Barnett Hill, designed by Arnold Mitchell in the early 1900s, is a beautiful and distinctive building. This was our third stay, and we always enjoy the fabulous detail of the panelling and plasterwork. Even the drainpipes are fetching! Sadly, we won't be going back there, though. The service had deteriorated dramatically since previous visits, and the hotel now no longer represents any kind of value for money. There were no bathrobes in our room, and there only seemed to be one in the building when we asked (straight out of the washing machine; we had to dry it on a radiator). Dinner was OK, though uninspiring, but breakfast was a full-on disaster. They have changed the usual cook-to-order breakfast model that you expect in a hotel at this price point to a buffet model—and not even a well-done buffet, at that. The selection of food was poor and the execution just dreadful: inedible scrambled eggs in a serving canister that was broken and 'mended' with clingfilm; no hot water for people to make their own tea... I could go on. Service (in so much as there was any) was weird and unpleasant as well—verging on the 'Fawlty Towers', as I noticed someone else said in a recent review. The management seem completely in denial about how bad things have got, so I can't imagine things will be getting better any time soon. Such a shame! A building as lovely as this deserves far better. Our experience was all the more surprising in that Barnett Hill is part of the Alexander House group, whose hotels I have always found highly professional—even sleek—in their offering. If they allow Barnett Hill to continue to operate in this chaotic manner, they will jeopardise the reputation of the whole group.
翻譯