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Je m’inscris We attended an afternoon tea, purchased as a gift for us. Receptionist friendly and cheerful. Table setting was clean and well set. Lovely view of garden too. Ordered a glass of Prosecco and assumed we would be given a choice of bread, fillings and whether we had allergies. Did not happen. Sandwiches boring cheese and pickle, ham and tomato and egg. (All with crusts on too; no finely cut sandwiches )….i would have liked less in quantity and better fillings quality. No one came to see if we wanted more tea; my husband went to reception to order more; yes it came lukewarm!!! This was the selling page on hotel site Savor a delightful selection of finely cut sandwiches, each carefully prepared to offer a burst of flavour. Complement your choices with freshly baked scones, rich in taste and served warm, accompanied by luxurious clotted cream and sweet jam. To complete the experience, treat yourself to an assortment of exquisite pastries and a range of teas, each selected to enhance your afternoon indulgence. Picture on website is misleading too. Sadly we shall not returning or recommending it.
I stayed here with 3 colleagues. None of us had hot water in the morning for a shower and, judging from the discussion overheard with other guests, there were many others with the same experience. I raised this with a member of staff in the breakfast room who then went to find the duty staff member looking after reception. At the same time we encountered a problem whereby 2 of us had B&B rate but the other 2 were showing as room only on the hotel system - this was an error as all rooms were booked on the same B&B rate. In discussion with the reception staff member I suggested that, rather than spending time working out what had happened with the B&B bookings, it would be simple gesture of goodwill that they allowed the 2 colleagues believed to be on room only rate to continue to help themselves to breakfast. Astonishingly the member of staff said that she couldn't simply give away free breakfasts ‘willy nilly' and needed to verify that we indeed had no hot water – she couldn't simply take our word for this. In other words she did not believe us, nor presumably any of the other guests who by this point had made it known that they had the same issue. We continued with our breakfast and the member of staff returned and stood by our table and announced that she had verified that we had no hot water and she was therefore willing to allow my 2 colleagues to have a free breakfast. I pointed out to her that, at no stage in any of this had she uttered a word of apology to any of us. A begrudging and totally insincere apology was then uttered – however the damage was done and we all left the hotel vowing never to return.
Unfortunately this hotel is long overdue updating and general maintenance, We booked a twin room but on entering the room found it was made up as a double bed and only 1 set of towels. The bed had mattress protectors on that were badly soiled, fortunately we were able to grab the room cleaning team and after inspection admitted they would never sleep on such badly soiled protectors and removed them and made up twin beds with clean sheets, no mattress protectors. The chair in the room was also badly soiled and the shower was dirty and the water was scolding hot and dangerous, when reporting this to the staff we were advised that this was a common complaint but were unable to rectify the fault. When signing in to the hotel I was presented with a huge terms and conditions list to accept when I advised that I did not wish to agree to the terms the receptionist just pressed the button on the screen accepting the terms saying don't worry I will accept them for you!! Awful hotel experience, I will never stay there again.
This hotel is basic. Don't expect luxury. The window frames were rotting in my room and there were numerous cigarette butts and a questionable bottle of dark stagnant liquid on the flat roof just under my window - all of which have been there for ages having been chucked there by previous guests. They don't always get along to clean your room which is frustrating. Staff are difficult to find as they rely on an electronic checking in and out system (which doesn't work). The worst part is the two tier guest policy; if you're not a regular on a coach trip then don't expect the same level of service. They give you literature in your room promising a big welcome in the restaurant from 18:30-21:00 hours. I made the decision to go down at 7pm only to be told that I wasn't welcome in the restaurant until gone 8pm because they had a coach load of pensioners in who are regulars and they get top billing. I challenged the server on this and said they favour some customers over others and she said it wasn't the case but then said there's an ongoing understanding that the pensioners get their food before anyone else because they're ‘regulars'. I was appalled. When you factor in the paper thin walls and floors and the alarm which goes off for ages in the night then this place really is poor. I'd avoid this hotel if you want to eat or actually get anything sorted. Unless you're a pensioner on a coach trip.
Had afternoon tea bought with a groupon voucher. Was a really lovely little treat. Good selection, nice portions and even though the scones were little, they were yummy! Would definitely recommend. It was nice and quiet, the lady who served us was very pleasant and welcoming. Just the right balance of being attended to but not intruded on. Thank you!
Have just had an outstanding weekend at the Priory Best Western at Bury St Edmunds, food was very good, we were served by Finn who could not have been better, very talented, and met and surpassed expectations, nothing not to like. Great around experience.
Travelled from Weymouth to Bury St Edmonds for a family funeral on the Thursday before late August Bank Holiday. Bad traffic there. Nightmare traffic back home. But hotel stay was excellent and as a family of 5 were well catered for. Booking a hotel in August at short notice was not easy so we were pleasantly surprised.
In our experience some bad reviews for this hotel are quite undeserved. Check in was quick and friendly. Room and bathroom were well fitted out. Good nights sleep - the great blessing of being quiet. Breakfast was wonderful - great choice in a lovely room.
Never again. We are stuck in a room by the boiler which sounds like a jet engine, our son's room next door as he's disabled has to be next door. Complained about noise and was told nothing they can do, they may be able to move us but not our son although nothing guaranteed! Disgrace, dead flies on window sills, breakfast was horrendous hard and been left out too long, bathroom needs replacing and carpets filthy. Please reconsider if thinking of staying here
If it's haute cuisine you seek, look away. And if you are vegetarian, forget it. As we were nearby we thought we would try dinner here. There was only one vegetarian option so that was our choice, a curry. Except it wasn't. There was no taste discernable whatever, a bland ratatouille is the most generous description. And for wine, at £17.50 we expected better than 10%, where can you buy that?
Booked into a superior double room. Visible evidence that the table hadn't been dusted in some time. We wete above the function room - at 11 pm the noise from the wedding in the room was unacceptable- was unable to go to sleep due to the noise. Could hear all the words to the music being played.
Very disappointing. We spent two nights there. The room was OK, but there was no sign of the room bring serviced overnight. The beds were not remade, Towels were left in the bath. We would not have known that anyone had been in there apart from the fact that the coffee and biscuits had been replaced. The dinner on the first night was probably the worst that we have had in years. Nasty tough lumps of chicken in the curry and the tiny thin piece of sea bass had been left in the microwave for too long. We had been ushered to the only table in the otherwise empty restaurant which did not have a view of the garden, The waiter was pleasant enough and had the courtesy to ask us if the meal was all right. On hearing our view that it was dreadful, he headed off to the kitchen, where he remained until we were well out of the way. By the time we left the restaurant no other guests had arrived. It looks as though that they had had prior warning, what a pity that we hadn't!
We booked a superior double room number 48 which was small, hot, noisy with a very uncomfortable bed. The breakfast was not the best and seemed to have been cooked very early and left out for some considerable time before we ate at 9am. Two nights later we stayed at a Travelodge for less than half the cost and enjoyed a good nights sleep.
The reception staff were none existent and sarcastic when called even when I said I used the screen a gentleman behind me confirmed that , but the breakfast staff were very friendly and there to greet you which was nice and the buffet breakfast had very good variety
I enjoyed my stay at the Priory Hotel. The rooms in the hotel were more modern and more comfortable than the rooms in the 'chalets.' The meals were tasty and well-presented; I really enjoyed the variety of fish courses. 🙂 All of the staff were conciliatory and extremely helpful, especially Jo, the Manager. The garden at the rear of the hotel was extremely pretty, with the trellises and the pergola. 🙂 However, the lounge areas and bar area are in need of refurbishment.
Initially we were put in 'classic double' - this room was the worst room we have ever stayed in. It absolutely stunk of mould and I found excessive mould in the cupboard in the rear of the room covering the wall and the fan in the cupboard (see pictures). The floors were also stained and there was mould around the bath. It was so bad that some of our clothes retained the mouldy smell after we had arrived home and I suspect it may have caused problems for anyone more sensitive to respiratory infection. How anyone could clean that room and think it was acceptable to rent out it beyond me. As there were no other rooms available we were forced to stay in this room for one night. After showing the staff the photos of the room they upgraded us to another room ('Superior double') for the Sunday night (as the hotel wasn't full). This room was far more acceptable but not perfect (no mould but still some stains on floor, around bath etc) Overall other parts of the hotel were ok, a bit tired and dated but reasonably clean. The breakfast was good. The only saving grace for the place really was the staff who worked hard to sort out the issues and were generally friendly and helpful (hence 2 stars rather than 1). The issues raised were highlighted with Best Western directly too and I have requested an email and offered to share photos, however I have had no response so it seems Best Western has no interest in the problems here. I could not recommend anyone comes near this hotel and I would personally avoid Best Western bookings again given their apparent apathy towards the state of this hotel and the effect on the guests (seems there are plenty of other reviews highlighting similar issues).
Arrived in the hotel at 8pm today having booked a family room. I was stunned when the receptionist gave me the hotel room key that they had given us a double room. When I went back to reception the receptionist apologized and said they had sold the family room earlier. I had booked this room a week before and paid a week before on booking.com What's more I called the hotel earlier in the day to ask what time the restaurant served until and to confirm I would not be there until 750pm. We had been travelling for 12 hours and were beyond tired. We were offered a free drink in the bar. The table in the bar / restaurant was sticky and beyond filthy. When we were in the bar the receptionist passed with a camp bed and said that she would put this in a room for myself and my daughter. The duvet on the camp bed looked like it had not been washed since 1940. This hotel is beyond filthy. The Best Western are usually an acceptable budget option when travelling. This is definitely 100% the worst Best Western I have stayed in. It is beyond unacceptable and in all honesty it should be closed down and should cease operations. If there is a Best Western manager in the UK I urge you to visit this place. This is doing your brand name no good.
Many of the staff were pleasant and as helpful as their working conditions would allow, otherwise we would have awarded one star. We had difficulty finding the place as the first entrance was not signed from our direction and the second entrance was all too easy to miss as we negotiated the gyratory system. We stopped and asked for directions. Check-in was an unhelpful computer system. We managed it second time; less computer literate guests were waiting for the receptionist who was currently laying tables for afternoon tea. Our Executive upgrade room was upstairs. No lift and no offer to carry our cases. The room was spacious but very drab. The bed was comfortable but the solitary easy chair was not. Dinner was very poor: we waited half an hour between starter and main course and had to prompt the kitchen for action. We did receive an apology for the error. The curry was very poor. We ate out for the rest of the week. Breakfast was self-service, including drinks and toast. We declined the buffet cooked breakfast. The tea was undrinkable as the hot water was nowhere near boiling. The toast machine produced nicely-toasted bread. One morning the restaurant was closed in favour of a conference. We ate our breakfast in discomfort on a low table in the lounge. (The meal tables were already laid for afternoon tea.) Checkout was also computerised but the system could not cope with our leaving a day early. We found a receptionist who came and checked us out. Definitely not up to Best Western standards.
Problems with FIRST room, you couldn't swing a cat in there as there is not enough room for two adults and a cat. The roof was so low next to the window that I had to remain on the other side of the bed! The bed was a very small double, more like a large single. It was too short for a 6'5” person to sleep in without feet hanging a long way off the end of the bed. The heater in the room had a foot missing, this begs a question: - why does a new section of the hotel with central heating require an additional heater when the room is so small. There is plaster missing from the celling where the plasterboard has been attached. The walk-in shower is a joke, you can walk in but once wet have to get out to apply soap and shampoo then go back in to wash off. It was possibly the world's smallest shower. The soap tray is loose on the wall, possibly because someone hit it trying to have a shower. The shower cubical was itself disgustingly dirty with residue and mould growing around the door and some of the lower tiles. There is evidence that the toilet has leaked on to the bathroom floor. The radiator in the bathroom shows evidence that it has also been leaking. This, along with the problems in the restaurant, all shows an extension that has been built to the very lowest cost scrimping and scraping the very last penny out of the task. I have been a guest at this hotel for around 20 years, my wife and I have jointly been staying here for around 12 years but feel that it's time to find elsewhere to stay. Premier Inn do it so much better in all areas and at a better cost. A computer can't welcome you as a Best Westen member, especially as we had to go to the kitchen to get a human to help. The computer didn't have our booking. The breakfast was very basic and the chef could not lightly scramble eggs! Food at breakfast was basic and un appealing.
The whole place needs managing the standards are very poor on all counts except the gardens which looks good apart from that the rooms are shabby and cleaning standards poor out shower had mould on the tiles and paint flaking off the walls? obviously not checked ,the breakfast would be ok buts it's luke warm and dinner we were all moved to use the bar area as they had a function the next day some of us had reserved tables for the dining room but that wad changed due to the function??? I will not be returning to this hotel and would advise others against going. Please don't tell me that I should have spoken to someone on site as there is nobody to talk to about the problems all the other guests that we spoke to were of the same opinion.
Issues with Incorrect booking status on check-in and issues with incorrect additional payments on check-out. No Hot water for shower - Sunday morning Totally disinterested, demoralised and robotic staff in Dining room. No smiles, welcomes or indeed any interaction Outdated, small rooms are not up to todays standards. Bathroom musty due to previous damp and leaking shower. No lifts
ATTENTION ALL!!! Please do not stay here!! it was horrific. I arrived and there was nobody around, I immediately knew from the awful rundown reception that my stay was a mistake, the only reason I stayed was because I had my dog with me and I was attending a wedding the next day. I finally found a staff member who told me to go back and sit at reception and wait, she eventually surfaced 30 minutes later and checked me in which was 45 minutes after check in. There was a a table of ladies having a cream tea, which I thought at the time 'why come here'? they where having a altercation with the "Chef," he was so rude, apparently the food was stale and soggy. My room was hideous, filthy, needed a complete refurbish. I actually felt depressed, I have never seen such a bad establishment. Please don't be fooled by the pictures of the outside, they tend to the gardens to fool people to book, inside is hell !!
Once again myself and husband have returned from another great overnighter at The Priory. We cannot fault our regular stays here as I've mentioned in past reviews, and all the team are so lovely, friendly, hard working and kind. Good to seeJo after missing her on our past few stays x and seeing Mr Queen again. We enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea as always, then after the nail biting England footie match, we settled down to a delicious dinner. The food is always tasty ( although only one criticism, a couple more choices for each course would be greatly appreciated. I'd been looking forward to a lovely chicken curry, but it was sadly off menu that evening). and surroundings are relaxing, very light and airy in the restaurant and bar areas. All the team work really hard to make sure everyone's dining and drinks experience is good. After a good nights sleep in our pleasant, clean and well equipped room, we enjoyed a buffet breakfast. I always enjoy a mushroom cheese omelette freshly made to order, and always a great treat to set me up for the day, whilst my husband always plumps for a full english. Lovely ! With reluctance it's then time for our journey home. As we usually stay on Saturdays we sadly don't have time to sample the delicious sounding Sunday roasts that the hotel offers, although we always hear very good reviews regarding it. Maybe one time we shall stay longer to try this tasty treat. As always we want to say a huge thank you to Mr Queen and all the fab team who always make us so very welcome, and give the best service. That's why we come visit regularly as we always feel the visits a tonic in our busy lives, and we leave feeling refreshed and rested. Until next time, thanks again all. Karen and Steve x
Went to the hotel for an afternoon tea I bought via Groupon! No staff members around when we walked in so went through to the bar where a pleasant staff member showed us through to a side room! We were the only ones in there-afternoon tea was bought out and that was the last we saw of a staff member again! Sandwiches were plentiful-ham and tomato, cheese and pickle and egg mayo along with a sausage roll. Scones were dry and crunchy and cakes were the worst i've ever seen-dry and looking sorry for themselves! Had to find a staff member to show my groupon voucher to as no one appeared at any point! Would not hurry back!
Could be very nice but sadly the front entrance is sad and tatty. No friendly welcome. Directed to a self check in where once struggling a reluctant member of staff helped. Room (chalet) was very tired and run down. Despite being non smoking the room smelled very strongly of cigarettes, could almost taste the nicotine! All our clothes needed to be washed. Hair dryer broken, unable to hang our clothes on our hangers in wardrobe as the rail is so close to the shelf you can't get the hanger on. Breakfast was very average. Only cheap sliced bread available. Coffee was from a flask. Lots of dirty uncleared tables and members of staff dragging tables and chairs around which was so loud you couldn't have a conversation! Complete lack of interest in guests from staff. On the plus side, the outside area is very pleasant. Such a shame as nice setting but will not be returning or recommending.
Without doubt the worse hotel I have ever had the displeasure to stay in. From the outset the experiance was terrible, the reception has been replaced with an online check in system that quite frankly doesnt work and worse still no one can check in until 3pm as system doesnt allow it. All this does is result in every guest all trying to book in at the same time. The Bar was not stocked and had limited options at best and even then only one of the chosen item, restaurant dated and breakfast was awful. The poor staff obviously been driven into submission by working at such a dire hotel, you can see it in their eyes they havent even got the energy to apologise anymore.Really is that bad the only positives are location and the grounds.
It was so bad, I left early and paid to stay somewhere else Think of Faulty Towers with Sybil at the front desk, don't dare complain and like a previous review , definitely do not use the kettle in your room although in my room most of the plugs sockets did not actually work. The WiFi was very good though lol
We held our Wedding here at The Priory in June 2024. It was absolutely perfect in every way. The venue was amazing. The staff were first class in everything they did. Polite, efficient, they never stopped all day and when anything happened they were so professional and took it all in their stride. Special mention must go to Frank the manager and our MC for the day. He runs everything and calmly made sure we were where we needed to be when we needed to be there. Special mentions also to John, Hannah, Joanne (hope your arm is ok now) and all the waiting and bar staff who all seemed to approve of our music playlist too! The food and drinks were stunning; hats off to the chefs. From the drinks reception with canapés, to the wedding breakfast and wines with bubbles for the toasts, to the evening buffet - everything was perfect and all diets catered for and our very young guests as well. We are soooo grateful to you all for your huge support and help in making our celebrations wonderful. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Love 😍 J & A
We had an unfortunate start to our 2 night break, as the room key card was not functioning. In the end we were moved to another room. When a member of staff was required to help, they were not to be found as employed on other duties elsewhere. Certainly over stretched, but doing their best under the circumstances. The hotel itself is well placed for Bury St Edmunds. My husband missed his preferred coffee, so walked across to a convenient garage to buy a cappuccino. Breakfast was good and other food quite alright. The Priory needs some money putting into it as some things looking a bit well worn, such as windows. The room was a decent size & bathroom pleasant with a good shower.
Today we came for a carvery with the family for Fathers day. We have been several times and never been disappointed. Food was absolutely delicious, Great selection of meat, the best roast potatoes and a wide range of veg. All the food was piping hot and fresh. Service was absolutely fantastic from Danny, Fin, Callum and John. Will definitely be coming back again soon.
on appearance, it seems like a lovely little hotel.. the lady was rude and unhelpful when attempting to use self checkout, eventually figured it out. then got into our room… it looks like it has been that was since 1970. dated furniture, terrible bathroom, bugs in the building. splatters and stains on walls, furniture and ceiling. hard bed, and it smelt stale.
Hotel room and location were good and it was a 20-30 min walk to Bury St Edmunds. We particularly enjoyed the shower and breakfast was also good, small selection and items quickly ran out but this meant that they were replenished frequently so food was fairly fresh when we were there. When we arrived, parking was very tight and we just got the last space. It would help if there were marked bays as guests were leaving big gaps between cars.The biggest let down was check in, screens didn't work and it took ages to locate the receptionist who was having a drink in the bar! She wasn't particularly friendly or helpful and made a poor first impressionist of the hotel. There was also jar of sweets in the room, I would have said that this was a nice touch as we were travelling as family however the. jars was full of ants!
The building itself needs a makeover, it's tired and unwelcoming. The rooms are basic and you're lucky if the shower works properly. With the exception of breakfast, all the food appears to be provided by a wholesale food supplier working to a very tight budget. To end on a positive note, we enjoyed sitting out in the gardens.
Sunday carvery really really good. Yorkie puds much better than The Bunbury Arms and very generous with the meat portions plus varied vegetable options. Staff were attentive and the garden room is the perfect location for lunch. Highly recommended.
the bedroom was covered in paint speckles and brush marks on furniture , window blinds, cushions and the phone. The window were painted shut. In the shower the chrome shelf was rusty and the edge of showere tray was dirty and unhygenic. Service in restaurant both at dinner and breakfast was poor. My room was not serviced. I left my room for a wedding at approx 12 noon and returned at 11pm. I was told the folloiwng day when i complained that i had a Do Not Distrub notice on my door. This was true until i left my room just after noon and removed the do not disturb sign but housekeeping did not go back to check and in fact housekeeping were rather aggressive about it.
We changed our supposedly superior room. The 1st room had a very dirty and stained carpet. The bed was not properly made and crumpled. The floor lamp was very dusty. The second room was cleaner But bed smaller apparently still a superior room! The shower in the morning was cold not good to go to a funeral on.
This is the 3rd Best Western hotel that we have stayed in and have been very happy with the quality and value for the price paid. The room was good with everything that we needed. The restaurants at all 3 have been very good . I definitely look for a Best Western if staying in other areas over the country.
Just visited for Sunday lunch. Carvery was fantastic. 3 meats available, generous portions of, with all the sauces and trimmings. As many roasties and yorkshires as wanted, and they do children's options too. Thank you, Best Western Priory Hotel.
There was no air conditioning on a record hot few days. The hot water heater also went out. The internet was very spotty. The Manager, Frank, said he would reimburse us for the room. It has been 8 months of follow up with no response. I will never be back. Beware!
This hotel has a lovely garden and sweet courtyard rooms on first glance it looks great but .. my room was spacious with a large bed, unfortunately it was 2 single bed pushed together which then had an uncomfortable ridge down the middle. The light switch was only accessible from one side of the bed and then at a stretch, over bed reading lights had pull cords that served no apparent purpose. The room had a pretty little bay window which would have been a good place to sit but it was blocked by a chest of drawers with a tv on top. No sockets accessible from the bed, goodness knows where you were expected to plug the hairdryer in, no USB ports.. The bathroom was spacious but the bath was cheap plastic and moved alarmingly when standing in it to shower. Pillow case was torn. Curtains faded and hanging down furniture seen better days. Parking good. This could be a lovely hotel if these issues were addressed but at the moment it feels like no one really cares .
I found this hotel very disappointing especially the automated check in and out facility which did not work properly. Reception staff unfriendly no help with any language . Food was average and bar facilities the same. It appeared to have very young and inexperienced staff which in general were not helpful . The breakfast I gave a miss and the room facilities were poor. Not worth the price I paid . It's is a hotel I never visit again .
Great room , fabulous shower and free parking however I wasn't impressed with the checking in process and would rather have dealt with a human being rather than a machine obviously they are cutting down on staff which I think isn't a good idea
Leaking Toilet flush, faulty shower, no sound proofing. One of the worst BW hotel ever stayed. Loose floor boards and the room was not cleaned even when the note was left on the door. Had to stay for four nights through this hell.
We've just returned home from our latest overnight stay at our regular ( and favourite) hotel. As usual we had a lovely time. Thanks Hannah for taking our booking bless you. Also special mention to John, who was so kind and as usual so helpful during our stay. x Also thank you to Megan and Callum ( plus the young man, sorry we don't have your name, working alongside Callum during dinner service) for looking after us and making our delicious afternoon tea, and excellent dinner ( and brekkie, chef cooks the best mushroom cheese omelettes) so great. We often return to The Priory as it's a lovely clean, welcoming place, serving delicious food, relaxing clean comfortable airy rooms, and most importantly of all the whole team are so lovely and welcoming. Nothings ever too much trouble. Mr Queen ( sorry we missed you this visit) you are manager of such a great place. That's why we always return. Huge thanks to all once again. ( and sorry we missed you Sophie, Jo and Katie) Karen and Steve x
The room was clean with tea making facilities and nice biscuits! The bed very comfortable . The staff were very polite and helpful. We ate breakfast and dinner in the restaurant. The food was well presented and enjoyable.There was plenty of parking spaces.
What a wonderful carvery. I had a generous helping of tender beef, a lovely selection of six vegetables that were cooked perfectly with crispy roasties and fluffy Yorkshire puds. Managed to squeeze in a fab apple crumble and custard too. The staff were friendly, courteous and polite even with a busy restaurant. We will definitely be going back - sooner rather than later!
Only popped in to have a catch up with family and decided to have food. We Had a delicious lunch. The best chicken fillet burger I've ever had with the coleslaw and fries. All staff were welcoming and friendly. Will definitely be coming back for lunch again very soon. Would highly recommend.
We came as a small party of 4 for a party night in December. With the price seeming way too reasonable & previous experiences of these type of events we didn't have majorly high expectations. However our experience was fantastic, the team made us feel very welcome & allowed everyone to have fun & they got involved & enjoyed the banter. The disco & games were great fun, got everyone involved & raised a bit of money for charity. Our food was delicious, no photos as we ate it too quickly! The turkey was delicious & the tastiest I've ever had, I'd have appreciated a sprout but I'm probably fairly alone in that request! Some very tasty wines on offer at very reasonable prices! The staff out did themselves & we will certainly be back for another one!
Spent 2 nights at the hotel for our new year break, excellent service good food and good value. Nice room with bed split into singles as our request, very helpful house keeping manageress and all staff very bright and helpfull.
The hotel itself is not located very close to the city centre - despite the website stating it is a 30minute 'stroll' there's not even a pedestrian entrance to the hotel grounds - you have to walk round a blind corner up the driveway which is very unsafe. There's also no crossing to get to the side of the road needed to walk to the town centre - although this is obviously not the hotel's fault I would have said advertising it as a stroll is misleading. The room itself was very basic, certainly not 'superior' although we paid extra for a superior double. Paying over £100/night you'd expect at least the basic amenities to work but the hair dryer stopped working while I was midway through drying my hair and the leaky kettle didn't even fit into the sink to be filled. Ever soft furnishing in the room had some kind of stain (both chairs and the runner on the bed). And there was an awful smell in the room when we arrived. This didn't go away while we stayed there so we had to keep the window open the whole time we were in the room. After paying extra for breakfast (on top of the more than £100/night) I expected it would at least be cooked. Unfortunately this was not the case, on of the hash browns I ate still frozen in the center. The eggs were inedible they were so rubbery. The only redeeming feature of breakfast was the coffee, which was surprisingly good considering came from a vat. I've never stayed at another Best Western hotel before so cannot say whether this is standard for them or a particularly poor experience. However, following this experience I won't be risking it and staying with Best Western again.
We enjoyed the VIP package and wow it was value for money. The wine tasting and dinner was so good ! The best part of the stay was the customer service experience. The staff were wonderful, especially Callum.
I had booked the Best Western Priory Hotel for 16th September for a friends wedding back at the beginning of August. I had received confirmation of my booking from Best Western. When booking I was advised that check in is from 3pm. The wedding I was attending started at 2pm but they informed me that I could check in when I got back from the wedding as their desk is always manned. When I got to the hotel after the wedding I was advised I had been moved to a different hotel and there was no available rooms. I had an email from 13/09/23 confirming my booking at Priory and asking if I wanted to upgrade my room so not sure how they managed to give my room away. I had received three calls from the hotel during the day (all of which were received while I was at the wedding) and as I did not recognise the number I didn't call them back. No other prior contact was made in relation to my room situation. I had to get a cab back to the wedding venue and top and tail with with two friends in their bed after having walked to the hotel from the wedding venue due to difficulty getting Uber's. I have been reimbursed for the cost of my room and they have paid the cost of the taxi and breakfast the next morning which was a very modest £25 (as breakfast was included in my booking). I am very unhappy that there has been no further effort made by Best Western and feel I should be receiving compensation for the inconvenience caused by them. The only efforts to contact me were on the day I was due to stay. They moved me to a different hotel and this hotels check-in ends at 11PM which is before the wedding finished so in essence it wasn't fit for purpose. Yes they have reimbursed me for my stay, the breakfast and the taxi but they are really obligated to do so following what has happened. But there have been no further efforts made by them. To make matters worse when I arrived at the hotel at 12:30 I went inside to speak to someone at the desk and ask for assistance as I had previously been told I would be able to keep my luggage with them instead of leaving it in my car. But there wasn't anyone there, a note on the desk advised to check the bar if unmanned but no one was there either. I was hoping to get the hotel to order me a taxi as Uber wasn't available for me (probably too many people going to the same wedding). I ended up walking to the venue and basically undressing on the way there it was so hot. Had I been contacted about the the room situation I could have arranged to stay at the other hotel, saved myself the stress of the situation plus the long walks to and from the wedding venue and got my own bed instead of having my mates stinky feet in my face all night. What I have been offered is what I would consider the bare minimum they could do to try and resolve the matter. The complaints team are aware that I am unsatisfied with their offer but do not care. I would like to know how they would feel about the situation of getting turned away at the door, late in the evening and then having to sleep with your mates stinky feet in your face. I will not be using the Best Western Hotels again, there clearly is a communication issue regarding how they notify clients of changes to their accommodation and they don't really care about inconvenience caused by these action. The whole process caused a lot of stress and tainted an otherwise amazing day.
We had a fantastic time at the Priory Hotel for our wedding reception, the staff and manager were so helpful, making sure our special day went without a hitch. Recommend highly this venue. Mr and Mrs Hatt
We booked this hotel based upon the good reviews that it seemed to have here but I wish we had got the same standard of care. Firstly we arrived about an hour before due check in time so we thought that we would enquire if our room was ready as we wanted to leave our case and then explore the area. There was no one at the reception desk and despite ringing the bell it took quite a while to be served. My wife asked the receptionist if she could check if our romm was available. Whe was totally dismissive and just said i am not going to look as you have not paid for early check in. Ok so we left and came back at 3PM. She must have told several people the same as there was a big queue for check in at 3PM. Anyway we checked in and she said that we do not have breakfast booked. I showed her our booking which clearly said bed and breakfast and she did accept this and said it was an error on our booking. When sh gave me the key card we noticed that it had someone else's name on it. I checked back and she said "oh yes we swapped the rooms around". We booked a superior double room but when we got into our room it was very small and with the slope of the eaves we could not walk around one side of the bed witrhout hitting our head. We went back down to reception to enquire to see if we was given a standard double instead of a superior double but the receptionist just said all their rooms were standard doubles. We asked why we had been charged for a superior double but she just dismissed it saying they do not classify the rooms even though this was booked directly with Best Western. We went out for the rest of the afternoon and got back early evening. we enquired about booking a table at the restaurant only to be told that the restaurant was closed due to a wedding function. So we enquired about getting a drink from the bar only to be told again that the bar was not open due to said wedding function. They just said there is a pub across the road. We were never informed from our booking or when we checked in that the restaurant or bar was not available for guest to use. Due to the wedding function it was very difficult to park in either of the car parks and we had to leave our car in a precarious place. In the morning we went for breakfast only to be told that due to the wedding function breakfast was buffet style. The breakfast was not brilliant (sausages were very anaemic) and bacon had run out and we had to wait for some more to be cooked. when we went to check out once again there was no one on reception so we just left our key card in the box on the desk. The next day I noticed that BW had charged my credit card £72. I had prepaid the room and we could not have anything from the restaurant or bar as we were not allowed to use it. I rang BW. First time someone said they would get someone to call me back (which they didn't). i rang again later in the afternoon only to be told yes it was a mistake and they would refund me. we have used Best Western hotels a couple of times before with no issues but after this experience it will be a long time before we use them again. You get a better level of service from Premier Inn at a fraction of the cost.
We had a couple of nights here recently and it was a nice stay overall. We had a room in one of the annexe buildings which was clean and comfortable with a good shower and daily housekeeping. We were on a DBB rate but despite asking about the dinner at reception, we were in fact, given incorrect information which lead to us querying our final bill. The lady who checked us out was very efficient and the issue was promptly solved. The food was very nice, although the menu wasn't extensive and the wine selection was excellent and reasonably priced. The breakfast was better when cooked to order than as a buffet but still there was both a hot and continental selection. Overall a nice stay and we would return if we were in the area again.
Unfortunately there was black mould in multiple parts of my room. I was asked to contact the manager and share photos but no one has gotten back to me. If the room was hygienic it would have been a lovely stay.
We have just had a great 2 night stay on a special VIP offer, we had special reserved parking allocated for us, executive room which was large with a walk-in shower ensuite, thank goodness for the fan! We had a glass of prosecco, and blinis on arrival, nice touch. We had a very tasty and filling 5 course taster dinner with 5 different wines to try! In the lovely garden restaurant overlooking the lovely grounds. The staff are all so friendly and accommodating making you feel very welcome. We had tea and coffee and biscuits in our room. Breakfast was very good too. Thank you to all. We would love to come back again.
Really nothing to complain about - nice hotel with nice, friendly staff. Would also strongly recommend the VIP experience/dinner. What is wrong with you, Tip adviser? I don't have time or ideas for 200 characters! Blah blah blah blah blah blah
My husband and I had our wedding reception here. It was just perfect. It was the third time due to covid! But nothing was too much trouble. All our needs were attended to and advise was given it was amazing. Everything came to plan and went off without a hitch. We had the resident DJ, Gary who too was great. We also used Claire from CMA events who co ordinated the table decs and all that went with it. Then there was Jean who made our beaut wedding cake. Theses people are a dream team. On the day the Priory staff were attentive and well co ordinated. We also had a room for the night which like the hotel as a whole was very clean and well presented. Breakfast was a great selection of continental and full English. All my guests said how lovely the whole package was. Keep up the good work.
The hotel is close to town for travelers looking to eat out, however, the hotel restaurant also offers nice food and reasonable prices, the upgraded rooms are very nice, the outside rooms need a bit more modernisation but are comfortable and everything works there just a little tired!
Had a lovely day to celebrate my Mum's 80th birthday.The hotel staff went the extra mile & decorated the table in addition to gifting us a second bottle of prosecco to enjoy.Took some lovely photos in the picturesque garden to remember the occasion.
Attended a family wedding. Everything was fabulous, from the food to the room. Very clean and comfortable in all areas of the hotel, lovely friendly staff. Beautiful gardens.Would highly recommend. We will definitely be returning
On arrival at my room, located in the garden, I had to step over a half-drunk glass of beer and pile of cigarette stubs. The carpet was filthy and there was no hot water in the morning for a shower. The toilet had not been cleaned for a very long time - looked worse than my son's student flat! On arrival at the hotel there was no one in reception, and again on departure reception was not manned - this meant on both occasions searching the hotel to find someone. The staff that were manning the restaurant and bar were very pleasant but over-stretched doing dinners/breakfasts and covering reception.
Went on a special offer VIP deal.First impression was that the outside space was in need of some TLC.Room was adequate but had stains on bedding.First morning buffet cooked breakfast wasn't very hot but second day it was plated and better.5 course taster menu with wine was really nice,tasty hot food.Dining room also needs a bit more dusting and cleaning.
It was a pity I used the hotel as somewhere to stay due to a funeral. The staff were courteous and helpful and the area around the hotel was lovely to visit but I had no time. Will be back at a later date to explore
I recently held a wake for my husband at the hotel. The staff, service, food and location was excellent and I had lots of comments from family and friends on how good it was. Frank the Manager was so helpful and happy to help me with everything I needed. John made everything work like clockwork, such a valued member of staff. Every other staff member on the day was so helpful and polite, I couldn't have asked for more. Thank you Best Western Priory Hotel I will definitely have no hesitation in recommending you.
We've just enjoyed another stay at this lovely place. As always we were warmly greeted on arrival ( and that stayed the same right through our stay) Such a smashing team. Mr Queen at the helm ( hope you're showing Nathan the ropes ok) Jo, bless her a true gem. Needs to split herself in a hundred pieces as she's always running about making sure everyone's having the best time. Huge thanks Jo x Also Sophie was in. Another great asset to The Priory x. We enjoyed a tasty afternoon tea. Jo, Katie and her younger sis were all keeping everyone happy ( Oh but did we ever miss the bottomless afternoon tea we ALWAYS usually have. Brian and Sean take note !!) Then after relaxing in our spotless clean and cosy room ( even has an eat me sweetie jar filled with lots of goodies which is a fun touch Mr Queen ) we enjoyed a lovely three course dinner. Delicious, good choices, well presented, plentiful, delightful. Jo attentive and friendly as always, still on duty and keeping us happy. After a very relaxed, peaceful nights sleep we enjoyed yet another delicious food offering. Breakfast. Jo to the rescue again x Plentiful hot buffet, a separate menu too should you want omelettes ( my personal favourite) eggs Benedict, porridge etc. And good cereal, pastry options too. Tea, coffee, juices, milks. After filling up heartily we were ready for home ( didn't want to leave really)and after another cheery welcome from Sophie on reception, we left feeling very chilled and batteries recharged. Big thanks once again to Mr Queen, Jo, Sophie, Katie (and sis) plus all the rest of the team we didn't see this visit. You know of course, we will be back. Karen and Steve x
Gorgeous old building set in relaxing grounds. Easy 15 minuteish walk from town centre and station. All the staff friendly and helpful but especially manager. Comfy room, excellent breakfasts. Loved the special customer host which made my stay even more purrfect.
We visited on Monday the 24th of July and was taking my friend for afternoon tea - it was absolutely amazing for the price as well couldn't have wished for anything better!! They were so generous and kind and the man who was working on that day in the restaurant deserves recognition, he made our time so much better was so attentive and polite so please let him know ! Would 100% recommend and will be returning - perfect place to take a loved one for a special occasion !
We held our wedding at the priory hotel . The staff where very helpful and kind. The weather was raining all day so they re organised the food and kept us all happy. i didnt have any stress on the day because of the lovely staff. No complaints !! fab wedding day
Near perfect wedding reception - a million thanks to Frank, Katurah and the team for giving us the best day. Canapés welcome drinks and buffet great clean room and a cracking breakfast next day - couldn't fault it.
With some investment in decorating and upgrading this hotel it would be a "go to" place to stay in Bury St. Edmunds. The interior is in serious need of new carpets and improvement in general decor. Ventilation is poor. The grounds and setting were very attractive and peaceful and close to town center.
I brought this afternoon tea for two on Groupon for me and my son.it had additional deal on ,I got the sparkling afternoon tea for two for just 14.96. After reading some reviews I thought "oh well get what you pay for"...but actually I feel like it was worth more and we got an absolute bargain. They let me have my sons glass of prosecco as he is only 11...so for 14.96 I had 2 glasses of prosecco, he had a massive pot of tea, and all the food pictured.we couldn't eat all the sandwiches or cakes and took the cakes home in a box. The bread was lovely and fresh, the warm sausage rolls was tasty, the scones were a little crunchy but I actually love them like that, loads of jam and cream, the macrons soft and fresh, the brownies sticky and lush and the St clements cake was VERY moist and tasty! The girl serving us was polite and fast service. I'd DEFINATELY do it again with Groupon!
Excellent afternoon tea was had at this establishment. Staff were very attentive and helpful especially Sophie. Table was reserved and a great outlook to the gardens from where we were seated. The tea was good with a variety of sandwiches cakes and scones. The sausage roll was a bonus and very meaty. All in all a very pleasant afternoon , would I go again certainly yes.
Our ground floor room faced directly onto the carpark. There was no double glazing and the room was extremely noisy with noise from the carpark and from the room above (stomping; slamming doors) in the middle of the night (3 a.m.) and early in the morning (delivery vans). As a result, we slept very badly for the entire three nights. On the plus side, the room was spacious and the food in the restaurant was very nice. As other guests have noted, the single beds are very small, and the water from the shower is scalding hot. These issues are clearly ongoing and have not been addressed by hotel management.
Came for a sparkling afternoon tea! Got shoved in the corner of the Garden room. The sandwiches were just OK. The scones were OK but dry. The cakes were (Iceland yuck) Then, when it came to the prosecco, we got forgotten about. My wife had to go and search for staff to remind them. All told, we wouldn't come here again. Oh, and spot the cobweb and spider in the prsecco glass!
Just passing and saw all the signs for Carvery and having just had a walk around the lovely town we thought just the thing. Drove into a dead car park with about 5 staff all out smoking. My wife said doesn't look open, I saw 1 couple eating in a massive restaurant and carvery on so we went to reception and lady said fully booked and can't take anymore walk inns, there is only one couple eating?!?! Any more walk inns, the place was empty. We would've eaten and gone by 1pm 30/07/23
Great stay. We enjoyed a delicious taster menu on the first evening and vegetarians were well catered for. Sophie at breakfast was incredible , she went over & above . On the 2nd morning she remembered us and asked if she could get us any additional vegetarian food . She was very attentive & polite, we felt valued. The location is ideal for walking into the beautiful town.
Shockingly awful room they should not be selling. Room 8 it was just dreadful. Receptionist agreed couldn't move me hotel was full. Couldn't find a room anywhere else the town was full. I have been refunded and she was super kind but … she should not have been in that position it's down to the owners/lack of investment etc
A long wait at reception to get checked in. The room needs updating, old furniture. Toilet noisey & doesn't flush properly. You can hear other guests having a shower in the room next door. Bed ok. Buffet breakfast wasn't good. Lovely little black who wonders into the hotel! Possibly a stray so I hope he gets feed!
We had a lovely weekend away at this lovely hotel , the staff were amazing and very professional.. the food is outstanding and breakfast lots of Choice… definitely recommend . The grounds around the hotel are well kept and nice that pets are allowed too
Awful place, unmotivated staff. Stayed in the 'new wing' which has large pleasant rooms but are built of cardboard so you hear every neighbour toilet flush or conversation. Called ahead to check that we could get early breakfast: the corporate central call office failed to say that cooked breakfast would start 30 minutes after 'continental' breakfast. In fact croissants appears after 30 minutes too. Bar is very poorly stocked with no cask ales, no stout bottle or tap, some tap beers run out, narrow spirit selection. Also as soulless as a modern care home. Room cleaning consists of lavatory flush and restock of tea/coffee.
This is a great venue, perfect for a summer evening with both inside and outside seating. The food was delicious and of a good standard. It would have been improved if there were more staff serving at the bar. I thought £3.50 was very expensive for a diet coke!
VIP experience, we had a two night stay at the Priory, our sat nav took us to the rear car park, so we initially missed the vip parking, but soon moved the car to the front of the hotel. Initial impressions were slightly disappointing, as the main hotel and our room, which was above reception, could do with a bit of a spruce up. Then the barman said we could only get a sandwich at the bar as they had run out of everything else. What had I done! From then on, and my expectations recalibrated, the whole stay was fabulous, the staff were excellent, the tasting menu food and wine really was superb. I was expecting to find somewhere else to eat for our second day, but as the food and service was so good we ate in the restaurant again and it was just as good. Our room, being part of the main hotel had “character” and was pretty noisy, squeaky floor above, banging doors etc. but it must be impossible to sound proof an old building. To sum up, my initial, probably unrealistic expectations were quickly put to one side with the great staff, breakfasts and evening meals. We will definitely stay at the Priory again, there is plenty to do a short walk in Bury.
We were amazed at the vast improvement the hotel has undergone since our last visit post pandemic. The recently refurbished room was excellent with a great walk in shower. The staff couldn't do enough and made the whole experience brilliant. The breakfast had plenty of choice and the five course taster dinner was just perfect. You can see that the Hotel was still a work in progress but any current shortfall was easily made up by the enthusiasm and willingness of ALL the staff without exception to make our stay as good as it could possibly be. Well done to all at The Priory Hotel Bury St Edmunds.
A lovely Hotel. Rooms very clean and well stock with tea/coffee. Excellent service from all Staff (JoJo in particular and the dark haired lady on Reception, who's name escapes me as it was unusual). Restaurant very nice, food very good. A very pleasant weekend. Would stay there again.
We stayed here the the VIP voucher the hotel offered us. When we arrived the car park signage was a little unclear so unfortunately I didn't find the VIP parking space saved for us straight away. This worked in our favour though since we were coming in separate cars and it meant my husband could park straight into the space. It turns out there are two entrances/car parks to the hotel. Check in was smooth, the ladies were polite and friendly. I didn't receive any meet and great as promised on the voucher but as I arrived alone I wasn't too bothered about this. I also didn't get the welcome prosecco and canapés, but the receptionist advised me to collect these once settled. The reception isn't always manned. It turns out the same staff man the bar too. Can't be helped but a little bit inconvenient to have to walk round to the bar when you get there. My room was on the first floor, there are no lifts so I had to manage the stairs with two small suitcases myself. The room was OK. I find Best Western standards have dropped over the years and that was reflected in this stay. There was a big stain on the carpet and bird poo on the inside of the window, as well as a load of scuffed paint. However the bed was comfortable, the shower facilities were excellent, I was just gutted there wasn't a bath! And a really nice note from the manager, as well as some sweets. You don't seem to receive that kind of gesture these days so that was a really kind thought. The hotel gardens were pretty. We had the five course taster meal later that evening. All our preferences were catered for and the food was delicious. The waitor could have cracked a smile though! The following day (and night) there was a wedding. The hotel rang to inform me this a few days before and advised us that the restaurant would be closed. Whilst I appreciate weddings happen, it did mean we couldn't fully relax. Although we could still use the bar, we couldn't get served in the afternoon during the speeches. That night we were disturbed lots of times by doors banging and people yelling up and down the corridors, not to mention the music playing. It felt that our VIP treatment was for the first night only! Breakfast each morning was also a little hit and miss. We came down for 8.30am and there wasn't a lot there. Thankfully you could order hot food but we were under the impression that you could only order one thing. Above all we wouldn't choose to come here again, the hotel is a bit far out of the city centre so there wasn't a lot to do.
I stayed here in January with my partner and was particularly blown away by the service. Whilst it may not be the most attractive hotel in bury the staff make it better than most hotels and really make you feel welcome. The food was excellent and would definitely stay here again.
We were a party of 8 friends who found the service and food excellent. The hotel is well placed for a visit to Bury St Edmunds and the staff made it a visit we thoroughly enjoyed. Short walk into the town centre and easy road access to other attractions in the area.
My friend and I stayed at this hotel for 2 nights, we had a huge room, which was clean and comfortable. All staff were friendly and helpful. We had a lovely breakfast on both days, and a 5 course taster evening meal, which was superb.
Lovely staff seyi, Nicole, raff, Jo, chef Dan very welcoming amazing service 10/10 would come again, definitely for the sours, amazing company, food was delicious, seyi was good even though he is learning xx
Clearly have guests who are government funded rooms are awful bad odour bar staff rude but the lady on reception was professional and good that's all i can really say i was so relieved to get back in my car in the morning was going to have breakfast but no way
I recently stayed at the priory hotel for the first time with my husband for a peaceful get away, and the priory will be seeing us again! from the moment we entered the door we were greeted by the wonderful reception team, our room was spacious and pristine, I had a very good nights sleep! The food was exquisite, and the breakfast was the perfect end to our stay. The team at the priory are so welcoming and polite. A great team with a fantastic environment. Cant wait to return.
Ive been visiting The Priory on and off for the past 10 years with work and it is always my hotel to stop at if in the area. I always have a warm welcome off the staff who I have got to know ovwr the years and nothong is ever too much trouble. The food has always been lovely, the atmosphere always relaxing, with my favourite rooms to stop in being the ones in the outbuildings!! So, to all at the Priory, I will see you next time whilst on my work travels!!
I stay at the Best Western Priory Hotel on a regular basis and the staff here make it a home from home. Their friendly and efficient demeanour make this a pleasurable experience every time. Sophie and Hannah have been stars over the many visits ensuring that my many stays are as pleasant as possible. The hotel has great facilities and the rooms are warm and comfortable. The food here is great and I have no hesitation in recommending this hotel as a base to visit Bury St Edmunds and the surrounding area. Frank the hotel manager is always on hand and will sort out any little issues as they arise.
I booked an afternoon tea for myself and my daughter direct with the hotel. From the moment we walked into the door to the moment we left all of the staff where very welcoming and could not do enough to make sure we where comfortable throughout are time there. The food was all freshly made right down to the scones and sausage rolls. We have also decided to book a stay with the hotel in the next few months for a little break. Thank you to the whole team and The Priory see you all again soon !!
Went for a Groupon afternoon tea on Thursday 19th January. I could not fault a thing, the waiter was very polite nothing too much trouble, sandwich's, sausage rolls scones with clotted cream and jam and cakes were all delicious and of good quality. Reading some negative reviews really surprised me. Would certainly recommend.
Thank you so much for giving us a wonderful break. We were fortunate enough to be offered the 5 course taster menu and wine flight taster during our weekend and it was amazing. Breakfast was lovely. Everything was perfect. Enjoyed the whole experience x
I came for the first time with my partner before christmas and I had a brilliant experience, food was heavenly and the staff were so pleasant and welcoming. I love that the hotel has a modern and classic theme to suit everyones taste. I have already started planning my next trip!
Stayed here in family room. Excellent room, really clean and breakfast was fab. Thanks John for taking care us. Great access into town for January sales shopping trip. Didn't have dinner but all staff we meet were very friendly and professional. Defiantly will come back.
The worst hotel I have ever stayed in, in terms of getting a good night s sleep. Christmas parties just below my room going on till midnight and then partygoers carrying on with the chat . Receptionists charming and understanding but powerless to do anything. Manager unapologetic saying this was normal for December and that this was on their website which I did not see and still dont... No maintenance men on the weekend so the loo handle that became disconnected was not fixed on my return to my room that evening, warranting a room change. Then another party below that night...This place is a health hazard if you are then driving a distance the next day!
Just returned from a 2 night stay. Absolutely fantastic. Every member of staff we met were very friendly and helpful and nothing was too much trouble. We had dinner and wine flight which were amazing. The food was top class both dinner and breakfast. We could not fault anything. We will be booking to come again.
A group of 10 friends booked a Christmas party night and between us booked 5 rooms. Communication regarding the party booking could have been better - in that I rang twice to check timings for the evening and felt like they didn't know what I was asking about. That said we turned up and checked into our room with ease (our room was in the main part of the hotel). Our room did what it said on the tin. It was clean enough and the bed was comfortable. Having made ourselves party ready we headed down to the bar prior to taking our seats. The bar staff were pleasant although the cost of drinks did vary during the evening for the same two drinks! The food was fabulous. Tasty and hot - which is impressive given there were about 70 of us in total. The DJ part of the Christmas party was brilliant and we all had a great time. There is no reason we won't be back for 2023.
Bought as a present from my parents for my brother & Me last year when they contacted my parents after they stayed. Purchased nov 21 my brother went 2 weeks ago & found ok. I booked some months back & booked this weekend 25th. After checking in past few days what @facilities they had I was concern when I stumbled on the appalling reviews of the hotel Made hubby ring to make sure we had a quiet room. They had no record of our reservation even though we were both in room when we rang, no reservation number provided when booking, but we both didn't dream up the date etc. Turns out they do not recognise our reservation at all. My mum furious as paid for 2 Christmas presents and they are refusing one, the receptionist actually hung up on her when my mum lost her temper saying he was stupid … Most companies say they will investigate and come back but no this guy kept blaming my mum and we are without a weekend away which was months in the planing. Terrible service Just waiting for the response the standard rubbish from frank the manger at the hotel !
Paid for a 2 night VIP stay, left after 1! Hotel on arrival seems nice enough, hard to find from road in dark as poorly lit entrance. Had a ground floor room for accessibility in main building. Room seemed nice enough (one of their refurbished rooms). Seemed quite noisy, doors banging, people in & out of other rooms, outside door opposite left open causing draft under door. Had the taster menu (mostly nice food but main option was either fish or vegetarian, no meat - alternative off bar menu offered). Dining room is tired, damp & prev leak visible, hot trays for breakfast left in middle of room. After getting woken with noise early in morning from rooms around ours, we found out we were sharing the hotel with government placed asylum seekers. The kids in the morning were using the corridor, outside our door as a play area, scooters included! The hotel should have informed us of this. Fair enough they have to be housed, but when you have paid good money for a relaxing few days and they do not respect the paying guests in the hotel, it is not on. Breakfast was poor, went in at 8.30, no pastries, yogurts, hot food was luke warm. Asked for croissant and was told chef was doing no more. You serve breakfast till 9.30, you should supply what is on the menu. Took a complaint for some to be done (waited over half hour for them though). The supervisor Joanne, is fantastic, she tried her hardest to find a resolve for us, the alternative room though was in an outside area and was very tired, poor state and smelt of smoke and poorly lit paths to hotel in the dark. No manager available until 3pm to speak to. A disappointing end to what should have been a relaxing couple of days in Bury St.Edmunds. Best Western used to be a good hotel brand but would you want to be a full paying guest when the government are housing guests at a fraction of the cost with them!
We arrived on a Friday for a two night stay, we did not eat at the hotel in the evening but had breakfast which I must say was a little disorganised and they kept running out of various things. The rooms in the main building are lovely but the rooms in the grounds are a bit tired and not so plush. What I did not expect having paid for a relaxing hotel break was to be sharing the hotel with people who are not in the country legally, this gives the atmosphere a whole new demographic. Guests should be informed of this arrangement before their arrival.
A VIP offer landed in my inbox at the right time for my planned birthday mini-break, having stayed in another hotel in the group previously. The offer was competitive so I took it up and came up to Bury St Edmunds for an explore and managed to fit in a gig at the Apex one evening. Included in the offer was a taster menu on one of the two nights, with wine, with breakfast on both days. The staff and service were fine and the food competent and what you would expect for a hotel of this type. The room, Superior, we had was large and spacious and the En-suite had been refurbished in the last couple of years. If in the area again I would certainly consider returning as it was set in lovely, secluded grounds and just a short distance from the town centre.
I visited this hotel to have “sparkling afternoon tea” Was very Underwhelmed by the whole experience. Firstly we was not guided to the room where we would be having tea, and there was no signage to point us in the right direction. Secondly we noticed that ourselves and a table next to us had dirty plates, bowls and cutlery. Which I will attach a photo of for proof, Thirdly the place looked a bit Drab, there was mould and cracks in the ceiling in the corner and the room still looked like it was open for breakfast. Lastly the food was ok, other than the scone which was dry and rock hard. I suppose you get what you pay for but cleanliness should be a standard.
The hotel looks tired and need new carpets and some re-decoration in the main building. The bedroom chalets are fine for a short stay. The restaurant provides good food if a little limited on selection.
We paid £135 for room and breakfast for one night. Not expensive but also not cheap. We checked in and were directed to a “courtyard room “. What we found was a soulless small room that was instantly depressing but we though hey it's just one night. As we looked around it got worse. Not even one picture on the walls just a bare hook. Very dirty carpet and a bathroom you wouldn't want to walk barefoot in. Checking the mattress we found it to be filthy. A member of staff came who apologised but agreed it was not good and also agreed a part refund but this is a management problem not one that a member of staff should even have to address. In the end we gave the key back and decided not to stay as we didn't know what else might be lurking.
From the minute we arrived all staff were great. Rooms and little run down but everything else excellent. Breakfast staff we under pressure as very busy but kept smiling with great service. Have family locally and will be returning.
Myself and wife spent 4 nights here on a coach holiday. All the staff were helpful and friendly. As we are both disabled the help we were given was well appreciated. we were in one of the garden bedrooms which was very nice and quiet. The only downside was lack of lighting from the restaurant to our room. Food was generally very good apart from the fact that the vegetables were the same each meal. apart from that the main courses of either fish or meat were well cooked and tasty. I would not recommend visiting on a coach trip as access was very bad. It seemed that the entrance was designed for coaches pulled by horses
We had the VIP taster meal with a wine flight, the meal was delicious.I don't know the name of the young girl who looked after us but she was really friendly and really did make us feel like VIPs . Would definitely recommend it. We stayed for two nights the breakfast was ok, but unfortunately we did have to wait for about 10 minutes for fresh bacon and eggs, but it was worth the wait. All the staff were friendly and very helpful. My husband was really happy as we had a dedicated parking slot.
Spent five nights in one of the hotel's self contained garden bedrooms on an Vintage car break with my father. Enjoyed good honest hospitality with friendly, helpful staff. Three star accommodation that offered good value for money. Particular mention to Jo who ran the restaurant and worked tirelessly throughout our stay showing a particular care for her customers. Also, Hannah ever helpful and cheerful on reception. Thank you for a lovely, much needed break in Bury St Edmunds.
Amazing staff. Shame about the management or lack of it. The general attitude of staff was wonderful but when there's likely to be an issue (private party not leaving the residents dining room when they were supposed to) the management had finished for the day. When we checked out, our bill was overcharged by £170 because our dbb plan had not been taken into account and the receptionist and I had to go through it item by item to sort it out.
We took up the offer of a VIP stay with wine tasting etc and found it good value. We especially enjoyed our waiter, Cameron, who had us in stitches the whole time with his excellent sense of humour. He moaned constantly about his job, got the wine mixed up and told off the guests, but all with such a naughty twinkle that we couldn't help laughing - he was like a real-life Basil Fawlty! We would happily accept another VIP offer for this hotel chain.
I got offered a chance to take up one of their ‘VIP' 2 night voucher offers and although I was sceptical at first because the price and what was included sounded too good to be true. Having now stayed on the VIP offer, I have to say that my wife and I had a wonderful stay and of course we didn't have my own butler, we were treated like VIP's and the 5 course meal with a wine flight was superb and the breakfast amazing. The Manager I think his name was Franco really went out of his way to make us feel welcome and I will definitely be returning.
Really enjoyed it, the staff were lovely and very friendly. Couldn't have asked for anything more. Kept checking up on us and refilling coffee. Will definitely book again and definitely recommend!!!!!
Went for afternoon tea at the Best Western priory hotel. The hotel smelled very damp and fusty. The food was awful. Plain sandwiches and very little selection of cakes. No-one came to check on us or the other couple in the restaurant during the whole afternoon tea. Don't even get me started on the toilets. Absolutely disgusting!!!!!! One chain wouldn't flush at all so was backed up with everyone else's waste and another had been left full of excrement and not flushed at all. Would never recommend this to anyone. Similar feedback from the other couple in the restaurant. Massive disappointment
I agree with the 2 previous posts.."disappointing". We paid for a Suprior Room, wrongly assuming the standard would be higher than a regular double room. Sadly not. Damp and mould around the shower, hole in ceiling, terrible finish on bathroom door, and this room was in the new block they say. Breakfast was definitely not worth the cost. Very minimal items left in the hot trays, 2 sausages, no bacon, rubbery scrambled eggs. The waitress was in and out of the kitchen trying to organise more food. There was at least 14 of us at breakfast just waiting around for food. Terrible organisation.
We just missed Basil Fawlty himself apologising for the problems. Could do better: Rooms: 1) hot and stuffy with a 4ft6 bed - I didn't realise hotels used those any more except perhaps for single rooms. 2) moved immediately into a much larger room with a king size bed. Very old fashioned bathroom - shower was scalding hot and impossible to change. The staff did try whilst we were out and again the next morning. 3) a slightly smaller room, with a 5ft bed which was reasonably comfortable. Another old fashioned bathroom. Shower sprayed all over the bathroom!! Breakfast: cold the first day but better on day 2. Sliced bread, tinned fruit, chipped mugs. There were huge bowls of fresh fruit set outside the kitchen for someone, but not, it seemed, the hotel guests. Cleanliness: Room generally clean but windows, window sills and frames - dust, dirt and spider webs. Would I stay again? No. Would I recommend it? No. Did a great job: The staff could not have done more to try to make our stay comfortable and to cope with the poor conditions of the hotel and a general shortage of staff. I would recommend them any day!
The charming description on the hotel's website probably describes what it was, not what it is. It certainly has potential, and it felt like a good candidate for Alex Polizzi's 'Hotel Inspector'. To be absolutely fair they seemed short-staffed as so many places are, so it's not surprising that things kept running out at breakfast in the rather soul-less dining room, and that it and parts of the grounds were sometimes untidy. Food wasn't great. All of our party of several rooms commented on how hard and uncomfortable the beds were, and many of the fittings and fixtures, cutlery and crockery, are in need of renewal, although again to be fair the pandemic has perhaps left many hotels short of funds to invest in upgrades.
The staff were fabulous. Teamwork is evident. We were made to feel welcome and valued from the minute we checked in. Sophie and Jack especially looked after our needs and went over and beyond to make sure we had the best experience possible. Would certainly recommend The Priory and will look forward to returning soon.
We booked two VIP breaks consecutively. These went very well and the food was good. The main plus was the staff who could not have tried harder to make our stay enjoyable. Very friendly and very helpful. Yes, they were short staffed and this did show in some of the efficiency. The room in the main building was hot but we were there on the hottest days of the year and a fan was provided. The shower however was outdated and not efficient. The stay was enjoyable and good value.
We were sold a VIP stay last year (2021) which included 2 nights B&B and a 5 course tasting dinner. 3 days before our booked dates which we had arranged sometime ago so we could go with friends who had bought the same package, that they couldn't supply the dinner cos of staff shortages. We were offered alternative dates but as we had plans for the weekend we did not want to do that. So we were given a refund of just £25. You try buying dinner for two for £25!! Not happy and complaints go unanswered three weeks later. Very poor management.
Food and Wine on the taster experience was fantastic. Staff extremely attentive to all needs during stay. Location of hotel was within walking distance of the town with plenty of places to visit and eateries.
Mixed experience, the room needed some minor maintenance, shower pressure was poor. Restaurant service was good but reception and bar service lacking - twice we had to find staff to serve us. Food quality was good but not great. Overall, a little disappointing.
A phone call to my friends on Tuesday - 3 days before we are booked to go, to say there is no staff to make our meal. Not even a call to me how made the bookings! One of the draws to make this reservation was the VIP deal that was offered at only £175 with a ‘5 course taster menu for one evening with wine plus a £25 per person allowance for the other evening. No meal and no wine. We were not offered an alternative meal in the restaurant despite some people eating and a BBQ taking place. We did not receive any of the VIP treats and compensation that was offered of just was just £25. I cannot buy a meal out for £12.50 per person. Not even the £25 pp on each evening as stated in the offer. Our room was made up as a double when I'd stated a request for a twin in my booking form, therefore we had to move rooms. I cannot say this room was VIP just a basic standard room, I feel. Although it was clean and tidy. The hotel is tired and shabby and I feel misled by the offer and very disappointed. I have emailed the general manager on two occasions now to ask for an explaination and/or further compensation and have recieved no reply. This was a weekend away with friends and not as advertised.
This is the second group on I've done. The first was so good I booked another for friends. I was a bit worried it was too good to be true but the second was equally if not better than the first. The afternoon tea itself was pretty good, sandwiches a bit boring but fresh, and no different probably to a much more expensive offering. The Prosecco better quality than most of the local pubs to be honest, and attentively refilled. surroundings really quite lovely in the garden. The staff on both occasions were exceptionally friendly and helpful, which lead be to conclude a couple of things, who over leads them makes them feel part of a team and valued or the team itself takes pride it what they do. Either way a credit to the brand. While getting hospitality venues fully staff is proving a challenge right now The Priory seems to be bucking the trend And has an engaged, polite team they should be proud of. I have recommended the hotel to several people based on my experience.
Check in time has been changed from 2 pm at time of booking (28/12/21) to 3pm. We had many e-mails asking us if we wanted to upgrade but not one advising on a major change of policy. We had to leave by 3 to be on time for an event we were attending. Other guests were complaining of the same thing. I have been staying in this hotel for the best part of 18 years, on both business and leisure, although as I was not recognised by one particular member of staff was told that it hasn't been in the last 5 years! It was exactly 1 year ago to meet the same people to go to the same annual event!!! I will concede that we didn't stay in the 18 months prior to that. They have spent many hundreds of thousands of pounds on an extension with new rooms and new restaurant, however the garden room we stayed in last year and the “30's” block room we stayed in this year do need some attention. i.e. our room was dated, the light pull cords are frayed, the sink plug chain is broken, the sink needs a mixer tap as the hot water is so hot we had to fill the sink to wash our hands wasting litres of water. When bringing my concerns to the front desk staff on Sunday morning they kept ignoring me to talk to other guests, they didn't want to hear what I had to say. No Worcestershire sauce no tomarto juice, hot breakfast was at best warm.
Best Western Priory Hotel Brilliant hotel - great surroundings - just going under a refurbishment. Had afternoon tea in the Garden room the service was outstanding Very good selection on offer to match any in the country Staff could not do enough very friendly and helpful Would highly recommend.
Clean, functional room although very dark and hot. Had to have light on all the time and windows open with fan on even during the night. Tea/coffee facilities. Hairdryer, iron and ironing board provided, Wi-Fi hit and miss. Large walk-in shower with constant hot water and lovely large bath sheets. Only used the restaurant for breakfast which was very disorganised. Really needed more staff but those working worked very hard. Help yourself continental and full English. Unfortunately nothing seemed to be replenished unless you asked and nothing ready at the same time. No yoghurts or Danish pastries one morning either. The toaster only toasted one side so really needs replacing. Not the best breakfast, just about edible. Cannot fault any of the staff, all very friendly and willing to help even when we returned after midnight and the keycard wouldn't work. With improvements made to the staffing arrangements in the restaurant I would definitely give my review an extra star.
I stayed in room 57 which was one of the outside chalet room. The carpet was dirty and stained and there was a stale odour when I walked in but put that down to the heat. Luckily there was a fan in the cupboard so turned that on immediately which helped a little. There were cracks in the ceiling and it really did make me wonder if I'd been put in the staff quarters! There were spiders in the corners on the floor so that led me to believe the cleaners needed to be more thorough until I drew back the curtains and saw a whole hose of cobwebs and spiders up there and knew it hadn't been cleaned properly for months! Get the hoover up in the pelmets! Looked like a room from the 70's and really needs a makeover. The bathroom was disgusting, had an orange lino floor, broken tiles and no blind up at the large bathroom window.. It was the most uncomfortable shower I've ever had as I felt very vulnerable. Breakfast was ok, no veggie sausages and for meat eaters you had to request bacon and sausages from the kitchen? All in all, I should have asked for a refund but I was with a friend who had a room in the building and the trip was for her and didn't want to ruin it for her. I've stayed in hotels much cheaper and have been more impressed and definitely wouldn't have paid more than 50.00 if I'd have seen it first. Very disappointed and you can definitely find better for your money. Don't be fooled by the look of the gardens and building and request a room in the main building which seemed to be marginally better.
Having had many pleasant stays at another Best Western hotel I thought that by booking an overnight stay at The Priory in Bury St Edmunds I could count on the same high standards that I had come to expect from Best Western in the past. On check in, my wife and I were allocated one of the self contained rooms away from the main hotel. As soon as we entered the room we noticed a dank/ musty smell in the room. We then both tried to log on to the free Wi-fi to check our emails but the signal was virtually non existent and we had to go back to the hotel reception area to use the wi-fi and while there we reported the issue to the receptionist. The room itself was spacious, but the overall cleanliness left a lot to be desired. There were cobwebs above the curtains and my wife actually had to clean the bath of scum marks and hair in the waste outlet before she could use it. Later that night we tried to watch tv before going to bed, but this wasn't possible as, just like the wi-fi, there wasn't a signal, whichever channel we tried to select. The bed itself, we both agreed ,was among the most uncomfortable we have ever stayed in leading to a restless night for us both. We were at least expecting a decent breakfast the following morning, but alas, this too was disappointing. The cooked breakfast items were dried out and hard. My wife asked for replacement sausage and bacon as the first brought to us were virtually inedible, but when the replacements came they were no better. Not only this, but the coffee and the "hot" water for the tea were barely luke warm. On checking out the next morning we asked to see the manager who wasn't available. The receptionist said that she had noted our complaints and would pass them on to the manager when he came in, and that we would call or email us, also suggesting that I send an email to him, which I have done, but I am still awaiting a response 6 days after checking out which is very disappointing to say the least. Overall not a pleasant experience, we will not be returning!!
This review is based on the Afternoon Tea not on the Hotel Accommodation. We booked via Groupon which we had used for several teas at different locations over the years and always been delighted with the food and drink. On this occasion we were disappointed. Although there were plenty of sandwiches the fillings were unimaginative being what we might have at home any day of the week. The cakes were nothing compared to offerings elsewhere and the scones, only one each, were small. It was nothing like the picture on the Groupon offer.
We visited for afternoon tea, me, my Daughter and mum and dad. I had brought the afternoon tea from Groupon at a bargain price for just 2 of us. My daughter wanted to join us so called then to see if they could add her on and they did just that. She paid full price for her afternoon tea. The morning of before we left my dad decided he would like to join us but didn't want afternoon tea so I call to see if this was something they could do and sure enough they did, they made him a selection of sandwiches and a pot of tea while us 3 had afternoon tea. So for that alone o would of giving a 5 star but the afternoon tea wasn't as good as I would of hoped. Don't get me wrong it was nice, the sausage roll was amazing. I was however a little disappointed with only getting 3 very small tiny sandwiches, ham, egg and cheese. The cakes where amazing but very sickly, so for me there was way to much sweet and not enough savoury. But other then that it was an enjoyable day and very nice dinning room.
We arrived early for a wedding. Around 9.30am. There was no one at reception, a cleaner lady told me the receptionist was busy. she informed us that check in time was 3pm which we knew. We had driven through the night to avoid traffic and asked if there was any chance of an early check in and was told to come back later. We wandered the town for a few hours and came back just before 2pm, having met some other guests who were already in their rooms. Again told by a rather surly receptionis that check in was 3pm. After the bride came and made her point that we were here for a wedding and nedded to freshen up and change we made it to out room at 2.20pm. I am aware of check in times but in the hospitality sector sometimes one has to be hospitable and acutually help ones guests. Having said that the rest of the stay was fine. The Scottish gentleman manager was very freindly and professional as were the bar staff. The breakfast was poor with the worst sausages I have ever been presented with.
Nice sized room, comfortable bed, large bathroom but shower a bit tight for someone of my size. Very friendly and helpful staff. No air con and windows didn't open on a very hot day but fan provided. But you have to look in wardrobe for it. Its a very old building and listed set in lovely grounds and hidden away. Good value for money
This hotel cancelled my long standing reservation for what they considered to be a higher priority booking, causing me an extra cost and substantial inconvenience. Unreliable, I will avoid this chain in the future.
Unreliable bookings. Do not book here if you want your booking to be cancelled 2 months before because they take on a large corporate booking instead. They have left me with no where to stay on the night of my friends wedding. I will never book with best western again.
My friend and I booked a twin room for a overnight stay. While the staff were lovely and the afternoon tea perfect we were shocked when we got to our room and saw the size of the beds. These are smaller than a child's bed. We asked reception if we could change rooms and were told all single beds were this size and they had no other single rooms free. We were shown some other rooms with double beds and told we would have to pay a upgrade fee of £25 so decided to stick with the room we had. While the room was spacious it was also outside of the main hotel and in the rear car park. We were kept awake all night by the noise of the traffic outside and also the room upstairs. You could hear all conversations and even when they opened a draw you could hear it. Combined with the tiny beds we barely got any sleep. We went to breakfast the next day and at 8.45 they had run out of croissants and pastries which again was disappointing. Also the shower was boiling hot so not a comfortable experience. We actually complained when we checked out about the various issues which is most unlike us but we were so disappointed at the lack of sleep and bed situation. The girls on reception were very pleasant and did arrange a partial refund. However despite this I have to say I don't think I would stay at a Best Western again.
Room booked six weeks ago, confirmation received and even had an email asking if we wanted to book a table for an evening meal. With only two weeks to go before our stay, we have today received an email to say they can no longer fulfill our booking! Our plans now in ruins. Appalling service!
Reservation cancelled 5 moths after it had been booked and confirmed (and upgrade subsequently offered). No reason given in initial e-mail. Unacceptable. Be prepared to fins another accommodation at short notice if you book at this hotel.
We were booked into the hotel for April 22. On 4th Feb we were told we are cancelled due to a corporate booking of the whole hotel as from 15 February 22 for 3 months. We got no compensation and only a verbal apology. Check if you have booked with GWH as this affects more than one hotel at this time to accommodate visitors to our shores.
Just over two weeks to our booking and we received an email to say our 2 night stay had been cancelled. No explanation given in email. Telephone call made an was advised a large group booking had been made and therefore our booking was cancelled. To us this is totally unacceptable for a booking that had been made weeks ago. Shame on you Best Western…we will never book with you again
We had an afternoon tea back in 2021, where we were served moldy sandwiches! The hotel apologized although there is no excuse, refunded the cost and gave a voucher for another which we have not yet been able to use, because... e also purchased a tasting meal voucher for two. The hotel has cancelled bookings (including rooms) twice - first time claiming a COVID related staff shortage. Our booking for February has been cancelled due to a "Corporate Booking" of the whole hotel for a number of weeks, although our booking had already been confirmed! We have had t cancel other arrangements for the weekend and will not get a refund for at least one of those. Our experience is that this hotel does not understand even basic customer service our, lets face it, how to even serve food! If you want to take a chance and try and book something there feel free...
we had to deliver a vehicle in Bury St Edmunds and were looking for a comfortable hotel to stay overnight with our Border Collie. We stayed in a classic room where there was a lovely garden for Monty to explore (a very reasonable £10 extra charge) The room was clean, comfortable and well equipped and we obtained an excellent room rate. We enjoyed our breakfast and there was plenty of parking.
We've just returned from an excellent VIP two night stay at The Priory. We had a great time, starting with Hannah who so kindly arranged our booking. Thanks Hannah. We decided to add an afternoon tea to our experience so on arrival, we were warmly greeted as always by Sophie at reception, who even accompanied us to our smart lovely room in the new part of the hotel which was bright , spacious and shiny as a new pin interior, with good sized comfy bed and pillow selection, plenty of towels, complimentary toiletries in the bathroom, and decent amount of tea/coffee, milks on the complimentary refreshment tray. Everything spotlessly clean. Plus helpful info sheets and welcome sheet from Frank Queen the hotel manager giving hotel info which is always a bonus. Nothing worse than not knowing breakfast or dinner times and any other useful info. The room outlooked the gardens ( where there's a lovely archway feature on the lawns so perfect in summertime for weddings, and outside terrace with seating and tables which we've had the pleasure to use on previous occasions whilst enjoying other afternoon teas). Delightful. Car parking is very handily positioned near the rooms so no lugging cases long distance. After unpacking, we made our way to the light airy restaurant in the conservatory, which also outlooks the terrace and gardens, and settled down for a scrumptious afternoon tea ( good generous selection of sandwiches) and fizz, warmly welcomed by Keturah who made sure we were happily looked after throughout our tea. A little later a blond haired young lady ( apologies we didn't get your name) came to see everything was fine too. The hotel was hosting a wedding fayre over the weekend, and whilst passing the restaurant during that evening, we had the pleasure of seeing the results that Keturah and the team, had made of transforming the whole restaurant into a wedding restaurant venue to showcase what could be offered to potential brides and grooms. It looked amazing. Next morning we were greeted by Jo for breakfast ( who've we've had the pleasure to meet on many occasions when visiting for afternoon tea) who as always made sure we enjoyed our stay and a hearty breakfast. Hats off to chef too for making the best ( and had to be the biggest) mushroom cheese omelette I've ever had. Steve very much enjoyed his full English too. Also plenty of mixed toast, which is great as we've visited other hotels who seem to think a tiny half triangle of bread is sufficient alongside your breakfast. After a little mooch around our beautiful town of Bury St Edmunds, we returned to a freshly smartened room. Housekeeping had done a sterling job whilst we were out, replenishing our hospitality tray, changing towels and freshly making our bed. Late afternoon, we were treated to canapés and fizz bought to our room by Sophie, before settling down in a cosy candlelit lounge for a five course dinner with wine flight. My goodness what a real treat that was. Oliver took very good care of us, and the entire experience was excellent and well worth the visit. We retired very full, and very content. Awaking next morning to yet another tasty breakfast, and warm greetings from Jo ( hope you're still enjoying your new settee and carpet!) and young Cameron. ( Please find yourself a decent pen lol) It was so so sad when we had to depart for home. We live very very locally, but this great two night stay felt like it was a world away. Batteries were well and truly recharged. We would like to say a huge huge thank you to all of the smashing team. They were all honestly like family. Warm, friendly, welcoming nothing at all was too much trouble for them. They all work so hard. We didn't hear one moan or negative comment, and they most certainly made sure we had the promised VIP experience. We will certainly be back. All best warm regards and Happy New Year 2022 from Karen and Steve x
We booked the Priory Hotel for our works Christmas Party and were not disappointed. The atmosphere was welcoming, food was lovely and the staff were extremely accommodating. Would happily recommend this venue!
Just spent 2 nights at the priory after being offered a vip voucher deal for £175 which consisted of Prosecco and canapés on arrival 5 course evening meal with wine flight and breakfast both mornings, hotel staff were all exceptionally friendly and helpful as was the manager, hotel itself was clean to a high standard, we stayed in a superior double overlooking the garden which was lovely, food was absolutely delicious , thank you very much to everyone that made our stay a wonderful experience we will definitely be returning
Came here with my wife for our anniversary, we enjoyed a delicious taster menu and 5 wines to go with. The young man dark haired man who served us made us feel as if we were at the ritz! Couldn't recommend the taster menu and over experience anymore. Shall be returning soon!
The company I work for had our staff party here. Great staff. Great food. Great disco. Great night had by all! Will get the boss to book us in again for next year definitely! Thankyou priory staff for a great night!
Booked in to visit family locally. Very friendly staff. Enjoyed my hot chocolate at reception while waiting for room to be ready. Very comfy bed. Enjoyed my eggs Benedict the next morning. Would definitely return!
We held our Company Christmas party at the hotel Dec 3rd. The hotel was well located for our requirements in Bury Saint Edmunds. The food was great and a DJ kept everyone dancing until the end. A great time was had by all with special thanks to Gary and the team, we look forward to returning to the same venue next year :-)
Attended a Christmas Party night at the hotel on the evening of the 3rd Dec 21. Had a fabulous night. Good food, great disco, lovely friendly staff. Would definitely recommend to all. Didn't stay the night but they did have good offers on for B&B.
A overnight stay as visiting family. Room was nice. However, this was the second time in two months that there was a function on and as such no bar or restaurant facilities. Why they can't let guests know in advance is beyond me. However, worse was to come, around midnight the guests were leaving and the noise was atrocious, people shouting with no care to paying residents, I didn't hear any of the staff trying to quieten things, indeed some were shouting goodbyes to those leaving. The noise went on for about 45 minutes. All in all a very unsatisfactory stay.
A Afternoon tea with nice sandwiches that were fresh and plentiful, with a lovely fresh scone with cream & jam plus extra cakes which was very enjoyable for us after a cold walk .staff friendly nice environment,
Friendly and helpful staff - good ! A rather tired establishment. Minor repairs need to be undertaken - e.g. the door into my room needed a very hard push or pull to open and close it. My granny would have difficulty getting in and out. The light above the bathroom sink did not work. As indicated in the title, beware very noisy functions up to midnight - this matter ruined my stay. Why doesn't the management think about problems like this?!
It's a lovely location for something like a wedding but as a normal guest awful. Every time there is a function the restaurant is closed so nothing available for guests. Functions are supposed to be over by midnight. That's why I'm writing this at 1am due to the noise! No consideration to others. We are paying guests too. This place has gone so downhill. Seems like money is the only thing they care about - functions are worth so much more than guests . It used to be such a lovely break
I got a call out of the blue from the Priory Hotel, who were calling their previous guests to offer them a 2 night VIP gift voucher. I got 2 nights in a superior room, with breakfast on both mornings and to top it off had a 5 course meal and a wine flight thrown in as well! we had 5 glasses of wine each and got to keep the rest of the bottle of our favourite choice. The VIP voucher was only £175 and you could stay at anytime in 2 years, Great value and a Frank and his team really went the extra mile to make our stay a great one.... I have since called them and purchased a 2nd voucher for 2022.
Our room was clean and the bedding and towels were spotless. The general demeanour in our room was old, tired and unpleasant, along with numerous carpet stains. The heater would not turn off in the room and sadly the bed was very old, lumpy and hard. Very disappointed. We stayed as a group and for the same money our other party had a very nice room with better general surroundings. But hit and miss if you book. Staff however are all wonderful and helpful. You may not wish to visit if you are disabled as the entrance is stepped, narrow and impossible to get through on foot with a bag, let alone in a wheelchair/other.
A pet friendly hotel with a large, clean room. The bathroom was somewhat tired & outdated. Exceptionally hard and uncomfortable bed. The TV signal was intermittent. Restaurant was totally lacking in atmosphere with poor, overcooked food. Breakfast was just about OK.
Ridiculously narrow single beds in the twin room, excessive noise from other rooms, over heated and scalding hot water in the shower. By some way the worst night's sleep I've had in a hotel. The receptionist the following morning was perfectly lovely - very apologetic but the hotel clearly doesn't have a proper complaints procedure as I had to ask for details of who to contact to raise the issues with properly.
Five of us visited for afternoon tea. It's a lovely setting and a really nice dining room. However, ambience wasn't so good as we were the only people in there. Despite ordering 3 vegetarian options, we were presented with a lacklustre assortment of sandwiches, which, I think more by luck than judgement, were split into vegetarian/non-vegetarian plates, but also sausage rolls which upon enquiring were informed weren't vegetarian (and no alternative offered). Nonetheless, it was good value with lots of tea and coffee on offer.
We stayed here for a wedding we were attending the evening of nearby. We arrived and had to wait while the staff dealt with a coach load of people who had not long arrived. We waited a while and eventually got served and checked in. We had already checked in online, but they still have to do it at the desk anyway. So my parents went to one room above the reception and we had room 46 which was around the other side. We had our little French bulldog with us which is why we were way out the way I think. When we walked the dog we couldn't find any bins to put her poo in, the best we found was a little waste bin in the hallway by our door which we assumed they put there for the dog poo reason. The hotel kindly phoned a taxi for us to get to the wedding which was nice. All the staff were lovely. My father got bashed by a door being flung open on the way to breakfast, think it was the kitchen door, the lady was very apologetic. Breakfast was nice, although a few of us found the sausages quite hard and chewy. The hotel was perfect for a good sleep! The room was large enough and very comfy, the bed was big and comfy also! In the last month we've stayed in three or four best Westerns and this one is definitely up there with the better ones. The shower was very small and the pressure wasn't good. My parents room had a lovely big bathroom and the shower/bath was much nicer.
Booking.com Confirmation Number: 3908548539 Date 23rd October 2021 Dear hotel management My wife and I decided to stay at the Best Western Priory Hotel (see reservation reference above) to celebrate our Silver Wedding Anniversary. A truly special occasion. It therefore gives me absolutely no pleasure in writing this letter of formal complaint, only sadness. We booked a Superior Double Room and we checked-in before arrival to avoid contact but we had to repeat the process at reception on arrival, and were allocated Room 10. Sadly, Room 10 was far from superior, both internally and externally - the view was of the service / rear entrance and car park. We found that there was insufficient space in the room due to the sloping roof – presumably the eaves. The use of the desk and chair was hindered by the sloping roof and the luggage rack which could not be used as it was squeezed into the small space next to the desk. There wasn't even enough space anywhere else tin the room o put it. There was only one of the non-USB mains socket working next to the bed, and the bedside light didn't work, this was the side nearest to the door. There was also an issue with the WiFi that made it unusable throughout our stay. The bathroom can only be described as tiny, with a manoeuvre required to gain access via the bathroom door that didn't close properly, and a toilet seat that didn't fit properly. Room 10 could not and should not be sold as a “Superior Double Room”. We were so upset that we did not complain prior to or on our departure as we did not want to further ruin the memories of our Silver Wedding Anniversary. We've already tried to contact you directly to express our disappointment via email without success. I now look forward to receiving your comments.
Everywhere was clean and in good repair but with rather uninspiring decor. The gardens looked lovely. There is parking but in several areas. Breakfasts and dinners were good. Staff were friendly and very helpful. Downside: very poor WiFi in most areas, and small twin beds.
During lockdown we were offered a VIP deal (a marketing activity to raise funding I guess) usable up to 2 years in ahead. We had stayed in this hotel a few years ago. This was our VIP stay which was great value. Staff were aware of the VIP nature of the stay wherever we were in the hotel. We were happy with our stay overall. We were aware that the hotel was a 20 minute walk from the centre of town which may be an issue for some. The only other observation was that in a few places the hotel could do with a little decorative TLC.
For the B&B cost, this hotel compares very favourably with other local establishments. It's not a "posh" Best Western, but the accommodation was perfectly acceptable and the food/service at dinner better than you'd expect for the price.
We had our wedding here on the 16th of October. I want to say a huge thank you to frank and the whole team for such a well organised and fantastic day. Food was lovely and frank and his team made the room look lovely, just how I wanted. The garden was great for photos.
We have stayed at this hotel numerous times over the last 8 years including when the hotel was having its garden room built. The hotel is now an unfortunate mix of very nice rooms and very substandard rooms. It appears that any monies spent were used to improve the bar and restaurant areas and new bedrooms but at the expense of existing rooms This will probably be our last stay at the hotel as when booking I specifically asked for a room with a bath. Upon arriving late Monday evening I was given the key to room 3, a beautiful large room at the front with dodgy stains on the carpet. There was no bath but I was so exhausted decided to leave it and just have a shower in the morning. The shower was more of a luke warm drizzle and when the floor got wet it was so slippy my husband almost fell over. We had to leave early for business on Tuesday morning and got back late that evening when I asked if we could change rooms. Frank the manager did his best but the only room available was no 57 - this was an unloved room in dia need of a new bed and renovation We stuck it out for our final days but are grateful to now go home for a proper nights sleep. Breakfast was ok but not worth the £12.50 charged. There were various items missing at each sitting and the garden room was desperately understaffed - they tried their best but there was too much for them to do
As always the team make this one of the best in the Bury St Edmunds area. Always helpful and friendly taking time to ensure expections are met and exceeded. Rooms are clean and comfortable. All in all a great stay thankyou.
We stayed at priory hotel for my daughter's wedding. The staff right through our stay and throughout the wedding were really efficient and helpful. My daughter's wedding was overseen by Frank the general Manager and everything went like clockwork. We had a wonderful day and wouldn't hesitate to recommend. The food and service were excellent . We stayed in premier rooms. Our room was large but we did notice that the rooms do vary considerably in size. Everywhere was spotless. My only slight complaint was that at breakfast they were short staffed and two extremely dedicated ladies coped as best they could but this did mean that the service was slow and breakfast not very hot. But that said we all really enjoyed our stay and are very grateful to Frank and his team for making my daughter's wedding so memorable.
Stayed for the weekend to attend a wedding being held at the hotel. All the arrangements surrounding the 'wedding' part of the weekend, went off incredibly well. Staff, organisation, catering, etc. (As did the reception staff.) However, the accommodation facilities in which we stayed were very tired, a little grubby, the beds were very hard and basically needed a complete refurb. Sadly, the accommodation/ catering part was a bitter experience. Breakfast was pretty awful. Food not great - and on the second day they had run out of beans, sausages, eggs and mushrooms (and with guests having to queue to be seated) - as well as bread rolls, most of the fruit and serving bowls. The staff were put in an impossible position... being incredibly hard working and polite, but two young people to take orders; make tea & toast; serve tea and toast; clear tables; serve hot food from table to queuing folk and check folk in to a 'sitting' of around 40+ was an impossible task. The only reason being given, that they were short staffed, and as there had been a wedding the day before, were overwhelmed. (But the hotel books weddings on a very regular basis - so no surprises!) Guessing financial cutbacks meant insufficient staff / support and poorly maintained bedrooms units. Sadly won't be staying again. (Although the wedding itself was well managed - and the garden was very well-maintained)
We were concerned after reading the reviews on line and pictures we had seen, however we had the superior rooms that had been renovated in June, the rooms had nice comfortable beds and bedding a large shower, kettle with mugs and mix of tea and coffee with plenty of milk, flat screen TV with Netflix and Amazon prime that didn't work, however the TV was fine. The room was lovely and warm with a seating area and luggage rack. The one complaint was breakfast there was 8 of us and we waited over hour for toast, I ask them several times but toast kept going to other tables…. There were tables full of dirty plates and only 3 members of staff, 1 young girl was close to tears poor thing the young boy had his hair flopping everywhere round the food and looked like he had just got up after a good night out, I would give breakfast a miss to be honest it's not worth the money, my other issue was I never saw any members of staff use and hand gel even when they were handling so much in the restaurant and constantly adjusting their face masks.
We had a large family gathering in the garden room, this was well organised and ran smoothly. Staff were very helpful. Food supplied was the hot and cold buffet, and children's menu. there was plenty available for everyone. Due to the dry weather the children could play outside on the grass in front of the garden room.
I was unimpressed with the reception staff and how their customer service was. On arrival I thought I'd booked the room with breakfast included and was told it was an extra £6 each person, per day. We were given the key to the room and on entry it was extremely cold. We checked the radiators and couldn't find how to turn them on. I went back to reception and asked about the heating and was told they would look into it. I also asked for a bottle of prosecco to be in our room on arrival as it was a special trip away. This was not done and was very disappointed by this. On asking, the girl on reception apologised and said she would bring one over straight away. 45 minutes passed before she turned up with just a bottle and a couple of glasses, no ice bucket do it was left to get warm. She said she was sorry for the delay, but she was by herself, the phones kept ringing and she was in training. She also said she didn't know how to work the heating. We found an a small electric heater in the wardrobe which we had to have on constantly whilst in the room to keep warm. After looking around the room we felt it was very dated. The shower and tiles had black mould on them, tiles were cracked and it was very cold. In the bedroom it's self there was damp marks on the ceiling and on the walls. Outside, the steps down to the path had a loose slab on the step. We nearly fell a few times. We mentioned this to reception and once again, nothing was done. When we went for breakfast on the second day we had to wait to be seated, and noticed a woman running around clearing tables. It turned out that she was a guest. We were finally asked for whether we wanted tea, coffee and toast and took a little while to get these. When we went up for the breakfast, the girl who was lovely and run off her feet was struggling with a bowl of food which she was trying to put on the hot plate. I assisted her with this before being served our hot food. I asked her if she was by herself, to which she replied yes. It wasn't until we were about to leave that 2 other members of staff appeared. Apart from the girl at breakfast, I found that the hotel room, service and grounds were totally disgusting. I will be leaving a review on trip advisor to this effect. I chose Best Western because I thought they had a good reputation, but I was wrong.
I wanted to say how happy we are with our wedding at the Priory Hotel. The whole day was amazing, especially the hotel manager Frank, who helped us enormously with the arrangements, and ran the whole day to perfection. The food was fantastic, the ceremony well organised, and all the staff were polite and helpful. The hotel gardens were perfect for wedding photos. The music and entertainment was provided by Gary from JLW light and sound, who provided personalised music through the ceremony and played a fantastic DJ disco set later on, including the newlyweds game, music for the children and many requests. The co-ordination between the hotel staff, registrar, and DJ was all faultless We first saw the venue at a wedding fair in September 2020 and from that visit we knew we wanted to get married here.
We were only staying one night and the booking was last minute. The check-in was speedy and friendly, as was the checking-out process the next day. The hotel appeared to be under-staffed for the number of people staying but all those we met were pleasant and helpful. The room was fine for our needs and had everything we needed, including a very good wi-fi connection, though we had to sign in with our own email address if we wanted to use it for more than 15 minutes. The hotel was easy to access, with plenty of space for parking. There was a good variety of choices for breakfast, including fresh fruit.
Lovely staff hotel in excellent easy access to Bury st Edmunds …food very good ,and although near traffic very quiet …would well recommend ….One of the best afternoon teas we have had served by a smiling young. lady and no waiting around would thoroughly recommend
After many delays over these last eighteen months, we finally got the chance to celebrate our wedding/anniversary all thanks to the manager Frank who planned, co-ordinated and organised the venue even down to the guests staying overnight. We can't thank Frank and his wonderful staff for the hard work in bringing this weekend together. Our family and friends were most impressed with the level of service. Would highly recommend this hotel to hold venues, with its beautiful gardens. If it was possible to give a 10 star rating, we would.
Good value hotel and we were very thankful to be offered breakfast as an upgrade, which we accepted and were very glad we did. The breakfast was excellent. The grounds are very attractive and meals can be eaten outside in warm weather. The parking is easy and it's a just a short drive into Bury St Edmonds, although we needed sat nav to navigate the complicated one way system.
We selected this hotel as we are keen members of the National Trust and this hotel was ideally situated to enable us to visit several NT properties within our stay. From the moment we arrived we were impressed with the staff all of whom were very welcoming and helpful. The building is a good mixture of old and new which works very well. We stayed 3 nights in the new wing and found the room very spacious, clean and well appointed and even had an iron and ironing board. When booking it was pointed out that due to covid and the well publicised shortage of staff (throughout the leisure industry|) that there may be a limited menu and room service. However, based on our experience over 3 nights we found the "limited menu|" was more than adequate for our tastes, indeed we did try an evening meal at an adjacent pub / restaurant and found that the hotel meals were of a better quality (and price) and so ate in the hotel restaurant for the rest of our stay. The reduced room service was no problem as if you needed anything you only had to mention it to the receptionist and it was immediately dealt with. The breakfasts were great and offered everything you could wish for, from a croissant to a freshly cooked "full english". The food was served hot and promptly and the staff always had time to exchange pleasantries and nothing was to much trouble. Like many people we were due to be in warm and sunny climates at this time of year, staying in (without sounding snobbish) in a 5 star hotel, and overall we have to say that we doubt that we would have received any better service from the staff or accommodation than that which we received at the Priory Hotel
Having stayed at the hotel before | was looking forward to a further visit, I will admit as it was so hot we did not have breakfast previously. Now for my current visit, booking in was Ok and we had the room I requested. The only point was there was a dirty used razor on the shelf in the bathroom, and only a small rubbish bin, I feel it would have been a good idea if there had been a large bin outside somewhere, so that we could have emptied ours. Now for the high light or should I say the low light – Breakfast I wanted an omelet no omelets so I thought would have an egg Benedict none available both these items were on the internet menu in fact one morning the kitchen was in darkness. I have never seen brown scrambled eggs before but they had been out for long the bacon was dry and again over cooked and cold I sent the eggs back as they were hard the young man brought out a try of fresh eggs and put them on the buffet and then decided to bring us ours by this time they were cold. Now for the cleaning the tables, the crockery and cutlery was taken off one at a time never on a tray and the table was wiped but the condiments were never moved just wiped round. I have never seen such poor waiting staff and I have stayed at hotels all over the country. During our three night stay we only ever saw two people in the dining room for an evening meal, I am sure you must wonder why – let me tell you people want more choice not seven types of burgers. Like us they were going across the road to the Tollgate which had a first class menu. All I can say it is such a pity things are so run down as the grounds are lovely and is an easy run into Bury St Edmunds.
An enjoyable stay in a lovely room. Excellent value for money. Close to the town centre and train station. Lovely gardens. Excellent internet service. Good breakfast. My husband and I stayed there to see West Stow.
I was disgusted by the treatment of the young staff in relation to customer satisfaction. The website stated a 2pm checking, only for me to be told it's now changed to 3pm with no explanation (as the website still stated 2pm). This left me late to the pre-arranged function I had planned. The room given was dirty and we was only changed when we had to complain `again`, I wouldn't be stopping again - considering this wasn't my first time…
Great location and excellent staff in reception, bar/lounge and dining room. But, the evening meal and breakfast were lukewarm and dried out - horrible. The room was comfortable but the bathroom hadn't been cleaned, let alone sanitized considering the current Covid situation - poo stains in the loo and also dusty surfaces everywhere. There was even duck tape on the bed frame - IDK if it was holding the bed together or just covering something up.
The overall presentation of the hotel is lovely. However our stay wasn't pleasant and did not meet our expectations. Traveled 3hrs for my fathers funeral, Checked in online at home to save time, but when going to reception to get our room key there wasn't one, then they gave us what they thought was the key, after traipsing across the hotel it didn't work so had to back to reception then wait for someone to finally let us in at 10pm. Breakfast awful service, so say short staffed restaurant full of guests but they are all stood outside the hotel in large groups in full view of guest puffing on cigarettes. Not an impressive look and was very off putting, will not be returning.
We recently enjoyed a private dinner for a large family gathering at this hotel. On arrival we were delighted to find that everything had been prepared exactly as we had asked, and the dinner table was nicely laid. We noticed, too, some unexpected little extra touches had been put in place (flowers, lamps, door notice to afford us privacy etc.). It was well organised. Every member of staff we had any dealings with were friendly, attentive, and helpful particularly, of course, Dan and Raffs our two servers. The food served was both nicely presented and delicious. We did not hear even the smallest adverse comment about any aspect of the evening from any of our guests. This is probably a rarity these days and underlines everyone's enjoyment and appreciation. Our evening was a very enjoyable experience with the efforts of the hotel management and staff exceeding our expectations. We would not hesitate to use this facility again.
Stayed on business, breakfast was ok and staff friendly and helpful BUT room 48 is horrible. Poorly finished and in need of a good clean. If I hadn't arrived at midnight wouldn't have stayed in the room. There are allegedly newer rooms which may be better but avoid room 48.
I was only staying one night for a wedding in the area. After reading the recent reviews I was worried, however I was pleasantly surprised. Ample safe off road parking. Check in was easy (after a horrible long drive), room was basic but had everything in needed, tea, coffee, tv, iron etc & was clean. As other reviewers have said, the rooms are warm & I couldn't open the window, but a fan had been provided & I slept well. Breakfast was very good with plenty of choice & the 2 ladies on duty that morning were attentive, very friendly & helpful. I haven't given 5 stars as the hotel is a little dated & relatively expensive for what you get, but if in the area I would stay again.
Last year my husband died during the pandemic and sadly we were not able to have our large family at his funeral. We decided to wait until restrictions were lifted and then have a big celebration of his life with an afternoon tea for 150 guests. Having enjoyed sparkling afternoon tea at The Priory many times over the years it was the first place we thought of. From the moment we first spoke to Frank, the General Manager, we knew we were in the best of hands. He couldn't have done more to help us plan the day, even suggesting ways we could make it work whatever the weather. He made sure he was on duty on the day (which turned out to be warm and dry) and was so helpful, in a very unobtrusive way. Everyone commented on the quality and quantity of the food, which was superb. Frank even produced boxes and bags for guests to take away any leftovers so that nothing went to waste. He and all his staff were friendly and helpful to all our guests and never made us feel that we had outstayed our welcome. Many people stayed on well into the evening and didn't want the day to end. I simply cannot adequately express my gratitude to Frank and all his staff for helping us to say the goodbye to my husband that we were unable to do last year. I would not hesitate to use The Priory again for any event, large or small.
Me and my partner spent two evenings here as we booked several hotels in Suffolk / Norfolk for a short break. The reviews were mixed so I expected to get average based on a reasonably low rate for the stay. However, we were placed in one of the newly built rooms and we were so impressed. The room was decorated simply but modern and was most certainly of a very clean standard, smelt fresh and was a pleasure to stay in. Breakfast was a cold and a hot buffet, staff were wearing masks and it was clear they were very precautious with covid, handgel everywhere! The food was tasty. We had dinner in Bury one evening and dinner at the hotel the other. We had a vegan burger and a chicken burger. Great portion size and lots of chips ( always a bonus!). The staff offered us drinks regularly and were really attentive. We would certainly return here.
Really disappointing room and Hotel. I made a last minute booking with this property as my plans on the way to Bury St Edmunds changed. The rate was mid-tier coming in at around 138 for the evening, and what we received for that was really disappointing. The room was tired and old and smelt heavily of stale cigarettes. The bedding was of a poor quality and also over-aged and tired, Bathroom was full of flaking paint and poor quality fittings, tired overhead shower, stained bathtub just pretty rubbish in general. I very rarely write a negative review but to be honest I really couldn't wait to get out of the room, didn't feel hygienic and for that rate the standard really should be much higher. On check out i was then double charged and had a bit of a kerfuffle trying to rectify the payment details. All round not a pleasant experience, i would definitely say it's worth avoiding, there are some beautiful hotels in Bury for reasonable prices. This just isn't one of them.
We bookeda VIP stay that included reserved parking, our room was really nice well equiped very clean, bubbles & canapés served in our room at the time we requested. Evening meal was a 5 course taster menu it was delicious included was a wine tasting, this was brilliant we really enjoyed the experience, our main waitress was Raff she was great as was Jo. Breafast was really nice plenty to choose from. The only downside for us was the housekeeping in the room. Our glasses & plate fron the bubbles & canapés was not collected, we put the sign on the door the next morning for our room to be cleaned, when we returned later in the day no one had been in, had to ask reception was told due to covid rooms were only being cleaned every 72 hours, (this was not mentioned when we checked in). This ment that we ran out of tea coffee. Ran out of loo roll as no spares let in the bathroom. Asked for some at reception and for dirty glasses etc to be removed. When we returned had couple sachets of coffee left & 1 loo roll. Glasses had been taken but dirty mugs had not been replaced. I run a cleaning company to use covid i feel was an excuse. Real shame as this was an anniversary treat & this did put a bit of a downer on our trip.
no help in finding room, room dirty bed too hard, bathroom dirty, very noisy was awake all night pillow protectors ripped and frayed, curtains too small all furniture was pushed into the window lights never worked properly
A lovely welcome to which was the start of an professional experience. Food was yummy.rooms were clean and smelt so amazing. The bathrooms were spectacular. My bed was so comfortable ( didn't want to get up) Thank you for a lovely stay
Visited sometime back & it was lovely - this is no longer the case. The room was meant to be a superior. What a laugh! So small it was meant for a single bed & not a double. The bathroom door couldn't even open fully without hitting the bed. Just a basic room. Then when we went to eat the waitress was asked about GF vegetarian food - I was offered tomato soup or beef burger! Vegetarians do not eat meat! So no food for me. My husband had scampi. So thank you for ruining our wedding anniversary/my birthday meal. For 2 key workers working throughout the pandemic this is a serious lack of customer service. You should be ashamed of your terrible menu & terrible rooms. Will NEVER come again.
Stayed here booking a total of 6 rooms, they (or booking.com) lost one of the reservations, they had no spare rooms as the party who checked in before us, also had a booking mysteriously disappear and took the last spare room. My daughter had to bunk in with my son and girlfriend or my brother and his wife would have not had anywhere to stay. All turned out ok, although no apology. Returned from a family BBQ at 09.59pm in the evening to be told (for residents) the bar closed at 10.00pm, not even soft drinks available, absolutely disgraceful. Went up to our rooms, the single window wouldn't open properly on the hottest night of the year, the room was sweltering, in addition to not being able to sleep as the room was so hot, two guys sat out till 4.15am talking v loudly, I eventually shouted at them to shut up and they left. If you go to the loo in the night, the bathroom light comes on automatically when opening the door, bathing your partner in light, I suppose it was put in as an electricity saving device but all it does is flood light into the room at night and stays on for 10 minutes. One more thing, the farcical breakfasts, no vegetarian sausages (had to be cooked to order, which took 20 minutes), ran out of baked beans, constantly told they were on there way but didn't appear until after the vegetarian sausages so we never got any ((25 minutes to rustle up a bowl of baked beans…….really?) the toast never arrived at all (you have to order that from the person dishing out the fatty dry bacon and sausages. I paid £6.00 per person on a deal from £12.95, had I had to pay £12.95 I'd have walked away. Staying here is like staying at Fawlty Towers but far less fun. We will never ever stay here again, if you want a recommendation stay at the Premier Inn in town, possibly a bit more expensive but worth every penny.
Myself and my husband stayed here 15/7/21 . I bought a VIP offer and they delivered everything they promised . The meal in the restaurant was excellent and the staff were very welcoming and friendly. Breakfast was also very good although we were still quite full from the evening before , we have stayed here before and would stay again within hesitation.
I cannot begin to describe how awful this hotel was. The room we had was so very dirty. This wasn't just a bit of missed dust but an accumulation of dirt over a period of time. The hotel was displaying a Quality in Tourism Award stating the pleas was "Safe, Clean,Legal 2020-2021"It was none of these things. It certainly wasn't legal in terms of Covid safe. The widows had black mould around them and were so dirty. The net curtain was grey. The room smelt awful. The bathroom was so bad you couldn't/wouldn't use the bath or shower. There was soap scum on the tiles and shower screen. We did inform the hotel and cut our stay short (we only stayed one night as we had driven a long way and were very tired. There was also racing at Newmarket so we figured hotels would be busy in the area, plus we didn't know the area at all). There was also a lot of traffic noise as the hotel is basically a roundabout! This experience ruined a very pleasant few days holiday.
We have stayed at the Priory before and wasn't looking for 5 star accommodation as we have 2 dogs. We did expect it to be clean and I can confirm that it was. We stayed in a dog friendly courtyard room that was right beside a little patch of grass where we could relieve the dogs before bedtime. However, some previous guests had been inconsiderate in not cleaning up behind their dogs and there were at least 3 deposits left behind! For hotels to be dog friendly is a privilege, not a right and this behaviour spoils it for everyone. They even provide a bin for us to put our doggy bags in. We ate in the restaurant on the first evening and both chose the chicken burger. Sounds boring right? Trust me it wasn't and the chicken was delicious although didn't really require a bun. Would definitely recommend the food. Breakfast full English, cereal or pastries. Frank and his team really care about their customers and it was certainly 5* service. Will definitely re-visit next year for a mini break. Thank you for our first break in 18 months!
Myself and husband enjoyed another lovely afternoon tea with fizz here recently, (after sampling another previously this year, at the beginning of restaurants/hotels opening to serve guests outside) and previously before that around Christmas last year which was even more special. We had a lovely time on all visits so decided to come for another. This time weather wasn't so kind so we enjoyed our tea in the very pleasant restaurant. Zac welcomed us this time, and looked after us. The afternoon tea itself was fresh, lovely sandwich platter, accompanied by a tier stand of delicious cakes and scones. Good to see the clotted fresh cream served back in a dish rather than previously when in individual little jars. Plenty of tea/coffee offered and a cooling glass of fizz to wash it all down. Surroundings were light and airy, and covid safe. Thanks Mr Queen ( and of course Zac. No Sophie or Jo on this occasion) for another delicious and relaxing afternoon tea experience. We shall be back of course in future. Karen and Steve x
Stayed for 1 night 26th June. We booked at the last minute and were pleasantly surprised. Our room (9) was clean and comfortable and the food was tasty. Stayed on DBB basis. All menu choices available, without supplements. My partner's steak was succulent, tender and well seasoned. One of the best steaks we have tasted. Our waitress Jo and check in receptionist Hannah couldn't have been more helpful and certainly deserve special mentions. Would definitely recommend for a mid range price hotel stay in Bury.
Stayed here for 2 nights in a garden room. COVID precautions were good especially at reception and check in very easy. We were in a garden room which in truth was somewhat dated. The bathroom in particular was in need of a complete refurb although the shower was not too bad to be fair. The rest of the room was ok and we slept quite well. Nice gardens and staff were fine. Breakfast was pretty good although first day there was a shortage of bacon and sausages IN PIG CENTRAL! The bar was ok but we ate at the Tollgate at the end of the road which had a much bigger menu and was also a lot cheaper. All in all it was an enjoyable break and we would return but if normality ever returns they do need to upgrade some rooms when funds allow.
I have fond memories of my childhood staying at Butlins, but knew that the rooms were damp, mouldy and unloved. This hotel reminds me of those days. The room is dated, with tired furniture and stained walls. At some point some decoration has been done, but looks like it was done by the local school children. I didn't risk the shower (neither did my colleague) as it looked like an electrical hazard. Mould and flaking paint is everywhere in the bathroom. This review is based on my stay in a garden room, I'm not sure if the main hotel rooms are any better. Service on the terrace was non-existent even though signs said 'table service due to covid'. After half an hour of waiting we left and went to town. Breakfast was OK, but the food was just warm, not hot. For the price I paid, it's a complete ripoff. The staff need training and the garden rooms given a major overhaul. We only chose this hotel as the others were full - says it all really.
The hotel is located in a quiet area, a mile or two from the city centre. It does not offer luxury, but a clean place to rest. We couldn't adjust the temperature on our shower but were ale to avoid scalding by keeping our ablutions short.
Just returned from a three night stay, lovely hotel the grounds were beautiful, spent one evening sitting in the having a drink in the grounds listening to the bird songs, The room was spotless very easy for parking, all the staff were very friendly and helpful. Would recommend this hotel whilst staying in the area.
Paid for a classic double room and prior to our arrival received several emails offering an upgrade but to name our own price which we found odd We felt after seeing the pictures of the classic double room on the Best Western website an upgrade wasn't necessary as the room appeared suitable At check in we were directed to one of the prefabs at the rear of the hotel I cant say this was a spectacular stay The room was a little outdated which was fine but there were several issues The bathroom on closer inspection wasn't as clean as it should be Mould around the grab rail and the shower casing, the radiator hadn't seen a damp cloth in a while and soap scum seemed to be a theme also the shower sounded like Concorde taking off and ran in a thin stream I presume this was the same for the other guests using the prefabs as we could hear those running in the rooms adjacent to us We did mention the horrendous sound the shower made at reception to be told they would bring it to the attention of the manager We could also hear the business dealings of the gentleman in the next room as the walls are very thin They provided tea and coffee facilities but not a proper cup just a card one so it meant rinsing it out for next morning or going to the reception for a new one as the room was only serviced every four days We appreciate the need for as little contact as possible but when you're staying 6 nights then leave the requisite amount of cups Not the fault of the hotel itself but there was a table outside for the guests to use and we had to sleep with the window open due to the heat We were woken at 5 am thanks to a couple of guests feeling the need to smoke and have a deep and meaningful conversation, the topic we didn't appreciate We also didn't appreciate one of them continually coughing up mucus and spitting it out It felt like we had very little privacy due to this tables position It was a go to for smokers especially early morning so we never really got a lay in We checked out a day early and stayed over in Cambridge and booked £25 room at the Travelodge Great shower, proper cups and peace and quiet They also asked us if everything was ok at check out unlike the Best Western Best Westerns description of a Classic room for this particular hotel should be interpreted as Budget
Birthday treat for my sister. VIP weekend. Amazing stay. Definitely treated like VIPs with parking space, breakfasts, 5 course meal and superior room. Staff go above and beyond to ensure you are happy. Big thank you to Michelle Todd who went the extra mile. Close to shops and restaurants. Lovely gardens. Very relaxing weekend Thank you!
Food was exceptionally poor and luke warm, floor in dining area was dirty. All internal hotel doors in the reception were disgustingly dirty. Toilet flush was poor, WiFi poor, bed and pillows clean but hard. Grounds unkempt.
Excellent stop over. Great customer service both in advance and during our 1 night stay. Dog friendly garden room as requested which was ideal. Large and clean room. We have booked again. Definitely recommend. No faults.
Stayed 2 nights with our dogs in one of the dog friendly courtyard rooms. These rooms are great: we can walk around the garden without going through the main hotel building. Room perfect, very clean & tidy, bright, spacious. 'Pet in room' notice on door. Reception staff friendly, helpful & professional. We love this hotel, great location, on outskirts but still close to town. Hotel & room felt very Covid safe. Looking forward to our next stay soon.
Having stayed here several times recently I can't praise Frank and his team enough. There is always a friendly welcome and the room is clean with a really comfortable bed. I always have a great nighrs sleep. Being away from home for work isn't ideal but my stay at the Priory has made it so much easier. I would highly recommend to anyone. Thank you
Myself and my partner had an amazing afternoon tea at the priory hotel. The hospitality that was shown to us by the staff was very welcoming throughout our time that we where there. The freshly made afternoon tea was to die for just the texture very light and fluffy on the lemon drizzle cake and the cream was very sweet for the scones also. we would defiantly recommended this to our friends and family and we will be returning to the priory.
Inedible Afternoon tea Husbands 50th Birthday ruined Only us in the restaurant Table of 2 Not really sure how such bad food can be sent out of the kitchen by the Chef If that was me I would be embarrassed to send such food out
I have stayed here several times and to be honest its not getting better. The rooms are not the most cleanest i have seen and i always upgrade to an Executive room but these are as bad. The showers don't work correctly and the water pressure is pretty much none existent as on my last visit i had to hold the shower head over me to actually get water on myself as the pressure wasn't enough to allow the water to stream out. The rooms are tired and in desperate need of refurbishment. It seems that maintenance only do the least possible to fix anything and the workmanship leaves a lot to be desired. I did order room service as this is only way at present to get food because of Covid 19. However once i had finished I left the tray outside the door of my room and was still there when i arrived back the next day from a full days work which meant it had been there a full 20 hours and was only collected when i placed it near the corridor. The building iis an old building but this doesn't excuse the way that the interior should look especially when the rooms are being classed as Executive.
When booking a 'dog friendly' room, we have often had some fairly scruffy rooms offered to us. However, The Best Western Priory room we hd was anything but that. It was in a very well kept courtyard on the edge of their gardens, so was practical too. While the room was a fairly standard hotel room, it was large, comfortable and clean. Only room service was available, due to the closure of the restaurant during the pandemic, but the food for dinner and breakfast was delivered promptly. For the price of the room, a very pleasant surprise and an enjoyable short stay.
Myself and husband have just returned from The priory after enjoying an excellent afternoon tea. From the moment we stepped through the doors, until we left later, we were treated with such kindness and hospitality. Lovely Sophie looked after us throughout our delicious experience. Attentive, and making sure if we needed anything she was on hand. Huge thanks Sophie, you are an absolute asset to the hotel x The afternoon tea itself was delicious and plentiful, and we were seated in the delightful Christmassy restaurant, with twinkling fairylights and decorated Christmas trees. Even some quietly playing Christmas songs in the background to set the Christmassy scene whilst enjoying our tea, overlooking the hotels gardens. What a pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon just before Christmas, and we must admit, it was just the right tonic we needed after the past horrible year we've all been through. Thank you Sophie and all the team so much for making the start of the season so lovely. We greatly appreciated our smashing visit. Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and a much brighter New Year 2021. Karen and Steve x
I booked a room via hotels.com for £81. On arrival they said they'd not had the money from the company so took my card details as guarantee. This was a big mistake. Today (a month after my stay) the hotel took £50 from my account WITHOUT my permission. This is verging on being fraudulent. There was no notice or explanation. I called the hotel who explained that they were struggling to get the money from hotels.com so have taken it from me instead. Best Western choose to be in partnership with the likes of hotels.com. I have paid for the room. If BW are struggling to get the money from hotels.com then that is something for the two companies to discuss, not an opportunity to double charge a customer having not gained permission nevermind having the decency to speak to me first. It's a disgrace. I will be contacting my bank to investigate. Michael
The staff are nice enough but even superior room was tired and shabby. Paint flaking off the walls and in need of a complete redecoration. The website pictures are utterly misleading. There are better options elsewhere for similar price.
We went for afternoon tea today it was lovely Covid 19 friendly and well organised Pleasant surroundings Great ambiance food was fresh and delightful and the staff very accommodating and looked after us extremely well will definitely be going back once this dam lockdown is over
We spent a night here and it was OK. The rooms were nice but could do with a update. The staff were friendly enough. The only thing we can't get our head round is the automatic light in the bathroom that takes about 15 minutes to turn off - what happens if you need to get up in the night, the light then takes forever to turn off and disrupts your sleep which is exactly what happened to us!!
Large clean room with lovely fluffy towels. Excellent staff - very helpful and polite. Slight problem with the room was remedied straight away, no fuss, by changing rooms. Covid regulations in place and adhered to by all staff. Good breakfast. Great value for money for a three night stay. The hotel is a bit dated. . I would recommend and would go back.
Very nice hotel. Lovely room. Restaurant and food were great. However the table we sat at was not socially distanced with the next table. Also the menus were taken back but not sanitised and just given out to the next customer. I've had warmer breakfasts but it was nice. One problem - as a vegetarian I don't appreciate the bacon tongs being used for the hash browns! However gluten free toast was available & a gluten free option was given last night for dinner.
I have been working in hospitality for over 30 years and on our way to Mildenhall for a mgt hotel position. I have also worked as a hotel secret shopper inspector for 8 years.The staff at the Best Western had no idea. Is the hotel perfect…. Maybe not as it's a very hold property/building and many things they can't control. With that said over the years I think it's fair to say that some things can be overlooked when the customer service is SUPER. The ship sails as the Captain skippers it. 1. MG moved our room so our car was directly in front of our room to make it easier to unload it. (FULL CAR due to the country to country move). 2. We were at breakfast and Frank (GM) walked in and asked the host if she needed any help? She said the tables would be great. In a blink of an eye he was clearing off tables! 3. Second night at the hotel in the evening the toilet broke. Went up to the front desk and a young clerk (two weeks at the job) helped us. He was empowered to move us (to a suite) for the night and then back into our room after maintenance fixed the toilet. 4. We found out that we would need a few more nights due to waiting for our place. Hana extended our nights at the lower rate that we received on hotel.com. 5. Housekeepers tracked us down to inform us of the status of the toilet twice….. Michelle is just an overall hospitality super star. She was working as a host, at the bar, and then would come back and help at the front desk! Chris - just wow, going out of his way to tell us the PLACES to go in Bury St Edmunds, then the next day asked us if we had a chance to visit the places. At dinner our hands full of stuff, he came over and said he would open the side door so we could take a short cut Vs going through the hotel. Not sure you can teach all of this. That is on the GM knowing people, reading them and then hiring them…. The ones that “HAVE IT” they enjoy helping and serving people. They truly try to make your stay a lasting memory. They have accomplished this with us. So that little stuff that you may read in the comments… we have decided to look past it and focus on the service.
Our first stay away since the virus was very reassuring. The measures in place made the hotel feel safe and comfortable. The staff were excellent. We had a room away from the main hotel building in a block of around ten grouped around a small courtyard and with its own parking. The room was well equipped and the bed comfortable, though the walls were thin any any conversation outside was clearly audible. We ate in the restaurant and had a decent meal. There was no wine list, so we ordered a bottle of red from behind the bar and was rather surprised at the price when the bill came, though the food was good value, pub price for hotel food. Breakfast was excellent with a full English one of the options. It is perhaps 25 minutes walk to the town centre, but that allows it space for a lovely garden. Well worth a look.
Great hotel . Little hard to find with sat navs. Staff very friendly and helpful. Nicely laid out hotel . Clean and bright . Restaurant spaced for covid. Food and attention by staff excellent . Overall a pleasant experience
Although room could use a bit of a refurb (carpet, bathroom), our garden room was still clean, tidy, spacious yet cosy, bed very comfortable. We stayed with our 2 small dogs & the garden room was perfect for us, away from main hotel so no corridor & no noise. Staff very friendly & helpful, we will stay again here.
Just come back from a night away at the priory. After reading other reviews we were all dubious but it was really nice. Lovely food - especially the tasty breakfast, the chef even made some fried bread for us which wasn't on the menu. Room 17 was clean, comfortable and had a good working bathroom. The hotel and grounds could do with a little tlc but the place was clean and comfortable and the staff friendly and helpful. There did seem to only be a skeleton staff working and they worked hard to make our stay pleasant. A good value overnight stay - we would definitely go back another time.
Stayed a couple of nights in one of the chalet rooms. Good value, nothing too special, absolutely fine for the money. Have noticed previous comments re breakfast quality - we found ingredients tasty and of good quality. Nothing to complain about at all with the quality of the food. Would say there is no signage to the breakfast room at all and it did take us quite a few minutes to find our way to it.
I have just stayed at this hotel for 10 nights, I read the TA reviews after I booked and wondered what to expect. My room was clean and there were no problems with hot water it was instant. Now the dining room where so many people had moaned about, the staff were lovely so helpful, they are working under difficult circumstances they have to wear masks there is not as many staff as maybe normal, we are in the middle of a pandemic! So things may be a little slower, relax. I saw people helping themselves to fruit juices! you have contaminated the jug for heavens sake just because you couldn't wait, don't expect to snap your fingers and expect instant service, wait don't get up march across the dining room to get something you ask for, you are putting other people at risk. Unfortunately part of the hotel was shut off, the best bit, the hall way had been flooded and the carpets need attention. But all in all I enjoyed my 10 day stay. Be nice to people and they will be nice to you.
The venue was perfect for our family to meet after my father's funeral. Service from the staff was excellent including serving sandwiches, cakes and hot drinks. Staff were friendly, polite and helpful.
Our visit was for 2 nights so I could attend a funeral. First of all even though we are in difficult times that makes no excuse for standards to be dropped . As you can see by the pictures this was the room we stayed in very tired and needs a complete refurb....bar was open in the evening but no one was manning it so we could not get a drink.... reported to reception but nothing was done about serving us. We made our way over the road to get food as menu was so limited. Lucky we did not have breakfast as I think reading the reviews we would of been disappointed. Very unsatisfied visit with hardly any staff to make you feel welcome.
I was sorry to see some complainers on TripAdvisor. I think they should reflect that the staff at the hotel were doing their best under very difficult circumstances. I wouldn't hesitate to stay at this hotel again if I was visiting Bury
Sadly, I didn't read the reviews of this hotel before booking. When we arrived the receptionist was telling the gentleman in front of us that if he wasn't happy with his room, to call her to get a better one, not a good start. Whilst the room itself was ok, the entry into the room was very difficult, we each had several attempts to get into the room, the key didn't want to turn. Just outside our door was an area that had numerous abandon cigarette butts. Breakfast, where to start, I think the photographs say it all! The ingredients were cheap, the cereal, the bread, the sausages etc The food was at best ‘warm', we had to ask for fruit juice, jam and sauce. It wasn't as though the chef was even busy, other than one other table of two, nobody else was having breakfast. It certainly was not worth the extra I had paid to include breakfast. You would get better value, all round, staying in a travelodge or premier inn. On check out, I addressed the issues I had had and the older lady from Zimbabwe said she would pass my comments on to the General Manager, no apology, although she did ask what was wrong with the breakfast. I informed her and also suggested that she read tripadvisor reviews.
We stayed here for one night. Although we understand that these are difficult times. This has got to be the worst hotel we have ever stayed in. It was a very hot spell, but the bar was not open to get a soft drink, or anything else. We rejected our original room. Despite it supposedly being an upgraded room. The room we ended up with, was by far not the cleanest. Stained carpets and very stained towels (yellow stains on the hand towels) The evening menu selection was appalling, unless you wanted a burger or a curry. On the plus side, there is an excellent pub serving good food across the road. The staff at the Priory, seem to accept that it's far below standard. There is absolutely zero chance that we would stay here again. If you just want somewhere to crash and aren't fussy about hygiene standards, this might be suitable if however, you want somewhere that is clean, you might want to look elsewhere.
Myself and my husband stayed here for a birthday treat for myself. I want to start on a good note that my husband took in some birthday banners and a balloon which they put up in our room for us so that was nice. We stayed in a superior room it's a very tired room with marks on the carpet and knocked furniture. The water pressure is rubbish and it takes ages to get the hot water at an ok temperature. We slept ok and the bed was also ok (not great but enough) Tea and Coffee supply wasn't great with only two sweeteners in the pot. Now down to the breakfast which we got included in our stay.... What a disappointment that was! We walked into the breakfast area and was asked if we wanted tea or coffee. We got seated in a nice area and was asked if we wanted toast too and what breakfast. I was really looking forward to my fried breakfast! The toast came first I must admit I was a bit gutted they were thin slices of bread that just seemed a little cheap. But thought never mind we have the breakfast coming. Well when it came my heart sank! The egg was so overcooked I got it sent back for a fresh one. When it come out again the egg was much better. But then I realised everything on my plate was overcooked and had dried out because of it. I didn't send it back again as it was just about edible. We didn't get asked if we wanted any juices or sauce so didn't think there was any available but then heard her ask another customer if they wanted some But at this point we had already finished so just left feeling disappointed and still hungry as the breakfast is only one sausage, one bacon, one egg, one hash brown, one half of a tomato and some mushrooms. Nothing had any flavour just the oil from the pan. I won't be coming back here unfortunately I'm also unable to speak to anyone as the front desk is closed.
We stayed at the priory. The room we stayed in was like being in the attic. It was too warm no air conditioning. We had an evening meal which was nice apart from having to swot the flies away. There were 5 flies on the window behind us. Breakfast was collect to go. It consisted of a sandwich which was meant to be sausage and egg, drink, muesli, yogurt, croissant, jam and bananas. When we were leaving on Saturday morning we had to wait for the chef to come in at 8.00am. He gave the security guard two breakfast bags to give to me. I found that he had put two disgusting bananas in the bag. Previously there were two decent bananasin the bag as I had seen them. So he had changed them. The sandwiches we had, had very little filling. This breakfast was disgusting. I phoned the manager on Sunday 19 July to complain and he was not interested. After being in lock down it was disgusting to be treated like this. We will not be going back to a best western hotel again. DO NOT RECOMMEND.
First time hotel opened after lockdown, run on limited staff who all were very accommodating. Grab bag for breakfast was ok but couldn't replace a full English. Shirley was very helpful and if we wanted anything she would see to it.
I booked this hotel as a birthday treat for a friend and we stayed for 2 nights in Oct 19. To say the stay was a bit of a disaster was an understatement. We booked a standard twin room. The room was basic, uninspiring but warm; but the main issue with the room was the beds. 2ft 6 beds where the mattresses have not been turned, means you end up trying to sleep on 1 ft of bed or else you fall out. We decided to try and make the best of it as we were only there for 2 nights. The restaurant was another disappointment. The first item we ordered was sold out. Fine. Went for a healthy option instead (a large separate section on the menu).. When it came, there were 2 small overcooked haddock fishcakes and a huge pile of lettuce covered in french dressing. Nothing healthy about it at all. Breakfast was buffet style and the hot food was cold. The next morning we were woken at 7 am by the fire alarm. As instructed we went to the allocated point but no one else arrived. Eventually we went back to our room. That evening we went to the restaurant again. The first three things we ordered were unavailable and the white wine came warm. At this point we asked to see a manager and met Ewan, the restaurant and beverages manager who did his best to put things right, even going out to get us some food for our meal. He spoke to us the next day and asked us to give them another chance with a repeat complimentary stay. All we had to do was phone and book at dates to suit us and we would be offered a free upgrade to our room as well. What a lovely gesture we thought and accepted. We rang up to book the stay and the receptionist said, sorry we don't know anything about it, We will phone you back. No-one phoned. Rang again. Different receptionist - same response. Eventually we got through on the third phone call to the manager, who booked us in. Last week we went back. We arrived and were given an identical room to the previous one - no upgrade. We were even given wrong directions as to how to get to the room. (Renovation work meant the entrance was not obvious). We rejected the room and were told the hotel was full so no other room was available. We explained about this being a repeat visit because of the issues we had had before, and the young receptionist said there was no record of any issues. (Why were we getting a complimentary stay then?) I asked for the manager and was told he was not on site, but the head housekeeper came and immediately sorted the problem. She offered us another room - presumably a superior room although the only difference in the two rooms was that the second one had 3 ft beds, not 2 ft 6 in beds, - the rest of the room was identical. A real disappointment but we accepted it as we needed somewhere to stay. We went to the restaurant. The first thing we ordered arrived with part of the dish missing and another part stone cold. We rejected it. The rest of the meal was fine. Breakfast was much improved as there was no longer a buffet, but we could order individual dishes which were very nice, The second dinner we had was fine. All the food we wanted was available until we came to the wine - they had run out of Pinot Grigio white wine. Most of the staff were lovely and very helpful but on the second night, there was not one manager working and for an hour the bar and restaurant was run by a 17 year old whilst his superior went on her break. The hotel has a lovely main building, nice location, nice helpful staff, but at the moment it has too many issues to warrant a return. I was grateful that my friend whose birthday treat it was, was able to laugh throughout the whole 2 stay experience. We were very pleased to have been offered the second stay, and we were so hopeful that our previous experience would prove to be a one-off, but it wasn't. So disappointed.
Only decided to go away day before booking, got to Hotel and they couldn't find booking but then realised I had booked wrong dates!! No drama though as they fitted us in - thanks to Shirley and lovely girl on reception. Originally booked executive room but our standard/classic room was absolutely fine. Clean and comfy. We ate both nights in the restaurant, food was really nice. Shame was not very busy considering hotel was full, atmosphere could have been better especially Sunday night when no background music. Breakfast Monday was ordered off menu so nicely prepared, Monday was a buffet, and could have been better. Few grumbles from a couple of guests but overall ok. For a 3 star hotel was pleasantly surprised. All the staff were pleasant and friendly, especially Shirley and Hannah and receptionist (sorry didn't get her name) who sorted out room for us. Would go back and recommend for a reasonable priced comfortable stay.
Having stayed at the Priory hotel previously and knowing it had been refurbished, when I saw an offer on Groupon for afternoon tea I bought the option for four thinking it would be a good way to see what changes had been made. One of our party is gluten free so I emailed the hotel to ask them to make one of the afternoon teas gluten free. I received an email back from the general manager saying that was no problem and they had made a note of this for our visit. On arrival we went in and they have relocated reception to the front entrance rather than down the corridor (there were two entrances but I suspect they may now have made the rear entrance/parking staff only). The ‘new' reception was previously the bar which was very odd so definitely much better. We were greeted by a nice man (not sure of his name) who directed us into the garden room where our table was and said he would bring our Prosecco through shortly. We went into the garden room (previously the dining room) and our table was obvious as the only table set up. What surprised us was that this room immediately reminded us of an old people's home as there were probably about 15 armchairs at the other end of the room (see photo). We were going to look at the changes/extension but decided to wait until after we had had our afternoon tea (in hindsight I wish we had looked first as we would have asked to sit in the new bar area). After a few minutes waitress came over and asked if we would like tea or coffee. When she came back with these I double checked that they had made one of the afternoon teas gluten free so she said she would find out. The guy from reception then came through and said they didn't know one of us was gluten free and they had nothing in for afternoon tea that was suitable. He was very apologetic and said the chef wasn't being very helpful. He suggested the GF person chose something else off the menu instead and also said we could have the whole bottle of Prosecco due to the error (not received at this point). We poured our tea/coffee and found the tiny milk jug had just about enough milk for three. The waitress then came back to take the order so we asked her for some more milk and could she fill it to the top (she said she had changed the milk which is why it wasn't full last time but went away and filled it up). She asked if we would all like our food together to which we said yes. We asked if we could have the Prosecco that was part of the deal and were told the guy from reception would bring shortly but was just showing some people round. It appeared there were only these two and the chef as staff. It probably took about 1/2hr before we got the Prosecco. Once the food was ordered it did come out quickly (although as we were the only people in there apart from those being shown around you wouldn't expect much else). Afternoon tea and sea bass were very nice. Only thing missing was other guests and/or some background music. We then went to have a look at the extension and the new restaurant is lovely, very light and airy overlooking the garden with a bar on one side which also services the bar area on the other side. We then looked at the bar area and again, this is lovely, overlooking the garden. Background music playing in both. At this point we agreed it would have been much nicer to have had our food in there - not sure why we were put in a room with no atmosphere. Overall we did have a laugh at the events that ensued and enjoyed the food. I would go back again to stay and use the restaurant (have always eaten out on previous stays as old restaurant was stuffy and dated). The changes are a definite improvement with the exception of the garden room which needs something else - sofas & a TV maybe? Or somehow knock through from reception to make a much larger reception area (although old fireplace area between the two rooms that's no longer use could make this difficult. With a few changes this would be a lovely place to stay and dine.
Just had a very pleasant afternoon tea at the priory hotel. All the staff that we met were very welcoming and helpful and we had sufficient sandwiches with nice fillings, lovely scones and small cakes and ample coffee.
8 of us got together for an afternoon tea at this hotel. All staff we came into contact with were smart and friendly. We were shown to our table which was already laid and prepared for us. First of all the waitress took our tea/coffee orders and we had a pot each. They supplied 3 cake stands between the 8 of us with a selection of finger sandwiches which were fresh and tasty. There were sausage rolls, fruit scones with jam & cream, fresh cream eclairs, chocolate brownies & shortcake biscuit, and everything was very nice. We stayed chatting for a while and were offered more drinks. All in all I would recommend an afternooon tea at this comfortable venue.
Stayed a couple of nights, had one of the "cottage" rooms away from the main hotel, comfortable for a budget price ... only downside was that someone tried our door one night while we were in bed ... can't really blame the hotel for that. Food was good and reasonably priced ... staff were excellent and couldn't do enough to help. Plenty of tea and coffee and milk in the room which was a nice surprise ... I'd already bought milk because I get fed up of being left with only a couple of pots and running out ... didn't need it.
Superior Room - superior to what? Small room, standard 5ft double, bedside lamp did not work, USB charger only on one side of the bed, no lighting near mirror, small walk in shower, no bath (some std rooms had a bath), and the bathroom stank of cigarette smoke. Breakfast - no vegetarian options for the meats available, stuck with beans and eggs, mushrooms too salty and peppery (hand slipped?), worst blackpudding I have ever tasted. Hotel - just little things - disabled ramp not pleasant for abled bodied people to walk up, especially in heals (not mine), but the ramp takes up whole entrance, banister up the stairs does not fill with confidence as it moves and alot of little trip hazards and visually poor things. Will go to a travelodge next time!
It was a pleasure to stay. All the staff were warm and welcoming. Nothing was too much trouble. The hotel is well maintained, my room was very nice with a lovely view over the gardens, a nice quite spot in a bustling town. I would thoroughly recommend.
It is absolutey rare for a facility to have the staff of this establishment. The folks at the front desk were astounding, and the staff at the bar were very helpful. But not many places have a place like Mike the Night Porter. Mike keeps a close watch on the place and has legitimate care for the residents. Down to earth like the rest of the staff, I was glad the he was around after I got back late at night for work. The fact that that administration of this facility took care in even their selection of the porter spoke words to a few of us who talked about it after. Rooms were well maintained, heat effective, beds well done. Pick this place for the staff.
Attended a family wedding in Jan 2020, considering the short notice the Management and staff could not have done more - The garden was immaculate (for Photo's), reception and bar area clean, Bar/Reception staff very helpful and the food was SUPERB !! Organising such an event can be extremely stressful, using the Priory took away a lot of these stresses - Many, Many Thanks - Highly recommended
I recently booked a cream tea (Via Groupon) for my daughters birthday along with my husband and grandson. When we arrived we were shown to a very large dining room, with only our table set for tea, the other tables were set for the evening dinner, nobody else arrived so it was very quiet! We were given our tea and were offered tea or coffee, Rae sandwiches were so dry you could have made breadcrumbs them, the fillings were egg mayo and tuna! There were also a couple of pre frozen sausage rolls, we did complain about the sandwiches and we were made 2 plates of freshly made (with same fillings). There was 1 scone each, pre bought! With jam and aerosol cream! Then some cake, tiny little lemon curd tarts, chocolate brownie and some other cake that nobody could actually recognise! The picture on Groupon showed savoury croissants, prawns on crusty bread, strawberry's with the scones etc etc. I will add that the staff at all times were friendly and apologetic and understood why we were disappointed, they took my name and number, told me the manager would phone me, that was nearly 2 weeks ago! So if anyone is considering the cream tea - don't. The picture on Groupon is not what you get! Would again just like to say that the staff are the saving grace along with the location, both would get 5 stars.
I have been staying at this hotel on a regular basis and have to say the the friendly helpful staff are a pleasure to meet from the reception staff through to the house keepers who are all friendly and helpful and will go the extra mile to ensure you have a good stay. Although works have been going on to upgrade the buildings and facilities at this hotel the disruption has been minimal and the new and refurbished rooms are great.
We chose to have our wedding at the priory hotel which was the best decision. It was all prepared quickly and they exceeded all my expectations. They went above and beyond to make my day perfect and frank couldn't do enough for us. Small touches such as placing a sofa in the dining room to allow me to nurse my babies made the day stress free . The venue was beautiful and the garden made for perfect wedding photos to capture memories of the day that I shall cherish for years to come. The food was fantastic with everyone commenting on how amazing the beef dinner was in particular. The bar staff ensured no one had to wait too long for drinks either. Our room was great too and accommodated 2 travel Cots for my twin babies with plenty of space still. Breakfast was great too. I don't have a bad word to say. My day was perfect and if I could do It all again I would definitely come back here. I will be bringing back my family for a meal for sure. Management should be proud of their team.
Attended a family wedding reception here. Staff were friendly and very helpful and accommodating. Facilities were clean and tidy. Garden was beautifully kept and perfect for pictures. Food was absolutely delicious. Exceeded my expectations and would absolutely reccomend.
I attended a wedding reception for a family members wedding here and i thoroughly recommend anyone considering choosing this venue, the staff were so polite and very helpful considering how many people were there! Also great service at the bar!!
The Best Western were excellent in helping us put together a wedding function at less than 4 weeks notice. The venue is fantastic, the food was great and we were really well looked after. Highly recommended!
We had a clean and comfortable room, and the staff were friendly and helpful, especially at breakfast were the ladies were very cheerful and welcoming. The buffet was plentiful , but only one moan..the toast was dire!!! Sliced bread only half toasted! But they are still worth 5 stars, no one is perfect!!
Hotel & room setting was nice. I was in the courtyard area. Stepping inside was a bit dated, fine though. Poor Internet & poor TV quality though. Frustrating whilst trying to work in the evening. The room could have been cleaner, cobwebs and dirt in places. On a few of the nights it seemed like the walls were made of paper. Being able to hear conversations then snoring wasn't great. Ear plugs solved this though. Reception were helpful & breakfast was good. Nice hotel, but room for improvement.
Upon arrival reception staff efficient, and friendly . Room 15 rather small but clean with all amenities. Two night stay with travelzoo deal was excellent value for money. Staff could not do enough to assist in all areas, evening meal good quality and plentiful. Breakfast buffet style great choice , a quaint and well run hotel will be back.
A great experience eating and staying at The Priory Hotel. The Christmas meal was excellent, top quality and generous complemented by friendly service. The atmosphere was welcoming and the room was generous and comfortable. Great value and highly recommended.
We had our Christmas party here and to be honest I can't fault the hotel at all. The receptionists were fast and friendly and the same can be said for the bar and restaurant staff. It was great value for money and will definitely do it again next year. Well done to everyone at the Priory! Thank you.
We had a very enjoyable stay in this hotel. Our room was clean, warm and a very comfortable bed. The bathroom was clean, lovely toiletries, plenty of towels and well functioning shower. We ate dinner in the restaurant and despite another function in progress in the hotel we were given excellent attention and service. Staff went out of their way to accommodate specialist dietary needs for us and the food was delicious. There was a problem at breakfast due to unexpected staff sickness but these things happen and the staff did their best in these difficult circumstances.
A beautiful hotel with lots of character and great customer service from staff set is a secluded part of a busy Bury St edmunds. Rooms were exceptionally clean and very nice cooked breakfast and car parking facilities. Will definitely be staying again and I would nto have hesitation in reccomending this hotel to friends and family.
We held a local children's home meal at the Priory hotel and they went above and beyond to make the meal so special. Thank you so much to all of the staff involved, you made it a Christmas meal that they will not forget. Special mention goes to Frank who was wonderful!
The hotel buildings and location are great but poor service, poor quality food and bad plumbing meant we had a bad experience. The room was comfortable and warm but the plumbing meant we had no hot water one evening and had to run the tap for 15 minutes before the shower got warm. The toilet flush was useless! Service in the restaurant was slow and inadequate. One of our meals (fishcake) was very poor quality and when we complained there was no apolgy and we doubt whether the waitress even mentioned it to the chef! Breakfast was slightly better but cheap, false economy orange juice and coffee, spoilt the experience. The bar experience was poor, we ordered coffees after our meal, sat down expecting it to be brought to the table but no, just left on the bar and we had to collect! Staff training badly needed.
Couldn't get into the All saints Hotel so tried a BW called the Priory which I am a diamond member of. It is a very cute hotel which offers an array of different type of rooms. It's one of those old type buildings that have the creeky floor boards. The reception are really friendly and so are the bar staff. However, The senior waiter keeps wanting me to either face a window or face away from the rest of the restaurant. I find that a little odd. I keep thinking he wants to do me over with the Candlestick like some board game. The food is quite terrible and I paid eleven something quid for a chef special which was dry fried chicken and chips. The other times I've been here I had a dry chicken burger ( I don't think the chef likes cooking chicken). But the worst by far was the chefs version of a curry. I didn't think you could have a curry that is less hotter than a korma. But the chef seems to want to prove me wrong. It was awful. It says black pudding on the breakfast menu but not once have I come across any. The restaurant does have a lot of potential but is let down by the Culinary department. Other than this, the showers are good, the beds are comfortable and all staff are very friendly.
really nice clean, well set up room, (disabled) heating brilliant, beds brilliant All staff great, breakfast brilliant, lovely choice. this is the first time we have used a Best Western and would use them again, especially here in Bury.
The hotel was not very central but opposite a lovely friendly pub with large food selection. Hotel was clean, comfortable and staff were very helpful and friendly making check in and out very easy. Clean basic room with comfortable beds - all in all an enjoyable stay, perfect for wedding guests
The reception and all staff were so helpful and friendly. They really couldn't do enough for us. Breakfast was good. Our room was very big, but the rooms really need a good refurbishment, although extremely clean.
Booked a Travelzoo promotion to stay overnight, the hotel rang the night before our stay to say they were having a Pudding Club event and would we like to participate. We accepted and had great fun. We stayed in the main hotel and our room was well equipped, spotlessly clean and comfortable.
Stayed here for one night as meetings nearby. Decent sized car park round the back but it is a bit secluded so I was a bit worried about my car overnight but it was fine Decent welcome on arrival. Room was okay but not sure how it could be classed as an executive room. Food was pretty good and decent price. The only issue is it seems staff are having to be in two places at once throughout the hotel so having to wait to be served at the bar and reception was a bit annoying. Felt sorry for staff as they clearly need more
The hotel is i need of renovation, i stayed it one of the outbuildings not in the main hotel, the room was tired and tatty, the room had an a-joining room that was only bolted by a poxy small bolt lock, the main room was just old and needed refurbishing, the bathroom was sub standard, there was a musty smell about it and it was very mouldy in every aspect. The restaurant had absolutely no atmosphere and the staff were not very helpful. The food was average. I feel that there was a lack of management and would not stay here again.
Although the price was good booking direct with the company, the hotel is tired and needs a good clean such as black and mildew around the bathroom fittings and armchairs in the lounge emitting a strange aroma. Additionally, when we checked in despite paying for bed and breakfast the receptionist had us down for room only. Luckily I had the confirmation email. Breakfast was average. The menu for those paying says black pudding, but this not available to those on the b&b rate! my wife doesn't drink tea or coffee and we were told we would have to pay £2 extra for a hot chocolate. In summary I suppose you get what you pay for. But could do better.
Stayed here as part of a business trip stopover. Wifi could be better other than that decent hotel full of excellent staff, Ewan Kenny in particular was attentive, charismatic and above all professional.
Having previously stayed at this hotel with a good overall experience, we returned for a long weekend on 18th October. Breakfast on the Saturday morning was absolutely shambolic. Around 10 guests arrived at 08:00 and just sat at their tables with a menu for 20 minutes waiting for a member of staff to take their orders. The cold buffet was incomplete, no toast or toaster or offer of toast. The waitress was heard to be blaming 'a reorganisation' and arguing with the chef. Four guests got up and walked out in disgust. Then we saw a heated servery being carried throuigh into an adjacent corridor. Shortly after we heard the waitress tell another table that there was a hot buffet in the corridor. Sure enough, we ventured into the corridor to find food - but hot, it certainly wasn't. I took away a plate full of food and ate it, but all of food was stone cold. Then my wife managed to catch the eye of the waitress and order some toast some 30 minutes after arriving, but there wasn't any marmalade on the cold buffet table. Subsequently the receptionist was drawn in to help clear the tables. No words of explanation or apologies were offerred. Breakfast on day 2 was fine, coffee and toast brought to the table and a hot buffet, which was actually hot. Rather bizarrely there were no beans - the staple of any English breakfast. The room was good value for money, apart from the fact that the shower screen over the bath was fixed / constrained and you had to climb into the bath to turn the taps on. A somewhat bizarre arrangement.
This is a charming hotel with a different to usual layout. I must point out that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the layout, it's just different. The staff at this hotel are, without exception, excellent. They were friendly to both us and our dog. The room was excellent. It was well lit and spotlessly clean. It had tea and coffee making equipment and biscuits as well as a TV and desk and chair. The food at this hotel is excellent. The grounds are beautiful and there is plenty of space to walk a dog. Speaking of dogs this hotel is very dog friendly. The staff all love dogs and went out of their way to make a fuss of our dog. To those of us who take our dogs on holiday this means a lot. We were even given a small packet of dog treats when we d in. There was a bin for the dogs poop outside our room. This hotel really did think of everything. The hotel has a very pleasant bar area serving good quality food. Dogs are permitted in the bar. This hotel is outstanding in all aspects and is definitely worthy of a five star rating.
We stayed here for one night , on arrival the receptionist was welcoming and informative, our room was in the main part of the house very spacious clean and well equipped. Breakfast was served in the bright and airy garden room , it was good quality and hot breakfast was tasty, staff in the restaurant were friendly and efficient, we would definitely use this hotel when we are in this area again
One of the filthiest hotels I've visited. Black line around water level in the toilet, corners of the bathroom floor never been wiped in months. Grime in bathroom crevices, which must house bacteria. Receptionist was rude to the couple in front of me when I checked in.
Reception and front area very nice with Friendly Reception. Rooms very nice but the Bathyrooms are very tied and need updating as was the only thing to let the hotel down. Bar and Restaurant was Excellent and again the Bar Manager was faultless would stay there again if in area.
A very pleasant 3 night stay.The staff were all friendly, polite and very helpful.The rooms were clean and comfortable and complimentary refreshments and biscuits topped up daily. I had my greyhound with me and all the staff were very kind to her and made a fuss of her which she loved. We ate in The bar lounge because of the dog but it was very comfortable. The breakfast was beautifully cooked and very tasty. Just one minor irritation was the toilet flush handle in my sister's room had to be 'pumped' to get it to flush.
Food is amazing, especially the crispy chicken. All full of flavour and deserving of a try even if not staying in the hotel. Staff are very kind and go the extra mile to make the stay memorable, we where celebrating our anniversary and the waiter Ewan brought us a desert sharer plate on the house which was a nice added touch. Hotel not that busy apart from breakfast on Sunday which was a buffet style. Really deserving of more than 3 star, restaurant area has been recently refurbished which gives the hotel a more upmarket feel. Only negatives to point out where the rooms need a deeper clean as the blinds where covered in dust and dead insects, but otherwise the rooms where clean to a very satisfactory standard. The room decor also needs modernising a little to go with the upmarket feel. I would recommend and even go again myself.
We booked into this hotel for a long weekend. At first glance, it seemed to be perfect but, on closer inspection, we realised how tired and dated it was. We stayed in one of the lodges in the courtyard and whilst it was a nice size, there were a few things that needed updating such as the decor, both in the bedroom and the bathroom, which were also in need of a good deep clean. We only went into the bar area once for an evening drink but the poor girl behind the bar was run ragged although extremely friendly and helpful. Not sure if she was the only member of staff on duty but nothing was too much trouble for her. The majority of the other evenings were spent over the road at The Tollgate, just a two minute walk away.
Visited this hotel for three nights. Room was ok but needed a bit of a update. Breakfast was a bit chaotic, food was plentiful but not enough staff on to look after all the customers waiting for service.
We stayed for one night whilst visiting family in the area. Pro's Really lovely staff Excellent Breakfast Nice clean hotel Bed very comfortable Garden view with windows that open Very quiet Con's Long walk up and down stairs to room. No idea if there was a lift. All stairs need handrails for safety Small room more suitable for single person Bed small probably only 4ft 6in Small shower but okay if you are very slim Despite all the cons, reason for only 3 rating we would stay again but would request a room more suitable for us
My husband and I went to Bury St Edmunds for a wedding, we stayed for one night and were very impressed with the accomodation, a separate bungalow type room, very large with large bathroom, tea making and flat screen tv. Everything very clean and the breakfast the next morning was as good as anything we have had in the past. Great value for money.
Loved staying at this hotel, staff were all very willing to try and make our stay better, offering assistance with heaters/taxi bookings etc. Even for our young daughter the staff were very pleasant with her and tried to communicate with her about her stories and visit. Would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone.
The staff were very helpful in making the evening very special for my girlfriends birthday dinner. Our son works here and he arranged for us to go there for an evening meal as he has been saying the food was very nice. Demi and kitty were serving in the restaurant and were very professional and polite. Demi went and got some candles for my girlfriend's cake and come out with them on the cake I'm very happy with all the service and the staff there Louise on the front desk was happy and friendly we also gave them all some of the cake .
I recently helped organise a group visit to Suffolk and we stayed at the Priory Hotel. The rooms were very clean and comfortable. There was a good choice of menus for dinner and everything anyone could wish for at breakfast. The food was freshly cooked and well presented. The newly built restaurant has lovely views over the well-maintained garden as do some of the ground floor rooms. If there was a slight problem it was sorted quickly by the excellent staff. We were given a lovely welcome on arrival and Kim, the General Manager was really helpful with arrangements prior and during our stay. There is a large car park which is an advantage and I would certainly stay here again.
We looked for a dog friendly hotel, and this place ticked all the boxes. The staff where all friendly and good to the dog. The grounds also gave us somewhere to take the dog out in the evening and morning. Would recommend, and will be returning on our next stay in Bury St Edmonds.
Just like to say a big thankyou to Frank,Kim and the rest of the staff who provided an excellent service for my daughter Becca and son in law Seans wedding yesterday The room looked amazing just how we had requested it The food was very good and some of us stayed the rooms were excellent too Thankyou for an amazing day Jackie Elsden
I have stayed at many Best Western hotels and can honestly say this one is the worst hotel I have ever stayed in. Jade our receptionist was fab as she was also running the bar and the kitchen, there was no other staff in sight anywhere. Apparently they had finished there jobs and gone home. This was at 1.45pm and we could not get a drink at the bar and the kitchen was closed even though the menu said they served food until 2pm. Getting drinks or food was a huge issue and we had to go to the reception to ask for anything, staffing issues in abundance here. My room was dirty, in disrepair and dated, as was the whole hotel. We went for breakfast and the toast machine, coffee machine and ice machine were all broken. Faulty Towers!
Just has a great nights stay in this hotel, food was lovely, rooms nice and clean, location central, staff were lovely and helpful especially receptionist Louise who went out of her way to help us!!!!
Visited with my daughter today for afternoon tea and was extremely impressed. We've been taking afternoon tea at a few different venues locally and were very happy with the Priory. The staff gave excellent service, the scones were delicious, good selection of both sandwiches and cakes. Plenty of tea and offered more too. Lovely environment and excellent value for money. Plan to visit again for an evening meal.
We have stayed several time as this hotel but feel that the standards have declined in the last year or so. This applied particularly at dinner on Sunday night. Our drinks order arrived ½ hour after we had entered the dining room. Not until then did the waitress take the food order. So it was well over an hour after sitting down that the food appeared. One of our friends requested salad without any dressing yet it arrived with oil on the lettuce and was sent back. The waitress called everyone Darling or Love which the whole group (6 of us) found objectionable. We shall look for another hotel for our next get together in East Anglia.
This hotel is amazing. A small location with lots of character, the priory is located in the heart of bury close to many delicious local pubs. The interior is classically decorated with loads of history. Above all the staff is what sets this hotel apart. The staff is super attentive and friendly. Notably the night porter mike is the nicest most professional person I have ever crossed paths with. If I ever return to the UK it will be because of mikes excellent customer service.
We were a W.I. Group who had afternoon tea in the garden room on 08/08/2019.The food was delicious fresh sandwiches cream scones and delicious cakes.The staff were lovely so friendly and helpful.There is a lovely garden there too. The garden room would be very good for a function or family event.
The staff here, from reception to cleaning staff, are exceptionally good, and helpful. The room was well appointed & perfect for staying with a dog, as you come straight out into the very nicely kept grounds. We didn't eat dinner as we were visiting friends so I can't comment on it. For us the breakfast was rather expensive at £12 each, because we don't eat very much, though if you like a big breakfast it would be good as it had a hot and cold buffet & plenty of choice. The coffee was nice. Would definitely stay again when visiting the beautiful town of Bury St Edmunds.
Great beer selection and the food was great too. Sarah suggested the fish and chip, and boy was it tasty. The rooms was ok, but the scenery was pretty awesome. I would definitely recommend this place, and stay again.
The staff were lovely & friendly but other things could improve. Our bedroom was very hot even with a fan & windows open. I don't class a fan as air conditioning. The shower was poor. A big bathroom but heat coming up from the floor & full lighting coming on in the night as soon as you Opened the en suite door . Cooked Breakfast was ‘okay' but needed to be replenished quicker. However served with coffee/ tea & toast immediately & staff very pleasant & helpful. Lovely garden rooms which possibly might be cooler.
Have been many times before, very friendly staff. Big new dining room and bar. Sunny and airy. Garden room, reasonable size, tv reception seemed better tan on previous visits. Good position. Visited lots of surrounding areas. Only criticism, don't like the high stool/chairs in the bar, not enough comfy seats.
Stayed for one night to attend a wedding. Room was adequate if a bit dated but clean. Quiet and peaceful so on the whole had a good night's sleep. Breakfast however was a different experience, most items on the menu had run out or not available, had to ask for some toast twice but never actually got any, tried to get coffee but ran out and had to wait for refill, altogether worst breakfast service we have ever experienced. Wouldn't reccomend staying if you enjoy a nice leisurely breakfast.
We stayed a night following a cricket match nearby. We arrived on a very hot evening managed to find the receprion from the car park and were shown to our room by a friendly receptionist. The room was in a block that resembelled a single story motel. On opening the door we found a basic room that was very hot. To cool it down we had to prop the door open and open the window and the window in the bathroom to get a through draft. Following a shower to cool down we again opened the bathroom window and the handle fell off and droped into the carpark. The bathroom was dated and was in need of refurbishment a bath panel was loose an had a screw sticking out of it. We had a meal in the restaurant which was fine and the breakfast was very good with good quality products the only problem being that the hot buffet ran out of scrambled eggs. Sleep was difficult as the room was very hot despite a fan being provided. Our nights sleep was interrupted by what I think was the noise from the plumbing running through the roof space which started at 6:30 in the morning and stopped any chance of sleep. It was our first stay at a Best Western hotel and I had expected a better standard of accomodation from this chain. Before we arrived we were e-mailed asking if we wished to upgrade our accommodation I think I now understand why.
The hotel room was ok. It was very warm but as it faced the main road we couldn't leave a window open overnight but a fan had been provided. There was only only one bedside lamp but reception sent another. It is a very old hotel with very uneven floors so be aware if you have mobility problems. The meal though was horrendous. The menu advertised 'chef specials' but there weren't any. We ordered a bottle of chardonnay but was told by a very embarrassed waitress that they had to chill one, so we had water with our starters. My chicken pate was disgusting with horrible chutney and dry toast which I think had been left over from the night before. My husbands white bait with cumin (a new one on me) was so so. The wine appeared with our main course but as it was still warm in the glass, ice cubes were added. No I didn't drink it. My main course of scampi and chips were fine if overcooked although my husbands steak and ale pie was rock hard and he couldn't eat the pastry. We were told that we wouldn't be charged for the wine. There was no way we would have paid and if we hadn't prepaid for the meal we wouldn't have paid for that. The food at breakfast was good quality and well cooked if sparse. Insufficient staff covered a full restaurant. I ate a cooked breakfast in 2 lots. The ordered poached egg with sausage, bacon and mushrooms then beans and hash browns which I had to ask for but the black pudding had gone. I had a warm plate because my egg came freshly cooked from the kitchen but my husband's was cold. We went to breakfast at 9.30am so weren't late nor were we the last to arrive. My advice is if you stay there eat in the pub over the road and go to breakfast as soon as service starts. We won't be going again
I stayed here for 12 nights while attending a course. When I booked I looked online a seen the pictures online and the place looked nice but on arrival you soon realise the quality and standard are very poor. Rooms are musty smelling with badly dated and worn furniture. Mostly the other guests had work in the morning so it was mainly quite quiet but on the Friday and Saturday night it turned into a Disco and the noise was unbearable due to the very poor soundproofing in the rooms. I could hear everything. Entertainment: standard TV with a few Freeview channels... Internet 2 Mbps Bathroom : extremely poor standard with grime and scum build up around the bath and shower. Staff were nice on arrival and cleaners did a good job, unfortunately this would need a deep clean and money spent on it to make it acceptable so I can't blame them. Restaurant was empty every night and when I attempted to get a meal there I couldn't find anyone to serve me. Very poor standard of accomodation and service I would question the Star rating of this hotel as it resembles more a Motel or hostel I would avoid this hotel if you are looking for a romantic or luxury stay as its very much no frills. Don't like giving bad reviews but I felt I needed to on this occasion
My wife and I spent three days in the hotel this week. We have two labradoodles and came to enjoy nearby Thetford Forest for a short break for all of us. The hotel is especially welcoming to dog owners. Every member of staff (special mention to our room cleaners... lovely people.... also Jade - receptionist - who is perfect! Exactly what a receptionist should be... Friendly, welcoming and helpful) The room was lovely (we had a room in the garden - so perfect access for the dogs and the garden view is beautiful) dogs are welcome in the bar and literally, across the road is a dog friendly pub/restaurant (The Tollgate - a Greene King pub) car parking is great and the hotel was peaceful and relaxing. We wouldn't hesitate to stay here whenever we revisit Bury St Edmunds. I would also mention that we have worked in the hospitality business for 30 yrs (hotels and cruise ships around the world) So we really do appreciate great hospitality. Thanks to all at Best Western Priory Hotel.
The hotel is quite well situated, within easy reach of the centre. It is clean and the room was comfortable, although the walls are paper thin and it is possible to hear everything in the next room. Our television had a problem, so we were given another room which was quieter. The staff couldn't be more helpful and pleasant. The breakfast was lovely, but the service varied. Some days it was quick, others not so much. This was not the fault of the waitresses, who worked very hard indeed, but it seemed to cause a problem if the restaurant was busy. We enjoyed our stay here and would recommend it, but don't expect 5 star amenities.
Booked 3 rooms here for 2 nights in June. I booked a superior room for my mother and father in law who got upgraded to a suite which was really nice. I also booked a classic double and a twin room. These rooms were in the courtyard as we had a small dog with us. Our first morning the staff arranged tables together to enable the 6 of us to sit together in the lounge area - they also allowed my wife and I to decorate the area with some banners for the father in laws 80th. The breakfast was buffet style which was the normal assortment of fruit, yoghurt, cereals, pastries and cooked. All was really good and plentiful. We did not dine in the restaurant due to the fact we had the dog and the lounge area was not ideal to spend an evening around a dinner table as the seats were quite low to the table. Another negative was the price of a cup of tea £3.25! I'm sure we would have spent more in the bar area if the beverages were more reasonable. On our last morning I had to leave early to get a train to London so the previous evening I asked if the kitchen could make me something first thing. It was a lovely surprise to find a nice bacon sandwich plus fresh fruit and a cup of tea in my goody bag to help me on my way. When my family went for breakfast later that morning, the staff had arranged a table in the lounge area set up for 5 people. Nothing was too much trouble for them and I understand they even cooked some more boiled eggs for my daughter as her first batch were too hard. We all had a thoroughly nice time. The rooms were clean and comfortable and the grounds of the hotel well kept. The staff seem to take pride in their jobs and seem well trained - the customer service was amongst the best we have received in the UK. Thank you all for a great time and for helping to make the weekend for my father in law - we will be back.
The Hotel was efficiently run, had clean and comfortable bedrooms and was positioned in pleasant grounds. The food was of good quality with generous portions and served in a new, light and airy restaurant overlooking the garden. Staff were attentive and, in particular, Jade (Head of Reception and Events ) was very helpful. All in all a very pleasant place to stay. P
Very comfortable accommodation. Friendly staff. Jade Callis on reception very helpful (full of energy and provided useful information, with a smile) - Giuseppe in restaurant made a great Hot Chocolate. All staff generally happy and helpful. Powerful and lovely shower. Would definitely stay here again.
Much improved over this time last year, the new 'superior' rooms are nicer than Premier inn - very comfortable and a home from home. They're all different and the staff know which ones I prefer and whenever possibly they ensure I am booked into a preferred room (thanks to Jade and Carl). Whilst the new rooms, bar and restaurant are all very nice, it's the staff that make this place for a regular visitor. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. After a few months we've tired of the menu but the chef is happy to make to order so long as they have the ingredients. As with anywhere there's the odd minor issue from time to time, but I'm a pretty difficult customer and this has become my first choice in Bury. Congratulations to Jade, Carl, Karen, matt and all the team at The Priory for making this my home from home.
i have been staying here past few weeks . i would say the customer service has been excellent. All the staff are very friendly and accommodating.The rooms, especially the new one ones are very good.Special Mention to Carl and Jade , they have been very help full. The Chef, Matt, has even cooked us one of his delicious Chinese specials dishes for us .
We are just home from a lovely afternoon at the Priory. The staff were so efficient and accommodating, and the food was excellent. Giuseppe was helpful with all the planning of our event, and everything went like clockwork. The new dining room and the beautiful gardens were perfect for our celebration. Thank you so much. We will definitely be back.
Work away in Bury a lot and have stayed in a number of the hotels in the town but this has to be my favorite. Staff there are lovely and can't do enough to make you feel welcome, special mention to Jade and Tina. The rooms are all recently decorated, well equipped and clean. Excellent WiFi which for me is a must
Very good hotel . Its close to town centre and golf courses . The rooms are very clean and the staff are very friendly and accommodating. The bar and restaurant are also good . We've stayed a couple of times and will certainly stay again .
Excellent stay from start to finish. Jade made me a very welcome guest (and all others). Throughout the stay the team and especially Jade did everything possible to make my stay the best it could be, including checking shortly after settling into the room that all was ok. Having asking for a dinner recommendation from the menu, I was not disappointed, both in the speed of room service (again delivered by Jade) and the taste and presentation. Even having worked until late at night, I was amazed that again, greeted with a smiling face on checkout was again Jade, ensuring my stay had been perfect. I'd highly recommend this hotel and the team.
I have been up here for 7 weeks and for what we get up here it's good. The WiFi, cleanliness and the staff are generally amazing and good, I haven't had a massive problem with anything, but since I'm working away from home. The breakfast is better when they don't have the buffet but hey beggars can't be choosers still decent and you can ask how you want your eggs etc. Each room is different to one or the other but the ones I have been in so far hasn't been a problem they're always cleaned daily and for people who take a console or something with them there is a desk or a table near the tv and can be moved for ease. For the working customers this hotel is massively recommended as it's got everything that is needed. For others customers it's good as the town isn't too far and is walkable.
Stayed for a week had an excellent stay special thanks to Jade and Sharma a credit to there company keep up the good work .Rooms comfy and spacious beds were excellent shower was excellent bar staff are friendly and always got time for a chat.
As we are having a new kitchen fitted we are trying different places for lunch. I've lived in or around Bury all my life and have never been in The Priory so decided to give it a try. We sat in The Terrace bar we had our dog with us, dogs are allowed in this bar and they have rooms available for people that wish to bring their dogs. It was a lovely relaxed atmosphere with nice views of the beautiful garden. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Kevin the chef popped out to say hello and we watched him help a disabled lady use the lift. Our lunch was very tasty and we will certainly return. Good work Priory Hotel.
Had a lovely stay in this hidden gem not far from the centre of the beautiful BSE.I found the staff endearing and very helpful throughput our stay here today.I would not hesitate to return in the near future.
Weekend break to Bury St Edmund's with my partner and nine year old daughter. General manager and the girl was so helpful on our arrival. Had to change rooms due to no children's bed being put in. Sofa bed for her was ready made before entering the room. Saturday buffet breakfast was lovely. Selection of delicious pastries, toast, cereal, fruit and fries breakfast. Meal had in the restaurant Saturday evening. Basic but absolutely lovely. I asked for softer pillows and so the cleaner attended to this without any issues and cleaned our room. The staff here are here for the customers. The service is above and beyond. It takes special people to really go that extra mile which they certainly do here. We will most definitely be staying again. Thank you to the staff at the Priory for making our getaway break a memorable one!
Great Hotel and location, Great front of house staff, and cleaners, lovely breakfast by far the best Best Western Hotel I have experienced. Cleaners, bar staff and reception staff all go out of the way to make your stay comfortable. They even call your room after check in to see if you are comfortable in your room.
We were a group of 28 in a varied mix of singles,twins and double rooms and staying on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis with packed lunches supplied as part of the package they had created for us. From my first communication by email, the willingness to help and to accommodate our needs was very clear and this remained right through our visit. They could not do enough to make sure we had enough chairs wherever we chose to sit; we had 2 large tables especially for us and they had our lunches individually packed in paper bags at the time we had requested. Rooms were very varied but all were very comfortable. One of the outstanding elements of our stay was the incredibly good food. Chef had created menus for us to choose from and all dishes were delicious as proven by the cleared plates! Particularly memorable and commented on by many of us were the mushroom stroganoff, pannacotta dessert and the delicious scrambled egg at breakfast. But the greatest asset of this hotel has to be the staff. From the pleasant and very helpful Receptionists; Giuseppe, the General Manager who was there to meet us and oversee checking in and then took the time to come to say goodbye when he went off shift; the efficient and very helpful Barman whose name I failed to get; and the efficient waiting staff who fetched and carried for 28 people with permanent smiles on their faces - Mirjam in particular was delightful and always friendly and smiling. Will we stay again? Most definitely. It suited our needs perfectly and I cannot thank them enough for all they did for us.
I was in room 50 which had a thin interconnecting door to the next room. You could here t.v. snoring, bathroom fan & shower, toilet movements, phone calls and talking from the adjoining room. It was truly awful, I mentioned it to the receptionist who was very dismissive about the issue & just said well we have to have it (the connecting door) the one thing you expect from a hotel i.e. a good nights sleep, they failed at. I wouldnt use the hotel again. They also ran out of flavoured yoghurt and granola at breakfast and as I sat having a coffee in the lounge mid morning whilst working you had to listen to staff shouting to each other down the corridors which was very unprofessional.
Located just on the edge of town. A 20 minute walk away. The hotel consists of an older restored main building with restaurant and breakfast room attached. Other rooms are situated in the grounds chalet style in some cases. We stayed in an attractive modern room situated in a mews like courtyard near the entrance. The room was spacious clean and comfortable. A sizeable ensuite with bath and powerful shower and lovely large bath towels. A good nights sleep. WiFi worked well. Plenty of on site parking. Breakfast was cooked to order and a good standard. Without exception the staff were all friendly and helpful. For what we paid very good value.
Overall the hotel rooms are in need of refurbishment as the bathrooms and decor seem to be pretty tired looking. We were also woken early on the Sunday morning by a loud noise that kept coming and going...possibly the water/heating system - not sure on this, but was very annoying! Biscuits in the room were a nice touch.
the room was lovely it was a good size with a lovely big bathroom it was nice and cosy in the evening and nice and peaceful despite being next to the main road .the staff were very helpful bringing us extra pillows when requested and replenishing tea and coffee in the morning.shame about no pets in the dining room .checkout was quick and easy
Came with my elderly parents for a long weekend for my dad's birthday and Mothering Sunday. We stayed in the garden rooms which were lovely. Very clean, very comfortable. Well appointed. The staff (at reception, and waiting staff) were so friendly and we really appreciated the call from reception to check everything was ok after we arrived. There is a bit of traffic noise which you would expect being close to a main road but it wasn't too bad. Breakfast on Saturday morning was great. I had the full English. Everything cooked fresh and to a high standard. The only thing I would suggest is maybe the waiting staff came round and offered refills of coffee. Also, the breakfast room maybe could use some blinds for when sunny as it was rather warm and bright in there. The Sunday breakfast was a buffet style and I'm sorry to say was a little disappointing. The sausages weren't cooked as well as I like, the hash browns were soggy (the ones on Saturday were a highlight), the scrambled egg wasn't as good as Saturdays. I understand a buffet breakfast is harder to keep a good quality and feel the freshly cooked style we had on Saturday should be the only option. Overall a great value hotel, clean, comfortable and lovely staff. Would 100% recommend. If Sunday breakfast was better it would have been 5 stars. Thank you
Thought we would try here for lunch having not been here for a number of years and the price seemed good for Mothers Day £19 for 3 courses for adults The lunch was in the conservatory which was nice but warm, we were a family of four with 2 boys aged 9 and 11 It wasnt really busy considering it was Mothers Day, more like a normal Sunday lunch sitting so the staff did seem rushed although it wasnt busy Unfortunately the service lets this down as felt we were just left and no checking if everything ok or if we wanted further drinks. The main meals were very minimal with very few vegetables served in a small bowl for 4 and soggy, when served we were not asked if we wanted any drinks or anything further, we had to wait for 10 minutes to ask for more gravy and some wine, of course by then seemed a bit pointless. We put our dessert order in and waited 1 hour and 15 minutes for this to arrive after others had received theirs who had arrived after us. I had asked 3 times how much for the childrens meals to be told conflicting information and a muck up of price on the final bill No one collected our glasses so a build up of these on a small table also frustrating Considering other eating establishments are nearby which are good, they really need to look at ensuring people want to return which sadly we will not
This is not a review but a big thank you to The Priory. After pre booking a room for the 30th-3-2019 my family came down with the horrible bug from hell. Made a call on the 29th..(not allot of notice) and the hotel went above and beyond helping me in my HR of need. Not many would and this is a rare service.. hats of to you all and a big thank you for all your help.
This was a decent hotel with some strong features but during my visit was rather let down in others. I had a single room in the main building which on first look had seemed clear and comfortable. Sadly the loo, seemed superficially clean had signs deeper in which indicated a deeper clean was necessary. The bed was fairly comfortable and for most of the night was reasonably quiet but it is near to a road and the traffic could be heard after 6.30am. I had breakfast there which fortunately I had pre-booked but relatives who were also staying at the hotel had not done this and frankly at almost £13.00 for a self service with a limited range of options was excessive. The Garden Room, although quite difficult to find - the hotel is a bit of a rabbit warren - was new and pleasant. As it happens I also found the hotel difficult to find - but perhaps this was a problem with my Satnav. I should also acknowledge that when I commented on this to the pleasant and helpful receptionist she took some time to show me how to use my smart phone for this purpose. Such other staff as I saw were also pleasant and helpful - one of the strongest features of the hotel. Its limitations notwithstanding, I would certainly consider staying at the Great Western again - for its staff, for its very pleasant setting, and for its proximity to the centre of Bury St Edmunds.
Wonderful staff! Met by head of housekeeping who walked us to reception and even carried my elderly mum's bag! Reception staff very welcoming. They even called the room to make sure we were happy. They also had a birthday card for mum as her birthday today and she grew up in Bury St Edmunds and this trip down memory lane (I had mentioned that when I booked Online). Lovely ground floor room in annexe of hotel, in a group of 8-10 rooms. Room comfortable and a good size and very clean with tea, coffee, toiletries etc. Newly built restaurant which looks very nice though not eaten here yet. Hotel grounds beautiful and well kept. It's an easy 15 minute walk to old town and Abbey Gardens. Excellent value for money & am very impressed. Highly recommended!
I wanted to review this hotel for its excellent service and understanding. We were due to spend a night B&B on 25th March but my elderly Labrador dog has been unwell the week before and had to spend a night in the vets with severe gastrointestinal problems. I rang the reception on the morning and was told that we should give 24 hours notice in line with the cancellation policy. I explained the problem and said if we couldn't cancel with no penalty then we would have to come but was concerned that my dog wasn't 100%. The reception person, Carl, was very understanding and as a compromise agreed to cancel without penalty on the understanding that we will rebook at a later date when the dog is better. I know it didn't really cost them to do this but it shows a real empathy with its customers. We will definitely visit again.
I stay in a lot of different hotels some rather better that others . The Priory is a lovely clean comfortable hotel , I had one of the garden rooms (36) it was comfortable, quiet and clean . I slept very well . Without a doubt the crowing glory of this hotel is the staff , I don't know if it's the Suffolk air or what but they are outstanding. Polite , welcoming and friendly. Breakfast was delicious. It's a bit of a walk into town that's the only negative. Thankyou for reading my review.
Normally stay in pubs in the area but all the usual where full so booked the priory for one night Didn't have dinner so no comment The IPA served in the bar was off so went over the road to the tavern pub for a drink better £ Breakfast was included and ok but basic tbh Rooms clean and comfy but walls a bit thin if you know what I mean Would stay again but not 5/5
Enjoyed a stay over and found the lodge a short walk from the station, just on the edge of town yet the town centre is walkable in 15-20 minutes for most. I expected something a bit more characterless as a franchise but it is an old building with modernised interior and also chalets in the grounds. Room was clean and functional and I had very good Eggs Royale for breakfast, there being several hot dishes as well continental option. I would gladly stay there again.
Good location and nice hotel. Food was excellent and the staff were very polite, friendly and approachable. The showers here seem to lack pressure but didn't ruin the overall experience. Was maybe a little too warm, the heat hits you as you enter the building.
The Hotel was easy to locate, welcoming and being recently refurbished, of top quality throughout. Our room was excellent. Modern, clean and included tea/coffee making facilities, TV, Iron and Hairdryer. The bed was very comfortable and extra blanket was provided if you needed it. The Restaurant was large and modern and had a good choice of snacks and main courses all of which were competitively priced. All the staff that we met were friendly, helpful and able answer any questions. I have no hesitation in recommending the Best Western Priory Hotel as a great place to stay.
We stayed here about 5 years ago and enjoyed our stay then but our stay this time was far superior especially given the recent refurbishment throughout the hotel. Our room was clean spacious and modern. All hotel areas were clean and well presented and very welcoming and relaxing. The staff were friendly and helpful. We didn't have an evening meal but we very much enjoyed our breakfast. We will definitely stay again and recommend this hotel to friends and family. An excellent hotel within The Cameron Ventures group
The room was very spacious and although it hadn't been refurbished for a while, it didn't look too tired or dated. It was perfectly clean and had a decent mounted TV, hair dryer, kettle and big double bed. The bathroom did look a bit tired, the grout was discoloured in places, the taps were those old English ones where you have two separate small taps and you can choose between cold and boiling (or cold and cold if you don't want to wait a long time) and the shower holder and soap tray came off the wall quite easily, so you had to be careful when using them. However, the important criteria were met: The shower, although electric, got hot enough, stayed at the set temperature (the warming up time varied, so don't give up on it) and had a good water pressure. The bathroom was clean and free of any mould. I also liked that the option was given to keep the towels rather than having them replaced every day. Of course it benefits the hotel too, but most importantly it saves the environment. Welcome little bonuses were the tasty biscuits provided with the tea and coffee making facilities and the magazines with useful information about the area. The hotel setting and garden looked very nice and the location was convenient for car-travelling guests. Breakfast was ok, the cooked breakfast was a bit stingy for the price: A very small portion of beans, one egg, one sausage, one slice of bacon, just one of everything. However, you can of course then fill up on the breakfast buffet which was tasty and varied with different cereals, croissants, very good Danish pastries, fruit and even smoothies.
1st night we were in room 10 which is in a recently built addition to the hotel. The room was quite small with the added inconvenience of being in the eaves with 4 sloping ceilings which made it difficult to move around without banging your head. I had a word with the receptionist, Hannah, in the morning and she immediately found another suitable superior room without the sloping ceilings which had much more room to move around. We had dinner in the hotel on both evenings and the food was excellent. The only complaint was, for some reason, they do not keep Pinot Grigio chilled so we had to have another choice from the wine menu. Breakfasts too, were very nice and plentiful. All the staff were very pleasant and couldnt be more helpful. Would definitely visit again.
The Priory Hotel was perfect for our short stay. I stayed in one of the refurbished rooms (Superior Double). The bed was extremely comfortable, the room was warm (but not too hot) and the bathroom spotless! The shower was a joy, and the complementary toiletries were luxurious. The staff was very pleasant and made us feel welcome. It was obvious they tried hard to please (from the look of other reviews & my own observations) difficult guests with chips on their shoulders. I suppose that's what they [the staff] have come to expect from a small hotel in a Suffolk village! I bemoan the job of receptionist Jade to have to deal with such people, but she does so in a professional and warm manner. She deserves a reward! The breakfast was excellent - with a diverse selection of items and good quality produce. The breakfast room itself is spacious and bright, looking out on the hotel grounds, that are well kept! All in all, I would highly recommend the Priory for anyone passing through. If I am ever back in the area, I will book again!
Very nice modern rooms with excellent service. Breakfast included was a godsent after nerarly 8 hours on the road. Thank you to Jade for her help in sorting our problems. Would highly recommend for either a short stay for some r&r on a long road trip (like us) or for a longer, more relaxed getaway.
Visited the hotel due to an event which was hosted at the hotel, which ran smoothly and the staff were superb. Stayed in one of the courtyard rooms for the night, room was very spacious and well finished. Would highly recommend and would certainly stay there again.
I love this little hotel! I stayed here on business but the staff are so friendly and the rooms so cosy, it feel like a real treat! It was a chilly night but the garden room I stayed in was lovely and warm. I was greeted with a chocolate chip cookie, chocolate and a free drink as a BW rewards member. The room was spotless with a lovely view. Last summer when I stayed, I sat working late on my laptop in the garden - very relaxing for a business stay! All you can eat breakfast with attentive, helpful waiting staff. The little things matter and the great customer service and charming setting will keep me returning to the Priory Hotel.
Read the recent article in the paper about the newly built restaurant and bar. Thought I'd pop in with the wife for dinner as we were in the area. We had lovely evening, friendly staff and chef was happy to adjust my meal to make it gluten free. Top marks!
The Best Western is a wonderful hotel in Bury St Edmunds. The rooms are fantastic and all very comfortable, the new restaurant provides delicious food with a variety of options on the menu, but most of all the staff are exceptional and make your stay with them one to remember. would highly recommend.
Great location just off A14 Close to Thetford Forest, Ipswich and other tourist spots. Rooms very clean and the new hotel rooms that have been completed are second to none. Stopped in other hotels in surrounding area this is far my favourite one. Restaurant is modern and the staff are very warm and friendly also close to amenities. East Coast beer on tap in bar. If you want a hotel with a nice restaurant and good food with secure parking which is important I would definitely recommend this hotel.
Stayed here last summer and never want to return. My room was located outside like an old style motel. Although the room was spacious it was absolutely filthy. The carpet was so dirty I decided to keep my shoes on when walking around. The bathroom was mouldy. The surfaces were disgusting - I wiped the room with anti bac wipes and yellow sticky gunk came off of everything. The decor was also really out of date, tired and dusty. Had an awful nights sleep in a hideously uncomfortable bed. My friend was staying in a nearby room and had a similar experience. We rung each other at 7am the next day and both agreed our best bet was to just leave. Never again!
The hotel fabric is in pretty poor order. There are builders skips and tarpaulins lying around suggesting that some work is going on, but I cant see any evidence of improvement. My shower had been bodged using the wrong spares. It just about worked but needed coaxing into action and persuading to work. If I had been weak of hand or arthritic I would not have been able to use it.The heating in my room was on full and the controls had been removed. It was 0 degrees outside but my room was unbearably hot. The windows had been painted shut, so there was no way of controlling the temperature. All in all it looks like a hotel that someone is reluctant to spend any money on. It is about a mile out of town and has no special redeeming features. I would stay in the town centre instead. Hotels are the same price and can't really be worse than this place.
Excellent accommodation, great food in the evening and at breakfast. The receptionist, Jade, was fantastic and could not be more helpful, she helped me out very well! The evening meal was of good quality as was the breakfast.
The whole event lacked character, minimal Decorations, no relevant music, The Garden Room was not the best choice for this type of function. The Service was average and the food left a lot to be desired for £75.00 per head. Would I consider booking next year - No
Nice stay comfortable stay nice staff food a bit expensive near to the city centre tv reception was not good in the new wing nice decor in the new rooms competitive prices and Food was very expensive in the restaurant and it took too long to get served
Recently visited the hotel for Sunday lunch , we were greeted by a very friendly receptionist who showed us to the new, very modern bar and restaurant area. Great range of drinks , the food was superb and the staff were very helpful. Highly recommend and will certainly be going back soon!!!
We decided to go to the Priory Hotel for their 3 day Christmas break. Throughout our stay the staff were brilliant in that they were very helpful, friendly and could not do enough for their guests. I spoke on a number of occasions to Kim, their General Manager, as she was always available and, like her staff very good. Their food was of a very good standard, not too much, but always well presented and hot. Our room was spacey, well kitted out and comfortable. The only fault we could find was that there was no lift and the stairs are rather steep. However, it is an older building so installing one would not be practical. All in all good value for money and I will recommend the Priory as a Hotel for a comfortable break.
A family Boxing Day lunch at a hotel should be a treat! This hotel needs to go and have a look at the competition that's on offer in Bury St. Edmunds. A very limited choice on offer with only Pork being the preferred choice- but, no apple sauce, crackling and a mean amount of vegetables will not be attracting new customers. The new extension surely needs to be promoted but, please try and exceed customers expectations and you may have a chance! # noatmoshere # nocrackers #nofrills Steve Bailey
Had a business meeting and meal on Monday evening. On arrival we were greeted by friendly bar staff who served us courteously. Fantastic new dining and bar area. Service was great and food was marvellous. Excellent value for money.
Visited here for our works Christmas party. Hannah on reception was great and dealt with our booking very efficiently. The new part of the building is great for an event. We really enjoyed our food and friendly service. Maybe some mince pies wouldn't go amiss next time!
as a regular guest at this hotel Ihave noticed a decline in quality originally complementary water and toiletries were standard the breakfasts were high quality and advertised as locally sourced and individually cooked now a g=central help yourself awful bitter coffee and cold bacon sausages and hash browns the room [36] was dominated by a steel four poster [no curtains no need] which resembled building site scaffolding .Imentioned these shortcomings to the concerned manageress who assured me that the changes due to change of ownership are being addressed -we will see
We stayed at the Priory Hotel en route from our home in the Kent, to The Thursford Spectacular. It was ideally situated for our needs. Our room was not in the main hotel but it was comfortable. The breakfast was cooked to order and was excellent. I made some suggestions to the Manager to which she kindly responded. If Michelle G had asked to change rooms it might have prevented her negative review.
Great staff, really good breakfast,rooms just been refurbished and a good deal on a winter offer free parking close to city center with very easy access from A14 couldn't have asked for a better choice. Would recommend and visit again.
Well, having watched The Jungle recently, I think Harry Rednapp would have been grateful...but only just! What can I say ... we were taken through a carpark to an outside chalet to something that was rather like the Bates motel. Although it seemed clean ... a bit of mould on the bathroom blinds ,I'll excuse that as I'm short sighted! The beds were comfortable and pillows good ... and it warmed up eventually , but they are the only good bits here. Sadly the rest was dreadful , curtains hanging off poles , tired furniture , scruffy exterior and interior and wafer thin walls. At £89 per night without breakfast, which in the grand scheme of things seems now maybe to be a blessing!!! Who knows ,maybe the main building has the benefit of some maintenance over the last few years I cannot comment on this , though the the chalets seem to be really neglected. It would have been cheaper to get a taxi back to London and be in my 3* home than here in 0* .
The hotel is still undergoing refurbishment but we had a very pleasant overnight stay. The management and staff are most helpful and eager to please and we would happily return. The restyled restaurant where we had an excellent breakfast is attractive but just a tad soulless - a few pictures on the walls and some rugs on the wood floor would soften it nicely. The hotel is some way from the town centre but local cabs are efficient and not expensive. Do book direct with the hotel itself - the Best Western central booking facility is a total shambles!
Well, since I was here this time last year there has been much going on. Relocation of reception, a brand new extension for the breakfast/dining/bar area no doubt with the functions market in mind. New carpets in the common areas and work is still ongoing in various parts of the hotel. Breakfast was largely a self service buffet, with plenty of choice, hot and cold. The staff were very helpful and immediately sought to top up when asked or to deal with requests (like for poached eggs). Those were the plus points. The not so good concerned the room. This time a garden room. Poorly heated (the fitted electric radiator did not work and we had been given a small standalone rad as a make do but that was hopelessly underpowered for the size of room - we noted the next door room also seemed to have the same problem). That said the helpful receptionist, following up after our arrival with a courtesy call, then sourced a new fan heater, which just about warmed things up to a satisfactory level. One of the issues with these garden rooms is they have single glazed windows throughout which is not particularly energy efficient. A relatively new carpet indicated that a bit of a room refurb had occured in the not too distant past. The room was dominated by an absurdly over the top metal bed frame. Not at all what would have been expected! Sadly any hope that the refurb would have extended to the bathroom was quickly dashed. Although tidy, the bathroom was showing it's age and the electric Mira shower made an enormous racket suggesting it was on its last legs. The towel rail too had a bit of insulation tape covering some issue. Hot water took ages to flow through the basin tap. This hotel has potential; its staff are courteous and helpful but the buildings and rooms are a bit of a work in progress and in some areas a bit of a let down. I hope their budget will eventually allow complete refurbishment to those areas that are negatively impacting this rating.
First time i have stayed at this Hotel in Bury St Edmunds for business, very nice Hotel staff were all very friendly and welcoming Hotel is perfectly placed for Town centre and surrounding businesses excellent food and bar service particular mention for Sharna who was working on the bar on the evening i stayed, very friendly and welcoming and took the time to have a chat to me even though she was busy working i would stay at this hotel again as all the staff are excellent and a credit to the Hotel and Best Western. Thank you all
I've had a great stay in one of the courtyard/garden rooms. Staff fabulous. Rooms are under refurbishment but certainly fit for purpose. The main building looks and feels very cosy. The new restaurant and bar is a fabulous addition with great food at reasonable prices. A very cosy lounge area to just relax in is also a great space. Yes there were problems with heating but the manager called maintenance ask. I'm sure some will make a big deal about it but who can get something like that fixed in the middle of the night! The staff were fab even under the stress guest were causing.
We stayed at the Best Western in Bury St Edmunds while the christmas fayre was on. They are in the process of renovating a new wing. As we were shown to our room I noticed the carpets were very dirty and there was an overwhelming smell of paint which was positively eye watering. When we got to our room it was tidy clean and had a corporate look, but the rush to get customers in had made little touches that should of been done left undone, ie: no door stop, a frozen bathroom, wrinkled curtains etc. All of which I could have ignored if it hadn't been for the asthma inducing fumes of paint. The breakfast was a continental breakfast and a 'hot' buffet which unfortunately was tepid at best. The one saving grace at the hotel at the moment was the amazing staff in particular the Scottish gentleman on reception who was under the kosh apoligizing for the fumes, cold doors left open etc. He was diplomatic and very helpful. Also a 'spanish' girl in the dining room who was old fashion charm personified and perfect service. It's a shame they rushed putting guests in the new part of the hotel as you can see the potential in a lovely looking hotel
Having used the priory regularly, over the last five years, I feel compelled to say that the staff they have at this hotel are the best they have ever had. Every member of staff is helpful and courteous, and looking to meet the needs of the guest. It has been difficult through the restoration but the service hasn't suffered,and the new restaurant and menu are just right for me. Whilst all of Kim's team have been superb, Hannah on reception has been great in getting me the rooms I have needed. Good friendly hotel with great people.
Slightly worn but having a refurb currently. (Nov 18) Clean with competent staff. Hardly romantic but a handy location. Probably a good location in the summer when the patios and lawns would be a nice place to sit.
Having stayed at The Priory many times over the years, for family visits, and also Christmas packages, (which have been excellent). We had not stayed during this year whilst the extensive building work has been going on, and we were a bit apprehensive as to how things would be for this visit. But we need not have been concerned, as the room, (a garden room), and the hotel & restaurant was operating very well. It must have been quite a task for the staff to keep things running, whilst at the same time having a 'big build' going on. The breakfast is as good as ever, and the rooms very comfortable.
Over night biz stay. Hotel good standard & comfortable but currently completing a refurb so even better when complete. Girls on reception / bar very friendly & good ‘welcome.' Hotel offers guest 1st drink free on arrival (nice touch) WiFi OK: Good welcome at breakfast by friendly staff & good standard. Kim, lucky to have very good staff - look forward to my next stay. SR
Have been using the Priory for many years to visit family in Bury st Edmunds and never a bad visit yes the hotel is going through a major refurbishment but at no hassle to guests due to a late flight into Luton we were running late for evening meal and as we were travelling with are daughter and partner and 8 month grandson we phoned ahead and asked for a tray of sandwiches in are room . Check in no problem sandwiches lovely and fresh delivered within minutes rooms with cot as requested breakfast on all 4 mornings freshly cooked and lovely ,staff are amazing as dealing with minor moans and groans about the renovation work but always helpful and smiling also a big thank you for all the help with are grandsons food and bottles at breakfast and sorry about the mess he left on the floor . When we return will always use the Priory as Kim and her staff are a great asset to Great Western chain highly recommended and ignore the negative reviews the renovation work is almost done but doesn't bother your stay. Thanks to all Adrian Mandy Sabrina Paul and baby Kai
This is a very nice hotel. There was building work going on (a new restaurant) so dining room was quite small but breakfast was excellent. Evening menu was basic pub grub but maybe this will improve once restaurant is completed. We had one of the outside rooms which was spotlessly clean and very comfortable. Having just read another review, I realise we obviously had the same problem that we booked a Superior room but were not in the main building. That said, we were happy with the room they gave us.
Stayed 1 night for business. Check in was mediocre, the room looked reasonable until I entered the bathroom. The bathroom had an overriding intoxicating smell of damp/mould, its the worst I have ever had the misfortune to have to inhale. I had to open the window to be able to breath whilst having a shower. It was also in a very poor state with stained sealant everywhere, it looked like it had been applied with a spatula. I spent most of the night in the pub over the road because their toilet didn't stink....... I went for breakfast at 7am but it took so long for my order to be taken and cook it that I had to leave at 7.35 or I'd be late for my appointment, so my breakfast was a pastry eaten whilst I checked out. You can tell if a hotel is totally crap when the person on reception doesn't ask how your stay was because they know what the answer is going to be. The worst Best Western I've ever had the misfortune to stay in and they should be ashamed of themselves for actually letting people stay in rooms in that state...
Room is ok and staff are nice but the food is extremely poor value for money, breakfast supplement of £12.95 for one sausage, one piece of bacon, one fried egg, one hash brown but two yes two pieces of toast! Won't be coming back.
I booked the Priory as a BW loyalty card holder. Checked their website and liked the look of their Superior rooms. Made my booking and had confirmation of a Superior room. Arrived and parked in the car park, on the walk to reception the signs guided me around an assortment of what appeared to be rooms either added on at a later date or old stables converted into accommodation and through a passage past more of the same. After registering I was shown, or rather pointed in the direction of our room. Yes it's one of the stables. On entering it was immediately obvious that this was not the grade of room I had booked. I returned to reception and asked if they were sure I had the right room. I was asked what the problem was, but was told that they only had one other room and that was holding for someone. So basically it's that one or nothing. On my return to the room I checked the Priory website, which clearly states “Our four Superior rooms, located in the main house are in our opinion very special rooms “. So I haven't got what I booked and paid for! The room it's self is small and dark with just one small window, so natural light is minimal. The shower is only able to produce lukewarm water, the drain is restricted so that the shower tray fills and leaks onto the floor. I put the kettle on while I showered, but it didn't turn off probably due to the limescale oozing out of the handle. The shower has ill fitted tiles and there are marks on the wall probably from another water leak. Off to dinner. The restaurant is quite small and as we found at breakfast is insufficient for the amount of guests wanting to use it. Whitebait was very good, barbecue pork ribs however were removed from an old and starving animal judging from the amount of dry meat on them. I should perhaps mention the stain on the seat of one of the chairs in the room. All in all I'm very unhappy, not only did I pay for a Superior room and get something from a 1960's motel, not even the restaurant could redeem the Priory. I would suggest that Best Western takes a look at the Priory because they are giving Best Western a bad name. Does the a in room 20a stand for awful? If you didn't have the correct room available at the very least you should have a) not taken the booking or b) contacted me to inform me of the situation and say you only had a poor substitute available, rather than put us in a low grade room and hope that I wouldn't either notice or complain. Profit on the room is obviously more important than customer satisfaction for the Priory, future guests be warned
This is a nice hotel and once the building works are completed next year I'm sure it will be a quality place to stay. The location is relatively easy to find and it has good off road parking for guests. We stayed in the main building with lots of quirky steps etc. but this adds to the charm. The room was a good size with a comfortable king bed and very large bathroom. Unfortunately it looks straight out to the new works being done and so the view wasn't the best. That said, we were out all day so the works didn't affect us at all. We ate in the restaurant the first night and the food was a good standard and reasonably priced. We found staff to be friendly and helpful and enjoyed our stay. Across the road is a good pub for meals and drinks (usual pub food to a good standard).
Glad to see them upgrading,but anyone booking for a special event atm there is no garden (build site) & no lighting down to courtyard rooms (ours badly needed deep cleaning).Food still good.Lovely staff.
We stayed overnight on the 25th August 2018 being regular best western guests we had no hesitation ion booking the priory hotel ,, but unfortunately this hotel was a disappointment to us and is major one to best western.. Garden room acc was holiday camp style & dated. Bed was awfully hard & uncomfortable . The ongoing building work is major and very disruptive. Some areas are quite unsafe for guest with raised patio stones loose gravel etc . Lumps of stone being used to hold open the doors . Breakfast was unorganised, chaortic,unable to provide full breakfast after running out of supplies. Breakfast took 1,30 mins due to under staffing.
Stayed here as visiting friends nearby and whilst a little tired, they are renovating, it was great value and all you could ask for with good staff. Good sized room with all you need and with breakfast included.
Stayed at this hotel for two nights. The building work did make our movement around the site more difficult, however did not affect the experience too drastically. I am sure when completed the upgrade/extension will enhance the hotel generally. The staff we encountered were very good and responded positively to all our requests. Kelsey, the receptionist on duty when we arrived at the hotel, was especially helpful and made us feel very welcome during our stay.
Excellent staff and food good. Unfortunately, my room was on top of the building site they have and the level of noise from builders and machinery was ridiculous. Coupled with that was the noise from the kitchen situated below my room at 0600hrs just added to the problem. BWPH you need to alert people to the fact that you are refurbishing, therefore managing their expectations.
Stayed here on the last day of a 300 mile bike ride from South Wales to Norfolk, hoping for a restful experience. On the hottest day of the year dinner was served in a stifling dining room with no ventilation. Portions were disappointing. But the real coup de grace came on returning to the room to find ants coming up the overflow of the sink. Phoned reception where the person answering (apparently the manager) was most unhelpful, said we couldn't have any ant powder or spray as they were locked in the housekeeping cupboard and she didn't have the keys! So I googled how to get rid of ants without ant powder and apparently they don't like talcum powder or instant coffee so had to spread this all over the sink and where the ants were coming in, creating a mess and rendering it unusable. Next morning no apology or concern from the same person, and only £20 taken off the bill, when really should have had the room for free as it wasn't fit for purpose. One to avoid, definitely!
This is a little gem of a hotel with rooms facing its pretty garden. I booked for a one night business stay but it felt like a real treat. Lovely breakfast including rhubarb juice and lovely fruit salad. After staying in an expensive, faceless, chain hotel just off the M4 last week, the Priory was such a refreshing change. Great value for money, gorgeous town too. Recommended!
Stayed here Saturday and Sunday night due to wedding on the Sunday. Check in was easy and friendly. There are building works being carried out but did not affect our stay. We stayed in the annex and was pleasantly surprised with size of room. It was clean and what you would expect from a 3 star. Breakfast was not the best sausages and scrambled eggs had obviously been kept warm as were dry and over cooked. It was also very hot in there. Overall happy with our stay and would stay again if in the area.
Booked in for a business meeting the next day. Good location and I was impressed with the customer service from reception through to the bar and breakfast in the morning. Yes there is building work and renovations underway. Didn't affect me though. Would definitely return just based on the customer service. Thank you
We booked a room over 4 months in advance of a wedding being held nearby, only to be left a message our booking was cancelled because of works being undertaken! No apologies, no alternative suggestions, nothing. Less than 3 weeks to find another local hotel that wasn't a ridiculous cost because of the relatively short notice. Absolutely unacceptable. I will not use another bw chain hotel again. The management should be ashamed that they think this is appropriate.
Overnight stay , rooms and public areas a little tired. Reception and assistance with booking a taxi was good, large room and bathroom had all expected facilities but shower pressure was not great. Evening service at the bar was good, breakfast service was slow, two couples arrived after we had sat down and the staff attended to them before us. It was a busy breakfast room, one waitress plus manager who was also doing reception, so attention to guests, table clearing etc was poor. However, the cooked breakfast was excellent with every item cooked exactly as it should be. Perhaps a little overpriced, a bit more attention to detail for the rooms and attention to guests and the stay would be enjoyable, rather than average. Have rated 4 not 3 star as some elements (breakfast fare, some staff) were really good.
On arrival (to what can only be described as a building site,) a little early, we were greeted by a surly unwelcoming young lady, who just said " check in is 2pm! No other words spoken. As we had just had a long journey, and were meeting friends there, we decided to wait in the bar, and order a sandwich. No chips available, as fryer being cleaned! The reception area was very tired and jaded looking, nothing like the photos! We eventually found our room in the annexe, after 2pm, and it was pleasant, clean, and adequate. The TV never worked the whole of our stay, despite mentioning to staff. We had no information given about anything, and the WIFI voucher was not explained to us on arrival either, which caused problems. The restaurant looked tired and rather like an average boarding house. Where was the conservatory view for breakfast? We decided to eat elsewhere in the evening. Breakfast...... day 1 not too bad, very poor buffet selection, one communal cereal bowl of sugar for your cereal! Warm juice, warm yogurt, tinned fruit, but cooked breakfast and toast were good. Coffee was disgusting. Day 2... on arrival at breakfast, jammed full of people ( a party booking) we stood at the door, no staff to direct us ,or even say " Good Morning" , reception -same surly girl, mumbled, "there's another room" which we eventually found. There was only one juice left, and cereal, that was it! We ordered a cooked breakfast, which was about 30mins arriving. The people next to us, had been waiting an hour, and had to decline eating it, as they had an appointment to keep, so had no breakfast at all. The waitress on this occasion, was trying her very best to placate everyone, and did her best to cope with the situation. It was a little like "Fawlty Towers" which at least made us laugh! Would we return? NEVER! It was shambolic. Awful service, and nothing at all like the website or photos. It wasn't a cheap hotel either. Do not recommend, there are other good hotels in the area.
The hotel is squeezed in between 2 main roads and a petrol station - not the tranquil setting it seems to be from the pictures but nice enough. There is building work going on but it didn't bother me at all - didn't seem to be building when I was there. I had a garden room which was a lovely room but the bathroom needed a good scrub - the gap between the tub and the sink had a whole world of cobwebs, fluff and stuff lurking there. The positives - pet friendly (I think this is a positive), nice rooms, easy parking, excellent breakfast, nice pub just opposite (£3.80 for a pint of Stella - I think it's the cheapest I've seen for 10 years.....) Sort the cobwebs, fluff and stuff out and an easy 3+ star rating
We spent one night here in June. We found the tv not working and a letter in the welcome pack explaining it was not working but reading back through tripadvisors reviews this has seemed to be an issue for quite a while so why has the problem not been resolved! We stayed in a courtyard room , the walls are paper thin so you can hear others conversations through the walls. The room was in need of a lick of paint as the walls were dirty. On arriving at the hotel there are two entrances which is confusing , and not clearly marked to say which one you should be using. The only saving grace was the staff , all very friendly and helpful especially receptionist and the waiting staff in the dining room where we ate breakfast, breakfast okay but nothing out of this world! and the view out of the window was of the building site of where they are having work done. We will not be staying here again as it seems there are better hotels in the area which have working TVs and not so paper thin walls!
We arrived at the best western to find the place was a building site. They are re-doing the whole outside area so there is not much to see unless you like the sight of building works. As we finally made our way through to the reception, we were presented with a very unhelpful and blunt receptionist. We went out elsewhere to eat as the restaurant was quite dull to say the least. We got back to the room at 8pm to find not a single channel on the tv worked. We were informed by reception they were aware of this but they hadn't let us know, apparently the building work has caused all the tv's in all rooms to not work. We waited for a call back with an update on the Tv's but that call never came... As compensation we were offered £10 off the £20 breakfast for two that we had already paid for. The room itself is ok but based on everything else I wouldn't return. I personally would not recommend attending this hotel, as overall it was a very disappointing visit with no helpful staff or any appealing sites.
We stayed for 2 nights in a kingsize courtyard room. The room was clean but decor, carpet and bathroom suite was very tired and needs updating. The bed was very firm, we didnt sleep well on our 1st night. Breakfast was well cooked and nice quality but there could have been more of it ! Not the best Best Western we have stayed at.
We took a large group of customers and staff to the hotel and quite simply the hotel staff were fantastic and made use feel very welcome. We used the restaurant for dinner and all 20 meals come out cooked to a good standard and at the same time. The rooms were all clean and comfortable but a couple could have done with updating however the hotel is going through a big refurbishment so imagine these will be done soon. The hotel hotel is a good 20 minutes walk to bury st edmunds or a 5 minute taxi ride.
The service from staff was excellent. Breakfast was the least favourite because some of the food was overcooked and dry. The room was adequate but average. Expect improvements in the facility alteration will also improve the overall ambience More work needs to be done on food.
My wife and I stayed at the hotel last weekend. Whilst the hotel itself is a little tired they are taking steps to refurbish it. We stayed is one of the courtyard rooms and although there were exterior lights for some reason they were not put on at night. The rooms could also do with mini fridges. That's the negatives out of the way. The jewel in the crown was the waitress who served us in the restaurant. She was a delight. She always had a smile on her face and nothing was too much trouble for her. Her name is Miriam. What a gem! I also found it refreshing that the food was reasonably priced and very good. When we went back the 2nd night the chef went out of his way to bake fresh rolls and also took the trouble to make my wife's ice cream look more appealing and added a little fruit. Best Western should be very proud of these two.
I am very happy with my stay - the hotel represents good value in an ideal location for the town. A small mix-up up was resolved by the Manager, Mr David, and I am happy to provided a warm recommendation to other guests.
Stayed here recently whilst on business and was very disappointed with the hotel. The room wasn't in the main hotel it was overlooking the car park and was very grubby!! £120 a night for a single bed in a very tired room. Shower was cold and leaked and the grout was black. The service wasn't much better as the staff didn't seem to know what to do! Breakfast was just okay and the service was better. I wouldn't book this again unless the ongoing work much improves the hotel
I stayed here for two nights because I was attending a training course. Situated on the edge of the town, I found that the hotel was at least a 20 minute walk from most amenities that I visited. My room was located in the main hotel and above the restaurant. The room had a lavishly sized bathroom and included several essentials kits (toothbrush, sewing kit, soap, flannel). Some words of caution...the bathroom taps are VERY hot and the shower could have done with being more powerful as it dribbled me clean in the mornings. There was no A/C in the room, which considering the heatwave that we were going through meant that I had to sleep with an open window. The bed was a good-sized double but the mattress was very hard and the pillows & duvet felt very stiff and heavy for this weather. Despite this the room had a lovely feel and I enjoyed 2 good nights' rest during my stay. I only ate breakfast at the hotel and it was very enjoyable, especially as I am vegetarian but and have found some hotels lacking in their offerings before. They offer the usual Kellog's selection and do porridge on request. The cooked breakfast was very nice and for non-veggies, they offered a good selection. On a minor note I would have liked a cafetiere of coffee rather than waiting for the staff to bring me more. On the whole the hotel is very charming and I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here. Despite my some niggles, the hotel is worth considering and I feel glad that I was put up here rather than some bland, cookie-cut hotel with no charm or character. The staff were friendly and when I asked them for a request, were happy to oblige.
Another visit to this hotel. Again food good. Rooms clean and comfortable. Staff very helpful. They are currently undertaking building work to extend the hotel but this does not impact on your stay. Handy for town. £5.00 in taxi. Free wifi. No lift but there are ramps on the ground floor. Used this hotel a fair few times now. Happy to go back
We enjoyed our one night stay, the room was comfortable and clean, a little tired and could do with re-decorating. We were a little disappointed by the building works which we were not aware of. Fantastic breakfast.
Stayed overnight as was in Bury St Edmund's for work, brought my elderly mum with me for some company. Room size was good and it was clean. I have seen people moaning about the breakfast; for an extra £10 for two people I don't really know what more people expect! There was an excellent choice of freshly made smoothies and fruit juices as well as cereals, pastries and fresh fruit, tea and coffee and toast as well as a wide choice of hot breakfast options too. In my view, for £5 a head this is great! I cannot fault the politeness of the staff here. I had to leave my mum in the hotel while I went to work and everyone was so kind to her and really looked after her. I was particularly impressed with Miriam who is an absolute credit to this hotel. Nothing was too much trouble for her, she was extremely professional and attentive and so polite and caring of my mum. There was also a very pleasant blonde lady (unfortunately didn't catch her name) she was a manager I believe, she was also very kind to my mum and very helpful to me the night we checked in by arranging a taxi for me for the following morning, which, if you have ever been to Bury St Edmund's before, you will know is no easy feat! It really honestly made all the difference. The only small issue I could possibly raise and it is only to help the hotel and not in any way to moan! Is that my mum had to book a taxi to come and meet me later on when I left the hotel. She attended at reception where there was another blonde lady (but not the manager I had seen the previous night) and asked if a taxi could please be booked. My mum is elderly, had clearly come from out of town so didn't have area codes etc, all of which was very obvious. When asking for a taxi to be booked however, she was told by this lady on reception that she couldn't book a taxi for her but could provide her with some taxi numbers. Whilst my little old mum was too polite to say anything, (and instead proceeded to struggle muddling through the numbers she had unhelpfully been provided with) in my view this is not something a hotel should be doing. If a guest asks you to book a taxi for them, particularly knowing how difficult it is to get taxis in this area, you do it. You don't give them numbers to do it themselves. I see this same issue has been raised by other guests leaving reviews. I hope that going forward the member of staff concerned can perhaps be advised about this; to her credit my mum said she was polite about it but perhaps unhelpful in the circumstances. Other than that, a lovely hotel, reasonably priced for the area and I would stay again. Thank you for looking after my mum so well.
No milk sugar tea bags in room had to walk through mud to reach reception to get some, Noise of radiator all night long hardley any sleep. did not get what i ordered for breakfast also it was cold, sent it back out it came again not what i ordered also cold so got up and left it. Told reception and they gave me £10 refund for myself and my wife,so if 2 breakfasts are worth only £10 this says what its like this hotel is not worth £95 per night more like £65 per night and that is being more than fare. Iwould not recomend this hotel to any body.
We stayed for a weekend in April . When we booked the receptionist was very helpful and gave a good impression of the hotel mentioning ' some ' refurbishment and that it was a 20 minute walk to town and the restaurant was very nice ! Well we arrived and the outside looked like a bomb site and half the Restaurant had been demolished ! The receptionist was one of the most unhelpful persons I have met . We arrived at 1.30 but she insisted we couldn't check in till the obligatory 2.pm ! The next night the same person , when asked if she could book us a taxi said ' I can give you some cab numbers '! The person at the bar didn't know if Malbec was red or white wine . At the Sunday morning breakfast there was not enough tables or staff and tables were left uncleared for the whole 45 mins we were at breakfast . This hotel really need some customer care and staff training ! On the plus side our room in the main hotel was really nice with a big bathroom and the breakfast was really good . This could be a really nice and comfortable hotel but needs some serious improvement in attitude ! By the way the walk to the tot the town centre is about 35 mins!
Stayed for 4 nights . courtyard room was good size , and great bathroom , with excellent hot water / pressure . most rooms are outside the main building - as it rained every day we needed to take raincoat to every meal . found the mattress uncomfortable . bedroom walls were poorly soundproofed . staff were amazing - although we did experience long delays at some meal times - kitchen staff appeared not to cope too well with large orders . will stay again - AFTER the planned refurbishment
Looks cab definitely be deceiving. Checked in to room 6 at first glanced all is nice, Until the restaurant kitchen opens up under the room. So loud with bangs and crashes all the heating didn't work. I asked reception for a move and the lady was very nice and sorted me a new room outside number 14. Room was large and quiet. The heating worked but it was a tad smelly from the damp and it does need a update instead. But bed was comfy. I think for the price I paid this was well below the standard I would of expected.
We stayed here for 2 nights Easter weekend, the staff were very polite and helpful. The room was very nice warm and comfortable. Lovely grounds in the hotel which was great as we were able to take our dog with us as they are a dog friendly hotel. The location is great with easy access to the town itself. People have said that the hotel is shabby but to us it was a bit worn in places but a major refurbishment is about to start. We woke up Easter morning to let the dog out and found a bag with an Easter egg in it hanging on the door so a lovely little surprise treat. All in all an excellent hotel for a weekend away.
I have visited Bury St Edmunds on numerous occasions and had often thought of staying here. ( I have another favorite place to stay in this area ) but was with quite a few work colleagues and we could all stay here. I didn't book a single room so have no idea why they thought this would be suitable. I don't get single rooms. Why would hotels have them. A single can only be let to one person yet a double can be let to one or two. I hate single rooms. The room was dated as was most of the hotel. A positive is the staff were friendly and pleasant.
Staying here with my partner, we liked the room, was comfy enough but it's a little shabby round the edges! Could do with some modernisation like the windows and comfort beds- that said very reasonably priced and room well stocked with tea, coffee and biscuits when we arrived- friendly staff and cosy bar area- it's ok for one night stay and shalet style accommodation is cute and grounds pretty
I was misguided by the 4/5 given on trip advisor and chose this hotel due to this rating and the location. The only thing that worked for me was the location. Unfortunately it all went downhill as soon as I stepped over the premises. 1. Car park is not clearly sign posted. I parked up and had to lug a heavy suitcase all the way over to reception. A good 5 minute walk with stairs involved 2. A reception team member was training new staff member and I have no qualms about this. the team member who was giving the training asked me if I wanted extra drinks charged to the room. I replied no, my company has paid for my dinner and breakfast and I won't require extras. All clear was given. 3. I was on the first floor and with no lift the team member who was giving the training helped drop my luggage to the room. With back problems there is no way I would have been able to do this without the assistance. Thank you for moving my luggage. 4. Moved car over to the other generic car park nearer to my room. 5. Got to the room and was greeted by hideously old decor, a sauna like warmth and suspect hairs all over the pillow/bedding. The bathroom was so hot and dated, the bedroom window did not open and I felt physically sick seeing all the dust/hairs. (Please see pictures) the whole hotel overall is old and cracked around the edges. 5. Went down to dinner and ordered food. After a wait I was told I cannot order any food as I need to leave a card. (Please review point 2. Where I was told everything is fine as my company has already paid for everything.) This is as unacceptable. I had to leave the dining room and go over to talk to reception. The new team member was extremely polite but I asked to speak to the person training her to express my views as we had discussed in depth how I was planning to have dinner/breakfast 6. Went back to the dining area and received my food order. The receptionist rushed in and offered me a complimentary glass of wine but I didn't particularly want to drink wine. No other offer was made. 7. Back in the room I had to blast the fan and make protective layers over the duvet so I wasn't laying in suspect hair. It was an ordeal in itself (review images again for impact) 8. Being the room on top of the bar (Room 02) I was able to hear all the music and the loud raucous guests making all sorts of noise. As a business guest they should take into account how paper-thin their walls and floors are. The music was lowered when I called reception however it increased after a short while and other hotel guests got louder. This stopped around 1.30am 9. The guests in the bedroom above and next to me might as well have stayed in my room. The floorboards creaked so loudly, stairs and doors were constantly being used noisily. I could hear them going about their life as if they were inside my room. This went on until the early hours also. 10. WOW ten points here! The bed was extremely uncomfortable. I had little to no sleep due to noise as well as 11. The things that I can commend: breakfast was actually nice and the mature waitress who was helping serve was very pleasant. Check out was easy and a new receptionist asked me how my stay was. I didn't want to share all the issues as I was on my way out and it's not her direct responsibility but from my in depth review and pictures you may understand the reasoning for 1/5 rating.
Had a couple of days here. The room was in an out building as I think quite a few are. It was clean and a good size, Tea and coffee making, iron and hair dryer are always good to have but the toiletries were not the best. Staff were helpful apart from one who had lived in Bury for two years but did not know the area 'as always working' in fact she gave as the wrong details of the local town market. Breakfast was fine and cooked to order. We did not have an evening meal so can not comment. The hotel is slightly out of bury it takes approx. 20-25 mins to walk into bury
I stayed here for a single night on Monday 19th March and had a very pleasant stay. I stayed in Room 25 (one of the garden rooms) and the grounds are lovely, very picturesque. The room was clean and comfortable with everything I required (the room had ample toiletries, a hair dryer and tea/coffee facilities - could have done with some more teabags though). I chose not to have dinner at this hotel and instead opted to dine at the Station House pub, which is a 5 minute walk from the hotel (turn left out of the hotel and just keep walking). The breakfast was nice and the serving staff were very friendly and helpful. Overall a good stay.
We only stayed one night but were impressed with this hotel. We had a garden room which looked as if it recently been re-furbished. It was in beautiful condition and very well equipped. The location is quiet and we had a good, undisturbed sleep. Breakfast was delicious. Both reception and restaurant staff were friendly and helpful. We are thinking of returning for a longer stay to explore more of Bury and the surrounding area.
Stayed here 16th to 18th March, room was spacious and clean but could maybe do with a bit of an update. However we could not fault the staff from arrival and departure,dealt with by Kelsey who was extremely friendly and helpful and every other member was the same be it in the dining room or just meeting along the way. They were all professional and welcoming. We considered our stay good value for the money, breakfast was excellent and well served. For the price well recommended
On arrival: room smelt damp. No pillow protectors (nice big black pubic hairs on pillow and stains). Window with a cracked frame. The blind was broken. Mound on the soap. Hot water trickled. Shabby decor. Cobwebs everywhere. In the bar: no prosecco other than a couple of little bottles. Best bit....I believe it was the manager who (at approx 10pm ish) shouted at us from the doorway for us to quieten down! RUDE! Unprofessional, her bellowing at us actually made me jump. She made more of a noise than all of us. I was very embarrassed for my company who decided to leave shortly after. On departure(as we unfortunately had to stay the night as everywhere else was full) the young lady on reception was very pleasant and didn't seem shocked that I was upset with (who I believed to be the manager Kim). And the best bit...they took 1/2 the cost of the room off but had already taken full payment off the card!!!!! We stay in hotels very often and never ever have I experienced such poor cleanliness or such shocking staff attitude.
Comfortable hotel, with good size, and well appointed rooms. Hotel has good parking, which is rare in Bury St Edmunds. Convenient location to be able to visit Bury St Edmunds and this part of East Anglia. An all round relaxing stay.
This is a nice hotel, my room was very nice and clean good shower and comfortable bed. I was only staying for one night but I would have no problem staying here again, the staff are friendly and helpfull but they did them a bit under staffed.
Booked into this place last nice, didn't look too bad, when I got there reception was great. Went to my room in the attic, upon opening door it seemed a little dated, flowery headboard and all that and also red hot. Went t9 open the window and the double glazed panel was full of water....window cull was rotten, never mind it's an old build8ng right.....went to see the bathroom....the toilet took 5 attempts to flush........then tried the shower..... it dribbled and I mean dribbled.....the skirtings were rotten........sat on the bed and had a think....room. 5 was not for me. Went to reception Nd the staff were amazing, very quickly gave me an upgrade to room 7. Awesome, went in there and went to turn the shower on...the dial thing came off in my hand,,,,,, went back down to reception...again the staf were amazing and then put me in one of the “newest” rooms, 20a. Got to this room and it smelt and looked amazing, albeit bloody red hot again, obviously the room had been recently refurbished but bathroom was of the. Healers quality. The shower made one hell of a. Noise but but as this was room 3 I had lost the will to fight. Cup of tea to sort everything out is what Inthought.......the kettle did not switch itself off so it over boiled over the table. Really disappointed with you guys. The place is severely dated, I mean massivkey, from the rooms to the furniture to everything. If it wasn5 for yi6r positive, superb staff, I don't know where yi7 would be or how yo7 could survive! May I suggest you give all your staff a pay rise, take a pay cut yourself nd invest in simple things like, decoration, services, showers and less profit! Your staff make yo7r business , not the owners! I'll say it again, shame on you , the owners, fancy X5 BMW's are nice but not helping you. Please take note....
Always have an outside room in the horseshoe shape. Love to sit in court yard outside our room. Car park close by. Would highly reccomend this place. Book early though for christmas market never been able to get in.
Stayed there one night as we were visiting Bury Christmas Market. Good size garden room. Bathroom did need some TLC . Breakfast was very good and could cater for me as a am gluten intolerant . Good base for the Christmas market .
The hotel is reasonably well situated and although the bathroom in the room (courtyard) was a little dated, it had everything one needed, and the room itself was quite comfortable. The quality of food in the restaurant was excellent but there were insufficient staff with only one waitress and the excellent manager (Kim). This was particularly noticeable at breakfast and is something which the ownership/management of the staff need to address.
The biggest and most comfortable bed I have ever slept in! Well appointed bedroom and bathroom. Staff helpful and friendly, especially in the restaurant Our only downside was finding the entrance to the hotel . It has a concealed drive which you can (and we did) drive past
We had a number of unfortunate issues here - the shower was weak, the room was shabby and the beds uncomfortable. However, this would have been ok but there were 2 issues. We were above the bar, where there was noise until 2am which kept us awake. The biggest issue was the second morning's breakfast. We came down at 9am and it was clear the staff were not on top of it. There were uncleared tables, people waiting to be seated and lots waiting for orders to be taken. I waited an hour for gluten free toast - which was burnt. My partner had eggs benedict which was lukewarm at best. There was no communication with everywhere was the atmosphere of discontent. What a shame - it ruined our morning and we wouldn't return.
My company use this hotel regularly and it is always a joy to stay here. My room for my two night trip was actually in the main building. It was quite small but being here on my own was not a problem. Clean and tidy in all areas, with very pleasant helpful staff. My only issue is that at 0430 I was woken by a bin lorry emptying the local garages bins. This is because my room is next to the main road that runs next to the hotel. Maybe as a suggestion you could better sound proof these rooms.
8 ladies stayed there for a New Years Eve celebration (two nights) and didn't get the package as outlined on the offer. Rooms were comfortable, if dated (I believe there are plans to refurbish this year). The seating arrangements for the celebrations weren't acceptable; the live music promised was a disco, and we danced in the bar on carpet. The staff were not properly trained and inattentive. However a letter of complaint has resulted in an apology and compensation.
This place....... certainly the best in Suffolk! The food was mouthwatering fresh and flavourful, the service was prompt and the staff couldn't do enough to ensure we enjoyed our evening. They were absolutely delightful! The experience at this amazing place continued in to day 2. The Breakfast was hot and a good start to our day. We came back from touring the town to find our bedroom was freshly made and looking as if we just went in it for the first time. We met some of the ladies who were cleaning the rooms. They were very friendly and asked if we were enjoying ourselves, very attentive and asked if we were comfortable and if we needed anything else for our room. They were even helpful when we asked about the town. We had a quaint and very English tea before we ventured out again. It was tasty and filling. In the two days we were at the Priory it was very hard to be critical on any aspect of our stay. Everyone we met from the management, front desk ,chefs, restaurant staff and the amazing room service ladies made our English trip unforgettable! I will most definitely stay here should I be visiting England again! Seriously, Why can't some of our hotels in the USA be like yours?
The staff were friendly, especially the lady on reception. The so called garden room was small and basic with a tired bathroom that needed attention. The staff couldn't cope with the 9 am breakfast rush which caused problems as guests became impatient. Wouldn't visit again.
I have been to visit Bury on numerous occasions and I have always wanted to stay in the Priory, boy was that a mistake! I arrived in the dark and a very friendly receptionist told me we had the last room and motioned the room was outside, I then wandered around a poorly lit garden following signs that pointed in a vague direction. 10 minutes later I got to our room. I paid for a room with a king size bed and got two singles pushed together (that refused to stay together throughout the night. The room was dirty, the tea/coffee had already been opened but put back into the display, the cups and teaspoon were filthy as was the bathroom, mold and hair and the toilet did not even have a lid. BASIC HYGIENE MISSING! Last room... I wouldn't stay there again if it was the last room on earth. Please see my pictures!!
Arrived on the Tuesday and was quickly checked in. We were a little early for check in but this was no problem as a room was available in the shallet blocks around the grounds of the main building. We had room 25. The room was a reasonable size with a seperate bathroom with all ammenaties. There was a flat screen tv on the wall and a wide selection of furnishings and utilities (hair dryer, ironing items, kettle (no fridge)). I found the bed itself was very comfy, however the pillows were a little soft for my liking. I`m sure if you ask they will provide move than the standard 2 per person or even have a selection of different pillows but i wasn`t really suffering too much and should have brought my own anyway as i`m picky. The duvet is quiet heavy and a reasonably heavy tog so easily keeps you warm during the night. The room has a radiator in it which you will need to turn on as the cleaner turns this off when cleaning the room. Doesn`t take to long to warm up though. My only complaint is that the door is slightly ill fitting to its frame so if its windy outside it does rattle. We used a piece of carboard to wedge in the door when closing and this solved the issue. Didn`t really give great grounds for a complaint. We stayed for 2 nights and this included breakfast. The breakfast on offer was a wide selection. (English & Continental) I personally had the eggs benedict both mornings which was perfectly made. The young girl taking the orders and serving the cooked food was quick and efficient - a credit to the staff. There`s plenty of car parking facilities at this hotel and the hotel is only a short taxi ride to the centre of Bury St. Edmunds. The reception happily booked us one on the first night. We will hopefully return to this establishment on our next visit. Many thanks to all the staff we had the pleasure to interact with - all did a great job.
We were very obviously staying in one of the older rooms (in the garden section), but it was still spotless despite the knackered carpet and bed and we found it very cozy with an excellent shower and bath. I liked the ‘motel' style layout of the hotel and found its old fashioned-ness quite charming. Both of the ladies we spoke to on reception were extremely bright and cheerful. 20-25 minute walk to get into town or it's a 5 minute drive. We paid less than £60 for this room and would definitely stay here again if ever in Bury.
For the most part, the Priory is what you would expect from a three-star hotel. The room was not spectacular, but it was comfortable and of reasonable size, with sufficient bedding and towels, plus all the little fripperies: hairdryer, iron & board, sewing kit, shoeshine pad etc. Plentiful supply of tea, coffee etc and that rarest of occurrences, a decent amount of sugar. I liked the large backlit bathroom mirror with built-in digital clock. Two very large TVs (this was a multi-bed room for three adults), but the remote affected them both at the same time. When we came into the room, one of the TVs was already on (why?) and switching it off then activated the other, and so on. Irritating. A couple of other little niggles: the three tea/coffee cups were all of different design. The kettle lid fell off when I went to fill it. A larger niggle: the shower. The design of the knobs was such that you couldn't actually tell whether you were changing the power level or temperature. After a lot of uncomfortable trial & error I worked out that the tiny raised line on the knob indicated the correct position, not the large section of knob that overhung the dial and looked like a pointer. Very poor design. One of the towels was stained. Most of the rooms are outside the main building - almost like a motel - meaning you go inside, then come outside again before getting into your room. We were misdirected so instead of a 30-yard straight line walk, we went round most of the perimeter. This led to my wife suffering a fall on some narrow, irregular, poorly lit steps. These steps need attention and the signage could also be improved.
We stayed here for a 2 night New Years eve break. Our room was a courtyard room which was very comfortable. Will need a refurbishment when the work is to be carried out later on in the year when new rooms are added and the restaurant is increased in size also. The first night we had a 3 course dinner but this was cut short when a member of staff was taken ill. The staff dealt with this well with the help of a lady who was a nurse and removed everyone away from the incident and then made the bar free while they were dealing with this and continued to make it free for the rest of the night . Breakfast was good the next day although the staff appeared a bit overrun with the numbers. The evening was excellent with a 5 course meal and the disco had the place rocking all night. The following morning there was a brunch served from 10 a.m and this made our departure much more leisurely. Would like to say a big thank you to Manageress Kim David and all the staff especially Matthew Cooke who went around making sure everyone was enjoying themselves. We would definitely consider going back next New Years eve to see not just the improvements to be made and to once again hopefully enjoy a wonderful stay.
Having enjoyed the 2016/17 New Year celebration we decided to return again this year. We stayed four nights and were looked after by caring staff. Accommodation in one of the courtyard rooms was again excellent, food too was to a high standard. I had encountered a problem at the outset with my booking that seemed to follow me when checking out. However, an extremely efficient and very professional young lady named Lauren immediately resolved the issue without further problems. Our last day at breakfast we met Tracey who had just returned from her Christmas break and she too was equally as efficient and professional in her manner and a joy to meet and made us feel welcome as did the other restaurant staff during our stay. All the staff who served us and looked after us are a credit to this hotel. It was unfortunate that a gentleman who was a member of staff was taken poorly whilst on duty, he too was such a caring gentleman and a pleasure to meet and to talk to. As a result of the paramedics having to be called to him, the Chief Executive Chef came to the rescue and whilst giving consideration and priority to this gentleman he also gave the same consideration to the guests. He dealt with a very senstive situation with the utmost efficiency and professionalism as he also did on the night of New Year's Eve when on duty in the restaurant. There can always be little things that can mar a stay and sometimes guests can allow that to cloud their thoughts but for my husband and I anything that may have been a problem to begin with was soon overcome by the way in which the staff caringly dealt with it. Once again may I say that the staff are a credit to the hotel and a joy to deal with. We will definitely return for another stay.
Stayed at The Priory with friends for a new year 3 day break. This is a small very personal hotel that served great food on hot plates with a smile. Breakfast was perfect as was our evening meals. The staff while mostly young were very polite and extremely professional in a incident when someone fell ill during dinner. Paramedics were called instantly. Senior staff came in while off duty and worked very hard to keep the evening running smoothly. While some paint is needed in a few places the important things like hot water from taps, control of heat from radiators, ample parking spaces comfortable bed, table and chairs in our room with a proper wardrobe made the stay home from home. We will be going to The Priory again.
Had a two night weekend autumn treat at the Priory, and having stayed before knew to book one of the courtyard rooms which are quieter than the main house. The welcome from hotel staff was warm and friendly, special mention to Lauren and Hannah. An early check in was offered so Housekeeping could put my mattress topper onto the bed (thanks are due to Steffi, Nicole and Holly). The room was clean and comfortable, lovely hot and powerful shower. Our first night was unfortunately interrupted by a very noisy guest in the next room, but this was met with sympathy by the hotel who offered a free breakfast with their apologies. The buffet breakfast was quite acceptable, especially the nicely done toast! All in all, we can certainly recommend a stay at the Priory, but if you stay at a weekend, aren't attending a function there, and want a quiet room, choose one of their well-appointed courtyard rooms rather than the main house.
We could not fault the hotel facilities and food. On arrival on Christmas Eve we were greeted by helpful and friendly staff. A nice surprise awaited us in our garden room,fresh fruit and three wrapped Christmas gifts! The staff did their very best to provide us with a relaxing and stress free festive break which we really enjoyed.
This is our second stay at this hotel. It has good parking. We stayed in room 14, which was nicely set out, quiet roomy with a two seater sofa. The shower, once at the right temperature, was good. The towels were newer, softer and smelt better than last time. And it included a free breakfast, with was quite ‘over cooked', (having working in a hotel I know these are not cooked great to order and the food has most probably been left under a heat lamp for too long!) although the ‘continental' was basic it was available. Can't really grumble as it was free. The staff we encountered were all pleasant. The beds are comfy. The bathrooms could do with an update and some money invested into them. However overall for the cost of the room and breakfast it was very good, remember this is not a 5* hotel, but definitely does the job!!
Stayed here while attending wedding nearby, excellent service and great breakfast, rooms clean and tidy, free Wifi, TV and tea/coffee in room. Bathroom could do with an upgrade but perfectly serviceable for our needs. Great value for money. All the staff really friendly
We stayed for two night to attend a wedding, I received a very warm welcome at the reception, our room was warm and very clean. Had dinner on the first night, and we were very well looked after by Chantele (Sorry if the spelling is wrong), if in this are again will stay here
Had a fantastic time here meeting with friends. Had a fantastic 3 course Xmas dinner, plenty of food that was delicious and plenty on the plate. Defiantly didn't leave hungry. Hotel was clean and the staff very accommodating and friendly. Defiantly a little hidden gem
I was allocated one of the courtyard rooms external to the hotel on a frosty Sunday evening. The room was comfortable without being luxurious and spotlessly clean. It was also very well heated considering the outside temperature. It was also pleasantly quietly situated. If you get this at the right price its well worth the money for a stay and a hand couple of minutes from the A14. Service was friendly and courteous.
Stayed for one evening with my children. Very friendly staff, efficient service and lovely room, which was also very warm and suitable for wintry weather conditions. Breakfast cooked to order and gluten free diet catered for. Will definitely book again
booked as attending local airbase officers mess draw phoned ahead to ensure heating in room on at arrival as 1 degree outside temperature on arrival no heating and still none by morning fan heater arrived after 5 hours toilet stained below water line breakfast seems to have fallen from usual good quality delay in newspaper till halfway through breakfast a pity as we have previously enjoyed our stay here
It was only an overnight stay, but the hotel was lovely and warm. We had a newly refurbished room. Staff as usual were warm and friendly. Breakfast was good. Missed the pot of tea at the table, but that was a small gripe. Will definitely be going back.
Stayed here for 2 nights during the Christmas market, we had garden room no 34 radiator was very noisey, evening meal a disaster for one of our party, didn't get charged for her meal breakfast was even worse, didn't get charged for breakfast felt very sorry for young staff having to cope with this, much needed upgrade and sound proofing
Stayed here for the Xmas market on the 25th November room was lovely plenty of room bed comfortable bathroom huge the only thing was the heating it wasn't working had the evening meal and it was a bit disappointing although the breakfast was lovely there was some people complaining abt there rooms but ours was ok would stay again if in same room.
Such a great place to stay in Bury, not too central, but located in a quiet area, 20 minute walk from the centre. Stayed here for the night before visiting Bury's Christmas Fair. Great night stay in a wonderful room, and a 5 star breakfast. Lovely staff!
We stayed in one of the courtyard rooms, comfortable & clean, very comfortable beds. All members of staff were friendly & helpful, however at breakfast I felt sorry for the waiting staff who were constantly having to apologize for the shortcomings of the kitchen. The cooked breakfast was slow in coming out but I do understand that the hotel was very full due to it being Bury St. Edmunds Christmas market weekend but I would have thought the management having known in advance of the many bookings would have ordered in extra breakfast items to allow for the amount of guests and maybe got in a few agency staff. The orange juice ran out every day we were there about halfway through the breakfast service, ( we stayed 3 nights), despite asking everyday for natural yogurt there was only flavored available. The coffee was constantly running out as were cups & breakfast bowls. The waiting staff through all this maintained a smile and were very polite and helpful but I feel they were constantly stressed by the lack of response from the kitchen which resulted in us being completely missed out on our final breakfast and after several times of trying to get someone to take our order finally succeeded, by which time we were also exasperated. We are not usually ones to complain But it does seem to have been a problem with management not undertaking the supervision needed when so many bookings have been made for what is always a weekend of fun & laughter for the whole town and should not have been anything unexpected for the management of this hotel.
The hotel is well located for the town and has reasonable facilities with plenty of parking and nice grounds. Although our room was spacious and quite quaint with uneven floors and a little period charm parts were in need of a refresh, especially the bathroom and window blinds. Road noise was evident too as it is close to a busy junction. So all in all a reasonable place to stay but somewhat dated. We didn't try the hotel catering as we thought the breakfasts a tad pricey.
I have stayed here for several days most weeks since May for work and I always look forward to my stay and also to seeing the staff. There are a mix of rooms and the hotel is updating them gradually so some rooms have the wow factor and others still have older furniture BUT the beds are comfortable, the rooms are clean and I've always had great service. I don't often eat at the restaurant simply because being away from home, it kills a bit more time if I go out somewhere but on one occasion when I did eat in, I wasn't keen on the vegetarian option so they chef cheerily asked me what I'd like and off he went. It was absolutely top notch customer care and a great meal. I love the team who organise the breakfast too as the young lady is always so happy and we have a brief chat but she is also extremely efficient, she doesn't need to be asked as she scans the room all the while and if my tea and toast hasn't arrived, she goes back and checks where it's got to. I know there have been some staff changes with a key member of the team opting for a career with more sociable hours so it's made things harder for the team but they remain cheerful and helpful sometimes despite the open rudeness I have witnessed on occasion from other guests. I have asked to move rooms a couple of times as I've booked a certain type of room on line but not realised it didn't have a bath and once I got swapped to a twin when I'd booked a double but there was only one time I had to stay in a room I wasn't happy with. I often would check in late so I probably didn't help myself there. The gardens are lovely with lots of wildlife and if you have a dog, you can take it to the garden rooms. I actually like those rooms the best to be honest. If you want a glitsy top of the range hotel then this isn't the place for you but if you'd like a nice, clean, friendly, value for money place to stay when you're away from home then I'd highly recommend the Best Western Priory.
An excellent Sunday lunch with the family at the Best Western Priory Hotel in Bury St Edmunds. The staff were friendly and welcoming and the hotel were happy to cater for our younger children. Highly recommend
The staff where very good, the bed was comfortable. The room was a bit run down. Breakfast so great and again the staff where very good Tracy , she really understands people. Not to sure about some guests, seemed to be four woman in one room that spent a lot of time outside smoking in there dressing gowns
A group of 28 sports car enthusiasts have just spent the weekend at this hotel following arrangements made many months ago by a couple of our Club members. When the booking was being arranged they dealt with a manager called Anna and all seemed well. However, we understand she has left and that there have been at least two replacement managers since then. So, let me begin by saying the staff are very friendly and welcoming but that there is a distinct lack of effective management and that the staff are not very well trained and if they have been trained at all their subsequent actions are not being properly supervised. On arrival at reception we were asked as part of the check in process to choose our evening meal and that was before we had even taken our luggage to our room. Also, as part of the check in process we were given a card with our room details on it which we were asked to sign and present during our stay when making any purchases at the bar. This is common practice and with one exception when buying drinks at the bar I was asked to sign a docket. The one exception was when we were served by a person who purported to be the manager! At dinner the pre ordered bottles of wine were brought to our tables but we had to ask for wine glasses every night since although there were already wine glasses on the table (one per person) these were being used for water. At the end of the meal we had to complete a form making our choices for the meal the following night. This time there was a column for us to add our name so our expectation was that the staff would know who had ordered what when serving out the meals. This wasn't to be the case. Leaving the dining room we soon realised that there were insufficient chairs in the lounge to accommodate everyone so I asked reception to make more chairs available and this was dealt with promptly. However, given that the size of our group had been known to the hotel for a very long time this is very disappointing and demonstrated that the venue is reactive rather than proactive; poor management and supervision. On the following two nights we helped ourselves to additional chairs from the dining room (just as the receptionist had done on the first night). Returning to our room I was alarmed to note that the door does not have a deadlock and would have complained at reception the following morning except that I discovered this was not an isolated case. Let me explain how the door is secured. Entry is gained from outside by turning the key clockwise about 10 degrees to release the latch. From the inside the only means of additional security is a chain. This primitive means of securing the door means that when absent from the room, with ones possessions inside, the door is only secured by a latch, so could easily be busted open by any amateur criminal with a strong boot and in my opinion is thus totally inadequate for a hotel which the AA has given a 3 star rating. In the morning the electric shower would not work and I note a previous reviewer had the same experience which staff looked into and didn't find any fault. Well, I can tell management that the system cannot cope with too many guests drawing off water at the same time and as a consequence in our case, when we needed hot water for a shower there wasn't any and I had no desire to take a cold shower. We resorted to a bath which worked without any problem. 15 minutes later when I tested the shower it worked because by then less guests were drawing off water. Not rocket science but seemingly beyond the comprehension of management to realise and get the system fixed. Breakfast was acceptable but on more than one occasion during our stay the waitresses brought out cooked food before we had finished our cereal. Now, the evening meal on Saturday night. Remember we had all pre ordered and our individual names were against the choices we had made. However, this had not been communicated to the waiting on staff who proceeded to bring food to table without knowing who we were because there were no place names in front of us and they didn't call out our names (for example, “I have beef for Mr Smith, Mrs Jones and Mr Thompson” etc). The consequence was that 3 people on our table of 6 were not initially served a main course and when this was realised and queried by staff they were surprised that those 3 were without a main course of beef. The pre order forms were obtained and the staff checked against this becoming bemused because they had served out the right number of beef courses. Another case of poor management and poor systems procedures. Staff rectified this as best they could but further damage was done to the hotel's reputation. You would have thought after this fiasco that management would have got their act together for the meal on Sunday night but the same procedure was applied so I asked to see the manager (the person who didn't ask for a signature when I was buying drinks at the bar) to ask what was the point in putting our names on the pre order form if this information wasn't used by the waiting on staff. The response was that the receptionist normally did a place setting for each guest. That's a weak excuse and again demonstrated poor management and supervision. Finally, when a market smallholder asked me on the Saturday afternoon where I was staying and I told him he just rolled his eyes, a sign to me that this hotel has had a poor reputation amongst locals for a long time and that my review and those of other guests that have posted poor reviews here is justified. I hope this review comes to the attention of the owners and that they act promptly to deal with the concerns expressed my myself and other guests. Many of these concerns can be rectified simply by getting good and effective management, supervision and staff testing in place. Longer term issues such as inadequate door locks can be dealt with temporarily by not letting out these rooms on those occasions when the hotel does not have full occupancy.
Pros...nice big room and bathroom, big comfortable bed, great staff, charming surroundings, good shower plenty of hot water, didn't utilize the main reception area, but it looked cozy and other guests seemed happy with amenities, good restaurant right across the street Cons...our room had no AC, a fan would be nice, had to sleep with windows open Loved this hotel nice grounds and it had that small cottage feel, good price, will stay there again Bill D Oklahoma City, OK
Good location to walk into town Nice rooms Clean Dog friendly Need a happier bar man... 90% staff that we encountered happy, attentive, professional, just the barman that took the shine off, but not a significant issue.
Once again we've stayed at the priory. Once again we had no reason for complaint. The hotel is showing it's age and desperately needs a revamp but this adds to it's charm. We actually spoke to a chap (I have to apologise as I've forgotten his name. I believe he is an area manager?) and he mentioned they were having a lot of work done this winter. We stayed in room 38 (in the annex) Nice room, clean comfortable and warm. The water from the taps was too hot, as if that's a bad thing. But you couldn't put your hands under it. The hot tap on the sink is flapping loose. It cost us £130 for one night which is the most we've ever paid there. Tad over priced this trip. I would still recommend the Priory and we will use it again on our next trip. Room 3 in the main building is the quaintest but has very low water pressure in the shower and an automatic light that goes off unexpectedly and other times stays on for ages.
Ok so room was decent size nicely laid out with a fairly comfy bed but the windows overlooking the very nice garden were filthy!! Bathroom was strangely large with a shower over the bath. The water pressure for the shower can only really be described as pitiful! I know that really in the grand scheme of things, this isn't important but when I'm on a hard earned break one thing that's really annoying to me is a bad shower.. We all know how lovely it is in the morning or after a long day to get under a nice shower and rinse the stresses away.. Fat chance here.. I complained to reception on our way out and upon our return went to reception to see if the problem had been rectified. I was told that both the receptionist and senior housekeeper had checked it and it was perfectly fine!!! Well I was flabbergasted!! What could I say to that?? Had the grill breakfast on the first morning and it was pretty awful really. Tried an omelette the next morning and that was actually rather nice. My recommendation for breakfast is to pick the items that they can't get wrong!! When we went to pay, we got a discount because of the complaint regarding the shower. This was appreciated because it was not a cheap hotel and I did not really enjoy the stay there. I will not be back.
Takes me back to those ghastly US motel movies from the 70's - you know, the sort of film where two nickels bought you 120 seconds on a vibrating bed. Which is just so wrong in every respect whichever way you look at it. [They don't actually have vibrating beds here - I'm just trying to paint a picture] The walls between the garden rooms are paper thin so you can hear everything going on next door. Astonishingly there are no plugs beside the bed to charge phones etc. The bathrooms are really tired with those 3kw Electric Showers where you can urinate more hot water per minute that is produced by the unit. And only two pillows on the double bed rather than four. And that's assuming you can reach your room by unlit pathways with traffic cone obstructions along the way. A simple lack of professionalism here. It might have been different staying in a room in the main hotel rather than a condo-style unit in the garden but I can only speak as I find. Indifferent food and lacklustre service. Disappointed especially as it wasn't especially cheap, which might have sugared the pill.
We were part of a group of 25 staying overnight...on checking in they had not booked our evening meal ....they put together a pathetic menu ....when the meals arrived it was obvious they didn't have enough food to cover it as the portions were ridiculous...the staff were overstretched and stressed this was evident from checking in to leaving. The breakfast was disgusting....half a rasher of bacon one sausage half a tomato & a hash brown we specifically asked not to be served didn't surfice as a full cooked breakfast ...the staff were run ragged The shower in our room was dangerously hot the controls didn't work,apart from that the room was ok We certainly won't be returning & if that is the standard of best western we will avoid them as will the rest of the group
this was a very nice Hotel to stay as it is only a 20 minute walk into Bury or a few minutes in the car. Attractive old Priory building with good car parking facilities, We stayed in a 'Courtyard room' which was adequate, clean and modern. The staff were friendly, the breakfasts great with a good choice of menu. We had one evening meal in the Hotel which was fine. There is a pub opposite for alternative dining or Bury town which has many good venues.
Due to complications at a hotel already booked in ipswich we needed a late booking in the area. This hotel had a vacancy and as we were desperate we booked a room for the night and discovered a hidden gem. The hotel is quaint and not really visible from the road but when you enter the grounds and hotel its self you expect to see Miss Marple or Poriot sitting having tea. The place is lovely and the rooms and bed were not modern but fitting for the style of hotel. Staff were excellent and very friendly. We are frequent visitors the the ipswich area and will now be using this hotel on future visits.
Wonderful stay at the hotel. Staff were very friendly and helpful especially the receptionist Lauren who went out of her way to show me my room and always had a smile on her face when I walked past which made my stay much more plesant. Breakfast was great good quality food. Clean and tidy room. Over all a fantiasic stay!
A wonderful flying visit to Priory Hotel, The staff were extremely friendly and absolutely wonderful service and a truly first class breakfast. Excellent . Thank you. Will be back again for a. Longer visit .
This hotel was comfortable, friendly and good value . Breakfast was lovely and could not fault it at all. Everything was made easy for us and nothing was to much trouble. Would definitely come back for another visit.
The hotel itself is nice and most of the staff are very welcoming however the things that matter were very different. A lovely greeting from a very helpful smiley reception staff, I booked my table in the restaurant for my evening meal and off I wandered to find my room. This was outside the main hotel in a row of motel looking rooms. First impressions were, its clean and looks very comfortable for my 1 night stay. I made myself a coffee and sat down at the desk to work on the laptop. All good so far. I arrived at the restaurant for my evening meal, not a lot of choice and quite expensive. I opted for suffolk sausage with mash and red onion gravy, it arrived quite quickly 3 sausage a spoon of mash and a very small pot of gravy. I was expecting there to be some veg for the £15:00. A pint of beer at £4:10 was more than I was expecting too. I went to the Tollgate just over the road for a pint of Good beer at £3:35 much more to my liking, I had a look at their menu and wished I had eaten there. Back to the room to get some sleep, I have a busy day tomorrow. I put on the TV, I like a bit of background noise whilst I am nodding and lay on the bed. I have never lay on a bed so hard, it was like lying on a board. I even pulled the sheet back to check it was the mattress, unfortunately it was. Ok I have got to get some sleep so put up with it and get my head down, on two pillows that were nearly as hard as the mattress. I was woken early next morning with the dog barking in the room next door, GREAT. Breakfast was ok but small. If you want to stay at a hotel with a hard bed and pillows, this is the hotel for you. If you want to stay at a hotel a get woken early by a barking dog, this is the hotel for you. If you want to pay over the odds for food and beer, this is the hotel for you. I dont.
We booked in June, for a 2night dinner on the first night, bed & breakfast offer. We duly arrived on the 10th September, together with 2 other couples. The place is dated, we were given rooms 12,14 & 15, all chalet style. They were furnished very 70's, chipped paintwork all over & the bathroom in 15, the wooden side didn't reach the floor. The receptionist, Kelsey, was not at all friendly & was very abrupt. The service in the dining room at breakfast was below standard. The men ordered porridge & cooked breakfasts, the cooked food came first, followed immediately by the porridge! The waitress seemed surprised that we had expected the porridge first! They had no gluten free or white bread available, & this was at 8am!! We love dogs, but, we don't want to be woken by a dog barking at 6.45am in the room next door but one! The evening dinner was ok for 4 of us, but oh dear, the steaks were inedible, & had to be returned. Would we go go again...NEVER.
Our twin bedded room was fine, with comfortable beds and plenty of tea making bits and bobs. Let down by an unemptied bin in the bathroom, and a shower that lacked any power - the pump appeared to be not working. We chose to forego breakfast as we considered it overpriced for a 3 star hotel, so can't comment, and rating doesn't take include that.
The location of the hotel is just outside the town. It is just off a fairly busy road but the hotel is walled so you don't hear traffic or have any concerns if you have children. Just a Shirt gravel drive to the main entrance. Quite a grand welcome to this old house. (There are a couple of entrances but reception can be reached from both ways). There are 3 options for room locations, the main house (where I stayed, which has been sympathetically renovated keeping the character with oak beams), courtyard rooms (had a sneak peak, look very nice with all the facilities you need), the. You have the garden rooms, didn't get to see these but if they are anything like the other rooms they will be lovely. Reception is small offering hot coffee and take away cups. It was quick and easy to check in and if you need anything extra, it was sorted immediately. The room facilities are good, kettle, iron, ironing board, hairdryer, everything you would expect. The shower took a little while to warm up but once it's ready, it was lovely. Nice, clean and tidy. The hotel offers breakfast. Continental breakfast is available, small selection of pastries, cereals fruit etc. but nice all the same. You can also order a hot breakfast at no extra charge (although there are some extras that incur a charge smoked salmon etc.). All the staff we met were friendly and helpful. Lovely hotel, definitely stay again.
Good food ,,good servise very friendly Evening meal a good corsice each night We had our own seating each day in the same room for meals We were a group visiting gardening for 4 days Ssept 1st to 4 th 2017
Stayed here for 2 nights in the superior suite, no air con so is very hot in the rooms, the bed was two beds pushed together, its slightly dated but other than that a nice place to stay, has free wifi too and also free parking on site, close to Tesco too!
Booked hotel for a christening and arrived to hotel outlook is superb staff are extremely sparse and good luck trying to find one! We where told there was only 3 staff on and the manager had to leave to sort his horses out?! Great but when you need somebody that doesn't help, Got to our room and open the door to be greeted with the stench of wet dog! Then I looked up the hotel which does not make it aware they accept dogs! Yuk if I had know this wouldn't have booked it bathroom had dog hairs scattered all over and that clearly cannot be helped as hairs fly about with movement but still yuk! Bed was awful and any movement make it squeak and sound like it was splitting in two. Asked for some airfreshner and they had none, if I had pets myself I probably wouldn't be bothered by the smell but I don't and it's all I could smell and its revolting! So just be aware and tv is very temperamental but only needed to put my head down and get going the next day and for that it was ok
The hotel is tired and our room had a strange smell. The beds were very hard and the rooms had lots of random hairs. The staff were great but it seemed there were not enough hands on deck to deal with the demand. We popped to the bar for a night cap and had to ring the bell 4-5 times before a member of staff even arrived. They really did their best but when I asked why they were so thinly spread I was told "The manager has horses and had something he needed to do, so went home early". Now I can appreciate that there could have been something serious, but educate your staff to give your customers a suitable answer. Consider themselves lucky to get a 2 star review because if is wasn't for their staff it would be a 0.
I stayed here for business over the weekend and was less than impressed when arriving at the Priory. The Hotel is very tired. It needed updating at least 10 years ago and musty smell follows you out the entrance door. I was originally put into room 14. On walking through the door, I was instantly hit by the smell of bleach and mold. I had to be out again quickly for dinner so got dressed and left. I arrived back at the hotel at 11:30pm and it had not got any better so I went and spoke to the staff member at the reception desk who kindly moved me to Room 19, which was worse. They did then move me again to a room inside the original building which was OK. The beds are not comfortable, the light in the bathroom has no on off switch so you have to wait for it to go off again by itself. The bathroom in all 3 rooms needed to be replaced (covered in mold) Decor throughout is very tired. In the morning I decided to go to the restaurant and order breakfast. At 7:30am the flies were all over the tables and cutlery. A staff member approached me in the morning to advise they were "treating the mold in the rooms that's why it smelt so badly of chemicals" ?! My suggestion would be to find anywhere else to stay!!!
We went here for my husbands birthday on the 4th, after being let down by somewhere we'd already booked. We know Matt who is one of the chefs, who also works at the Ipswich hotel and brome grange and he suggested we tried it, as he was working there that night. He also did our wedding breakfast at the Ipswich hotel so we knew the food would be great. Well it was absolutely amazing and the lamb shank was devine. Would highly recommend a visit here. It's a beautiful hotel in a lovely setting. Staff are very friendly and looked after us well. Special thanks to Matt who saved the day.
All the staff we came in contact with were very pleasant and helpful.Great choice at breakfast and service at table excellent. We were able to walk into town from the hotel so didnt have to worry about parking. We had a garden room,not in the main hotel, the idea we liked. Although we had a very nice stay the down side was that the room diffinitely needs an upgrade. The room was very tired,needs a new bathroom and all needs redecorated.
Our stay at the priory was very nice. My husband and I stayed in the annex which we were told had recently been refurbished and our friends were in room no 5. The staff were very friendly, from the manager to the cleaning staff. We had evening meals on three occasions which were very nice but a bit pricey to have every night. The special menu never changed which was disappointing as we pointed out to the manager while we were there,
Excellent staff, receptionist managed to find me a ground floor room even though I forgot to ask in advance. Very comfy bed, clean and freshly decorated bedroom. Food very good quality and great service.
Stayed here for 4 nights with a large group. Opinions on rooms varied (some need an upgrade) but ours in the courtyard was clean, comfortable and in pretty good decorative state. Cleaning was a bit erratic and toiletries missing but staff were keen to help. Slightly out of town (but only £4-5 taxi ride away) and it's beautifully peaceful with lovely gardens. Food was generally very good and the restaurant staff were endlessly patient and helpful - managing to serve our large group (@50 of us) with commendable speed. Decor in public rooms was a little "tired" and the bar is small and a bit limited but overall we were well looked after and enjoyed our stay.
Stay at the Priory Hotel quite often and can only say what a pleasure it is. The staff from reception to housekeeping are amazing and if there is a problem it is always solved quickly, quietly and efficiently. I do not read the reviews very often but was quite surprised at the attitude of a reviewer recently we can all find fault sometimes where ever we stay but if complaints are put over in a polite way it saves so much distress. The hotel is to have a major refurbishment in the near future some new rooms are already in use clean, bright, modern and airy. Plenty on offer for breakfast and from what I have seen the hotel is getting busy so maybe that speaks for its self.
Great hotel and friendly staff with a positive helpful attitude. From reception to the kitchen staff all go out of their way to make your stay a pleasant experience. Able to look after the business traveller or those visiting th historic Bury St Edmunds. Well done keep it up.
Stayed one July Saturday night. Clean and spacious room and bathroom. Good breakfast. Quite hot in room 5: would be more of an issue if the weather was better! Maybe the hotel should offer a fan in each room.
This is the first time we have stayed here, we would return if it was the same price, but don't expect too much. Read the other reviews, yes it needs a facelift, the beds were quite hard, the bathroom worked!! Rooms include tea and coffee. We were able to park right outside our room which was useful. The staff I have to say were very nice. This is not a 5* hotel and there's much better in Bury, but it did the job!
We stayed here before a wedding and were delighted by the room and the excellent dinner. The garden is lovely. Most surprising was the generosity of the staff, especially Lauren, who looked after our dog for the whole day when we were at the wedding. They didn't ask to be paid for this; they treated us like friends! We had a really happy stay here and will return. A lovely family hotel!
This hotel really does need a facelift. First time I stayed I was in upstairs near kitchen and room was very hot and the shower was broken so very very hot. Second time I was in the garden rooms which are very dated and had a funny smell. Staff were very polite and breakfast was lovely but rooms let them down.
Stayed in chalet in grounds of hotel, bedroom ok apart from very hard pillows. Bathroom had had grouting done between tiles, but needs updating on fixtures and fittings. Main hotel desperate for update, shoddy appearance. Owners need to spend some profit they make to turn this hotel to a more desirable condition. My friend stayed in room 7, if offered this room, refuse. Bathroom had been regrouped, but fixtures and fittings need to be replaced. Awful smell in bathroom, suspect it is coming from the kitchen when they are cooking. Sloping ceiling as it is in attic. This room should be used for storage and not paying guests. Staff pleasant. Intend to contact Best Western with hotels problems
From the moment I phoned the hotel to make a special request, until the time we left, we found the staff friendly and very helpful. Our lovely room overlooked the garden and was quiet and peaceful. We thought the food was well presented and delicious. I have no hesitation in recommending The Priory Hotel.
Stayed here for 1 night 15/7/17 room no 7 Avoid this room . This room was uncomfortably hot to the point that i was sick and almost fainted during the night , even with the windows fully open. It is situated in the roof of the main building and would appear to be above the kitchen. No aircon or fan . Was noisy in the morning due to its situation above the kitchen and overlooked the kitchen staff rest area so could here all their conversations as well as smell their cigerette smoke. Everything was crooked in the room from the pictures to the tv and the basin in the bathroom , somebody didnt care when it came to that room.!!! Now the bathroom was a complete joke. The shower hose wasnt long enough, the water which was a dribble was cold, the wood work and the bath panel were falling to bits and the worst was the toilet did not flush away the waste, even after 9 flushes, embarrassing .!!! The bed had seen better days, antiquated headboard but my god the mattress, i have never seen one as disgusting as this one, it was basically brown and stained from top to bottom , i wish i had looked at it when i got into the room , but as we were due at a friends party we got in , changed and went out so i didnt look at it till the morning . The breakfast was very nice , but the staff were obviously under pressure. We ate it in the conservatory , the roof paint was falling off and the carpet was dirty and i had to ask someone for everything i needed. There were no glasses for fruit juice, fruit juice had ran out, had to get someone to take our order and ask for sugar twice. To be fair the staff were very pleasant considering the pressure they were under. When we went to pay in the morning before leaving, another guest was complaining so we added ours to this once he had finished . They really wernt bothered. The room was £126 including breakfast for the night through booking .com ( whom i shall also be complaing to) so if you said 10.00 a head for breakfast at the most ( which would still be over priced) thats £ 106 for the room which is daylight robbery. The management for this group need to take a long hard look at this place and spend some of the hard earned money that their guests pay for the rubbish rooms they get . This place needs a complete overhall. We will never stay there again and will make sure that anybody else we know doesnt either.
This is a comfortable, well run mid market 3 star hotel. We had a comfortable room, but the bathroom was a bit tired and the shower needed modernising as it was old and weak. Nice lounge and bar. Enjoyable breakfast. No complaints. A bit far from the town centre if you dont have a car. Otherwise book with confidence.
I stay here regularly for business reasons and have frequented most of the rooms the hotel has to offer. The room I stayed in last night was the worst so far. Dirty walls and carpet, mould building up in the shower and several arachnids sharing my room for free. It is about time the hotel spend some money and upgrade the furniture in their rooms as it is very old and out dated. I didn't ask for an early wake up call but the noise from an adjoining room at 0615 was enough to wake the entire hotel. Fortunately for the hotel I'll be back as my company make the bookings, if it was up to me I wouldn't bother.
This is a well run pleasant hotel. Our room was fine, a decent size, if a little dark, but I imagine this was an exception because of its position adjacent to a leafy tree. Bathroom was a bit tired and the shower was very weak indeed. Otherwise we had a good nights sleep in comfortable beds. Comfortable lounge and bar. Breakfast was good. No complaints. Does what it says on the tin. 3 stars for this 3 star hotel.
My wife and I stayed for one night to celebrate an "important" birthday and had a wonderful time. We had a lovely room, the food and wine were excellent and the welcome from all the staff was superb. The grounds are a delight and I can't understand why more people were not using them, especially as the weather was so good. I can see that the hotel is undergoing renovations at the moment, and you can tell that this is needed in a few places but this did not detract from our experience.
This was our 8th year of coming to The Priory for a Family get-together.This year was especially important as it was my mother's 90th birthday. There are 16 of us, including 4 children. We had a few issues with communication initially when arranging the booking, but eventually these were resolved. From the moment of our arrival, we were looked after in a wonderfully efficient and friendly manner, nothing was too much trouble. The supervisor James, was excellent throughout and saw to our every need. We had the lovely Terrace Suite which opens up on to the gardens. The meal was beautifully presented, and looked and tasted delicious. Following our meal, we were informed there was a BBQ being held on the lawn, and we were invited to take part in the games being held. Several of our party had a lot of fun playing rounders! My mother thoroughly enjoyed her day, and we all agreed this year was the best ever. Excellent service and a wonderful lunch. We will be returning for our 9th annual reunion next year.
Unfortunately didn't get to visit as it took 4 emails and three phone calls to enquire about wedding prices and dates. Finally spoke to lady and never received details really disappointing the venue would have been perfect ..... but left us wondering how they would have managed our special day
We were visiting Bury St Edmunds and booked the Best Western for a Saturday evening. On arrival we were welcomed by a very efficient receptionist. We were given room 35 which is one of the cottages, the room was a good size with a very comfortable bed. In the evening we returned for dinner around 8:30pm. Our waiter was Luke who was young and very capable. We ordered a rump steak and a calfs liver, both were well presented and beautifully cooked, It was the best steak I have had in many years. With both mains served on hot plates one of my testes. Breakfast was good as well. We will be going back
My wife and I spent 6 nights at the hotel and had a very enjoyable time. The room was comfortable, the food, dinner and breakfast, excellent. All the staff were very professional, polite and attentive. Nothing was too much trouble. The manager, Stephan, and his assistant Anna were excellent hosts. They looked after their guests very well and when necessary mucked in with everyone to ensure a good service. Bury St Edmunds and the surrounding area is lovely and very interesting. Even after six days we did not get to see everything wanted to. If we decide to come back then this is the hotel we will come back to.
Stayed here for one night on business. Decent accommodation in chalet style rooms. Rooms were spacious, clean and adequate. Restaurant in hotel was good quality. Only grumble is the road noise from the rooms as is noticeable but it didn't disrupt my sleep. Decent hotel, no frills but would stay here again.
Just spent the weekend here with our family, (17 of us) Fabulous, excellent food & service. Rooms spotless & beds very comfortable.All the staff brilliant led by Stephan & Anna, highly recommend this hotel.
Nice hotel with very attentive, welcoming and accomodating staff. The breakfast was plentiful and well prepared. Lovely old house with attractive grounds. The room was clean, large enough and in a lodge style.
I stay here on occasion, when looking for a good nights stay whilst travelling. The rooms are in a lodge style, which means you can feel independent from the main building. The bar is a little dated, but not an issue
We held my daughters wedding ceremony and reception here on Saturday and i can not recommend this hotel and most importantly its staff highly enough. They was absolute fabulous from the Managers, waterers waitresses, reception and chefs. Firstly they kept us informed prior to the wedding day and most importantly during the day. The gave ideas if we wanted them and did all we asked, and in my option went above and beyond in delivering a fantastic wedding. They invited the bride and groom to see the rooms i.e. ceremony, wedding breakfast, reception and evening buffet all before the guests viewed them. They really went out of their way to make the Bride and Groom feel so special. They also looked after myself as the Brides mother and decorated the hotel beautiful. Also i would like to thank the Chef who sadly i did not meet on the day, but have to highly recommend him and his team for the food they produced. From the Wedding breakfast to the buffet, all the food was home made and totally not only looked amazing but tasted amazing. So if you are looking for a wedding venue that the staff REALLY look after you and care about your and make your day so special then book here. Excellent service, food and stunning grounds.
The staff at the priory hotel were really friendly, Stephan Marriot and his team were very obliging, they made us so welcome, even made our dog welcome as well, the grounds were beautiful, we have no hesitation in booking another weekend away
I stayed here for 2 nights. The staff here were great. The reception staff were very helpful when my friend had trouble with the Wi-Fi. The hotel is about 30 min walk from town. The grounds are lovely
Stayed here for two nights in the most dog friendly hotel we have every stayed in. From the moment we checked in the owners could not have done more to make us feel right at home even offering our beloved cocker spaniel food fit for a king! The garden room was the most comfortable room ever, just charming overlooking a very well manicured garden, just perfect. How often have you seen dog lovers a bin outside your room for our poo bags? Answer NEVER! Brilliant idea. How often have you seen a sign on the outside of the door to warn staff that a dog might be on the other side of the door? Answer NEVER! Brilliant idea. Thank you to the staff for making us feel so welcome, we had a great stay. Forgot to mention the food...first class.
Stayed in Room 9, a twin room, with my sister. Very close to reception, perfect for us. Room was spotlessly clean, ample facilities for our needs. Well worth the money. Service and staff were excellent, reception ladies very helpful. We had dinner in restaurant in evening with more family, the food was much better than I envisaged. Scampi and salmon were really nice, big portions too. Breakfast was also very good, cooked food was quick, eggs benedict beautiful. Would definitely return.
Lovely traditional hotel. Within walking distance of the town centre. The staff were very welcoming and helpful. We stayed in one of the annex / chalet type rooms. The room was clean and tidy but maybe a bit dated and not totally ideal by current standards. If I were booking again I would try to specify staying in the beautiful historic hotel itself. The breakfast was superb. Reasonably priced hotel and in a good location.
24 of us stayed for up to 3 nights as a base for a walking group. The staff were very accommodating and helpful manged well by Stephan and his Assistant Anna. The rooms were comfortable and the food very good. A superb weekend. Thanks to everyone in the team. Well done. Will revisit even as a smaller party.
Stayed here with work colleagues. My room (no.5) was very comfortable , a good size and overlooked the beautiful grounds to the rear. My colleagues were staying in the attached chalets around the grounds and whilst ok they said that they were dated and tired with a need for refurbishment. The staff at the hotel were friendly and accommodating. The evening meal was very good. Good range of local produce, beautifully presented and very tasty. Was not expecting such a dining experience. The breakfast was also very nice especially the cooked one. This hotel is a 20 minute walk from the town centre.
We met some friends here for lunch although restaurant was quiet we all had an excellent lunch. Food their was a good choice and we all enjoyed it very much. I had a lamb shank which was tender and very tasty. The pear apple and plum crumble also excellent.
Excellent Hotel. Accommodation is in the form of Chalet Rooms. Nice and warm and comfortable. Housekeeping did an excellent job of servicing the room and kept the tea tray well stocked. Breakfast was good and served in a timely manner.Bar was comfortable. Staff were friendly and helpful. A traditional hotel. A taxi into Bury St Edmunds will only cost approximately £5.00. Free WiFi in the room. A reasonable sized car park. Would quite happily stay here again.
20 family & friends had birthday celebration lunch in conservatory room leading onto garden. The staff were all very pleasant, efficient & welcoming; the food was excellent & the venue perfect, especially as the children could relieve their boredom by playing football etc in the garden.
Good parking. Rooms/chalets are large.we had a bath and shower. Comfortable bed with good pillows. Breakfast was lovely. Tea tray could do with more tea and milk on it. Staff very friendly and helpful. We would stay again.
This is a traditional hotel: There's nothing odd or quirky about it; the staff are welcoming and efficient; the food is prepared to order, good quality, delicious and good value. I've never stayed here but have been in from time to time for meals. We'll be back.
We stayed as part of a car club group. Excellent roomy parking. The good food was pleasantly served. Nothing was too much trouble for the friendly staff. We hope to return in the not too distant future
Plenty of parking. Good room - we booked a superior room and got a six foot bed and ample space in the room. Everything was fine for us. We only had bed and breakfast and the service and food were acceptable. We did have difficulty getting the heating put on when we were in our room. We were told the heating was on a timer, which we can understand, but it was cold and we did need the heating on, although a few weeks ago it was very hot and heating would not have been required.
Getting the family together from four corners of the country is not easy but the Priory made it more than worth-while and a great occasion for 20 of us. Pre-lunch drinks were attractive and well served. We had four beautifully set tables in the Conservatory with views down to the garden. The pre-ordered choice from a selection of four for each course enabled all tastes to be satisfied. The food was attractively presented, had interesting flavours and was delicious. Even a toddler had his own nicely set out meal! The staff were attentive without fuss, yet friendly and knew how to serve. We all enjoyed a very leisurely time together. It's great to be able to walk out into the garden to chat longer. To cap it all the bill was very reasonable. We appreciated the quiet, efficient organisation with all details attended to and helpful suggestions. Family members who stayed overnight enjoyed the relaxation - and the great breakfast. So - a big 'Thankyou'.
We held our wedding reception at the Priory and it was more than we could have asked for. Everything was done as per our requirements, the consevatory was spotless and tastefully decorated. The staff were very attentive and no-one was kept waiting for food and drinks. The food was EXCELLENT, every guest commented on how great the food was. Beautiful grounds, and though it was a bit chilly out (February) the sun shone and the scenery was perfect. There was no time limit to vacate the premises- we paid for use of the consevatory and it was ours for the entire day and night. As we planned to go to our honeymoon that night, we did not stay over at the hotel, but were allowed to change into our travel clothing in one of their rooms. Just before we left that evening, we were given the gift of a free night in their bridal suite whenever we wanted! We will definitely return for a romantic meal here. It's now one of our special places.
Had a wonderful birthday dinner with all the family in a Private Dining Room. Food was excellent and the staff were very welcoming and accommodating. The bedrooms are very spacious. We all had a fantastic time and would definitely revisit.
From the moment we were greeted by Anna & Stephan to our departure the service was incredible and food amazing. We booked a table of 11 and was offered the conservatory as our own private room over looking fabulous manicured gardens. Arrival drinks for all, including incredible children's cocktails which went down very well. Great food and service all evening and some pretty good rooms to boot. Spacious family rooms with all mod cons. This hotel is very child and pet friendly as our 2 young black labs were made a fuss of and were allowed free run of the hotel (apart from restaurant of course) Great value and worth the money for a large party including overnight stay. The staff were all attentive and friendly with all of our party. Well done Priory, looking forward to visiting again. 5 stars
Our room was in the garden annexe ( no. 11). It was tired & dated & lacked the 2 most important essentials for a pleasant stay i.e a refreshing shower- the water flow was so poor it was unsuitable for hair washing & barely general washing & a decent bed- this was too hard for restful sleep and the mattress itself was stained.The walls are so thin we could clearly hear the conversation etc from our neighbours. Accommodation basically needs complete refurb. Disappointing!
Had a lovely Mothers Day Lunch at the Priory today! Superb food and very personable staff made it a really pleasant occasion, thank you! Nice little touches for the Mums too! Recommended ...so do try it! :)
Set in pleasant grounds, the Priory lived up to expectations ! On arrival, the staff were personable, welcoming and attentive without being intrusive. The meal was superb, well presented and delicious. Highly recommend a visit, I am sure you will not be disappointed !
Having just spent the weekend in Bury for the Christmas Fayre and having booked ourselves into the Best Weston we feel you should all know.....No the Hotel may not have the best decor and could do with a little bit of a face lift, BUT do not take all at face value, As always we are always greeted by happy friendly staff and always happy to help. We had decided to have a meal in the hotel, IT WAS AMAZING!!! we went for something different and got something very beautiful, and for the chef to come out with our meals and explain the dish.Fantastic!!! Credit where credit due!! We had a great weekend and will be returning again....
We stayed here yesterday to attend Christmas market. We had two rooms, both were in garden area. They were clean, but very tired and worn. The bathroom was the worst, loose tiles, mound and black scum around window, sink and bath. Carpet in room was dirty and worn. Reminded us of old chalets we used to stay in at Butlins as kids. Not worth £114 a night.
Just back from a weekend at this hotel with my mum and her partner. The rooms were great, I was in a single but the bed was almost double. Very comfortable. We ate in the hotel both evenings, the food was lovely and the service great. Although it was a first visit for me, my mum and her partner stay here regularly, so Stephan, the new manager, kindly bought us a round of drinks. They commented on how much it has changed since the last visit (all positive). The staff were all helpful, attentive and friendly. Looking forward to my next visit.
We were invited to a friend's birthday lunch, 12 of us in the party, and had pre-ordered our menu choices. We felt embarrassed for our hosts for a number of reasons. The service was appalling and to find a member of staff we had to go to reception because there were not enough waiting staff. We were the only people in the restaurant and there was another small private party in another area. The whole place felt tired and lacking in welcome or atmosphere. The final straw was the main course - a tiny amount of veg, a grudging amount of roast beef, undercooked roast potatoes and a gravy that was thin and tasteless. The management should be there on a Sunday to see what actually goes on, as there are 12 people who will never go back. There are so many local pubs offering wonderful Sunday lunches making The Priory even worse by comparison on price, atmosphere and quality
We used the Priory as our venue for my Mother's birthday celebrations. From start to finish the staff could not have been more accommodating. Nothing was too much trouble and we all had a great evening. The food was lovely and our overnight stay very comfortable. Breakfast was also very good and excellent value for money. All staff were incredibly friendly and always with a smile on their faces. We wouldn't hesitate to visit again. Thank you for a fantastic weekend!
Just celebrated my 70th birthday on November 12th in the Terrace Room. My daughters had decorated the room earlier and were given complimentary coffees. The dinner and service were excellent. The manager and staff were extremely helpful at all times. We stayed overnight in a lovely room as did other family members. We all met up for a delicious breakfast in the morning and more complimentary coffees before we left. A wonderful stay!
Wow a lovely little place. We shared our room with our son, they put a fold up in the room. He did say that the bed wasnt that comfortable. Nice quaint little room, clean and warm. Cooked breakfast was very tasty and the staff were very pleasant. Will definitely be coming here again ??
3rd visit would highly recommend from check-in to check-out.Lovely grounds easily accessible for the dogs,who are always made very welcome,the garden room we have is big enough for our rottweiler cross to have her cage in and her mums bed go down next to it.All food very good,with special thanks to Stephan and Matthew and their teams for making a family meal special as with all the service it was excellent
A big thank you to Stephan, Anna and their team for providing a wonderful atmosphere for my wife's Birthday party. The service, food, and attention to detail was second to none. Would certainly recommend
excellent food and very good service - home made bread was delicious - very attentive to your needs - we all felt very special - also the venue was warm and cosy in the conservatory - there was only one thing that could have been better, there could have been a little more light in the back car park
I just spent one night whilst in the area on business. Very clean and tidy. My room had clearly recently been refurbished. Friendly, helpful staff. My colleague and I had a tremendous evening meal. Lovell scallops and a superbly cooked and presented pork main. I was pleasantly surprised with the standard of the food. Breakfast is substantial, but an extra at £8 each. No complaints.
A small group of us booked into this hotel for 3 days as we where attending a conference over the weekend, I would highly recommend this hotel to any one, you are made to feel at home from the time you book in, we found the staff where brilliant and I was the only one in our group that used the bar each evening I got to know Luke the young bar man very well and nothing was to much trouble for this young man, from snacks to drink he was 1st class, when we used the restaurant for meals again it was I would say 5 star and I have travelled around a lot in my scouting roll to different conferences etc , the rooms well what can I say its got to be 5 star the rooms have everything you need plenty of tea/coffee/ etc and are very comfy , after spending a few hrs on Saturday looking around Bury I will be going back and booking back into this hotel and ask for the same room very well done to all the staff, you just made the stay brilliant many thanks.
fair hotel. stay in separate chalets in courtyard. bathrooms need modernising and cold. Tepid water in evenings. breakfast looks good but poor service, excuses from staff and not enough room in main breakfast room, have to sit in cold conservatory. SLOW SLOW service at breakfast and dont ask for extras they take too long to come! breakfast was cold by the time the ketchup arrived! Why dont they just put them on the table?? Be better with a self service system the hotel obviously trying to control portions.
We wanted a hotel for a concert stop over, but there was three of us, sisters and an old friend. As we only wanted somewhere to rest our heads a room for 3 fitted the bill. On arrival, we were happy to be accommodated in one of the bungalow rooms in the grounds, particularly as 2 of the group have the odd cigarette and could just pop out side. The room was spacious with a large bathroom. Very clean, beds comfortable, even the 'put me up' third bed. Breakfast was good and included in the price of £84 for the three of us. A little out of town, tooks us 25 mins to walk in and a £4.70 taxi fare home. Excellent value. Plenty of parking. Will definitely use again.
Finding main reception after dark is not easy. My taxi dropped me at the rear of the Hotel (he followed a Satnav to the postcode), which looked like the entrance. The actual entrance was a walk around the block to a vehicle access that could be mistaken for a service entrance. Once you know the place this is not an issue though. I stayed in a Garden Room. Clean, spacious and comfortable, with usual three-star facilities, including trouser press, tea / coffee making facilities etc. Meals in the hotel restaurant were excellent. The hotel seems to have issues with technology. The dated phone system declined to accept an alarm call setting. The up-to-date TV had the most chaotic Electronic Programme Guide imaginable, particularly as it is limited to Freeview channels, with lots of blank channels behind low numbers. Hotel IT provision for guests is a laptop near reception, running some very dated software (Office 2003) without compatibility packs to access documents or PowerPoints created on more recent editions. This leads to difficulty doing the last-minute updates. If you have your own PC, wireless access is good, but, at least in my room, the small desk was badly positioned and poorly lit, with no readily accessible power socket. Staff proved to be very friendly and helpful, with check-in and check-out fast and efficient. Overall, a good experience and would not hesitate to stay again.
Reception very helpful and checked me in very quickly, Room basic but need detail when cleaning. Kettle and phone dusty and one lamp not working and please vacuum inside the radiator. Need to look at lighting in back car park, only two small lights not enough if going to car in the dark. Dinner OK food was very good but found staff too loud when discussing what needed doing 'she need to order' 'she needs a drink' was not the most professional and I don't want to hear staff moaning about other employees being lazy when I am trying to have a peaceful dinner
We stopped a couple if nights in this hotel. The location is good with free car parking (two entrances can be confusing). The hotel itself is tired and in need of an urgent refurb. The food for breakfast and dinner was excellent although waiting staff could do better. On our second morning we went for late breakfast. 09.00 (closes at 9.30) to find people walking backwards and forwards past the tables to get to the function rooms, no other access. Our room 14, was out in the cottages with uneven paths and problems with the hot water (no shower or bath for two days) we could not be moved. A 20.00 discount off the bill because of this seemed pitiful.
Couldn't fault the hotel apart from the bed was too soft. The breakfast was nice and the staff were lovely, beautiful setting and within walking distance from Bury town centre. Easy to find and loads of parking
Checked in late and found myself in a small room (number 6) with no aircon and a bathroom that has a noisy shower and you need to the run the tap for ages to get hot water. They mention saving the planet by reusing your towel. Good luck! You will waste all that great effort waiting for hot water. But... what I really struggled with was having to listen to the kitchen staff having their conversations and one of them belching/burping his way through breakfast. Not only could you hear them from the bedroom but also from the breakfast room plus the conversations of other staff and workers coming in to work in the morning! Not for me this 'hotel'....
Had a room on the main road. Traffic kicks off around 3am so awake even with ear plugs in. Would not recommend if you are a light sleeper. Room lovely reception staff really nice too, but wouldn't stay again.
This was our first visit to Bury St Edmunds. We had a 4 night at the Prior Hotel with the objective of making it a base to explore Suffolk. The hotel was clean and well run, the staff very helpful and restaurant and food good. The hotel is situated towards the edge of town, too far to walk for people our age. We had a courtyard room which was spacious a with parking immediately outside of room. Only complaint would be that the sound proofing was a problem, even using the tap in the next room was disturbing.
Quite pleasant hotel handy for Bury St Edmunds quite and secluded stands in its own grounds even though in busy area it is well placed for visiting Bury St Edmunds. Excellent breakfast not buffet. Breakfast freshly prepared. staff very friendly. Very handy for visiting Ickworth Manor
Arrived checkin smooth, receptionist efficient. Room was in the gardens and although not ultra modern it was ok. Bed was comfortable and everything worked ok. Bar service was quite slow but pleasant enough. Went for breakfast and ordered my food forgetting toast, started to eat breakfast and then ordered toast. Finished breakfast still no toast waited a few minutes then I think guy realised that he forget my order and came over and said toast will be 2 mins, unfortunately I wasn't hanging around and left and said forget it. I would stay here again if the price was right,
From the moment I arrived the staff couldnt do enough to help, the receptionist was very polite, welcoming, and quick to check me in. The food, and service was first class. The breakfast range was astonishing, all fresh fruit, fruit juice good quality branded drinks. I really didn't know what to have, there have been times in the past at some hotels I've struggled to find something that doesn't look synthetic or recycled, but the Priory continental choice was amazing, I tried to get something of everything, couldn't resist it!! Delicious hot cooked food to finish off. Very nice! My room was delightful, housekeeping took good care of me, and there is a wonderful garden to sit out in, should you wish. I found the whole experience very relaxing. Excellent management in all departments, and all staff immaculately dressed.
We stayed for 3 nights in one of the garden rooms which was very comfortable - luckily there was a fan in the room as it was very hot all the time we were there. The room could do with a bit of a update but was fine for our purpose. The staff were all very polite and helpful.
We visited the priory, for a cream tea. It was lovely, very nice scones. The gentleman who looked after us was very welcoming and couldn't do enough for us. . It was a lovely treat. Can't wait to go again soon
Our stay at The Priory was marred by the quality of the room. There is a crescent of Garden Rooms aka chalets nos. 14-29 which need demolishing. In 2016 it is no longer acceptable to have fellow campers walking within 6 ft. of the bed en route to their own room with children looking in the windows. When opening the door we had to be careful no one was passing or one is in full view whist getting changed etc. We stayed for 3 nights, on the Sunday morning there was no electricity. We rang the night porter who said he would get dressed and check the trip switch. My partner went to work without being able to have a shower or cup of coffee in the room. The coffee situation was remedied by a trip to the garage nearby. The same happened on the Monday morning but we were later as not working and the situation was corrected quicker. That was the downside to our stay, the upside was the staff who were lovely. The waiting staff at breakfast were charming and the quality of the breakfast was very good, most delicious omelettes. Would we stay again, only if our room was in the main hotel. Everywhere was clean, except the extractor fan over the bath which was full of fluff and dust, and the grounds are kept very nicely. It is such a shame that such a proportion of the rooms are not what we expect to be staying in in 2016.
Nice comfortable hotel about a mile from the town centre with free parking. Garden room was quiet and well appointed. Everything was really clean. Staff incredibly friendly and the room was good value at £73 for b&b. Buffet breakfast selection was small but adequate, but cooked options available (the omelette was very good!) Would gladly stay here again.
Great hotel with very friendly and helpful staff. Stayed here for a family wedding in Bury St. Edmunds, ample parking. Room very clean, large and comfy. Competitive prices for the area, good bar too. Give it a look, you won't be disappointed.
The staff here are charming and very helpful. We were only staying for one night - the room No 9 was spacious, clean and well presented with large television, tea and coffee making facility, and twin comfortable beds. The ensuite bathroom was perfectly adequate with a bath and spotlessly clean. We are here in the restaurant, and were more than pleasantly surprised. The food was imaginatively presented and delicious with an excellent choice. Plenty of car parking and pleasant gardens. We would recommend it.
Myself and a few colleagues stayed here on a Saturday in August and really enjoyed the stay from start to finish. We arrived earlier than check-in time, but our rooms were ready as soon as they possibly could which was fantastic. We had dinner at the hotel as well which was fantastic. The next morning I had a superb eggs royale from the breakfast menu, i can highly recommend it! The gardens at the hotel are beautiful and perfect for sitting outside on a sunny evening.
Arrived here and walked through the gardens to get to reception I must say they were very nice. Downhill after that I'm afraid .Inside the areas we saw were in dire need of refurbishment I would go so far as to say it needs knocking down . Our room was very Basic with an old electric shower in the bathroom. It was stifling hot in our garden room. Breakfast was ok . The staff were pleasant And that's the only nice thing I can say about this hotel which we were charged over £100 for this experience
good food. friendly staff. booked as an anniversary. no small gift or table dec. room definitely needs upgrading. no air conditioning and not even a fan. Room was unbearable. Location good for bury st Edmunds if shopping. Would not recommend .
The Reception staff were very obliging, polite, courteous and couldn't do enough to help. We asked to change rooms as the one we were originally shown was poked up a corner and felt dark & unwelcoming so the Receptionist on arrival allowed us to view 3 other rooms. Most of the rooms in the garden area to the right side as you stand in the garden and look are the hotel are tired and in urgent need of updating, the ones on the left are newer and as such the bathroom fittings, carpet & décor appear much cleaner. I would of liked to view a room in the main building as I would imagine these have more character (but these are more expensive and not available on any of the deal breaks). The hotel has a limited dinner menu but the quality was very good and the food well presented and plentiful. The wine menu is also reasonably priced and a nice lounge/bar area where you can sit & relax. The gardens are large and well tended and a nice place to have a pre-dinner drink on a hot sunny evening. All in all we enjoyed our stay and would likely return.
Return visit under new management. Good service, lovely meal with all the little extras , individual breads&olives. Starters very tasty,main courses of sordfish and pork excellent ( although more pork please ). Deserts georgous. Happy to return next year Lisa M Suffolk
We had our wedding here, for a party of 18. Everything was handled in the most professional manner.. Very friendly and helpful, fabulous food, lovely honeymoon suite and lovely grounds.Nothing was too much trouble. Very reasonably priced and most definitely worth the drive up from Somerset for the occasion.
Having written a detailed complaint of the service we experienced for my Mother's 80th party at the end of July, no acknowledgment has been received. The accommodation is pretty much as described by other guests. The staff are very polite and very hardworking, they have to be due to the under manning employed at the hotel. Along with our party of 40 the hotel rooms were all full so they were at maximum capacity. If you are organising a party and need the services of a maitre d' you may be told, "I'll be there" from the general manager; I did not see her all day. Not only did I act as my own Master of Ceremonies, we had a lot on, I had to act as my own maiter d'. There are other places to go for a posh party. This is not one of them.
I paid extra for a king sized bed but this turned out to be two singles pushed together with the resultant uncomfortable ridges in the middle. To me, this is a con and I'm not likely to spend another night in a Best Western hotel. With regard to the restaurant, my wife is vegetarian and the menu had little to offer, other than a fancy dish that she didn't know and could have been a disaster. Others have commentated that the rooms are shabby and our room certainly needed loose tiles dealing with, black stained sealant replacing and doors sticking. All told, this could have been a nice hotel but it certainly needs money spending on it.
This is a decent hotel in a reasonable location, north of the A14. The courtyard rooms are in good decorative order but the soundproofing leaves something to be desired. The breakfasts were very nice. Overall, a good base for exploring Bury St Edmunds and Western Suffolk/Cambridgeshire.
From booking to checking out we really enjoyed our stay here. The room was spacious and spotless with everything we needed,tea making plus biscuits,lovely fluffy towels and a comfy bed.Outside were table and chairs to sit in the sun on and have a cuppa.The breakfast was full English and included black pudding,my favourite.Plenty of tea/coffee all served by the lovely Iris who was very friendly and looked after us very well.Plenty of car parking space and easy to find makes this a great hotel to stay
The hotel was fine, nice beds and a good breakfast. The hotel bar was fine for a quiet drink. The room itself was quite disappointing - spiders and cobwebs next to the bed, mud on the towel when we arrived, and extremely loud neighbours who kept us up in the middle of the night with slamming doors/shouting. It didn't help that the walls were paper thin! When I mentioned these complaints in the morning the staff didn't seem too fussed; saying that as an outside room spiders were inevitable (the cobwebs clearly hadn't been cleared for a while), and that if it was noisy we should have come to reception. At 1am this isn't really what you fancy doing! The shower was basically a dribble, though it did warm up eventually. As I said, fine for a brief visit but don't expect much more than hostel standards. Not really worth what we paid.
I often stay here for work trips and have probably visited this hotel over 20 times. The staff are amazing however undermanned. I've stayed in most areas of the hotel and in most cases my stay has been great. The rooms are comfortable and well equipped. I feel that the bathrooms need updating and bringing into this century. The cost of my stays are in line with Bury St Edmunds, however the bar is very expensive.
Welcoming and very helpful staff and a quiet hotel in a lovely setting with extensive lawns and interesting chalet-style rooms (as well as some in the main building. Easy to find with big Best Western signs and plenty of free parking. Room a little tired as it was due for a refurb but that was reflected in the competitive price.
Stayed for 3 days, breakfast was really slow, but well worth waiting for. Really nice local produce. Nice hot shower, lovely big fluffy towels. TV reception is awful, stayed two years ago, it was the same then. However WiFi was good, and free. Garden room, very peaceful, with beautiful outlook across the garden. Bed was very comfortable.
First off, the staff were BRILLIANT and couldn't do enough for me. The lady on reception even found me some toothpaste when I had forgotten mine. The food was a bit grim, even though it was the first day of a new menu. The chicken burger was greasy and the chips were fatty and deep fried. I stayed in one of the garden rooms (no 40) and although very private the only thing separating my room to the adjoining room was a very small bolt lock at the top of the door. The bed was 2 singles pushed together which I hate and the headboard squeaked terribly. The bathroom was old and out dated, the pipes were very noise and the water in the shower ran cold very quickly. This place needs some money spent on it ASAP to make the place match the great service.
Stayed here for 2 nights. We had a room in the courtyard which was quite cute. We booked a king size bed and got a super-king which was lovely. The shower was very powerful. Lovely grounds and a little pond which gave it a relaxing feel. The staff were very helpful and the breakfast was fab - good food and lots of teabags in the teapot! We love a strong brew! We walked in to Bury for dinner. It's quite a long trek, especially if you get lost like we did. We had dinner reservations and it took us 50 minutes to find the restaurant, so take a map - they are provided at reception but we thought we would be fine without! Ate at Casa del Mar. Lovely tapas/meze. Would recommend highly
This Hotel is in desperate need of updating. We were in Room 7: Located over the kitchen so we were greeted with the small of fried food..not nice.. The rooms are a bit "tatty" and breakfast service was appalling..too many guests for too limited staff to deal with. No in room air conditioning and the room was stifling, despite the tiny little fan they had placed in the room. I have never shared a hotel with so many Flies!! Would we stay here again: NO.
I stayed in a garden/annex room (10) for 3 nights which suited me (very private). It was very large (king size bed and a 3/4 bed). It was warm but a large fan was in the wardrobe which I always like, so no issue at all. The bathroom in particular was tired but I could have coped with it other than the shower which should have been called the 'dribble'. It was even worse in the early evening than the morning (which was still unacceptable). I only had breakfast here which was good and the service was quick even when it was busy. The staff were fine too with no dramas at check in/out. Reasonably priced - I hope that the shower gets sorted as I would stay again then as the location really suited me.
Stayed for a family wedding earlier in the year. What can I say the food, service, staff and rooms were all fantastic! The garden is a hidden gem and is very well looked after. A vast improvement for my last visit. The new owners seem to be investing in all the right places. Well done all. Special mention to Tracy who runs the hotel. Nothing is ever too much to ask.
The hotel was situated in a very convenient part of the City, not too central but easy access to all points of interest and easy accessi.ble from the main road routes . Very nice gardens and comfortable rooms. The Chef is extremely good and presents the food wonderfully.
Nice hotel set in lovely gardens. Our room (3) was big and well maintained. The hotel would have got full marks except for 3 things:- the shower was very weak, no power behind the water. This room is directly above the main entrance and there us a metal ramp up the step which whenever it is stepped on bangs. The hotel description says it's half a mile from the station, I think it's nearer to a mile away. Apart from those things it's a nice hotel.
Just a short stay and it was perfect. There was one slight hiccup with the breakfast however the staff dealt with it perfectly. The only very minor gripe was that the bathroom door didn't shut properly in our room , but I forgot to mention it to the reception so it couldn't have been that important to me! The grounds were very nice and relaxing to sit in.
The Hotel has a really nice location, a park between the rooms and very nice helpful staff. The rooms are OK, but for a "best western" Hotel the bathrooms are not enough. during my 6 days here i was in two different rooms, in the first the tap vibrated very loud when i turned on the cold water, in the second the shower had electric heated water wich made strange noises and almost no water pressure. over all i had a nice stay, but for this price i expect more... if you want to get good food go to tollgate nearby... best burgers i've ever eaten and good prices also!
Stayed here for a couple of nights to look around the area. Stayed in one of the garden rooms which are not physically attached to the hotel. Room was clean but a bit old fashioned and tired looking. Bed comfortable though and quiet at night. Bathroom was a disappointment, definitely in need of an upgrade. Patched up tiling, rusty looking radiateor, loose taps, weak electric shower - clean enough but lets the rooms down. Breakfast good, not a great choice but adequate but staff appeared to struggle when it got a bit busy.
This is a really nice place. I had an outside room near the reception so was able to park my car right outside. Quiet and comfortable. Evening meal was vey nice with friendly service throughout. Breakfast, however, started at 7 in the week; hotels catering for business invariably do 6.30. On top of this, it was 7.15 by the time it had all been put out properly. Come on guys, your business guests need to get on with their days! If I was staying for pleasure, none of this would have bothered me; it is a nice place.
No A/C, room very hot. No fan available when requested. No staff presense at breakfast, had to sit myself down and wait for someone to come. Couldn't get internet to work. Unpleasant smell from bathroom
The hotel has a very welcoming appeal as you drive in and is complimented with vast well kept grounds. I was placed in the main building (room 6). The room looks a bit tired despite some modernisation. The carpet is dull and worn, no air conditioning, old trouser press etc. It looks like it has been partly modernised with silver light switches and more sockets etc. Couldn't get the wifi to work whilst I was there. By 10pm the room was so hot (even with windows open since 7pm) that it was almost unbearable. I asked for a fan but non available. The damp musty smell from the bathroom was just emphasised with the heat! Food was good, I had steak and cheese board (cheese nearly melted it was so hot in the room). Staff are nice and friendly but sadly the rooms just let it down considering the price.
The building itself looks lovely and is in a great garden setting. Parking is good sized but very limited when several events are on. The room I stayed in was in the outdoor courtyard. The room was very tatty, I could only get channels 1-5, Bathroom was very shabby with moldy grout, damaged units, damaged paintwork throughout the room, unpleasant smell. The room was quiet if no-one was driving in the car park behind. Breakfast was lovely however dinner was very disappointing and I was offered no money back on this. I was also on a course the next day and the room was not set up properly with missing items which had to be asked for. I feel the staff were polite and friendly however failed to apologise sufficiently for the disappointment I had at times throughout my time at this hotel. I do not feel we were looked after. Wifi was good. Cleaners need to recheck rooms. The hotel was disorganised and needs some urgent attention and communication throughout the staff.Bury st Edmunds is lacking a quality conference hotel so changes would be welcome. I will not be returning - look elsewhere.
My husband and I had our complete wedding at the priory. I was excellent the hotel fitted our need completely. The staff were great. The wedding breakfast was just what we wanted , nothing was to much trouble. Nice garden for photos and children to play in. If you need a nice hotel for a small wedding try the Priory. Vonnie & Mac
The rooms at the Priory are all outside motel style. The layout of the hotel isn't great. The hotel itself is about a mile away from the centre. My room was freezing cold when I arrived. I was originally given a twin when I booked a double so had to faff around with that. The mattress was extremely soft and the bedding smelt. Old tissues were stuffed in the tissue box. I could hear everything in the other rooms. Room itself was dated. Wifi didn't work. Overall it was a horrible stay and I wouldn't go back.
The usual quirky best western hotel. My room was in a stable type block, single glazed John Car windows badly in need of replacement in bathroom and a V8 shower. Apart from that, room was very spacious and comfortable, had 4 good nights sleep. Breakfast was good and fast and even the Wi-Fi started working eventually.
Just a short review, me and my new wife stayed in what is the honeymoon suite, I have to say that the room was beautiful, clean and very comfortable. Staff were polite and friendly and happy to help in any way. Breakfast of a full English was all you could ask for (especially as we were both a little hungover) We only stayed for the one night but would definitely recommend it to anyone
Had a 2 night stay here last week, was disappointed to say the least with the room. Location of the hotel and inital impressions were very good until we got to our room. A family room, with an open attic latch, met us, very tired decor (dado rails missing in areas, taped up electrical wires in the bathroom) and the double bed appeared to just be two singles pushed together. Upon our return that evening the attic hatch was now closed, with paint flecks all over the floor. The shower the next morning was just rubbish, basically just a sprinkle of water, and no ventilation in the bathroom. Breakfast was fine, breakfast staff pleasant. Unfortuantly the second morning was spent listening to the sounds of hammering for the entirety. As it was only 9am, it must have disturbed other guests and there was no apology/explanation, with even the breakfast staff commenting on how noisy it was. Checkout was just as frustrating, no staff around despite us confirming check out time upon arrival, and ringing the bell. A contractor who was sitting in the lobby ended up finding a member of staff to help us. I've stayed in numerous Best Westerns acoss the country, and abroad, and this was the most disappointing stay. For the price and their normal good reputation, I would have really expected more. I wouldn't recommend this hotel to my friends.
The hotel has lovely grounds but the entrance is tricky to negotiate in a vehicle. The staff are friendly, but there are not enough waiting staff if there is a coach-load of customers and others. I felt side-lined. I had no hot water in the morning - in the 21st C. this should no longer be a problem anywhere in the UK. I received fulsome apologies and the blame was put on a boiler.
Very friendly hotel staff will great you, and then give you directions to your room, which could involve leaving the main hotel. They have rooms in little blocks outside of the main hotel. They are fine just a little odd. The rooms are tidy and clean. TVs don't always get all the channels due to reception, the wifi is not great in some of the rooms. The restaurant serves surprisingly good food, the waiting staff are a little sparse. The breakfast is very good, but will have to order as they haven't worked out that buffet style is a lot easier for customer and staff than ordering food. One criticism is that 'Do not disturb' hangers for the door don't work if the door is outside and the wind blows it off, which is annoying if you have a cleaner waking you up when you don't want to. Good location for A14 or Bury.
We had a nice room but no WiFi and no hot water told the the reception and all they said was we will sort it out Monday THANKS . we have stopped at this hotel five times but maybe no more there was no room discount offered very poor service.
We stayed here in room 14 for a friends wedding at neighbouring Hengrave Hall. The room was well equipped and had everything you would expect to find in a hotel of this class. The only problem was our shower. The sound that came from the shower itself was loud to say the least. It sounded like it was going to fall off the wall at one point! Now the noise would have been excusable had the water been temperate, however our options were scolding hot or ice cold with no variant in between. With the room itself being as nice as we expected we were a little disappointed with the shower with it being such an integral part of the room. Would think twice before booking here again for this reason alone.
Staff very pleasant and helpful, rooms spacious, we stopped in the garden rooms as we took our dog, rooms clean and tv has plenty of free channels, wifi is free and excellent signal, food from the restaurant was good. All in all a good hotel this is the second best western we have stopped in as they except pets we have stopped in Torquay and are going back the next bank holiday and we would happily come back to the priory hotel
We stayed here for two nights as we were attending a wedding nearby and expected much better quality from the photos and description. Unfortunately our hotel room was very shabby and the bathroom was awful. The toilet seat did not fit properly so tried to close on you when you sat on the loo and the shower was a mere dribble of water. It took almost 30 minutes for me to wash the shampoo out of my hair with it. The TV wasn't tuned in (I re-tuned it for them) and the bed was more like a mix between a single and a double than a full double. They offer free wifi but it dropped out frequently. All in all it felt like a downmarket motel room and we dubbed it the 'Norman Bates room'. The guy who checked us in was friendly, as were the staff during breakfast the one day we had it - we did not go back the second day as the food was disappointing.
We stayed for three nights and would be happy to live there permanently! The hotel consists of a lovely old house, containing the reception, bar and restaurant etc plus 41 rooms located in terraced bungalows, spread out all over the extensive and well maintained gardens. There is plenty of parking close to tye rooms. The atmosphere is very calm and pleasant. The breakfast is great and the staff friendly. It is only three stars but the quality of service and decor is first class and we will return.
I regularly stay at this hotel when away on business, the rooms are large and with flatscreen TV's. The breakfasts are very good with the hotel situated perfectly for an easy trip into the town centre. I would definitely recommend this hotel.
We stayed recently as we were going to a wedding nearby. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. Our room was very clean, good quality towels and a good size. The breakfast and food in the restaurant was excellent and we had a varied choice. Will go again
Excellent staff, warm friendly and homely hotel which makes a change from the modern sterile chains. The only disadvantage is the add-on rooms which means walking regardless of weather to main body of hotel. However the cosy atmosphere and friendly staff compensates for this. Close to centre of Bury St Edmunds and ideal for touring/sight-seeing.around Suffolk..
Over-priced for what it was. Double the cost I normally pay & wasn't as good as other well known hotel chains. Pleasant staff however I never saw anyone who looked like a manager or person in charge - someone who was hungry to drive up standards. Main 'old' house a bit tired and disappointing. WiFi didn't work in the restaurant. Breakfast over-cooked & tough. For the money I was waiting to be impressed but it didn't arrive........
We have stayed previously and our experience was very good. On this occasion our rooms were again pleasant being comfortable with all mod cons, and quality towels. There was a slight technical hitch but this was resolved by the receptionist very rapidly, who throughout was great and a credit to the establishment. What we commended the hotel for previously was the food, but this time it was very disappointing. The evening meal was at best average , the bread provided being cold foccacia , appearing to be recently defrosted. The waiter was unsure of the menu and the food was at best described across our party as average. The waitress at breakfast was very good and tried very hard, she did everything we requested, but her best efforts could not overcome the poor quality of food she was provided with to serve to us. This was our experience on this occassion hopefully our next visit will be better
Clean comfortable spavious room. Nice breakfast lounge with excellent breakfast, all cooked tonoerfection. Friendly helpful staff (Brett was helpful and rather funny too) I listened to other guest who were talking about their stay and equally complimentary. Can I add - excellent, fast free wi fi
This hotel is set in lovely surroundings and looks beautiful from the outside ... but once inside, sadly, it is a very different story. The garden room we stayed in was very tired and screaming out for some updating. The bathroom was anything but inviting - with dirty grouting around the bath and a very grotty window frame. The shower head was cheap and ineffective - and earplugs would have been a good idea to drown out the awful noises the shower made when turned on. I wasn't impressed when a dirty towel we had put in the bath - as requested to do in order to have it replaced - was put back on the rail by cleaning staff the next morning for us to re-use. Overall, we were very disappointed. The prices do not reflect the standard of facilities - we had expected something much better based on the cost of our stay. This hotel COULD be fantastic - but not until it has had some money spent on updating it. I would not recommend this hotel and would definitely not stay here again.
Firstly, the lady at the check-in desk was lovely. When we got into our room it was pleasant enough. The shower was rubbish, very drippy, no power in it at all! Quite annoying. We found the bed and pillows to be quite hard and woke up with bad backs in the morning. The breakfast was OK, it says it's supposed to be a continental buffet but it's just a plate of pastries and a few cereals. My family had a cooked breakfast and I had eggs benedict which was nice enough. We had a wedding to go to at Hengrave Hall so it was a really good location for that as its only 3 miles down the road and a 4 minute drive. The hotel itself was pleasant enough although I'm not sure we would be in a rush to return.
I was recently here for 2 nights on a business trip to Bury St Edmunds and was thankful for the relatively quiet room and comfortable bed. We had dinner once and breakfast twice in the restaurant and the food was good and plentiful with a good selection. Certainly not a new establishment and could perhaps do with a renovation it was clean and serviced well. The grounds and gardens well kept and clean. My only complaint is the over the bath shower but really only a minor annoyance and personal preference. I'd stay again and would recommend it to friends and business colleagues.
Amazing value for money break. Excellent Facilities and excellent food. I can't praise the staff enough they were friendly and helpful. I have stayed in far more expensive hotels and not received that level o personal service - thanks! Food was fantastic! Exceeded my expectations. We had such a positive experience that we will definitely book and visit again next year.
We were going to a wedding nearby and booked two nights, we requested a ground floor room with a walk in shower and both our requests were met and it did not disappoint. We stayed in a courtyard room and it was lovely and warm, clean with lots of walking space, it could have done with some more drawers but that was very minor compared to everything else. Our journey there from home took over an hour longer due to the holiday period and the last thing we wanted was to drive somewhere else to eat. I am pleased to say the hotel restaurant provided lovely food and the breakfasts were good with the choice of cooked or continental. Great friendly service by the Restaurant Staff too. We were seen to by two different receptionists, Leanne (I hope I have the correct spelling) and Tracey Knott. They were both very friendly, approachable and very efficient. We asked for two glass tumblers and extra pillows and Shirley dropped them off and at that point we had made our minds to eat at the restaurant after viewing the menu in our rooms that was pointed out by Leanne and to save us going or ringing reception Shirley contacted reception via her radio and it was booked. An all round good first impression. We will definitely visit again.
We stayed her last weekend as we just needed to get away for a few days but not have to travel too far. We read the previous reviews and although some were a bit negative we decided to give it a go. They were pretty accurate-lovely setting, fantastic staff, but a bit shabby and in need of some refurbishment. I'll be honest, it's in a lovely setting, perfect location for visiting Bury St Edmunds, and we were lucky enough to be put in a new room, which was lovely, clean and very comfortable. We decided to eat in the restaurant that night and the food was really tasty, well presented and worth the visit. The dining room however was a bland and lifeless environment with no ambience whatsoever, and what we thought would be a romantic meal was a 'let's eat and get out quick' event. Breakfast next morning was really good, lots to choose from and the dining room looked more appealing with more people dining there. As we ate the next morning I was chatting to the waitress and expressing how dire the room, was when she explained that they had new owners and were gradually refurbishing the place. I was more than pleased as this area was the only let down. To the new owners- however much you improve PLEASE keep all the staff- they were such a genuine, lovely bunch, who worked hard to make our stay as comfortable as possible, and when talking about the hotel you could feel the affection they hold, I would like to add that we will still return for another visit and look forward to seeing the changes as they happen.
Had a one night stay early March but we were disappointed overall. We booked a 'Superior' room but for the price of £125 a night B&B it fell below the expected standard. When we arrived at our room the decor was average, the furniture was tired and tatty and we only had one bedside lamp. We asked if we could have a lamp and the Receptionist brought us one ... from another room ... did not match the room decor ... we told her we were not impressed with the room! We were offered another one which was better than the first one .... but after staying there we discovered there was no heating at all in the bathroom, no hot water from the basin and the toilet was hard work trying to flush! Breakfast was also below average - ran out of certain things, slow service as it was busy with only one lady serving and another one flitting in and out. We had a long wait for breakfast and when it eventually arrived it was more like you would expect to get at a greasy spoon cafe! This hotel needs to get its act together
We had our wedding here at the beginning of March and we couldn't have asked for a better day. The staff are friendly and helpful whilst the manager Tracy couldn't have done more for us, nothing was too much to ask of her. When we were deciding on venues it was her warm personality and willingness to do anything we wished that tipped it in the Priory's favour. We were aware that some rooms were awaiting refurbishment but they perfectly fine, nobody in our group was dissatisfied. Ours (the honeymoon suite) was large, with an enormous bathroom and a triple aspect window over looking the grounds. For wedding breakfast a nice touch was having three options for each course, something a number of alternative venues didn't offer, easily keeping everybody happy. We couldn't fault the food at all both the breakfast and the evening buffet including a hog roast were excellent, the chefs are top notch and a credit to the hotel. Drinks in the bar a perhaps a little expensive but this is the only negative thing I could think of. Overall it was a fantastic experience and I'd gladly recommend the Priory for a wedding.
Recently stayed at this hotel whilst attending a wedding, overall, hotel needs some refurbishment, however I had a pleasant stay, bedroom was clean and the bed was very comfortable, breakfast was of good quality and I found the staff very friendly and very keen to provide a good service, one downside to this hotel was being asked for an additional £15 to have the room earlier than the normal 2pm check in as I wanted to dress for a wedding at 2.30pm, it was not like I was staying at a busy hotel, but I guess as the room was only £70 for the night I guess I cannot complain too much
I really wouldnt stay here again. The room was not upto a great cleaning standard. I couldnt have a couple of tea because the kettle had that much descailling in there it was coming off when i boiled it. The outside garden of the hotel was lovely. THE ONLY THING AMAZING ABOUT THIS PLACE WAS THE RECEPTIONIST WHO LITRALLY DID EVERYTHING . A CREDIT TO THE HOTEL
3 day break booked at short notice which coincided with a wedding booking. The staff warned us of this which was considerate and gave us an opportunity to change or amend our booking. We chose to go ahead and we were glad we did. Yes, the hotel is in need of a bit of TLC in places but the superior room we stayed in was very clean, spacious and the bed was very comfortable. We were able to open the windows which is a bonus given the extreme heat and stuffiness of some places we have stayed. The main course on the first night was poor but we were quickly offered an alternative or refund. The second night's meal was very good - different chef maybe? This is not a 5* hotel and doesn't pretend to be, but the staff are kind, helpful and friendly and made our short break memorable. We would be happy to stay here again.
I work for a major travel firm and my customer uses this hotel frequently as their head office in Bury St Edmunds and upon a recent meeting to see them stopped over the night before. Overall the hotel is clean and tidy, staff where extremely friendly and personable and the food was homely and hearty. The only thing that lacks is the decor of the rooms, it's fine but just not modern so it could do with being updated. A simple lick of paint would do the job! Overall I would have no hesitations in staying again should the need arise.
Met at the Priory for an informal business meeting. Pleasant enough but agree with other reviewers that the hotel needs a good upgrade. Shabby chique is fine but this has gone way beyond. Staff very friendly but disappointed by the snacks ordered from the bar, Ham and Mustard mysteriously became Tuna Mayo; toasted cheese and ham was sadly inedible. Great promise but could be so much better.
Staff were friendly enough, breakfast was good, but the fittings and fixtures definitely need an update. Hanging a sign in the bathroom that says "wait for the shower water to run for several minutes before it gets hot" is akin to Fawlty Towers.
I often use hotels for work and Valentine's Day was no exception, so there I was thinking here we go another hotel room all alone, how sad on Valentine's, checked in and went to my room to find what on my bed .... Towels folded up into the shape of an elephant my favourite animal and then to top it all he had a red rose in his trunk for me, thank you Leanne for making him and Shirley for helping you guys are amazing and make me feel sooo welcome xx
Fabulous staff and a beautiful hotel. I think this would be a perfect place to stay for families or couples at any time of year. If you can get one of the rooms in the garden then you will not regret it.
I hate giving poor reviews but this place really does need some improvement. On arrival the young lady behind reception was really nice and chatty, and when i got to my room it was just ok. The bathroom was very old and could do with renovation and half the channels on the tv wouldnt work despite it being freeview. The dining area is crying out for renovation and was so old and fusty. There was only 2 people including myself in the restaurant that evening, then one of the staff started dragging piles of chairs through the middle of the dining area completly oblivious to the diners in the room! BUT its not all bad as the evening meal was very very good, top work from the chefs!!! This place is a real mixed bag.
Very nice one night stay for Valentine's weekend my girlfriend and myself. We were given a great enormous comfortable room. Nice quiet stay in a large comfy bed. Nice bathroom, although shower device was very noisy! Not too far from city center (a 15- 20 minute walk). Lots of parking space and very nice staff.
This is the second time I have stayed in this hotel and once again the accommodation, service and food were faultless. The food in the restaurant was delicious and served on hot plates with a smile. Breakfast was also very nice with everything cooked freshly to order. I am looking forward to my next visit in March. This hotel is very dog friendly and the hotel were very understanding when my young dog 'ate' the TV remote controls!
I went to the Priory Hotel with a group of friends last Friday. We had bid for and won this in a charity auction. Unfortunately the restaurant was very quiet this is a shame because people are missing a treat. We had a five course taster menu. This was very tasty and attractively served. I loved the vanilla speckled panna cotta served with rhubarb liqueur delicious. The plum and sloe gin sorbet served to cleanse the palate was worthy of being a dessert itself. The service was excellent throughout the meal with our wine and water continuously topped up. We will return.
I stayed here as I was working nearby the following day. I stayed in one of the courtyard room which was spacious and clean with some reasonable amenities i.e. haridryer, iron & ironing board, trousers press plus the wardrobe was also very spacious. The bathroom was functionally and clean. The wifi was free and I had no connectivity issues. The bed was comfortable as were the pillows, as I was staying in one of the courtyard room I could hear people walking by and talking on the odd occasion. The evening meal was excellent. Initially was a bit dubious when I saw the menu choices as they seemed to be quite high class starters and main courses and I wondered if they could produce such dishes. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the dishes in terms of quality and presentation. Hats off to the chef! The hotel had a bar/lounge are near the entrance which looked pleasant but I did not use. I had to leave very early in the morning so I could not partake in the hot breakfast instead they offered me the continental breakfast which was good. Overall, it was a very pleasant stay.
I have visited this hotel several times now and it absolutely amazes me how poor the service is. I sat in the lounge area with a colleague for an hour and a half this week and not one member of staff spoke to us, yet alone asked us if we wished to order a drink or any food. A elderly couple came in whilst we were having our meeting to sort out the details of an event they were having and the employee didn't even offer them a coffee. Having used many hotels for meetings over more than 10 years, I have never experienced such a lack of care and attention In basic hospitality. The hotel is very nice, such a shame the staff do not know how to welcome or look after guests.
Used the conservatory for a meal after a small family wedding. Staff helpful during the booking and had plenty of time to discuss table arrangements and show bride to the room again at a later date. Food was excellent and very generous portion sizes. Staff on the day very efficient, friendly yet professional at the same time. Rate to hire the room very competitive. No one stayed over so cannot judge the bedrooms.
I stayed here briefly on business, the room was very nice, warm, clean and comfortable. It is a bit different as some rooms are in little chalets outside the main building. The breakfast was excellent, and the staff friendly and helpful.
So stayed on business, doubt I will be back. Obviously this is a tired hotel. However, Wifi and television should be a pre requisite in 2016. Wrong! Both the TV and Wifi are suffering with poor reception, can't use either. Hotel room clean but tired. Decor, tired, bathroom functional at best. On a positive note, nice biscuit !
This hotel is of good quality with extremely helpful staff. The outer chalet type rooms are a good size with all required amenities. Food services were good and quick and the bar was well stock with a first class variety.
A good time was had by all. New Years Eve 5 course meal and disco very enoyable. The staff did very well. We were disappointed with our 'Garden Room' as we were not aware that we would have to go back and forward for meals without a covered walk way. This meant brollies were well used! The room however was clean, well kept with all the facilities for a good stay.
Got to say that we had the best Christmas meal ever. I was thanked for organising the study day, and people remarked how good the Xmas lunch was. We are experienced eaters and attend lots of conferences etc, and had a party on this occasion of about 30. The lunchtime meal wad excellent, as was all the catering and service we received for the training day, starting with breakfast through to afternoon tea. Will book the priory for other events too, I am sure.
We stayed only one night with other family for a wedding at a near by venue. It has ample free and easy parking and a variety of rooms - ours was in the main house quite spacious, clean and comfortable, our friends stayed in one of the bungalow rooms. . Breakfast was good and relaxed.
There was a Groupon 40 or so and some other people booked in for our works Xmas meal Starter... I had the terrine which was nice Main meal... Not so good.. The turkey was like the sort you get from a deli that u put in sandwiches.. There was 12 on our table and they brought out 3 ceral bowls of veg!!!all mixed up.. Not enough for 2 people let alone 4 no Yorkshire yes I know it's just with beef!! But I like puds with all roasts.. I had the cheese and biscuits can't go wrong there. I tasted the cheesecake and it tasted of nothing... The dance floor had no air con so got to hot.. We had a good time because we made it a good time but Def not worth £40..00 per head
We stayed in the annex bungalow style rooms in a lovely courtyard setting in the grounds of the hotel. In all honesty we were a little apprehensive as we were unaware we wouldn't be in the main building of the hotel. We were pleasantly surprised, MASSIVE bed, crisp clean sheets, big towels, very clean room, lots of coffee tea milk and biscuits. No noise from other guests as you would normally expect, trundling up and down corridors banging doors etc.. Breakfast was superb, lots of choice. Staff were friendly approachable and helpful. It was a lovely stay, 20mins walk into town.
My wife and I stayed here for two nights on November 20/21, 2015 and we were extremely happy with the service and facilities from beginning to end. We booked over the telephone and this was seamless, as was the service when we checked in at reception on arrival. We had one of the garden rooms which was warm, comfortable, quiet and spotlessly clean. It was also very much larger than we were expecting. Breakfast was in the main building and consisted of the usual wide range of cereals and cooked options, and was excellent. All in all we had a very enjoyable stay which was excellent value for money and we will definitely return when in the area.
Meal only for our fitness group all pre ordered so service was quick as expected, but the quality of the main course was certainly not what I expected. Needed a magnifying glass to see the "turkey" and the roast potatoes were not nice. No "Yorkshire" pudding, a very sparse serving of gravy already on plate, so cold. The cheapest wrapped pig in blanket. Managed to procure an extra bowl of veg between the nine on our table. Nobody asked us "Is everything alright"!
We decided to stay over in this hotel before visiting the Christmas Fayre on the following day and I'm very glad we did. We were made to feel very welcome as soon as we arrived. We stayed in one of the Garden rooms which was bright and roomy (the decor could do with a bit of freshening up but nothing major). We had pre- booked a table for dinner and we weren't disappointed, my husband had the rump steak which he said was one of the best he'd ever had and I had the roast pheasant which was amazing. The staff were all very friendly and helpful, we will certainly be recommending to friends.
Stayed here for the weekend. Room is ok, pleasantly decorated and clean. The receptionist was excellent and very professional, other waiting and bar staff appeared more like it was their first shift working with lack of knowledge, professionalism or even a smile. Breakfast was average with several items requested missing off my plate, I would be very upset if to have paid £12.95 per head if it was not inclusive in my room rate which was a lesser amortised charge. Ok, I could of complained but frankly I had eat my breakfast before I saw any waiting staff. I would recommend this hotel as long as the room rate is attractive.
Stayed here for one night whilst visiting the Christmas market. The staff at this hotel were all so helpful and very nice. Room was very large, bathroom roomy with lovely thick big towels, very warm as radiators were on permanently. Needs a little bit tlc but no complaints. We had a fantastic meal in the restaurants and the desserts were to die for. Excellent value for what we had paid. Even bought a handbag from the display cabinet of goods for sale. Would definitely go back and would recommend.
We stayed at this hotel over a weekend when in Bury for a Wedding. First thing to say is the staff were helpful, efficient and bright throughout our stay and it included making a very late check in very easy.. The main part of the hotel itself is a large old building that houses the restaurant, reception and bar. All of the public rooms were clean but a little tired. I was staying in a "Garden Room", these were a number of rooms that were set in the extensive gardens. The room was small and with the bed and the furniture there was little room to move about, everything was adequate and working but was old fashioned. The bathroom was very basic and had seen better days but served its purpose. Due to the location of the room getting to and from the main part would involve going outside so if it was raining cold you would need a coat, also it involved going down a dark path. The breakfast in the restaurant was great, there were a number of hot choices including a hearty cooked breakfast, as well as cereal, toast etc. There is plenty of free car parking on site. Overall a solid hotel that fulfils the basic requirements and a good choice if you are staying in Bury and are not planning to spend much time in your room/hotel.
Uncomfortable bed. Bathroom needs a serious refurb. The hot breakfast was terrrible,need to find a chef who knows how to cook eggs and bacon,as for the omelette I wonder if it had been microwaved to death!
Stayed for one night before a business meeting. Plenty of parking (note there's two entrances, each to a different car park for the hotel, but you can reach all the rooms from either), and received a friendly welcome on arrival. My room was in the garden annex, if you can excuse the fact you have to put your coat on to go to / from the hotel for breakfast etc., it's fine. Pleasant grounds within the hotel, too. Ate dinner with some colleagues which was very tasty and well presented, service in the bar and restaurant was good, although took a little while to take our order, especially since the restaurant was very quiet, with only us in it. Room and bed was comfortable, only thing letting it down was the low shower pressure - it was at least hot though. WiFi was good in the public areas (didn't try it in the room). This is a good choice for a short business visit in an area where hotel rooms seem to be in short supply.
This hotel is 3 star but the staff are so nice - Ray especially - and the food is 5 star . Well done chefs! Room pleasant - bit chilly and wind kept me awake as Windows not double glazed . Fair price. Sadly hotel very quiet. Pity is its a taxi into town if you are wanting variety .
Hotel was easy to find and plenty of parking. The reception staff were friendly and the room was spotless and very comfortable. I had a dog, and they left a little bin outside the room door for bags. It was a little cool, but there were spare blankets in the cupboard so no real complaints.
This review is not just based on a stay at the hotel, but also about our wedding reception too. We first contacted the hotel over a year ago to discuss having our wedding reception here and from the very first moment, we knew this was the perfect place for us. The manager is also the Wedding Coordinator and from our first conversation Tracey and her staff have been just amazing! The hotel is comfortable and inviting and has 2 car parks situated in lovely grounds surrounded by the old Priory wall. The location is near to the very pretty and historic bustling market town and convenient for rail ,bus and coach, which was great for our guests, and an excellent base for exploring the area. The rooms are comfortable, clean and well kept, with a selection of rooms in the main hotel and little cottage rooms in the beautifully kept grounds, suitable for disabled guests and dog owners. The breakfast is plentiful , varied and appetising to start the day well and the menu for the evening meals is also good. the food is perfectly cooked and really tasty. All of our guests agreed. most of the guests stayed over as we married away from our home. The Chef, Matt and his team can not be praised enough for their service. We had a menu put together taking into account allergies and children and personal tastes, and if you are thinking of holding an event, my guests and family certainly recommend the service and food......especially the chocolate and raspberry torte.. To die for! Nothing was too much trouble for this team. They are friendly and helpful and go above and beyond what we expected. Tracey and her excellent staff took the pressure away ensuring that our guests and my hubby and I had a fabulous weekend. We now feel we have new friends!
Stayed for 1 night on business, hotel is easy to find and has 2 entrances, there was a friendly meet and greet, room was clean, if a little stark, with large comfy bed and I slept very well. There is free WiFi through out the hotel. The bathroom let the room down with old taps, faulty shower with little water pressure and generally looked tired. I did not eat here in the evening as the dining room looked formal and I was advised to go to he Tollgate, a pub over the road which was excellent. Breakfast though was good with excellent lightly scrambled egg. So overall a 31/2
Another stay here and yet again faultless everything here is right, the hotel , staff , rooms and the food dinner and breakfast yum yum, also only a short walk from Bury itself so nice for abit of shopping and restaurants if you didn't fancy the hotel food which would be a shame , will be back as soon as we can thanks to all the staff
Stayed here for a couple of nights and had one of the garden rooms. Weather was good so it was not a problem. The room was comfortable and spacious with a heated floor in the bathroom - a definite plus in my book. Ate only one evening meal which was good (Plaice and Creme Brulee) and found the service also to be good with nothing too much trouble. Would stay again if in the area.
Stayed here last night for 1 night.very clean hotel and the staff very friendly.we had an outside room sort of like a chalet,was quite large very clean and had everything you would need,even an iron and board.bathroom was very roomy and imaculate.bed very comfy.the breakfast was cooked fresh and was delicious.would definatly reccomend and will stay here again.bit of a walk to the town,we got a taxi back was very reasonable.
Thank you Shirley and the team for looking after my lost property so well and making sure they get back to me, a lot of people would not have bothered but you went the extra mile to help me out and look after me thank you so much
I arrived at 07.00 to set up the Langton Suite for a 3 day workshop Approaching the hotel, is can difficult for the 1st time guest to identify just where the hotel entrance is (the hotel is hidden behind high old walls) Actually, this is not as a real problem, the hotel has both front and rear car parks, with entrances on both of the possible approaches, so, whichever road you choose to use, you will find an access to parking and the hotel reception. Having used the Priory for exactly the same workshop on previous occasions, my expectations were, that all would be ready. A quick ‘Good morning' at reception elicited an immediate unlocking of the suite, which was indeed, ready to go; laid out as requested including the screen and flip charts. All I had to do was add the personalising bits & pieces that I had brought with me, set up the electronics and make sure that everything worked. All done and dusted by 09.00, ready for a 10.00 start Lunch Was a finger buffet, ready a few minutes after the appointed time of 12.30. A pleasant array of options, including the usual various sandwiches, plus; Chicken Goujons, Fish Goujons, onion bargies, tartlets and, of course, chips. Small brownies, topped with a raspberry, plus fresh fruit (grapes, melon & pineapple) offered a healthy end to the meal. All served with iced water and the soft drink of your choice. Our table for 10 was set up in the conservatory, away from the main restaurant, good for us as that meant we could do our own thing, without interfering with the running of their regular lunches. Day 2 Breakfast As with lunch on the previous day, we had the same table for 10, set up in the conservatory. The waiter was quick on his feet and had tea, coffee and toast on the table, before all 10 of us had arrived. My Eggs Benedict arrived in a timely manner, but, with fried bacon, rather than the cooked ham I had expected . . . .not a combination I have seen before, but, none the worse for it. Being a multinational group, breakfast can be a complex affair, but, The Priory seems to be able to provide what is required for all. Dinner Having pre-ordered our meals, at the request of the hotel, our expectation was that dinner should go smoothly and again, all was organised. The important preliminary of drinks was sorted out quickly and then our starters arrived I had chosen the Hare and Venison Terrine. A good decision, a reasonable serving of a tasty terrine. I expected it to be stronger than it was, not a criticism, just an observation, it was very good. My main course was Partridge (as you may guess, I like game) It was nicely cooked and again, the portion size was fine, not too small, but, not so big that it was daunting. As always a very good meal, with some very acceptable service The Room My room was a ‘superior room' in the main building of the hotel. Other offerings include ‘Garden' and ‘Courtyard' rooms. These are accessed as the names suggest, either from the hotel gardens or the courtyard at the rear of the hotel Room 4 is typical of the Superior rooms, not large, not small, but nicely appointed. There are 3 large windows, all of which can be opened. The room is always warm, but using the windows it remains well ventilated without being cold, even in the winter. The big bathroom was clean and has automatic lighting. Yes, automatic. The lights come on as you enter the bathroom, so, no matter how dozy you feel, there is no chance of stumbling around in the dark. All in all, very acceptable Reception Always polite and helpful, just as expected We are already planning to use the Priory again in the New Year
A bit late in the day but..... We had a function here on the 20th June for around 80+ people, the hotel was accommodating to our requests and extremely helpful too. The organising was on the ball, the food was phenomenal and the Hog roast in the evening was out of this world. The hotel captures a bit of the Olde England feel but with a fresh approach. This added a little bit of a quirk for our American guests who thought it was very quaint. I've stayed at a few Best Westerns in the past but this takes some beating! The staff alone make this an enjoyable stay to say the least. This hotel is highly recommended. Thank you to all concerned for making our event special.
I stayed here for business in October, l was in one of the garden rooms which are rooms in another building with the room door on the exterior. I was a little suspicious of this but actually l really liked it, made the room feel cozy (l may have not thought so if l stayed here in winter!), bed comfortable and clean. Water pressure for the shower was not good. The biggest disappointment was the service at breakfast the wait was just too long for my order to be taken, the first day was 20 minutes - not good for anyone but particularly when all that's on mind is to get to office. So all in all l had a good stay, l would certainly stay here again if in the area but does need a couple areas of improvement.
I stayed with my husband in this hotel for a short romantic break, and we had a wonderful time. The room in the garden annex opened on to the pretty gardens and we had a big clean room with comfy bed and nice bathroom. Plenty of towels and generous refreshments. We ate in the restaurant and our meals were really tasty and just first rate. We had mains and one desert and bill came in around £22 per head. The breakfast was served until 10 am - perfect for a Sunday - and again was high quality and generous. The cooked breakfast was lovely and there were plenty of other choices from the cold buffet menu. For £83 this was excellent value and highly recommended! The staff were young and a little inexperienced but friendly and smiley.
We stayed in an outside garden room, the surrounding gardens are gorgeous. The room was large with plenty of storage and very comfortable bed. The staff are really friendly and helpful. The breakfast was delicious! I highly recommend this hotel. Also it is only a ten minute walk from the station and an easy 20 minute walk into town.
Well. We've just stayed at the Priory for the 4th time. As usual it was excellent. Stayed in room 5 this time. The best room we've had so far. It even has decent water pressure in the shower, unlike room 3. Can't help feeling that £5.50p for a medium glass of wine was, I think, a tad expensive but the answer is, don't drink in the hotel bar. I think the fact that we keep going back speaks for itself. Nice hotel. Walking distance to the town, pleasant staff, not posh but definitely not scruffy. Try it, you won't be dissapointed.
This Hotel cant do enough for you,Staff so friendly and helpful,Rooms were top-class Gardens were lovely,Food Delicious,What more could you ask for.We only spent the one night her,and wished we had not have to go home
I've stayed here a couple of times now and both times it has been OK. I've stayed in their 'outside' rooms which is not the best in the morning when you have to walk to breakfast in the rain, but hey! The rooms are a little dated but clean and tidy with the usual facilities including ironing board and iron, the bathrooms the same, the water pressure not great and on my last stay I had to suffer a cold shower with no explanation from the staff (apart from an apology). The food is OK as is the breakfast (I don't often to have a cooked breakfast though so can't comment). I use the hotel for business as do most of the patrons during the week and it's usually quite busy. I can't figure out why! I stay when I can't get into another hotel locally and will probably stay again, but it's by no means my preferred choice. I don't consider it value for money. I am a Best Western card holder and do like to use them whenever I can, but as I say, I'd chose an alternative hotel as a first choice.
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