The Brocket Arms

The room was in OK condition though V small but the overiding thing was that it was freezing. A wall mounted heater is in place but not switched on and it was only 3degC outside. The room took ages to heat up and was not warm by the time I went to bed; this should have been pre-heated prior to my arrival. The courtyard outside was filled with deep puddles and mostly pitch black so I couldn't see to avoid the puddles and therefore ended up with wet feet.

We rarely get a break from our business so we are always so happy to find little gems like the Brocket. We loved the relaxed charm of the whole place. The roads accessing it may be a little windy & tight but Ayot is such a beautiful area it is worth the trip. We parked outside the pub & were greeted by the friendly team who showed us the room which had water left out & tea/coffee making facilities. It's everything you would expect from a 14th century inn. Beautiful features, lovely garden (we loved feeding the guinea pigs). We ate lunch on the second day & the food was fab. Breakfast each morning was very relaxed (available until 10am, alot of places could earn from this). Nice selection at breakfast & we loved the lady who served us throughout such a character. If you return late to the hotel, make sure you have the front door key, thankfully the owner lives on site so we managed to get in. If you fancy exploring there are several walks in the area with qr code for all on the entrance wall. We opted for the short loop walk which was beautiful. We ate locally at Megans on the Green in Welwyn Garden which was lovely & the town has an array of shops. Will certainly visit again & please remember it is a 14th century inn & if things don't work be patient. Thanks for a lovely stay.

All of the staff were helpful and friendly, the dinners that we had were excellent, however the breakfasts were very limited and self service, Parking was on the roadside.

The accommodation is typical of an old pub but the bed was comfortable and the shower was fine. Staff were very helpful and we enjoyed the continental breakfast and good evening meals. Parking is very limited, especially when the pub is open and although you can park on the road outside this gets very full too. The area is picturesque and you can do some nice walks. The roads around are winding single track lanes with passing places. Local taxis are available but are expensive.

Beautiful, wonky, 15th Century building aesthetically oozing historical charm: latticed windows, cool stone brick built rooms and original beams. Lovely Iarge beer garden (with a secret zoo and bbq's every weekend in good weather) incorporated with pub food served in and outside. Staff fabulous and very helpful. Charming. Utterly unique. Will stay again ...and again recurring.

Staff and pub locals were delightful. The inn is quirky. A small aviary and zoo was a great feature for kids and adults alike, with very large rabbit guinea pigs and meerkats. Food was pub grub and didnt pretend to be more. Good ales. A world of difference from chain hotels, although they might have the edge in some respects (especially over a deep, high bath which might have benefitted from a set of steps). But the friendliness of the people (staff and locals) made all the difference.

The Brocket Arms overnight stay was really good. The staff and locals were nice & chatty whilst sitting next to a large natural fire place eating lovely food and taking a well earned drink. Would of preferred a full breakfast instead of a continental one but all told, I found it a lovely and relaxing stay.

Room and bathroom were clean, but the bedroom could do with a little tlc, things like the casing on the emergency light having flies in, and some of the decoration items on the shelves had seen better days. Bed, although noisy when you first sit on it, was comfortable and slept well. Bathroom clean, although couldn't open the window. Ate in the pub on the first night and a good meal - can recommend the rib-eye steak, and breakfasts good. There's a large beer garden, and children's play area, together with a large animal run, with guinea pigs, rabbits, budgies, parakeets and love birds. Location is off the beaten track, however it is very quiet and no road noise. Free internet access is also available. Overall, a good stay over two nights, would recommend.

Great country pub serving good pub food, easy car parking, quiet location, not a problem for me but pub closes at 20:30 If you like chain hotels this place is not for you 😆

Quirky, old, must be a listed building. We opted for English breakfast, freshly cooked, very good quality. Parking is limited, parking available on street outside, unlit! Inexpensive pub drinks and also mini secret zoo. Very good soft towels and bathrobe supplied.

Pros - Property is located in a beautiful area in a little village. Room and bathroom was very clean and tidy with plenty of extras within the room. Cons- Bearing in mind it was -5 during the night. The duvet wasn’t thick enough so I woke up really cold at 4am and I ended up getting dressed and also trying to sleep in my coat to keep warm. There was an electric oil radiator provided but it wasn’t enough to keep the room warm as it’s a 14th century building. This won’t be an issue in the summer or if a thicker duvet can be provided. The water was luke warm but not hot enough for a shower especially as the room was cold. Again, not an issue in the summer months. Breakfast, I had allocated 30/40 min because I had work. I notified the day before a 7am breakfast time. When I came down at 7am, the owner was only switching the lights on. 30/40 minutes wasn’t enough time to wait for the owner to get set up in the kitchen and then start cooking a cooked breakfast from scratch. So I ended up having toast. When I received my toast the host then left to get the kids ready for the school run. Don’t expect a top up of tea if you wanted it. Overall- £127 for one night is far too expensive for the experience that I received. Not being able to have a shower and having to leave without a hot breakfast was quiet frustrating.

A lovely location and quaint inn. Rooms a little tired, shower a bit tricky. Only cleaned when we asked. Breakfast described as free but on the Friday totally self service with croissants in Tupperware Weekend breakfast was excellent with good choice and cooked to order. Evening meal was disappointing Pub garden was pleasant place to sit and there were meerkats and tortoises to entertain us.

Very friendly and helpful staff. The room was clean and tidy and perfect for our one night stay. Breakfast was good and the offer of extra tea or coffee was very welcome. The location was very quiet and tranquil

The sheets were clean and the water hot, but the place was scruffy and the breakfast rubbish

Room and bathroom were clean, but the bedroom could do with a little tlc, things like the casing on the emergency light having flies in, and some of the decoration items on the shelves had seen better days. Bed, although noisy when you first sit on it, was comfortable and slept well. Bathroom clean, although couldn't open the window. Ate in the pub on the first night and a good meal - can recommend the rib-eye steak, and breakfasts good. There's a large beer garden, and children's play area, together with a large animal run, with guinea pigs, rabbits, budgies, parakeets and love birds. Location is off the beaten track, however it is very quiet and no road noise. Free internet access is also available. Overall, a good stay over two nights, would recommend.

Staff great,room clean and comfortable,lovely period property and nice breakfast

Comfortable bed, very good breakfast but bathroom needs an update and attention round the edges. Basic accommodation but comfortable and staff friendly. A lovely English breakfast with orange juice and tea. I would stay again but don’t expect pristine.

Very average with cleanliness issues

Jag är säker på att det finns bättre rum på hotellet men vi bokade väldigt sent så jag tror vi fick sista rummet och därmed troligen det sämsta. Badrummet var sämst där vi var tvungna att gå ut ur rummet för att komma till vårt badrum. Jag saknade en ordentlig möjlighet att duscha, det fanns endast ett fristående badkar utan skydd för dusch. Dessutom fungerade toalettens spolning bristfälligt. Rummet kunde varit renare. Frukosten var självbetjäning och var ok även om varm mat som ägg saknades.

The staff were very friendly . Room was dated and had cobwebs too. One of the bulbs on the ceiling light lamp was precariously hanging.

The room was in OK condition though V small but the overiding thing was that it was freezing. A wall mounted heater is in place but not switched on and it was only 3degC outside. The room took ages to heat up and was not warm by the time I went to bed; this should have been pre-heated prior to my arrival. The courtyard outside was filled with deep puddles and mostly pitch black so I couldn't see to avoid the puddles and therefore ended up with wet feet.

Pros - Property is located in a beautiful area in a little village. Room and bathroom was very clean and tidy with plenty of extras within the room. Cons- Bearing in mind it was -5 during the night. The duvet wasn’t thick enough so I woke up really cold at 4am and I ended up getting dressed and also trying to sleep in my coat to keep warm. There was an electric oil radiator provided but it wasn’t enough to keep the room warm as it’s a 14th century building. This won’t be an issue in the summer or if a thicker duvet can be provided. The water was luke warm but not hot enough for a shower especially as the room was cold. Again, not an issue in the summer months. Breakfast, I had allocated 30/40 min because I had work. I notified the day before a 7am breakfast time. When I came down at 7am, the owner was only switching the lights on. 30/40 minutes wasn’t enough time to wait for the owner to get set up in the kitchen and then start cooking a cooked breakfast from scratch. So I ended up having toast. When I received my toast the host then left to get the kids ready for the school run. Don’t expect a top up of tea if you wanted it. Overall- £127 for one night is far too expensive for the experience that I received. Not being able to have a shower and having to leave without a hot breakfast was quiet frustrating.

The accommodation is typical of an old pub but the bed was comfortable and the shower was fine. Staff were very helpful and we enjoyed the continental breakfast and good evening meals. Parking is very limited, especially when the pub is open and although you can park on the road outside this gets very full too. The area is picturesque and you can do some nice walks. The roads around are winding single track lanes with passing places. Local taxis are available but are expensive.

The room was very cold , I had to ask for the heating to be turned on, The rooms wjere fully booked on a December cold night you would expect a warm room, Bedding was very cold had , A big crack in the ceiling, granted grade listed building.?

Positives - Exceptional staff - very hardworking and always happy to help when asked and answer questions. - Very Attractive and quaint period bedroom with a large spacious en-suite attached. - Comfy kingsized bed. - Traditional pub menu but super evening meal ( If you need to avoid salt, do mention it as potatoes are well salted.) and full breakfast with generous portions. We have eaten here several times before and there has been consistent excellent cooking every time - lots of towels and pristine bathroom . Negatives - It would have been helpful if we’d been given useful information on arrival or printed in our room - eg wifi code, time of breakfast, etc. We had to interrupt the only member of staff on duty each time to find out. - We also arrived on a very hot day to find the 2 opening windows in our room had been removed for renovation and the apertures boarded up. Staff were apologetic but it was too hot to stay in our room until it cooled down after dark (and was unattractive too) and we weren’t offered a free drink or anything to make up for the inconvenience. - lumpy pillows - disappointing when bedding is good quality

my stay was really nice all the staff are amazing the breakfast was ready good, the bed needs some TLC other then that it was lovely

The staff were really helpful and friendly. Nice atmosphere in the bar, and good food. The flush handle on our toilet was very loose, and we forgot to mention it. Overall, very nice.

The rooms are ok, a little on the tired side. Breakfast is self service, but it’s good with plenty of options. It’s a unique location and lovely surroundings. More personality than most hotels. The big win is the price, for the location and surrounding it’s very good.

Cold shower only crumpets for breakfast

Jag är säker på att det finns bättre rum på hotellet men vi bokade väldigt sent så jag tror vi fick sista rummet och därmed troligen det sämsta. Badrummet var sämst där vi var tvungna att gå ut ur rummet för att komma till vårt badrum. Jag saknade en ordentlig möjlighet att duscha, det fanns endast ett fristående badkar utan skydd för dusch. Dessutom fungerade toalettens spolning bristfälligt. Rummet kunde varit renare. Frukosten var självbetjäning och var ok även om varm mat som ägg saknades.

We rarely get a break from our business so we are always so happy to find little gems like the Brocket. We loved the relaxed charm of the whole place. The roads accessing it may be a little windy & tight but Ayot is such a beautiful area it is worth the trip. We parked outside the pub & were greeted by the friendly team who showed us the room which had water left out & tea/coffee making facilities. It's everything you would expect from a 14th century inn. Beautiful features, lovely garden (we loved feeding the guinea pigs). We ate lunch on the second day & the food was fab. Breakfast each morning was very relaxed (available until 10am, alot of places could earn from this). Nice selection at breakfast & we loved the lady who served us throughout such a character. If you return late to the hotel, make sure you have the front door key, thankfully the owner lives on site so we managed to get in. If you fancy exploring there are several walks in the area with qr code for all on the entrance wall. We opted for the short loop walk which was beautiful. We ate locally at Megans on the Green in Welwyn Garden which was lovely & the town has an array of shops. Will certainly visit again & please remember it is a 14th century inn & if things don't work be patient. Thanks for a lovely stay.

Positives - Exceptional staff - very hardworking and always happy to help when asked and answer questions. - Very Attractive and quaint period bedroom with a large spacious en-suite attached. - Comfy kingsized bed. - Traditional pub menu but super evening meal ( If you need to avoid salt, do mention it as potatoes are well salted.) and full breakfast with generous portions. We have eaten here several times before and there has been consistent excellent cooking every time - lots of towels and pristine bathroom . Negatives - It would have been helpful if we’d been given useful information on arrival or printed in our room - eg wifi code, time of breakfast, etc. We had to interrupt the only member of staff on duty each time to find out. - We also arrived on a very hot day to find the 2 opening windows in our room had been removed for renovation and the apertures boarded up. Staff were apologetic but it was too hot to stay in our room until it cooled down after dark (and was unattractive too) and we weren’t offered a free drink or anything to make up for the inconvenience. - lumpy pillows - disappointing when bedding is good quality

Milk was off in room, cups were dirty, told breakfast was 7am, no one was around till 7.45, water in room was cold

my stay was really nice all the staff are amazing the breakfast was ready good, the bed needs some TLC other then that it was lovely

Very friendly and helpful staff. The room was clean and tidy and perfect for our one night stay. Breakfast was good and the offer of extra tea or coffee was very welcome. The location was very quiet and tranquil

Staff great,room clean and comfortable,lovely period property and nice breakfast

Friendly staff great evening meal, no cooked breakfast available.

No hot water in shower so really inconvenient; when I raised it next morning got a “sorry “ but nothing else; breakfast included in price,reasonable but limited

We were awoken around 6.15 with an almighty clattering noise. Apparently they were restocking the cellar, metal barrels going down a ramp into the cellar, directly below our room! Im honestly lost for words, what kind of hotel does that. Speaking with the people doing it didnt get them to stop and when i went looking for staff they were conspicuous by their absence.

Amazing 14th century building, great beer, food and lovely friendly staff and locals.

We rarely get a break from our business so we are always so happy to find little gems like the Brocket. We loved the relaxed charm of the whole place. The roads accessing it may be a little windy & tight but Ayot is such a beautiful area it is worth the trip. We parked outside the pub & were greeted by the friendly team who showed us the room which had water left out & tea/coffee making facilities. It's everything you would expect from a 14th century inn. Beautiful features, lovely garden (we loved feeding the guinea pigs). We ate lunch on the second day & the food was fab. Breakfast each morning was very relaxed (available until 10am, alot of places could earn from this). Nice selection at breakfast & we loved the lady who served us throughout such a character. If you return late to the hotel, make sure you have the front door key, thankfully the owner lives on site so we managed to get in. If you fancy exploring there are several walks in the area with qr code for all on the entrance wall. We opted for the short loop walk which was beautiful. We ate locally at Megans on the Green in Welwyn Garden which was lovely & the town has an array of shops. Will certainly visit again & please remember it is a 14th century inn & if things don't work be patient. Thanks for a lovely stay.

The accommodation is typical of an old pub but the bed was comfortable and the shower was fine. Staff were very helpful and we enjoyed the continental breakfast and good evening meals. Parking is very limited, especially when the pub is open and although you can park on the road outside this gets very full too. The area is picturesque and you can do some nice walks. The roads around are winding single track lanes with passing places. Local taxis are available but are expensive.

really friendly and welcoming . lovely historic hotel in a beautiful rural setting

A traditional pub in a beautiful village, a stone’s throw from Shaw Corner.

Very friendly and helpful staff. The room was clean and tidy and perfect for our one night stay. Breakfast was good and the offer of extra tea or coffee was very welcome. The location was very quiet and tranquil

Room and bathroom were clean, but the bedroom could do with a little tlc, things like the casing on the emergency light having flies in, and some of the decoration items on the shelves had seen better days. Bed, although noisy when you first sit on it, was comfortable and slept well. Bathroom clean, although couldn't open the window. Ate in the pub on the first night and a good meal - can recommend the rib-eye steak, and breakfasts good. There's a large beer garden, and children's play area, together with a large animal run, with guinea pigs, rabbits, budgies, parakeets and love birds. Location is off the beaten track, however it is very quiet and no road noise. Free internet access is also available. Overall, a good stay over two nights, would recommend.

An authentic Inn with friendly staff set in great rural surroundings, ideal for walkers and cyclists.

It was a beautiful period room, the pub downstairs looked amazing, we got in quite late so it had stopped serving food sadly. Really quiet over night and a beautiful location. I will be returning with more time!

We enjoyed staying at the Brocket Arms for weekend. The room was clean and comfortable and equipped with what we needed (kettle, water, wardrobe and desk/dressing table as well as TV and en suite shower room). The room was modern but retained its 16th century character with exposed beams in the bedroom. We especially enjoyed the food which was high quality, well cooked 'pub fayre' (steak, sausage and mash, fish and chips and a good selection of 'proper' puddings) and breakfast was excellent too. There are opportunities for some lovely walks both in the immediate vicinity and beyond and the B&B is convenient for wider travel in the area while being situated in a charming village.

Charming old pub in a pretty village surrounded by lovely countryside. Very hospitable. Welcoming and suitable for children. Peaceful but easy to get to.

A lovely location and quaint inn. Rooms a little tired, shower a bit tricky. Only cleaned when we asked. Breakfast described as free but on the Friday totally self service with croissants in Tupperware Weekend breakfast was excellent with good choice and cooked to order. Evening meal was disappointing Pub garden was pleasant place to sit and there were meerkats and tortoises to entertain us.

Positives - Exceptional staff - very hardworking and always happy to help when asked and answer questions. - Very Attractive and quaint period bedroom with a large spacious en-suite attached. - Comfy kingsized bed. - Traditional pub menu but super evening meal ( If you need to avoid salt, do mention it as potatoes are well salted.) and full breakfast with generous portions. We have eaten here several times before and there has been consistent excellent cooking every time - lots of towels and pristine bathroom . Negatives - It would have been helpful if we’d been given useful information on arrival or printed in our room - eg wifi code, time of breakfast, etc. We had to interrupt the only member of staff on duty each time to find out. - We also arrived on a very hot day to find the 2 opening windows in our room had been removed for renovation and the apertures boarded up. Staff were apologetic but it was too hot to stay in our room until it cooled down after dark (and was unattractive too) and we weren’t offered a free drink or anything to make up for the inconvenience. - lumpy pillows - disappointing when bedding is good quality

The sheets were clean and the water hot, but the place was scruffy and the breakfast rubbish

Real old English country Inn with lots of charm and beams. Pity no hot food for breakfast.

Room and bathroom were clean, but the bedroom could do with a little tlc, things like the casing on the emergency light having flies in, and some of the decoration items on the shelves had seen better days. Bed, although noisy when you first sit on it, was comfortable and slept well. Bathroom clean, although couldn't open the window. Ate in the pub on the first night and a good meal - can recommend the rib-eye steak, and breakfasts good. There's a large beer garden, and children's play area, together with a large animal run, with guinea pigs, rabbits, budgies, parakeets and love birds. Location is off the beaten track, however it is very quiet and no road noise. Free internet access is also available. Overall, a good stay over two nights, would recommend.

Friendly staff great evening meal, no cooked breakfast available.

No hot water in shower so really inconvenient; when I raised it next morning got a “sorry “ but nothing else; breakfast included in price,reasonable but limited

We enjoyed staying at the Brocket Arms for weekend. The room was clean and comfortable and equipped with what we needed (kettle, water, wardrobe and desk/dressing table as well as TV and en suite shower room). The room was modern but retained its 16th century character with exposed beams in the bedroom. We especially enjoyed the food which was high quality, well cooked 'pub fayre' (steak, sausage and mash, fish and chips and a good selection of 'proper' puddings) and breakfast was excellent too. There are opportunities for some lovely walks both in the immediate vicinity and beyond and the B&B is convenient for wider travel in the area while being situated in a charming village.

I am sure this is a great place to stay reading reviews, however I arrived on a Monday was expecting to eat in the pub wandered over at 6 and everything was shut up. I found out from the website it shuts at 7. Would have been good to have been advised on checkin. Breakfast included but is help yourself good but I was expecting to be able to have a cooked breakfast before a long days work. I met several guests who all made similar comments during my stay. Having viewed the facebook and other feed back it must have just been a hick up but sorry I would not stay again.

The stay was great. To say it was old is an understatement, 700 years is the oldest I've ever stayed in and the condition the owners have maintained is brilliant. If you're looking for a historical twee experience, go for this. The cost of the hotel and meals is inexpensive and good quality, the breakfast basic continental but Ok. We loved it.