space once bed, bedside cabinets, wardrobe, desk and chair were included. Room too hot in spite of cold day. Staff very accomodating. Breakfast good - didn't have other meals in hotel as attending a wedding locally. Overall, lovely hotel but quite expensive for what you get, particularly if you pay full rather than Late-rooms rates.

The bill at the end was unclear on alcohol. This left you not knowing what you'd been charged for. (eg 1 Gin at £20.50) Don't think there should have been a £5 supplement on the steak at dinner. Also felt very hurried with ordering meal. Our table was booked for 9 and would have preferred more time. (It was a Saturday after all). Also not enough bar staff so had to queue for drinks at the tiny bar area. Otherwise thoroughly enjoyed it - room was beautiful - shower was noisy.

We ordered a superior room in the hotel with a jacuzzi - we got a cottage room but one of the worst at the end of the property. The outside light was handging off the wall by one wire (v. dangerous), the front door was partially glazed and the blind was missing so we had no privacy, the spot lights in the bathroom were full of dead tiny insects, the coffee table was a cheap "MFI" type product with wobbly legs, the bed was a small double, the fire place had a fake fire in it that was just for show and did not produce any heat, the bathroom was not smart and the shower head had seen better days. Finally, we are obviously a young couple on weekend break so why on earth did we have to be given the cottage next the the young family with the screaming baby! Completely unacceptable! When we called reception to question why they had given us that room they said it was because we had booked through Late Rooms and not booked directly (even though I pointed out that we had tried to book directlty, but they had sold all their rooms to Late Rooms). We did not get value for money - the stay cost us £180 B & B. This was supposed to be an up-market stay in a nice hotel and quite frankly my tiny flat in London is smarter! I have already informed the receptionist and I inform you now that i will never stay at Washbourne Court again!