Name: The Crown at Whitchurch
Address: Old Ross Rd, Ross-on-Wye HR9 6DB, UK, Ross-on-Wye, Ross-on-Wye, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 6DB, United Kingdom
Rating: 8

Smoking areas

Smoke-free property

Heating

General

Non-smoking rooms

Room service

Flat-screen TV

Shower/Bathtub

Shower

Wardrobe/Closet

Linens

Toiletries

Rooms

Wake-up service

Services and amenities

Restaurant

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

Free parking

Parking

Beach/pool towels

Pool and beach

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

Location

At the guest house

Room amenities

Symonds Yat West Leisure Park

Gloucestershire Airport

Bristol Airport

The Crown at Whitchurch

Ross-on-Wye

Terrible is a massive understatement. This place is absolutely disgusting. 

We approached from the front of the building in bright sunshine after a two hour drive. 

First impressions weren’t good. The building looked derelict and very run down. If it wasn’t for the front door being open and a rosie faced scruffy local sitting outside, we’d have been forgiven for thinking it had already been closed down by the environmental health agency. 

We walked in and stood around for five minutes shouting “hello, anyone there”. As we were about to give up a very sweaty little Asian guy appeared in pyjamas. I can honestly say the funk of spice only grew as he entered the bar area. 

Obviously Masood or whatever his name was had just woke up. He asked if we could give him 10 minutes as he was just hoovering our room. We obliged and went outside for some fresh air. 

Twenty minutes or so later he reappeared. “Your rooms are ready Gentleman’s”. 

So, up to the rooms. We followed behind up the dirty no filthy stairs down the corridor and were shown to our rooms. At first glance, not bad for the price. But then, we looked in the bathroom. Stains in the toilet, and the usual whiff that you get from a curry house crapper. 

I looked out of our window to investigate the view. Window was minging, the overgrown garden out the back was messy and half the picnic tables were upside down. It was a finger and thumb job to close the window. 

We tried to see the positives but then entered little masood or whatever his name was. He said, “Gentlemen can you please share the towel? I don’t have any more”. So he expected two men to share one hand towel for a two night stay. I’m sorry, but no. 

After returning that night from having a gorgeous meal out in Ross, I opened the bathroom door to what I can only describe as the smell of raw sewage. 

It was that moment I decided that I would be leaving the next morning. I packed my bag and prepared to leave. But, before I left I took a few pics. One of the window, one of the fridge in the corridor which contained the breakfast and one of the carpet in our neighbours room as they’d just checked out and left their door open. 

I left out the fire escape. God help anyone if there’s ever a fire. 

If you like places that smell of spice, use diesel as air freshener, then this is the place for you. 

If you’re just a normal person like me who just wants a clean, welcoming nice place to stay…. AVOID THIS DUMP!!!

I managed to get the last coin at the Old Court Hotel which was very nice.

Never smelt anything like it!

Visited the crown for a meal with family, everything was fine until we asked for a doggy bag to take home our left over food, the owner refused saying he would not do this, he finally did after a few choice words, then said he did not accept card payments, luckily we had cash, but his whole attitude was unacceptable, the meal was pretty average, not the best not the worse....he needs to work on his people skills definitely not somewhere I'll return too in the future.

Meal

This place is very drab and in need of a lot of TLC. Arranged an early check in. On arrival boss had gone out with all room keys. Left stuff in car boot. Finally got key at 5 o’clock!  Room okay. Went to Old Court Hotel for evening meal. We were told front door not open until 9.30 - 10.00 so use fire escape. Were booked for 2 nights only stayed for 1. Owner needs to concentrate on either running a restaurant/takeaway or a hotel as he clearly cannot do both.

Drab and in need of lots of TLC

Rooms are spacious and clean. Monsur is a friendly and helpful host. We also liked the Indian restaurant downstairs and the perfect, family-owned breakfast place across the road. Very close to wonderful sights such as Goodrich Castle.

Ideally located close to excellent tourist spots

I arrived here just after 3 in the afternoon and checked in. The reception is past the bar. It’s a bit basic.

I was shown to my room, if you are over five foot six you will need to duck.

The room itself was very nicely decorated and quite roomy. Although there is a low beam across the middle of the room which I hit on the way to the bathroom in the night.

I asked about breakfast but was told that no staff came in until 10am.

There is free parking here.

Below standard but has potential

Arriving to find free parking is always a good start. Reception was through the bar area and check-in was going really well, fast and friendly, until someone stepped-in to help, then it got a bit confused. Afterwards, we were shown to our room for the next 3 nights. Up one flight of stairs (if you have access issues be aware there is no lift) and up round and along a winding corridor to Puddlebrook. First thoughts, it was ok and that just about sums it up. The hospitality tray was ok, nice to be given some water, though the coffee really wasn't great. The view from the room was of a very overgrown beer garden. There was a hair dryer, flat screen TV, hanging rail, draws, dressing table and a wicker chair. There was supposed to be free WiFi but we couldn't even find the provider never mind log-in and to compound the issue we couldn't get any signal to use our own data however, the Crown is not a town centre place and signal strength can often be an issue in the countryside. The bed was way too soft for me but ok for the Mrs. The bathroom was small but functional, though it was slightly disconcerting to see the mould in the shower but it is difficult to combat in very enclosed space. The water pressure was good but one of the doors was only attached to the top rail and the handle was off, thankfully it didn't leak. The towels were very white and soft. It would have been nice to have a couple of glasses available in the room and to have enough curtain hooks for the curtains and to have the bin emptied and the hospitality tray refreshed while we were there but we didn't and they weren't. It was somewhat strange to have to use the fire exit, to come and go whenever the pub was closed but because of the alarms it had to be that way and it wasn't a drama. On the first evening we decided to chill and stay in, eating in the in-house Indian restaurant (reviewed separately) and having a few drinks at the bar. All the staff we met throughout our stay were friendly and helpful and the bar area was nice but we found the bar itself to be quite basic for choice, though reasonable for price. We knew before we went that the Crown didn't do breakfast but for those that want it, there is a village shop/cafe about 100m from the front door that opens early and has a reasonable menu and the prices aren't too bad, though some of the shop prices are a little expensive (possibly understandable due to it's location). The other picture in our set was of another room that had the door open when we passed, which we thought looked very good and I don't know if it was just the beams or the layout but it seemed nicer than ours. Good location to visit Symonds Yat, Goodrich Castle, Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth. You need to drive if you want to eat or drink anywhere else, as there isn't anywhere else within walking distance but there are plenty of places to choose from when you do. Departure was simply leave the key in the lock and go out of the fire escape, though that did mean the door had to be left open. All in all, a reasonable place, at a good price and we could see that it has a lot of potential but it hasn't been realised it yet.

Has potential, not realised yet

We booked here last minute to see our brother in law cycle through on his lands end to John O'Groats. I have to be honest and say we only used our room and did not use restaurant/bar. Our room was spotlessly clean and fresh, the reception we got was lovely and friendly and the lady informed us straight off they didn't do breakfast, which was not an issue to us at all. I was a bit dubious after reading previous reviews however the bad bits that we read where all unfounded. Yes there is a main road close by however our room was close to it it certainly didn't affect our rest at night( and we live in a sleepy village). The shower did work it took a few minutes to reach temp but it was not cold. It was Sunday evening and the Indian restaurant was open and had we not made plans we would have used it as the smell was delicious. The heating was working perfectly well and I can categorically say the lady booking us in was friendly and polite but not flirtatious.. maybe the lady who left the previous review to imply this was her experience has a few insecurities? We did have tea and coffee in the room but no mugs this was easily resolved by requesting them. The back yard and garden could do with a tidy up however again this did not affect our stay.

Last minute booking

We visited this pub on two occasions as it was within easy walking distance of where we were staying. First impressions were that this is a very basic working men's type of pub, very sparsely furnished and tastelessly decorated, but the staff seemed friendly enough and the drinks were up to standard.

We cut short our second visit however when we were forced to listen to the Landlord's very loudly told jokes concerning the mixed race of the new royal baby Archie, which we found offensive and wholly unacceptable.

Don't be fooled by the online photos of this place - they were obviously taken when the place was under a different ownership or management. There are plenty of other much nicer pubs nearby so I recommend that you give this one a miss.

An unpleasant experience!

We arrived around 3pm the day of our stay and it was very cold. We tried to turn the radiator on in our room but when it didn’t work we were informed that the heating doesn’t come on until 4.30pm. No problem. We waited and by 5.30pm the radiator was still stone cold. We reported it once again and as told it must be the boiler and that they would fetch us a small fan heater to help. Before leaving to go out at 7pm, no heater had arrived and we were now frozen through. We again asked and the lady on reception/bar promised she would put one in our room to heat it up for our late return around midnight. Sadly my wife was quite ill with an ear infection and asthma, so we left our engagement early and when we arrived back to the hotel around 10.45pm there was still no heater and the heating in our room still wasn’t working! We then questioned why we hadn’t been given a heater as promised but they said whilst we were out it had been working... so they didn’t bother. I don’t believe this to be true. We then requested a full refund and said we would leave there and then... much to our inconvenience as it was now the middle of the night. But even that was a hassle with the bar lady going back and forth with a manager on the phone, firstly refusing and saying they wouldn’t give us a refund. My husband argued and said he wouldn’t leave until we had our money back and finally we were given a refund. It was now midnight and we were forced to book the closest hotel with a room spare which happened to be a travelodge 50 minutes away! A complete nightmare with unhelpful staff and old amenities that clearly need addressing!! We have also seen other reviews mentioning the heating, so as far as we can see they think it’s fine to charge £60 for a freezing room and not mention the heating in hopes you won’t say anything! It’s ridiculous! Do not stay here!!

Avoid!!

Reception area none existent/poor. No heating, so we went out and brought our own which made the restaurant staff laugh. The lad on reception who also served the bar, must also have been cold as be never took his coat and baseball cap off. He showed us to our room and the lights blew. Hot water dribbled out of the taps and the shower only worked if no-one else was using the hot water. (could not shower) They do not serve breakfast either.
I did mention about the restaurant. It is a separate business set up in what must have been the pubs lounge?  
This is definitely "not an hotel"! 
p.s. fores....the room was clean and the linen spotless even though I do agree with the other comments about being poor

The Crown at Whitchurch

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