The Abbey Hotel is billed as the best in Great Malvern. It certainly looks attractive, in Malvern Abbey's shadow and covered in ivy. Our reception by the night-porter was cordial and he willingly served us to drinks because he'd sent the bar staff home. The bedroom and bathroom were modern, well fitted and had excellent views across to Bredon Hill.
Breakfast, however, was a different prospect. Unclothed tables, covered in crumbs and no-one to greet or offer tea and coffee. When someone merged from the kitchen, extravagant gestures were required to fill our mugs. Whilst accepting that we'd descended for breakfast at (but not after) the end of the advertised breakfast time, this was no excuse for dehydrated bacon and sausage, rock-hard black pudding and fried eggs, swimming in oil, which were completely solid and rubbery. As if this wasn't enough, the picture window gave a panoramic view of the bins being emptied into the refuse vehicle a seemingly interminable process.
We spent the day on the hills and returned to find, as before, smokers decorating the front steps an undignified sight, but probably unavoidable given the smoking ban and the apparent shortage of alternative places to indulge in tobacco.
Breakfast on the following day was better inasmuch as the cooked offering was palatable, although the fruit was only partially thawed. Large chunks of frozen raspberry are not pleasant although the hot bowls straight from the dishwasher helped. It was a shame that the cooked breakfast was on cold plates.
Front desk security was poor I was given an additional key card for our room on request with no suggestion of interrogation as to whether I had any entitlement.
Will we be staying again? Well it certainly wouldn't be our first choice for this lovely part of Worcestershire. read more