This is a small hotel located on a side street in Epernay very close to the "Avenue of Champagne". We needed a hotel and saw their sign advertising this as a 2-star hotel, along with their two restaurants. It was reasonable (95 euro) and ok.

The lobby is interesting, they have a clear floor that makes it appear like you're looking down into a champaign cave. Otherwise, very small, and with English-speaking desk clerks.

There is parking on the street right in front of the hotel - free during the evening and night.

The room was small and ok, nothing special. The halls were always dark because they had lights with timers on them - a minor aggravation.

Not much to say because it was just a "bed for the night". If you're looking for simple accomodations in a good location, this will work for you.

The front of house staff were so unwelcoming - we felt more like a nuisance for the duration of our 2 night stay. Don't come here if you like to feel warmly welcomed! The breakfast on offer was average for the price of €11pp they were asking - better off going to the Boulangerie/supermarket/fruit markets just around the corner.

Booked directly thought the hotel and after a few language barrier problems we got there in the end. Our party size was 16 (for my 30th birthday) and although they were able to accommodate this number, they did required us to eat at least one meal in either of their restaurants (bistro or fine dining). No complaints about this as it was a very enjoyable meal and they actually gave us a private room to dine in which was great.

All in all the stay would have been perfect if it had not been for one terrible incident were when one of the female hotel staff members actually physically assaulted one of my male friends. This whole frightening incident left a nasty taste in my mouth about this hotel and hopefully it doesn’t happen to anyone else.

The last time we stopped at Les Berceaux was in 2001. Since then they have made some big changes to the hotel and bar/restaurants. As mentioned in previous reviews: the décor was firmly 1970's - ageing velvet upholstery, purples, greens and overall quite distressed, or gloomy, depending on taste. I personally found it quite charming, particularly room number 11 as it had a garret room feel (decorated in a countrified, rustic French style) and a slightly déshabille ambience.

Visiting now is rather different. The bedrooms (but not necessarily the bathrooms) have been redecorated. All rooms, presumably, have a similar look with light cream walls, wood effect laminate flooring, teak coloured furnishings and fittings, wall-mounted flat screen televisions and are wifi enabled. The bathrooms are definitely tired looking by comparison but they are kept very clean.

What used to be the downstairs bar has been remodelled as "Le Sept Bistrot", a modern and attractive looking place. The food is absolutely wonderful, but if you are travelling on a budget, do be aware that starters can be from 9.00 to 19.00 euros and main courses around 22.00 - 28 euros.

As wonderful as Le 7 is they do not have a bar-only area and they don't serve drinks before the evening opening at 7.00 p.m. If you are looking for a pre-dinner drink you will need to find a bar nearby.

The Patrick Michelon gastronomic restaurant has also been expanded for more tables and the food is very good. Again, the prices are not for the strictly budgeting traveller. The restaurants are very popular and worth booking either before arrival or on checking in. Both restaurants have good service, the gastronomic is non-smoking and has been for some years. I did spot one person smoking in Le 7 but that was not the norm during our visit.

Unfortunately, for all of the improvements there were some problems during our three day stay. Despite the redecoration of the rooms one area that seemed to have worsened in the last six years was noise.

I and my husband were delighted to be in room 11 again for our stay. That was until gone eleven p.m. when we woken up by guests in room ten. I don't believe that the occupants were being particularly loud or shouting in any way but their conversation was clearly audible to us via a rather thin connecting door.

The receptionist was entirely helpful and sympathetic when we complained and we were given a different room the following morning. This room, number 3, was on the main corridor by the lift so it saw a good deal of traffic. Many guests returning after a night out could be quite loud and also have difficulty with their room keys, which could be a sign of over-indulgence in the region's speciality. Whatever the reason it was quite a disturbance.

The main problem appears to me that during the renovation some internal doors between the hallway of the rooms and the bedroom area were removed for space. So a vital sound baffle was lost.

In summary I would say that Le Sept bistrot and the Patrick Michelon restaurant are well worth the visit thanks to their excellent food and service. The new look rooms are comfortable, clean and not at all shabby. If you are never particularly bothered by noise from other guests, or habitually sleep with earplugs in, then your stay will be entirely acceptable. I'm sad to say that based on this last visit we will not be returning to the hotel itself for any future holidays.