The Moonraker Hotel, BW Signature Collection by Best Western

Stayed just the one night at this hotel, pleased they took dogs. Had three rooms for five of us. Lovely building and great welcome. Was warned no hot breakfast as lack of staff due COVID. Also had dinner. Rooms were comfortable but restaurant service was poor, constantly looking for someone so we could order. My wife’s meal was different to what was on the menu but took so long to find someone to highlight it to was too late to get something else. Main meals generally very average or worse (avoid the liver). Breakfast was a disaster, one person serving and she couldn’t be less interested if she tried. Not enough tables for residents so people waiting around. Token reduction of charge for meal at check out, won’t be staying again. less

Room was lovely for cheapish price, defo got our money’s worth. Food was fantastic and the interior and exterior of the hotel was stunning. Staff were very helpful and extremely helpful. Little bit of mould in the bathroom, but would still defo recommend. 9/10 for me less

I usually forget about doing reviews when I come back from a place but I really wanted to post this so the management don't miss an opportunity for improvement staring them in the face. We stayed there mid October 2020, and were very excitied to be getting out on London for a little break. The Moonraker on the face of it is a quaint and lovely old building in a lovely location nicely laid out and should be cosy and atmospheric. I can accord with some of the other reviewers here that it needs to improve its service by about 15-20% to get to 'Good' in my view. In terms of decor the bedding, towels etc were lovely and clean but it is very evident that aspects of the fit out are very tired and battered. In the room I stayed in the skirting boards particularly had chipped off paint that really lowered the tone and a very tired carpet... ancillary furniture had seen better days - but nothing that a simple polish and some loving attention wouldn't cure. I got the overall impression that in this instance the lockdown has been used as excuse for penny pinching but I think to the detriment of potential. It was clearly under staffed and when the drain in my brother's room blocked for more than a day - they had no-one to fix it. Infact had he not asked a 3rd time they would have ignored his request to them - they did eventually move him. The staff there were doing their best and so helpful, but there was a there was a total lack of atmosphere or enthusiasm there, and the place seemed generally understaffed. The single teenage girl who was left to serve breakfast on her own had little support and clearly not been adequately trained to deal with customers. She was doing her best. The breakfast infact was my biggest irritation. We were told on checking in that there were no cooked breakfasts due to Covid ? _ quite how that correlates is beyond me - Firstly this was not advertised on the website when we booked but to add insult to injury we were told we would have substantial 'continental' breakfast. The reality was something quite different . My brother had been for a run and was starved and what was served up was a meagre offering akin to something you'd buy in a service station if you were absolutely desperate for food. Nothing fresh or home made. packets of this and that and a few bits of toast from cheap sliced bread. He wasn't brought the yoghurt and granola that other tables got because her forgot to tick something on his form?? all taking away from the overall experience. Infact what as billed as 'cold cuts' by the reception staff was infact ready sliced packet cheese and ham slices from one of those cheap packs. Cereals were the little boxes you give children, he got handed tiny 1 packet of Weetabix. My gluten free option was a tiny bowl of some sort of random cornflakes that I couldn't eat and 2 small 'gluten free' wrapped muffins - whilst may have been gluten free were certainly not healthful or fresh. I asked for some fruit and I got a withered apple and orange set directly n the table for me ! this was really not the type of customer service or food attention in a hotel billed as it is . The management really are at fault for this . It seems evident that a lot of penny pinching is ruining what could be a really lovely experience. I wish you well to try to address these things. less

The Moonraker is sold as a luxury/signature hotel. We stayed in a room that, from the outside, looked like a motel. In the inside it had more charm. But the room was more shabby than chic - a filthy stained carpet, cheap net curtains, wonky furniture, a mouldy shower curtain with a shower cubicle that had not seen the light of day since the 1980s or thereabouts (I skipped having a shower). Apart from the cobwebs over the bed, the room was superficially clean. Apart from that, dinner was good but breakfast was dreadful. Although served in the dining room, it was like a spread out packed breakfast for kids. Who on earth drinks orange juice out of packets or cereal bars for breakfast in a hotel. The croissants were a nice touch but need to be served warm. Breakfast, as in other hotels, needs to be served individually from the kitchen. After staying at the Moonraker, we moved on to the Crown in Blandford Forum for several days. For around the same price, we had a beautifully decorated and furnished room and breakfast to order, including a full English. Your saving grace was that you had great staff who seemed capable of turning a hand to anything. I decided not to post this on tripadvisor as I don’t like complaining in public. However, I did take a look at your reviews and saw that my views were a common theme. I look forward to hearing your comments. less

We booked 3 nights in September and ended up staying another extra night, so that alone should tell you that this review will be pretty positive. The evening meals were excellent, even with the limited menu on offer due to COVID precautions taken to protect kitchen staff. I'd particularly recommend the calf's liver. Eggs are free range from the rescued battery hens that live with their "guard turkey" (really) in a large pen in the gardens. Weather permitting, I'd recommend dinner in the courtyard area as it's a really nice place to be. The building and grounds are lovely and the location is great, with Bradford being easily walk-able via the picturesque canal path. Value was outstanding, we initially thought they'd got the bill wrong, but 3 nights in a 4 poster room, 1 in a superior room, 2-3 courses and a bottle of wine each night with a not inconsiderable number of aperitifs and digestifs came to less than £800. The staff comprises a really young team who were, without exception, both helpful and charming. Overall, we had a really good stay which and wouldn't hesitate to return. less