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The Coachman, Hartford This is the first in what I hope will be a regular series or articles concerning the many excellent Bed & Breakfast establishments in the area that also serve Real Ale. It can often be difficult recommending a place when friends or work colleagues come into the area to stay as people that live in the area have little need to use local hotels or guest houses themselves. Often we find ourselves taking the “safe” option of a bland budget hotel or more expensive star-graded establishment. Hopefully these reviews will fill the knowledge gap, as the intention is not just to visit all of the establishments but to stay there too, thus enabling us to pass on meaningful reviews. First on
the list was the Coachman in The accommodation is very well done in the stable block of this old coaching inn. Delightful to look at from the courtyard secure car park, each room has its own front door and window box. Just five rooms available, all are on the ground floor and one is suitable for wheelchair access. You have a choice of double or twin bedrooms. The bedrooms themselves are pine-furnished and come equipped with bedside tables, a dresser, a wardrobe, TV and tea & coffee making facilities. Each room is en-suite with shower facilities. First impression was one of confusion with the lighting – lots of switches at various points – it all felt a bit hit and miss getting the correct lights on to start with, although conveniently you can switch most of them on and off from the bed. You enter into a small lobby, and then turn straight into the bedroom. I actually think the placement of a further door between the lobby and the bedroom would be an improvement as it would reduce draughts from the front door. A word of warning here though – the radiators are turned off during the day, so when you first come into the room, I recommend you turn them right up to get the rooms warm again – particularly in the depths of Winter. The bedroom itself was clean, as was the bed linen although the top cover could perhaps do with a bit of an increase in the frequency of washes. Although newspapers are thoughtfully available in the main pub, I was disappointed to find there was no reading material in the rooms. A current copy of Cheshire Life (or even Out Inn CHESHIRE) would be nice. The beds were not the most comfortable I have slept on I have to say. I think the replacement cycle on the mattresses needs some review – once they get saggy or lumpy it’s time to replace them. That said, I still managed a comfortable nights sleep. The bathroom was pleasant, with shower gel, shampoo, soap and an abundance of clean towels provided. Although not dirty, some more attention to detail regarding the cleaning would not go amiss, particularly with regard to the shower cubicle, which appears to be left to drip dry after use rather than getting a proper daily clean. The shower itself was good, with a reasonable jet of water and excellent temperature controls. Despite its proximity to the railway line and car park, I was pleasantly surprised at how quiet it was – the full double glazing certainly helps here. Breakfast is served in the main pub, and be warned – you get a lot of food! A basket full of portion-sized cereals is available, together with fruit juice. The English Breakfast consisted of three delicious slices of bacon, sausage with herbs, fried bread, baked beans, fried mushrooms, two fried eggs (no choice was offered for the eggs). Tea or coffee and a couple of slices of fresh toast complete the meal, and breakfast TV is shown and morning papers available. A quite agreeable affair, breakfast here. Prices are from £
Gary Chester |
Available now from the CAMRA Shop
The Holly Bush, Little Leigh The Holly Bush dates back to the 16th Century and the pub and the Barns accommodation block both have a Grade II listing. There are 13 rooms available for hire, including Single Rooms at £43.50, Double and Twin Rooms at £48.50 and a Family Room at £60.00 per night. One room is available with wheelchair access. All rooms feature en-suite shower facilities, free & unlimited wi-fi, a remote control TV and tea/coffee making facilities. Breakfast is available at £6.50 per person. I booked a single room, and stayed on a night where temperatures were falling below freezing – not only had we missed the Summer this year, but it seemed that Autumn was being by-passed straight for Winter too. On entering the room for the first time, it was disappointing to find all the radiators switched firmly to the “off” position. Turning them on (there were two, one on the main room, the other in the bathroom) quickly brought the rooms up to temperature however. The room was accessed through a lockable outer door (which was on the latch when I arrived) and down a corridor to my room which had a further lockable door. Remember when entering that the door does not self-lock behind you! It would have been nice to see a security chain or peep hole on the door for added security. There was a fire evacuation notice by the door, and a smoke detector in the ceiling. All rooms are non-smoking. The room was of a reasonable size and very clean (always a plus in my book) as was the bathroom. I had no less than four windows with net curtains and good quality double-lined drapes to keep the daylight out in the summer months. I also had a desk/dresser, bedside cabinet, wardrobe and trouser press. Plenty of lighting, including bedside light and three pictures brightened up the papered wall. Carpet was functional and hard wearing rather than particularly luxurious. Of some concern was the absence of any evidence of electrical (PAT) testing on the TV, kettle or trouser press, and the batteries had gone in the remote control. A nice touch was two towels and a small bar of “hotel” soap laid out on your bed. The bed was quite comfortable having sheets, duvet and a throw, if a little hard. The pillows could do with a little more substance to them, however I have to say that I enjoyed a splendid night’s sleep. Just beware the first time you hear someone flushing the toilet in the room above you – it sounds like it is going to pour in to your room. If the room was good and the sleep sound, I have to say that the £6.50 breakfast was a different matter altogether. Served between 7.30 and 9.00am, I made sure that I was there promptly at 7.30 to enjoy the freshest cooked and biggest choice of food. There were no breakfast menu’s and a polite young lady took your order after seeing you to your seat. No cereal spoons or any evidence that cereal was available (although I didn’t ask). I enjoyed a glass of orange juice and a pot of tea. I had a choice of white or wholemeal bread for my toast, and had two rounds of white delivered in a toast rack, together with two small pre-packaged slabs of butter. Pre-packaged preserves were available in a dish on my table. I ordered a full English (no tomatoes) to go with it. What I received was a very poor offering. Two sausages that whilst tasting OK were seemed like they were bulked with water. A single rasher of bacon, not overcooked which was fine. No choice for the eggs was offered and a single fried egg arrived, complete with crispy base (although it did have a runny yolk). The baked beans contained some dried up remnants probably from the edge of the pan in amongst them and the mushrooms looked awful and tasted worse, with tough dried stalks and and hard skin over the caps; they were inedible. I wouldn’t like to suggest that they had been left-overs from the night before, but I do wonder how they could have turned out so awful when breakfast has just opened. So in summary – stay by all means in comfortable and clean rooms. Just give the breakfast a miss.
Gary Chester |
The Foresters Arms, Tarporley Situated almost opposite the Community Centre and thus
well placed for the annual Tarporley Beer Festival, this traditional
community local is also within striking distance of the motor-racing
circuit at The six bedrooms are upstairs
meaning that disabled access may be difficult for those wishing to stay.
Single rooms are available at a very
reasonable £ In the corridor upstairs is a delightful (although
unfortunately not working) grandfather clock, and there is also a
residents balcony with tables and chairs for those wishing to smoke. The small single room was warm,
clean and comfortable, with tea/coffee making facilities, TV, radio alarm
clock.
As the rooms are en-suite, the shower cubicle is
actually built into the bedroom as is the wash-basin, with a small toilet
in a cupboard sized room.
It may sound a little strange, but it works
well.
Beware the toilet though – it has one of these pumps
that operates when you flush, making a loud noise similar to that you get
with the vacuum toilets on a cruise ship.
Makes you jump when you first hear it! The bed was very comfortable with
two good pillows and a duvet, and the electric shower was fine in the
morning.
Toiletries (soap, shower gel and shampoo) are
thoughtfully provided. Breakfast is downstairs in the
dining area of the pub.
A small choice of cereal and fruit is
available for self service together with orange juice.
Tea or coffee is served to your table (a good
sized pot for the tea – enough for around four cups).
The cooked breakfast consists of fried
mushrooms, fried bread, tomato, egg (fried, scrambled or poached), two
rashers of bacon, a sausage and baked beans.
Add to this some toast and preserves and you
have enough to fuel you up for the day ahead.
Quality of the food was very acceptable. Flicking through the comments book,
there are many very happy guests of the Foresters.
A pub I would certainly have no hesitation in
recommending if people are looking for a low-cost place to stay in
Tarporley. Gary Chester
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