Having need to be in York for one night, I booked through a reputable website which quoted that we could leave our car in "our private car park" which was an important factor for us, along with the promise of comfortable accommodation. Neither was received. If I had booked for two nights, I'd definitely have not gone back for the second.
Upon arrival, we discovered the parking was actually on-street, albeit with a permit provided. Would have been good to know about this in advance.
The hotel itself from the outside is very charming and the location is excellent for sightseeing. Inside though, it quickly goes downhill. Our room was upstairs on the first floor and was tired and dated, although clean. In August, when it's warm, it's always nice to have some sort of ventilation in a room to make it more bearable. This luxury is not afforded here. The room was dark and the window opened only a crack. No fan was provided, no air con (understandable in such an old building) and there was no drinking water available. The bed was small - not wide enough for 2 adults to sleep on without overlapping. It was also curiously furnished with a thick bedspread and thick velour blanket, making an already unbearably warm room into a very hot and sticky one. It was a sleepless night, for all the wrong reasons.
No matter, we can have a shower and get out of here first thing...no such luck. The shower had no running water when we switched it on and shortly afterwards, the taps packed up too. My husband located the female owner who came up, had a look, and agreed that it was broken. She then said that as all the rooms were booked, there was nothing she could do. Maybe they'd have it fixed for that afternoon (check out is at 11) but that they were "too busy cooking bacon" to do anything about it. She then sent her husband up who also agreed it was broken and then said he was "too busy" to do anything about it, too.
I like being clean, so I was pretty livid. Perhaps breakfast would help restore my faith in this place...
Breakfast, pre-ordered the night before (pet hate) was served on cracked 1980s crockery. Food quality is average at best. The room had an oppresive air, as we were hemmed in by the fireplace and other tables jammed up next to and behind ours. Breakfast also is only served between the ridiculous timeframe of 8.30 and 9. Take it or leave it (leave it, if I were you).
During breakfast, the female owner came in and announced to the room that our water should be working again and that it must have been a problem with the plumbing in the area (despite no one else having problems). It was a particularly nice touch of theirs to announce it to a room full of guests, making us look like we were being awkward for daring to expect there to be running water in our room. Suitably chastened, we returned to our room to be met with a dribble of water emitting from the shower, alternating rapidly between ice cold and boiling hot. After a cursory wash, we gathered our belongings and escaped.
It's fair to say our experience was not the same as that of previous guests. I understand that everywhere will have its off days, but how they deal with that and how they treat their guests is what matters. City Guest House failed all round on this occasion. I got a full refund from lastminute.com who I booked this through.
There are all manner of better places to stay in York - please, seek those out and don't waste your money (or sanity) here!
Room Tip: Don't stay here! read more