Three Ivy Cross

Top notch accommodation, great bathroom, and incredible breakfasts, for all tastes, and extra breakfast guests allowed too! We chose 3 Ivy Cross as I had been involved in many things Shastonian since school in the 1970s, and we were not disappointed. Having one room with a King Sized (6ft, Aussie King-Sized) bed was one reason we booked, but the location is also great, a 10-15 minute stroll into the beautiful Saxon Hilltop town with its ruins of the Abbey founded by King Alfred the Great, and the famous cobbled Gold Hill, site of that Hovis advert with the bike, as well as the early film of Far From the Madding Crowd with Alan Bates and Julie Christie. The room was spacious, considering the huge bed, and the bathroom was also big, with a lovely big shower too. Although the place is right by a main road, it is set back a little, behind a hedge, and with good double-glazing, so we were not troubled by traffic at all. The breakfasts were the best we have ever experienced at hotel or B&B in the UK, including some 5 star hotels. The choices are simple, and the food is delicious, and looks great too. I love bubble and squeak, and this was a gourmet version, including mushroom and topped with a fried egg. The full English was also excellent, with black pudding available for those who ask (and who enjoy it). The accompanying fresh fruit, cereals, yogurt, toast, juice, tea and coffee were all at the high end of quality, and my wife's porridge was also superb. We had asked in advance if we could invite a couple of extra guests each morning, to catch up with some old friends, and this was readily accommodated, at a very small additional cost per person, and all of our guests, from a local retired doctor to a current local mum of four, were equally impressed with the breakfasts, and the fact that we did not feel rushed in any way - there is even a guest lounge we could move into if necessary. All in all, this was a great find, and we would recommend it to anyone visiting North Dorset.