Stayed here for two nights in Room 3.
Before you start, if you're used to (and prefer) very polished, standardised purpose built hotels. The square box with an en-suite. All very modern with clean li... more
Stayed here for two nights in Room 3.
Before you start, if you're used to (and prefer) very polished, standardised purpose built hotels. The square box with an en-suite. All very modern with clean lines etc. then I wouldn't recommend here.
That's not a criticism. But the Bell is old school. Creaking floorboards, chintzy and very old fashioned furniture, rough as you like around the edges, rammed with historical character and quirks galore. Walk in here and you're easily going back at least 50 years. If that's what you like, you're going to love it here!
Not to say it isn't looked after. It may be dated but in the main it's clean and the staff are very helpful and accommodating. On our first evening I had been travelling and working a lot over the preceding few days and felt too tired even to go downstairs for dinner. We decided to order takeaway to eat in our room and the restaurant staff were happy to provide cutlery...even though it may have seemed an odd request!
Our room was fairly hot, so we had the windows open all the time - bit of a security concern as other bedroom windows opened on to a fully enclosed flat roof area and anyone could walk out onto the roof and get in the neighbouring rooms - relatively unseen by anyone. I noticed all the bedroom windows were open so hot rooms seem to be prevalent making access even easier. Maybe a CCTV camera would solve the security issue? Also if you have children be careful with them going on the roof (our room had a door access to the roof), there are large Perspex rooflights which may not be safe to walk or stand on.
Our room was above the restaurant WCs - with a soil pipe terminating close by and (when the wind was blowing in the wrong direction) meant the infrequent smell of drains every so often - not particularly pleasant but it's a problem that would easily be fixed by extending the pipe.
Beds were reasonably comfortable and we slept reasonably well, but it's not all that quiet. There is a lot of external noise, be it passing footsteps in the corridor, plumbing noise or other mechanical whirrs, hums and bangs coming from all parts of the building.
We also made use of the gym and spa. Gym is a very good size but equipment is a little dated. It's better than your average hotel gym which usually is pretty poor. Spa facilities are very good, though the pool is too small to do any serious swimming.
We didn't have breakfast.
In all I'd stay here again. It was by no means unpleasant though it could do with some tidying up at least...or a total refurb at most. less