Finde Hotels in Barley-with-Wheatley Booth

So the Fence Gate Lodge only gets two stars because the room was lovely - NO other reason! Along with my daughter and her partner we booked a ”Lazy Sunday” deal but there was nothing lazy or leisurely about it - more pandemonium than peaceful. I rang a few days before to check how accessible my room was as I explained I had limited mobility. They said they had a function on during the evening of our stay and kindly upgraded us to a better room free of charge to be away from the noise...the only good bit! However, they failed to mention that it wouldn't be possible to get any food in the Lodge itself and that we'd have to go the the Inn up the road (which was too far for me to walk). My husband kindly offered to be designated driver which was disappointing but there was no other choice. We arrived about 3.15 for a Sunday lunch booking at 4.45 and hubby drove us to the Inn. At 4.10 my daughter went through to the restaurant to let them know we had arrived and would come through for our lunch shortly. At 4.40 we went through to be told there was no reservation for us!! The two girls on the restaurant reception had no explanation and said ”we only work Sundays” We were kept standing for about 20 minutes (difficult with limited mobility) until they found the manager who eventually worked out that when my daughter had told them we had arrived they had cancelled our booking! There were two weddings on that evening aside from the Birthday party at the Lodge so the place was heaving. We were seated for dinner and, to be fair, that was OK until we came to pay. We had incurred some extra drinks charges and also some supplements over and above the deal we had paid for. My husband gave my daughter his credit card to pay the bill and another 20 minute wait ensued as they couldn't work out how to sort it (never did manage to reconcile it!). While we were dining one party left the restaurant in disgust without paying and several members of staff told us what a terrible day they were having!! After a couple of hours over at the Inn we wanted to go back to the Lodge for the rest of the evening so we rang across the road to se if we could get a drink anywhere. We were told that provided we didn't disturb the Birthday party in any way we could sit and order drinks in Reception. We arrived in Reception and they came to take our drinks order. We ordered some beers but were told that there wasn't any beer as it was all for the Birthday function. Understandably we were a bit put out but asked for some red wine. We were told that they only had Merlot (possibly the only wine in the land I wont drink! We said no the the Merlot but I asked if we were ok to drink a bottle of shiraz that I had in the car from a wine shop visit earlier that day. I was told we could but that we would be charged corkage. I challenged this as I explained that we trying very hard to spend money with them but nothing was available!! They did agree to let us drink the wine a

Absolutely awful experience. Noise from the gym from 07:30 until 21:00 in the old building with no sound proofing. Then when that goes quiet the flood light for the car park comes on and the curtains are not enough to block it out lighting the room from all sides. Furniture is dated and bed was uncomfortable. Bathroom was also dated and had issues like the toilet handle being damaged due to the constant need to excessively flush to make it work and low water pressure from the ancient taps that the caps keep falling off from. Mould and cracks can be seen and cobwebs behind the curtains. Then the food, had a deal including a 2 course dinner which was beyond awful. Ended up ordering out as it was poor ingredients and cooked badly. Overcooked chicken and floppy fries. Wine tasting was a joke too (part of the package) 4 crap wines in the incorrect glasses, not bothered by now though, with just a whisker of wine in them, and then asked if I wish to purchase any of the vinegar they offered. I have stayed in some run down places in the past but this place took the biscuit. Gym is full all day and the smell of the pool from outside my room put me off going, overall poor experience especially for the cost. Said something at reception and only got a poor response. Don’t go here, don’t waste your money. You can see how run down it is when you arrive to a poorly maintained building. The photos on the web site are nothing like the experience, the room I stayed in was run down and old and the food was absolutely not presented as in the professional photos added. Wish I had taken a photo.

Beautiful hotel, staff friendly and knowledgeable, food lovely, leisure facilities clean and staff very welcoming. Will definitely recommend and can’t wait to return.