It's all about the location…
Location in the heart of the city is wonderful, adjacent to the shops, a short walk from the nightlife of Botchergate, and also walkable are the railway and bus stations.
This is a traditional hotel and this shows in the décor and ambience of the building, parts of which are showing signs of the years of wear and tear by guests.
The reception team gave me a warm and friendly welcome and found my way to my allocated room through some nicely decorated corridors and stairways.
Frustratingly my attempts to open the bedroom door (with a time-honoured metal key) failed and a return to reception was required, the team did manage to access the room for me after numerous attempts; this though summed up the levels of frustration and disappointments that I experienced with the room.
The Executive Single Room was no more than a small box room which you ‘could not swing a cat’ within, though having a larger than normal single bed, this was worn out, had uncomfortable mattress, unsupportive pillows and thin duvet, so did not aid a restful nights sleep.
The desk was so small you had little room to move a mouse next to your laptop, the Wi-Fi was very unreliable in terms of connectivity and the television belonged in the Carlisle Museum as an artefact.
Breakfast was not offered so was unsure whether it was available at the out-of-season time of year of the stay.
Overall a disappointing and frustrating stay which could, and should, have been so much better.