Wonderful stay for ending 2018
I stayed at this hotel for 2 nights from 30 December to the first day of 2019. The hotel is optimally located for everything. From the railway station, it is almost a 10-minute straight-line walk. This 17 century class II listed building stands between the churchyard in front and a large parking in back. One minute walk to the main street. My room was on the second floor facing the beautiful stained-glassed wall of St. Mary's Church on the Church Street. The stairs to the top floor are relatively steep but I was rewarded with the serenity and a stunning view of the 14th century church. I was unable to sleep on the first night because the church's bells ringing every hour (but still better than the Japanese temple's traditional giant bell ringing 108 times during the hour between the old and new years ......). The floors are not even flat and a guest might worry about their fair sense of balance. No wonder it's a grade II listed 18 century building (and still better than my Victorian house in East End).
Despite some creaky floorboards (which made me feel at home actually), the room was spacious, pleasant, clean, and compliant (in my opinion) with the EU safety regulations. I particularly appreciated the modern shower unit, which works very well. I liked antique furniture and decors. The radiator temperature seems to be controlled, but the building was warm and the secondary glazing windows were enough to keep the room warm.
Three technical suggestions: 1) perhaps better change the mattresses to harder ones; 2) thanks for the breakfast tailored to my requirements. If you add a selection of pots of yogurt, it could upgrade the breakfast; and 3) there is a small sign of mould on the ceiling of the shower pod because the moist air in the pod does not flow toward the powerful vent in the bathroom. The door of the shower pod is stopped by the bathroom door. If the latter opens outward (not into the bathroom), then the air within the bathroom would flow and be extracted better.
I went to the New Year Eve horse racing in the Uttoxeter racecourse and came back exhausted to the hotel. The hotel's period lounge was full and lively with guests and local people who gathered for the year-end drink. The hotel staff - Mary and Richard, and let me join the circle and warmly welcomed me as a very foreign guest.
In the first morning of 2019, Mary, a seemingly local-legend gentleman and a very friendly family took me to the square of the town where gathered the traditionally-dressed 'fox hunter' cavaliers on horse-back with a pack of hounds for a new year drag hunt. People (inclusive of protesters) surrounded the cavaliers, 'best-turnout' horses, and friendly dogs. What an amazing experience for a foreigner..... I found it more like a cultural ritual or ceremony for the locals rather than a controversial tradition. It is always nice to have the opportunity for people to meet and wish the best one another on the first day of the year, particularly these days we only communicate indirectly via the mobiles or screens....
All in all, I cannot be more grateful to the hotel staff and the warm- hearted locals. Thanks once again for those who offered me the massive year-end drinks. It will be my round at the next year end. read more