Moresby Hall — Hotel in Great Britain

I feel compelled to share my experience at Moresby Hall, especially as I was influenced by the many glowing reviews before booking. While the property has undeniable charm and potential, my stay was not as seamless as I’d hoped.

Firstly, the booking process could benefit from improvement. The hotel’s own website offered limited room descriptions and no clear photos of all the rooms, which made selecting the right room a challenge. I had to rely on third-party sites to get a better sense of what to expect, particularly as I was keen to avoid rooms on the top floor.

Upon arrival, we found the signage unclear. The small entrance at the front and the lack of guidance around the rear of the building made parking and access a little confusing. That said, the presence of three EV charging points (including a Tesla charger) was appreciated, albeit at a somewhat steep £20 overnight fee.

Check-in was warm and professional, which I really appreciated during what was a difficult personal time visiting a family member in hospital. We were kindly asked if we’d like to dine in the restaurant, though with last orders at 8pm, we decided against it.

The building itself is full of character and history, which is a major plus, but the interior design felt inconsistent. While the restaurant and bar areas were tasteful and welcoming, the main reception and corridors seemed dated—possibly a result of mismatched furnishings and muted colour schemes. My room echoed this contrast. While I was told it had been recently refurbished, and the soft furnishings (curtains, throw, cushions) did feel of good quality, the carpet design gave an impression of being worn or unclean, and the overall decor lacked cohesion.

The mattress, unfortunately, was in poor condition and sorely in need of replacement. I understand from staff that this was already on the list to be addressed, but it significantly affected my night’s rest. Heating was provided via a portable unit due to the building’s Grade I listing, which may prove insufficient during colder months—even in April, the room felt chilly.

The bathroom featured a complex multi-jet shower system, which, while initially impressive, felt somewhat excessive and dated. A simpler and more modern alternative would likely serve better.

Breakfast was mixed. The sausage and toast were excellent, but other elements were fairly average, and the bacon was unfortunately overcooked. However, the service throughout breakfast was polite and attentive.

One surprising omission was the lack of complimentary bottled water in the room. Even a large reusable bottle of filtered tap water would be a thoughtful and inexpensive touch.

In summary, Moresby Hall has enormous potential. It’s a unique and historically significant property with several strong points—friendly staff, beautiful grounds, and characterful spaces. However, attention to detail in decor, furniture, comfort (especially mattresses), and guest amenities would elevate the experience considerably. With a bit of investment and refinement, this could be a truly exceptional...

Booked two rooms for a 2-night family visit for bed, breakfast and evening meal for 4 of us plus our two dogs. We loved every minute from the moment we arrived until the moment we left. Joanne, Stephanie, and the rest of the hotel team—especially Harley—were friendly, accommodating, and eager to ensure we all had a great time.

Our bedrooms were lovely, really comfortable, airy and full of character. The hotel has a lovely vibe, with tasteful decor and opulent furnishings. We all slept excellently on both nights; as weird as this may sound, the fresh bed linen smelled divine.

Breakfast was good, with plenty of choices, including cooked, continental and cereal options. Our two dogs had a sausage each on the first morning and were very keen to attend breakfast the following morning for more of the same. Our evening meals were delightful, with a broad choice, including specials that covered every dietary requirement. The only slight quibble was steak knives needed sharpening. We ate in the bar area as we had dogs with us, and they were not allowed into the restaurant, which was perfectly acceptable.

We have a very wide car, and the guest entrance was tight. The owners cannot do anything about that as the property is grade one listed, so take care and check your angles! If you have a vehicle that is too wide, you can drive past the main entrance and go through the delivery entrance, which is wider. The weather was beautiful on our first day, and we enjoyed a trip to Whitehaven. However, it was very stormy when we arrived and left, so we didn't get to explore too much on foot. We did manage a walk down to the beach each morning, though, with the dogs, who thoroughly enjoyed running around.

Some hotels state that they are ‘dog-friendly’ only for us to discover that they are more ‘dog-tolerant’. Moresby Hall is truly ‘dog-friendly’, and the hotel boss is Harley the Bichon Frise, who greeted us in reception, chilled out with our two dogs and then trotted out to the car to bid them farewell when we left. A wonderful character and an asset to the hotel!

We look forward to revisiting next year and have already selected our rooms!

P.S. In a previous chapter of my life, I was responsible for arranging and hosting commercial training events and board meetings for directors. Having had a nose around the function room on the 1st floor, which was set up ready for a training event, I can recommend anyone looking for a venue in this area to check out the facilities here. It certainly has the...

Booked two rooms for a 2-night family visit for bed, breakfast and evening meal for 4 of us plus our two dogs.|We loved every minute from the moment we arrived until the moment we left.|Joanne, Stephanie, and the rest of the hotel team—especially Harley—were friendly, accommodating, and eager to ensure we all had a great time.||Our bedrooms were lovely, really comfortable, airy and full of character.|The hotel has a lovely vibe, with tasteful decor and opulent furnishings.|We all slept excellently on both nights; as weird as this may sound, the fresh bed linen smelled divine.||Breakfast was good, with plenty of choices, including cooked, continental and cereal options. Our two dogs had a sausage each on the first morning and were very keen to attend breakfast the following morning for more of the same. Our evening meals were delightful, with a broad choice, including specials that covered every dietary requirement. The only slight quibble was steak knives needed sharpening. We ate in the bar area as we had dogs with us, and they were not allowed into the restaurant, |which was perfectly acceptable.||We have a very wide car, and the guest entrance was tight. The owners cannot do anything about that as the property is grade one listed, so take care and check your angles! If you have a vehicle that is too wide, you can drive past the main entrance and go through the delivery entrance, which is wider.|The weather was beautiful on our first day, and we enjoyed a trip to Whitehaven. However, it was very stormy when we arrived and left, so we didn't get to explore too much on foot. We did manage a walk down to the beach each morning, though, with the dogs, who thoroughly enjoyed running around.||Some hotels state that they are ‘dog-friendly’ only for us to discover that they are more ‘dog-tolerant’. Moresby Hall is truly ‘dog-friendly’, and the hotel boss is Harley, who greeted us in reception, chilled out with our two dogs and then trotted out to the car to bid them farewell when we left. A wonderful character and an asset to the hotel!||We look forward to revisiting next year and have already selected our rooms!||P.S. In a previous chapter of my life, I was responsible for arranging and hosting commercial training events and board meetings for directors. Having had a nose around the function room on the 1st floor, which was set up ready for a training function, I can recommend anyone looking for a venue in this area to check out the facilities here. It certainly has the...