The Bull — Restaurant in Babergh

Stayed recently for 1 night. The room was old, tired and dated with a view of a brick wall. Internal walls starting to turn yellow so in desperate need of redecoration. Bathroom looks like it was last fitted in the 1980s. Extractor fan didn't work either.

The room also stank of a "gravy smell" only to then realise pur room was right next to the kitchens main extraction unit which was outside our windown and as it was a hot day the window was open and all the smells from the kitchen came into the room. It was really off putting and we literally then avoided being in the room until we went to sleep later that night.

We got a drink at the bar and was shocked to be charged £3.75 for half a pint of soda water. Never seen prices like anywhere before for soda water? That was the one and only drink we had there and we went to the other pubs nearby, which were also Greene King owned but much of better quality overall.

Breakfast we looked forward to and thought it should be good. Highly disappointed with it. The coffee was un drinkable, really poor quality filtered coffee. The breakfast, full English looked great on the plate when it came out but everything was cold. The Sausages were only just cooked through. The wife ordered the vegan breakfast which on the menu said came with a "Baked hash brown" and there was no hash brown on her plate. She asked the waitress who I must stress was great and went above and beyond, but she said we don't do Baked hash browns they are all fried in the fryer. So mot sure why it stated that on the vegan menu.

Overall really disappointed and the room was actually a gift to us which I think was valued all in at £109. To be honest I don't think the experience was worth anymore than £50 overall. Stayed in way better places than this for far less and as this is a Greene King place, I think some things need to be addressed. I appreciate its an old listed building but I think the standards are below par there.

Update: Just to add, I've noticed that the owners reply to every positive review as i write this update, but if you look through all the reviews at any of the negative or not so positive reviews, zero response from the owners....

We booked the first (and only) night in the restaurant and the food was awful. The pate starter was only thing that was edible. My starter of calamari just tasted of old stale over used grease, hideous. The mains were lasagne and steak, the lasagne without doubt was some sort of factory ready meal, I spotted my girlfriends face turn on the first mouthful. I asked her what was wrong and she said try this, i can’t really explain the taste but nothing Italian, slimy, burnt on top, no seasoning, flavourless slop. Then we get to the steak, a misSteak choosing that one, you would have needed an axe get through it. Cooked to perfection but im afraid rare solid gristle is not my thing. Obviously a complaint ensued and the mains were removed from the bill. The breakfast next, every morning (3) there something missing from the Full English, the word ‘Full’ suggests that everything is the there, the works, I’m afraid it wasn’t. The only decent thing we eat was the poached eggs. Generally very poor, we never saw a mushroom and the black pudding was scarcely spotted, bacon was not freshly cooked and totally dried, you could of used it to sole your shoes. The avocado on toast was vile, it was off but not black but a strange greeny-grey colour and absolutely inedible. Waiting staff were fab but you could detect and air of embarrassment because they knew. The room 4 was very good but it was too hot, the radiator was off but the central heating piping was exposed (not boxed in) and was on 24/7, it must have been constantly over 30’. I had to ask for a single sheet, you would open the door and the heat would blast you in face. Next the WiFi, they use ‘The Cloud’ which constantly boots you off. Whilst working on my laptop I had to continually reconnect, completely and utterly useless, how is a professional supposed to work with that rubbish. After complaining to the (very nice) reception chap he just shrugged his shoulders and said ‘Yep, thats Greene King for ya, we know it’s useless but there is nothing we can do about it’. Excellent staff and a fabulous building, what a shame its ruined by the nastiness that is Greene King stick with...

The hotel was exactly as we expected it to be! A beautiful old building with original features! Old fireplaces and antiques and modern furniture blended perfectly together! A very warm welcoming feel with such lovely staff in all areas!

We had a superior room overlooking the front of the hotel. There was a massive comfortable super king bed with a large sofa and antique coffee table. There was a massive flatscreen tv wall mounted with more chairs as the room was huge!

The bathroom was quite large with a powerful shower over the bath! Large fluffy white towels on a heated towel rack! Lovely smelling toiletries supplied - shower gel/shampoo and hand soap provided!

In the room there was a hairdryer, iron/ironing board, safe, kettle with tea/coffee making facilities with biscuits! Ample hanging space in an antique fitted wardrobe!

As we entered the room the lovely smell of proper wax polish greeted us as was the room spotlessly clean! Lindy and Sally , 7 had obviously taken pride in preparing the room for us leaving a number to call if we needed anything extra!

All the waiting staff were very friendly and accommodating! As it is a Greene King pub the choice of drinks and food was as expected with a great choice and very reasonably priced! We had dinner in our room one of the nights and the Sunday roast dinner in the restaurant the following day which very enjoyable! Breakfast was a Buffett with juice/tea/coffee cereal pastries fruit yoghurts and toast with choice of milks plus also included was a choice of hot food from a great breakfast menu! The staff went out of their way to make sure everyone was greeted very promptly and professionally!

The area of Long Melford and the location of the Bull was perfect for leaving the car and going on long walks in the countryside or mooching along the high street looking at the many antique shops and many tea rooms! Not to mention the historical churches!!

I can not recommend this lovely traditional olde English Inn more highly! We will...