I arrived early evening and met Kelly on the front desk. She was very polite and helpful and we discussed a couple of room choices. I confessed to her I am very particular about the rooms I choose mainly because I don’t get away very often and always look for rooms where I think I will get a good night rest. Kelly showed me two rooms and I chose the room in the house – room 6 (Queen Anne). I asked Kelly about potential for being disturbed and we discussed the room location being upstairs at the end of the corridor with no rooms above – perfect, or so I thought. On going to bed I set my alarm for 8:30am. To my complete surprise and total dismay, I was woken at 7:05am by a constant background noise like people talking but very ‘basey’ if that makes sense. The noise, or voices, was not going away and was loud enough that I just knew I wasn’t getting back to sleep. I investigated and in my dressing gown, I left the room and went to the landing on the stairs and to my surprise there was a staff member and the cleaner sat chatting on the landing. To be fair they were not being loud, it was just a little surprising. I continued down the stairs and followed the noise. You’re not going to believe it, the radio was on played through a sound system in the resident’s lounge and bar area, which was immediately below my room. I assure you it was not quiet. I returned up the stairs and passed the staff member and cleaner still sat there and told them “your radio has just woken me up”. The staff member asked if I would like her to turn it down but I told her it was too late as I am obviously already up. I went for breakfast which others have reviewed is over the road at Lilly’s – a joint enterprise I believe. The breakfast was excellent! I returned to my room and prepared to check out. At the front desk Kelly was on duty. I asked if she had been told about the early morning disturbance and she said yes and duly apologised. As it was clear she was not going to say anything else, I said I was not going to pay the full bill because, as I have suffered, then so should the business – particularly given the conversations we had when I arrived. Kelly said she couldn’t make that decision and called the Manager, which was non-other than the staff member I saw earlier that morning chatting on the landing. I think her name was Nikita?? I reiterated the issue and she said she would ‘comp the breakfast’ which apparently meant make the breakfast complimentary – a bit of jargon I think. I asked how much the breakfast was as they don’t tell you at Lillys, Nikita said it was £12.00. I said ok and she started to amend my bill. As she was doing so I tried to make small talk saying I understand having the radio on in that area but perhaps not at 7:00am – my god what a mistake – Nikita promptly replied saying ‘we do have other guests you know’. I was amazed and shocked at her response. I said yes I get that but was anyone else up at that time, and she said yes. Well hold on a minute, remember I went down to check the source of the noise, and no one was in sight. And they weren’t at Lillys for breakfast as I was the first one in there. So where these other guests that ‘needed’ the radio on so loud. I questioned this with Nikita and then she had another pop at me saying ‘perhaps if you can adjust your attitude then we can try to sort this out for you’. I tell you now I have stayed in many hotels and guest houses over the years, mainly through work, and I have NEVER been spoken to in that way before. I was gob smacked. I am 52 and felt like a child being told off. I paused, gathered my thoughts and just said ‘lets just sought it then’ I payed the bill and left. I do not know who owns this hotel but I do know it is an independent. I say to the owners you really need to keep an eye on your Manager’s lack of professionalism and damn right rudeness. In these very precarious times Hotels need all the custom they can get as well as positive feedback. This obviously does not give guests the right to be obnoxious or badly behaved, but when they have a legitimate complaint, it really needs someone with a degree of maturity and professionalism to deal with it – Nikita showed neither. There were other issues which seem quite trivial now. The water pressure in the room was pitiful such that taking a shower was very hard work. The internet is very suspect, my laptop security wouldn’t allow me to connect due to potential virus threats – this was a constant message no matter how I tried. The heated towel rail never got warm, never mind hot. The Old House is not cheap but the price is very fair for what it has to offer. The problem, as we all know, is that we are not just paying for the room and settings etc. We are paying for good professional service. I have stayed in places not up to scratch but can forgive them because of the good service delivered by the staff. The Manager, of all people, failed in this very area.…
We were having a meeting in Fareham and wanted to find an hotel to stay in the night before. I went on line and The Old House Hotel came up. For no other reason than it was at the top of the list, I booked it. I am so glad I did. The hotel is super. On arrival the receptionist was really friendly. Our room was lovely. It was spotless, large and airy and had a view over the square. We also had a delicious breakfast in Lilly's, their sister property over the road. On check out the receptionist was efficient and friendly. I have no hesitation in recommending this hotel and I hope very much to visit it again.
Overnight stay here, lovely building, Nikita who checked me in was a very nice pleasant young lady, my bedroom was spotless and very nice 👍... Over the road there are two pubs and a few doors away you have a Fish & Chip Shop and a Chinese Take Away 😎...
Stayed for one night in this beautiful hotel. Staff were friendly. Parked on site. The room was gorgeous with a Four poster and the bed was so comfortable I had the best nights sleep. Lovely hot walk in shower too. Thoroughly recommend staying in this lovely venue.
Spent a few unexpected days here on the recommendation of a local friend. The property has had the benefit of a full refurbishment, my bedroom was immaculate and i enjoyed a few restful nights. Breakfast was first class and I can highly recommend the in house restaurant ( suggest you book as it is very popular ). Theres an extensive selection of wines to suit most plates. Big thankyou to al the staff and front of house team whom are very accommodating to requests and variations Capt Neil Isle of Man
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