Bickleigh Castle

The breakfast was very basic

Breakfast - basic, only toasted bread and croissants, basic choice of cereals. There’s nothing continental about the breakfast, and no cooked breakfast at all. Fruit - blueberries, strawberries and raspberries - not fresh, and I saw the owner Sarah clearing tables and uneaten fruit was put back onto the main table! Accommodation - Dirty windows, bathroom dirty, new sealant on top of old, black sealant, shower screen grim. And the rest too (walls, skirting boards full of dust). No hairdryer. Beds dirty and uncomfortable, it was as sleeping on bed springs. Don’t expect cleaning on a weekend. We stayed there 11 night, so experienced 2 weekends, when asked why the room hasn’t been cleaned, it’s because they don’t have a cleaner on a weekend! The busiest time for any hotel. Grounds - need to hire a gardener! Overgrown, weeds growing everywhere, fruit orchard neglected, ponds not worth looking at. We stayed there 5 years ago at the height of Covid pandemic and at that time it was more like a 4 star hotel, hence returning! Back then we had cooked breakfast, grounds were beautiful and we took a lot of pictures. Not this time. Nothing worth taking pictures for. We stayed at the very same room, and it hasn’t changed a bit! Same bed spreads, small TV, same paint, as if frozen in time. We won’t be returning ever again. Sarah husband’s health has deteriorated and staying in a room below ours - on late evenings Sarah was arguing with her husband and swearing. Very unprofessional.

On arrival, no one was at reception. We rang the bell for 15 minutes before the owner finally came out and casually told us they had been in the bath. We were given the key to Room 18, only to walk into a disgusting scene—dirty floors, used coffee mugs, an unmade bed, wet towels on the floor, a full bin of leftover food and cigarettes, and a filthy bathroom. The toilet hadn't been flushed, there was urine on the seat, and grime everywhere. We returned to complain but were left waiting another 15 minutes. The manager eventually came and reluctantly agreed to view the room. She apologised and offered to clean it, but told us to be quick getting changed as she "had plans in 30 minutes." Not professional at all. Later that night, it was clear the room had barely been touched. The bin was still full, the toilet still dirty, and the bed just remade—not changed—crumbs and all. Even the bath mat was still wet from the previous guests. The next morning, we were given towels with holes and tears. Breakfast was included, but we felt too uncomfortable to eat anything. This hotel was run-down, unhygienic, and clearly not maintained. By far the worst hotel we’ve ever stayed in. Would never return and absolutely would not recommend.

Goodness

The property is looking tired as well as the rooms. Fantastic surroundings though. Had no TV as the remote control was not available, the lady who booked me in had just had a loss in her family & was under a lot of pressure, so didn’t feel I could trouble her. Sorry to say I wouldn’t stay there again.