The Buck Inn — Restaurant in England

Horrifically disappointing... Booked for one night to explore Malham Cove and a hiking day. Was looking forward to staying, the photos looked great and the pub really inviting. We arrived around 6pm, didn't initially see the main door and were knocking on a closed door with no answer. Did walk round to see the main entrance and 2 or 3 people were in, told the young lad behind the bar we'd got a reservation and were shown upstairs with a key. We weren't asked our names, and were left at room 4. After 10 mins of trying to get into the room with the key not working, we realised there were occupants in that room, scuttled off and went to go and find the room (9) that was written on the key instead. We didn't feel it necessary to go and ask the chap, as unfortunately his customer service repertoire was sadly lacking as we'd found it ourselves. Opened into the tiniest room going, one bedside table, a stool serving as the other, no bulbs in the bedtop lights and an adequate sized TV. The bed was clean and extremely comfortable, but there was no space to swing a moderately sized cat in. There was a grubby looking kettle atop a small unit, with (as we were later appreciative of) some biscuits.

Now, the reservation included breakfast, and we'd also made a dinner booking for that evening separately, for which my partner who had made this booking, had had an email to say there had been a gas leak therefore the kitchen was closed. As the lead booker however, I had no communication of this for the reservation and this would have been a complete surprise had we not made the separate food booking. On our succinctly brief check in we were told there was no hot food for breakfast due to a gas leak, with no explanation of this. The chap -with the personality of a fish- offered no further explanation of this as he took us to out room. We quickly headed out to find food, being a tiny place and were taken pity on by the vegan restaurant Beck Hall where we had a beautiful meal before heading back. Getting ready for a night in, we discovered a dirty shower, mould covering the shower head, filthy shower door, one of which was hanging off, and a toilet seat that was completely free of it's porcelain mount. Not reassured, following a surprisingly good night's sleep we didn't bother to have the emergency toast, cereal and porridge we'd seen on the side on check in and headed out. Check out was an entirely impersonal affair, leaving our key in a Tupperware box on walking out.

The free WiFi was so poor that there was no access to anything using a phone, the leaflet about check in had no contact details on, not that we'd have been able to use to speak to anyone, as there is literally no network on some providers, not that we'd have expected a response as the phone had rung out when we'd with tired eyes not seen the main entrance of the pub. There was nobody around regardless. A simple thank you for staying would have sufficed, but this didn't happen.

Overall, I would not stay here again, the lack of clarification about the gas leak, no warning about the inability to provide the proper breakfast, and a tired shoddy room were more than an unpleasant taste for what was a first holiday away together. I wouldn't have minded but all the other rooms we passed on leaving looked like palaces in comparison.

We're awaiting a response from booking.com following a complaint as to whethee the Buck Inn will be taking accountability for this shonky...

Avoid. Having stayed here before we rebooked hoping for the pub to have the same charm it once had a few years ago. This place has been run into the ground. Once we had completed a walk to Malham cove, we sat in the busy bar for a drink waiting for 3pm to arrive to be able to check in. One poor lad on his own looking rather sad trying to quell the never ending flow at the bar. Dirty tables, glasses all over tables inside and out. 3pm arrives and we were handed the key to our room. Instant drainage smell coming from the bathroom in what only can be described as a tired bedroom. No hot water. I went downstairs and collared the manager who said he would put the immersion heater on and would take 20 minutes to warm up. We weren't able to get an acceptable hot shower until just past 4pm. (Should there not have been foresight as we were not the only ones checking in?) We'd had a meal booked in the restaurant however received an email the night before explaining that the gas was off and could not serve food. Luckily I had the initiative to book the Lister Arms in the village the same night, which was amazing. No gas meant no hot breakfast in the morning, and only as offer of continental breakfast. On approaching the manager again I asked for some sort of discount on the room, however there came an answer that they had not charged us for our dog, but that they were moving to a paid hot breakfast and that the tills had already changed?? and would be only offered continental going forwards. Given that I had seen the previous days continental left out on the restaurant bar the day before, I had no faith that this would be a quality breakfast. We were kindly offered a hot drink and my wife had picked a Quaker oats pot. The manager picked it up and left with the promise it would be filled up, he did not return and we gave up and walked out after 10 minutes and drove to the quality Town End Farm Shop in Airton and had a beautiful breakfast. I have since found out that Buck Inn, Malham is owned by the company Stonegate who are responsible for high rents, high prices and pub closures around the country. Sadly I think this pub is going the same way, such a shame in such a...

I haven’t left a bad review ever. And if I have it was a long time ago. I feel bad for this. But feel it’s justified.

My wife went in to check availability after our walk. She came out to tell me the guy was very rude to her, everyone loves my wife so thought that can’t be right. It takes a lot to upset my misses. The guy told her bluntly it’s bookings only. So I went back in to ask him myself. And I also felt a bad vibe from him. I would hate to think it was our liverpool accents. :( He seemed fine with everyone else. And other people seemed to be eating and ordering food in various parts of the venue. and there where other table’s available (unreserved) . If you read the other reviews. You’ll see people “just dropping in for food” ie no booking! which is what we have done in the past. We have actually ate here before by just dropping in. So I can only assume this guy had issues. We went over the road to the lister arms and had a fantastic roast dinner. The Staff there where amazing. We spent £100.

I hope to god I’m wrong. But why would a pub / restaurant turn down business in the current financial crises. Like I said. It could only have been our accents. Or a personal issue.

It’s fine if it was actually bookings only. But why not try to accommodate some tired walkers anyway. That’s how you build a customer base and get people re visiting. If you go out of your way To help it goes a long way in the future.

If the lister arms hadn’t taken us. We would have gone to bed hungry that night. And we had our kids with us to. So even if the guy had said. Take that table and I’ll see what I can do. The kids would have been happy with a pot noodle ffs :)

Very disappointed

Oh and just to add. Looks like the glass collector was off that day as glasses and bottles where all over the outside tables making the place look untidy.

We Won’t ever try give these guys our...