Old Bell Classic Hotel, Malmesbury

Advantages: Service at breakfast and breakfast itself
Disadvantages: shabby rooms, noisy doors, no sound-proofing

...As part of a hen weekend package we were upgraded to the apparently 4 star Old Ship Hotel in Brighton which is Brighton's oldest hotel. I hadn't heard anything about it prior to hearing we would be staying here but having asked a few friends who'd visited Brighton quite often I didn't hear anything positive - those who had stayed there said it was pretty shabby and those who hadn't stayed said it looked pretty shabby just from the outside. Not a good start but as if was part of the hen weekend package and because we'd been upgraded for free from a 3 star hotel to the Old Ship Hotel I had to assume it couldn't be all bad - maybe it had been refurbished since my friends had seen it/stayed there. There are apparently 50 car parking spaces for use by hotel guests which you have to pay about £15 a day and £5 overnight to use these... Read review

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Advantages: A landmark hotel
Disadvantages: It's a long way from home

...Before we start, a warning. This is a long review - you might want to go and get a cup of tea and a couple of biscuits before you start reading. I got a bit carried away. Are we ready? OK, let's go and visit one of the world's classic hotels. Background to our visit ******************* Back in February I placed a booking with Exodus (an 'adventure travel' company) for a trip to Ladakh in the Indian Himalayas with a stay in Delhi at either end of visit. I'd rejected the flight inclusive option (because it used Gulf Air) and splashed out many years worth of Virgin Flying Club 'miles' on two economy tickets for my husband and myself. I love Delhi and I wanted some extra time to see a couple of the museums and monuments so I booked the flights a day early on the way out and a day late on the way back. Consequently I needed to find... Read review

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Advantages: Opulent environment and decor, fresh haut cuisine dishes, excellent location, friendly and helpful staff
Disadvantages: Expensive

...cordially accepted, and will be welcomed upon arrival with a basket, blankets, bowl, and 'gourmet dinner'. Guaranteed secure reservations can be made online at www.oldparsonage-hotel.co.uk Alternatively call 01865 310210 or email reservations@oldparsonage-hotel.co.uk RESTAURANT The Old Parsonage pride themselves on using local suppliers where possible: fish and shellfish from Jersey, meat and vegetables from the Old Parsonage's private farm in Oxfordshire and cheese from a local supplier. The emphasis is on fresh local ingredients and modernistic interpretations of classic haut cuisine. There is simply no need to venture into town after dark in search of an alternative restaurant. During my parents' stay, we enjoyed a robust meal of sheer decadence on the veranda and I hesitate to say I've had a better restaurant meal since. The Old... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful