Simonstone Hall Hotel

What people look for when choosing a hotel of course depends on whether it’s for a business trip,weekend break,celebration etc but two basic criteria are surely,the conventional or the individual. Simonstone Hall hotel in the North Yorkshire is certainly individual with a self confident character all its own. Its location is incomparable, high above the small town of Hawes in the Yorkshire countryside amidst miles of rolling hills,stone walls and lots of sheep. We were there during the recent magnificent weather when it was looking its best but whatever the weather,if you appreciate the British countryside, you will enjoy the hotels surroundings and position. The hotel itself has an impressive facade and an extensive terrace where you can enjoy a drink,lunch or just soak up the view. Inside is a maze of public rooms and comfortable lounges bars and a restaurant. The decor is very sympathetic to the ancient building with its different levels,stone floors and has been masterminded,I suspect, by a professional who has captured it’s sense of history well. Our ground floor bedroom ,number 20, was large and comfortable with mullion windows, a huge copper bath in the corner and a very substantial open fireplace laid with logs for the colder weather, the en-suite bathroom was well appointed with a walk in shower and an excellent supply of hot water. The a la carte restaurant has a pleasant,quite informal atmosphere. The menu is not huge but quite adequate and my wife and I enjoyed two dinners and breakfasts across both fish and meat dishes. Finally the service,perhaps the hotels strongest suit, was unpretentious,efficient and warm. Our waitress Payton was lovely but so were all those that looked after us ,not forgetting Jake the hotel owner. Completely atypical in the pantheon of hotel managers I have met, a charming independent spirit and undoubtedly the inspiration for the hotels individual character.