Best Western The Rose & Crown Hotel

This is a very pretty hotel and we were lucky enough to sleep in the oldest part. If you stay in the same room be wary of the door frame - it's incredibly low! The window was tiny, but the room was a decent size. The bed was comfy and we had more than enough space to get ready and then head out for the evening. We were there during one of the hottest weekends of the year, but there was a fan available so we weren't too hot. The only bad part was the bathroom, which was a little small (and warm) and the door through to the bedroom was glass. I love my partner but we do keep some things private! less

Stayed here a couple of nights ago for a quick business layover and to be honest I was pleased to leave. The good points: Beautiful building but please be careful if you are tall. The rooms have very low ceilings! The bed was exceptionally comfortable and limited amount of secure parking onsite. My room was poor, I arrived and had to ask for toilet roll, the bed base came apart and so I had to ‘put the bed together’ before sleeping. The noise, as mentioned by another guest, is quite substantial from traffic and trains through the night. The place was filthy! The bathroom had had a ‘wipe’ round but the towel rail was grimy, the sink needed a proper clean. The ceiling was so low you couldn’t stand in the bath to use the shower and the water pressure is very poor! And to top it off it looked like they had left the shower gel bottle on the sink from the previous guests as it was half full. There were internal windows which were positioned at such a height that people walking by could see straight in your room. No blinds and the light was left on on the hall all night which shone straight into the bedroom. (See photo) Breakfast was horrid! I had a bowl of yogurt, raspberry and granola only to find half way through eating it a pubic hair! (A very different colour to my own I might add!) So waited for my poached eggs, mushrooms and bacon I had ordered. This came with 1 slice of bacon, 1 terrible poached which tasted like it had been cooked in dish water (so was left) and raw mushrooms (which were also left)! It was awful! £12 for the privilege of a slice of bacon! It was left and I walked out. When checking out I was never asked if I’d had a good stay and if everything had been ok. 2 jugs of water in reception with lemon slices in were still there the next day and were cloudy and stale. Not changed for fresh water. Over all I did not enjoy my stay which was a shame. I wouldn’t return. less

In July we were here for the third time the last six years for a weekend Colchester. The food was a great (diner) and also the hospitality was fine. But I must say that the breakfast was not what we used to have as the other years. It was probably to busy this weekend but that should not be an excuse. less

Car park was barriered and opened automatically to allow us to clear the road. Reception was ok but not enthusiastic. Found the room on the first floor, up narrow steep steps. Large step into the room. Creaking floorboards everywhere but this is a very old building. Room was comfortable but noisy even with the double glazing closed. Traffic and passing trains right through to past midnight. Breakfast was ok except for no smoked salmon one morning. Only one waitress was cheerful, the rest did their job but didn’t appear friendly. We booked a table for dinner on two nights and we were shown to the bar, not restaurant. Food was good and served in a reasonable time. less

We enjoyed an evening meal with friends in this quaint old hotel. The bar is not huge so best to book a table but they have an extensive menu choice. A little warm on a hot evening as the old Elizabethan windows don’t open!! less