The Stables at The Starr Inn

Our mid afternoon arrival started with manoeuvring around the full builders' skip and three vans in the off street parking area. That the restaurant and all other facilities were closed for renovation had not been mentioned by the hotel or on any website communication. We found it strange that the main entrance door to the rooms was open, but soon established that this was because the lock did not work correctly. We tried to secure it, from inside and out, with and without the key. The door would not lock. The door to our room was little better, being improperly located in the frame, it rattled continually, keeping us awake. We chose to leave our luggage in the car overnight as we thought it safer. The room was well decorated but the recent refurbishment finishing is marginal. It all looks good, but the reality soon grips. We could not get warm in the room, even after adjusting the heating. The bed was not the sanctuary we had hoped for, as the thin blanket and sheet were not sufficient. The white coverlet, found screwed up in the wardrobe, was best described as soiled. I chose not to upload the pics. The general housekeeping was ok but needs further attention. Breakfast of a long life croissant and fruit juice carton in a brown paper bag is a waste of time and energy. I emailed my observations to the hotel directly following our stay. Three days later, no reply and an extremely unhelpful telephone call to the property. Abdication of responsibility is an extremely unpleasant trait.

Ambitious in the furniture but at the end still a cheap place. We arrived in the evening. Due covid restriction, self check in. That means if you need something, good luck. We couldn't find a remote control for the TV and the wi-fi password (free wi-fi) that usually is written somewhere in the lobby or in the room. Looking for the remote control we found instead one of the bed bars underneath. That give an idea of the coziness of the mattress as well. Tried to call the two phone number available but no answer. Never again holiday break in a place without a receptionist to frustrate.

Arriving at our room, we were initially impressed, we had booked a special room called Windsor with 4 poster bed, and a roll top bath. It certainly looked lovely and was spacious. But very quickly the shine wore off, as we realised it had not been cleaned thoroughly. The expectation of cleanliness should always be high, but in the current climate, it should be above and beyond to keep everyone safe and happy. This room was no where near to a covid compliant standard. Every mirror and surface was dusty. The TV had drips of something over the screen. The bathroom mirrors had toothpaste from someones mouth on them. The toilet seat was not clean underneath. Tea tray covered in spillages Kettle was filled with scuzzy old water. Signage / welcome book was covered in coffee and tea stains TV remote not clean Under the roll top bath (which we only saw on the day we left when we dropped something) was disgusting, months worth of dust and hairs and dirt. We immediately called the hotel (as no one is on site) to have the room re-cleaned and as I was also surprised to see throws and decorative cushions, I asked if they were washed between every guest, she didn't know but said if not then they would remove them. We went for an hours walk along the cute high street while waiting for the room to be cleaned again. As we had noticed that the hotel had removed china cups from the room and provided paper instead, ( due to covid) we decided to buy a couple of mugs from the local charity shop so that we could enjoy more than one cuppa, I cannot understand how removing cups, which you would no doubt be washing between guests, is more covid secure than making sure the room is clean and things like blankets etc are kept in the room for multiple guests to touch. When we returned it was still not great, I felt embarrassed but I called them back to just do the toilet again as it still had poo and wee on the underside. I lost the will to point out that the welcome book and other areas were still dirty. We just sanitised what we could and tried to relax and enjoy our much needed break after a long lockdown. The room had everything we needed, hairdyer, fan, etc. But only one chair, and no table, which made it difficult to eat breakfast in our room. The bed didn't have a duvet but an army style blanket, personally I think these are outdated, I find them uncomfortable, and not warm enough, as there was just one. I think most people expect a duvet in a British hotel in 2021. The sheets were old and had holes in them, but the mattress and pillows were comfortable. We had been looking forward to a cooked breakfast and that had been advertised when we booked, but a few days before our arrival we received an email saying due to covid a continental breakfast would be served in our rooms. I wasn't exactly thrilled by this as we had chosen a hotel that did hot breakfast when I booked, but I replied to find out exactly what it would be, I got a reply 'fresh pastrie

Honest review of staying in the Cheltenham Room - 25th/26th September. CONS- BATHROOM - There is a timed sensor in the bathroom, when I was in the bath the lights and water went off every 2ish minutes and you have to wave your arms about to get it to work again. - There is a thick ridge of poorly applied silicone grouting around the outside of the roll top bath which honestly looks like it’s been applied with their eyes closed! -The plug was rusted, dirty and stank, it was broken so you had to screw it in rather than push it up and down to release. BEDROOM - The bedding situation, not only odd but especially in these times where rooms are to be thoroughly sanitised between occupants is not okay. You’re provided with a sheet, like you would when in a hot country, then an abundance of big blankets which were itchy and I don’t know if they were cleaned between stays. - Couldn’t get either of the bedside lamps to work. - On arrival the TV remote was no where to be found, lifted up the mattress to find it under the bed which was really dirty. -Water left in the kettle, coffee machine and iron (which stank) BREAKFAST -This was where I actually got fed up. A grab and go breakfast bag was to be left in the mini fridge for all guests to, well, grab and go. I went to the fridge at 9am (check out is 10:30), no breakfast. So I rang Annette, who informed me the bags weren’t in there till 10am and was rude. 10am came and went, no bags. Eventually after more phone calls breakfast was brought to our room - a bag with two cold croissants, some butter and jam and a child’s size juice carton which only one of us got. At this point I was done, we went to Paradise Cafe up the road. PROS -Heater/fan, iron/board/hairdryer provided in wardrobe -Bathroom was clean with extra toilet rolls -Retrieving the key from the safe was easy -Room nicely decorated -Easy and free parking -A bottle of cava was provided for my birthday -Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bar of soap provided Overall - 3/5 A nice stay for the night, but definitely venture out for breakfast.