The Old Well Inn — Restaurant in England

I was staggered to see the gap in reality between the photos on this website and what I experienced when I was there. I've attached a handful of photos to ilustrate just a few of the problems and hope they prompt someone to take some action.||The positive news first - it is in a great location and just a few minutes walk from Bowes Museum and the Castle.||The one staff member who was on duty (check in/bar when I arrived and breakfast the next morning) could not have been more polite and friendly and she was obviously covering a lot of roles and working hard.||At £80 B&B it was reasonably priced for a tourist town.||But .... the room. ||It stank of what seemed like old cigarette smoke and was, without doubt, the worst smelling room I have ever stayed in. ||Having dropped my bag off quickly, I noticed a strong smell and assumed it was just some dust/must and opened the window before I went out. But when I returned a couple of hours later it was the same, and spending more time in the room it really stuck in my throat and nose and was horrible and very powerful and was like being a room of smoke and sweat.||Even though it was just after 8pm the pub/hotel was closed and I couldn't find any staff so decided I had to deal with it. There was a fan in the room, but that was covered with what looked like a couple of years of thick dust and dirt and took 20 mins to wash and clean so I could at least blow the air around which helped slightly.||Then I looked properly at the windows which were filthy, on the inside as well as out. ||The extractor fan in the windowless bathroom was almost invisible because of the dust and dirt, the carpet looked and felt dirty, there was a lot of mould in the shower and a dirty hole where the trap should be and the shower floor felt slimy and looked dirty. ||The bed seemed clean but I took the precaution of dressing as well, despite it being a warm night, and that included socks the whole time I was in the room as I didn't trust the carpet.||There were numerous other dirt problems which suggested it gets a quick hoover but is rarely deep cleaned.||Breakfast was very small but well cooked, although the non-hot option seemed to only consist of lots of packets of cornflakes.||The common areas and furniture are very very tired, dirty, and creaking and while this is obviously a pub hotel in a very old building, and that is, or should be part of it's charm, it doesn't look as though it has had a refurbishment for decades. ||And the age does not excuse the dirt and smell.||Maybe the owners are short of cash? ||Maybe they simply don't care as the vast majority of people will probably only be there for a night of tourism, but this was a very unpleasant and depressing experience and one I would never want to repeat.||The sad part is that the Bowes Museum is wonderful and the rest of the small town very friendly and interesting but my lasting memory will be the smell...

Loved our stay here. Perfect location great team, so friendly and helpful. Our room (No 3) is huge, the twin beds accommodating, the carpet thick and welcoming. If the view from the window is a tad limited it's interesting, looking into an antique restoration workshop as it does. The room itself is interestingly furnished, antique French, I'd say. And while it looks great it's problematic. The massive wardrobe occupies space that would be better employed in provision of an uncramped ensuite. Where the room embraces with it's generous proportions this ensuite is beyond mean with it's constraining, tight, claustrophobic size. I'm really sorry to have this negativity because everything else about the Old Well is positive and it feels mean not to just overlook this shortcoming. But come the middle of the night when you have to navigate that room it becomes a significant toe bashing obstacle course. And all the worse for the fact that with minimal adaptation a larger space could be given over to the task without impinging on the generosity of the bedrooms proportions. All that aside. The breakfasts were hearty and tasty. The coffee endless and flavoursome. And the evening meal, a curry, we enjoyed very much. In fact it was positively spectacular, with soft buttery fresh roti. And each of our dishes being deeply flavoursome yet delicate. None of that shared base flavour thing here. All served up with excellent ales and an open mile night.

With a decent ensuite 5...

Went for food Saturday late lunch, have eaten here previously and food always lovely but today I was appalled. Ordered two beef baguettes with chips which we have had previously so we knew what to expect or so we thought. When they arrived they had melted cheese inside, which they hasn't previously. I was not asked about any allergies when ordering but luckily we did not have allergies. The baguettes had no beef in them, just gravy and what were probably remnants of what had been the beef, it looked like the gravy had been spread on with a knife it was so thin. We complained when the plated were taken away and was told that they would feed it back. At no point were we offered a refund, partial refund or the offer of something else. We spent just over £16 on lunch and then extra for drinks. I understand places need to make cut backs and I work in a similar industry but to have no meat what so ever is just a bit too far for me. I certainly will NOT be going back. Not once did anyone come to the table to ask if everything was OK or we would have brought it to your attention then. EDIT: I don't think the owners response is fair, due to the fact I mentioned NO ONE came to the table to ask if the food was OK!! OF COURSE WE ATE THE FOOD, WE HAD PAID FOR IT! Don't advertise a beef baguette, when it was NOT a beef baguette. Nor has the owner acknowledged the fact that we were not asked about allergies when ordering which is in breach of natashas law. WE...