The Old Orchard Guest House

I booked here for business colleagues… they said it was terrible, the staff weren’t helpful or available.

After seeing this property advertised on Hotels.com and Expedia, I was excited to book due to the scenic setting, pool, and dam views. On arrival I was welcomed by a friendly staff member, Lolly. There was brief confusion regarding payment despite having prepaid via Hotels.com, but this was resolved. I was then informed that the pool was out of order and drained after the festive period. Swimming in the adjacent dam was also not permitted. As these features influenced my booking, this was disappointing. The room broadly matched the online description but was in need of maintenance. There were visible areas of peeling paint and damp in both the bedroom and bathroom. While not critical for a short stay, this would likely impact longer visits. Despite low occupancy, my room overlooked staff accommodation rather than the scenic views advertised online. I chose to dine at the on-site restaurant. Wood-fired pizzas, prominently advertised at reception, were unavailable. The menu was limited and several items were not available. I ordered a T-bone steak, which was neither a T-bone nor edible due to the toughness of the meat. Another table experienced the same issue. To their credit, the meal was removed from my bill without hesitation. Drink options were also limited, with no spirits available despite being listed. The venue itself is lovely and has strong potential. With better maintenance, clearer communication on facilities, and a more consistent restaurant offering.

The pool was filthy. The whole premises is in dire need of upgrading and some love. What was on offer for dinner was questionable. There was a 1-page menu with numerous items that you could not have as they did not have stock. There was no-one else eating there which is usually a dead teller that one should not eat there, which I did not do either. An Executive suite - I THINK NOT. The bed was so hard, I could have actually slept on the floor and not known the difference. The towels need to be thrown away and repalced................ BAD BAD BAD There was no soap or shampoo in my room. When I asked at reception, I was given 2 x soaps and an apology because they did not have any shampoo. Breakfast was supposed to be at 7. The guy in reception only arrives at 8. I paid for breakfast included and the lady in the kitchen could not confirm with him by phone if that was so, or not. So, I ended up not having breakfast that I paid for.