Dinham Hall & Elliotts Bistro

My partner booked this for me and other friends as a present. I’m genuinely gutted to find out how much it costed for what we got. The hotel is really very tired, the carpet desperately needs changing and everything feels flimsy. Breakfast was also distinctly average. And distinctly average is ok but not at these prices! I wouldn’t recommend.

I’m not in the habit of writing hotel reviews – generally only when the experience has been outstandingly good, or exceptionally terrible. Unfortunately with Dinham Hall it is the latter that prompts this review but I think it only fair to alert others to the experience. I have stayed at this hotel before, on more than one occasion. I am a regular visitor to Ludlow at this time of the year (for my birthday). Ludlow is a pretty, historic market town in Shropshire, set in good hiking country, with some fantastic pubs and restaurants. It makes an ideal weekend break and Dinham Hall is well located next to the castle, with a car park. I have never previously had any problems and have been back. Sadly our experience this weekend was very unpleasant. This review is based on that experience. I won't be back. When we arrived late Friday afternoon there were a number of flies inside buzzing round the bedroom window. My husband killed 15 of them. By the time we had unpacked another 10 had appeared. The window was locked and needed a key to open. He reported the problem to reception and asked if there was another room available – there wasn’t as they were fully booked. They came up, opened the window got rid of the flies and left us some fly spray. We went out the next day, returning early evening. On entering the room there were about 40 flies buzzing round and 1 wasp; we used the spray. We went out for dinner and returned about 10 pm to find a room with more than 200 dead or dying flies all over the carpet. Absolutely disgusting and clear evidence of a fly infestation. Had we not had wine with our meal we would have left there and then and driven home. It was reported to reception and they came and hoovered them up. On waking the next morning there were another 10 dead on the carpet. On checking out yesterday I mentioned the problem to reception – it really does need pest control to be called in as there has to be an underlying cause. That number of flies is not normal. I was treated like an unreasonable, hysterical woman for having the nerve to complain. Apparently one should expect to have 100s of flies in old houses at this time of the year – I was told it was completely normal in old properties. They come in because it’s cold outside. Silly me for not understanding that. So there you have it - £390 for a 2 night break with a room infested with flies and the hotel seemingly unwilling to do anything about it. So if you don’t want to sleep in a room with 100s of flies buzzing round, my advice –best give Dinham Hall in Ludlow a miss at this time of the year.

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