Top 10 The Crown & Anchor Hotels

Having recently discovered The Falcon had gone through a massive transformation, we decided to book Sunday lunch at Eyas restaurant at the Falcon Hotel. The car park is large, well maintained, and in the shadow of the beautiful hotel. You are greeted as you enter and temperature taken as per the norm these days. You then go through a series of little lounges to the restaurant, all part of the hotel seating and resting areas, beautiful. The restaurant is large and the decorating is amazing. The menu is quite small but everything is cooked and prepared perfectly. We had roast beef main courses, preceded by pig cheek, salt baked celeriac and another starter. When they were served, there were about 4 staff doing the serving, one holding the tray of food, another serving etc. So nicely done. The starters have all kinds of goodies with the dish, hints of and touches of which make the dish amazing. The beef melted in your mouth. Individual pots of cauliflower cheese. Nothing too much of a problem. We had the chocolate dessert, can't remember the name, and the cheese board. Truly wonderful. Yes it isn't cheap, but this is fine dining, not just a £20 Sunday roast. You are made to feel special, and makes for a special occasion. If I didn't live so close it would be a great place to stay, the hotel looks so inviting and the staff so friendly. Will definitely come back. Enjoy

A very traditional English hotel, like going back to the 18th century. Good environment, English breakfast, a very tasteful hotel.

We stayed here for the night, had dinner as well as breakfast. The rooms are clean and well kept however the staff are indifferent and unwelcoming (aside from the cleaning staff). The owners son checked us in and wasn’t particularly welcoming. Neither of us can recall if he actually said hello. Either way, a cold reception. The bar staff are cold. Breakfast was a shambles. The young girl serving was really trying her best but is clearly being let down by management. No greeting on arrival. No clean glasses. A sorry looking cereal bar and we weren’t sure if the coffee cups were clean or not. For a B&B, you only have two things to get right but the breakfast experience is not being thought through. Upon check out, no one was around aside from what I assume was a female duty manager, who clearly doesn’t want to be there as there was zero engagement. Not the worst place I’ve stayed but doubt we’ll be back as you’re made to feel as if the customer is getting in the way. All in all a real shame because what you saw on TV is a million miles away from reality, especially when the owners son checks you in as cold as he does.

One night stop off for a work trip. The hotel was more spacious than I was expecting and there was ample parking available. The room was very clean and provided all the required things you would need. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was because the TV did not work in my room, but I was too tired to go down to reception and ask, and it wasn't a big issue really as the hotel in itself is lovely.

Had arrived from the Hilton in Harrogate which was brilliant. Had high hopes for the brand when I arrived at this hotel. Walked in to reception and all I can say is appearances can be deceiving. Once you look past the chandeliers and flowers it’s evident this isn’t up to the usual Hilton standard. The first receptionist I spoke to was either shy or new. Very basic service, more time spent looking at the screen. Had to ask the usual questions, breakfast times/location:car parking payment etc.. Got told it was on my key card. That’s great but I’m asking you in person and having stayed at many hotels this is usually standard. The rooms are very basic and the hotel does need modernising. The receptionist kindly moved me (thank you Eva) as I could hear everything in the original room I was allocated, and the adjoining door between my room and the one next door didn’t seem to secure.. I found the family room I was given slightly more modern but the beds creaked awfully. Luckily I always take ear plugs. Bathrooms had those horrible shower heads that emit shed loads of spray, not ideal if you are trying not to get your hair wet and just have a wash. They do provide shower caps though. There is also a reminder to be vigilant with the shower curtain as the spray shower heads soak everything! Food in the restaurant was mediocre but prompt. Hilton prices without quality. Had the risotto which was essentially pea and cream, no taste of mint. It was a huge portion though and served quickly. Girls on service were very friendly but had to be reminded as to service. I was also given pudding without a spoon, had to go exploring as there were no staff to help find one. Pudding was bizarre, a lemon sponge thing on a bed of granola. Tasted like a dandelion. Had intended to use the gym, but to be honest I didn’t want to stay here longer than I needed to. In sum, not awful but not great. Standard no higher than a Holiday Inn, albeit they are more modern and don’t charge their guests for parking.