Booking was as easy as expected via Booking.com. The hotel team contacted me soon after to ask whether I'd like to reserve a table for dinner, I did, and the food was very good. Now the Hotel, it's in the centre of town, yet quiet. The room was spacious, clean, and newly decorated, as was the bathroom. The bed was comfortable. The only thing I didn't like was the noise coming from some ventilation room opposite the bedrooms, that went on all night and prevented me from leaving the window open, as it was audible even though the closed window. I can't comment on breakfast because I had to leave early, but if dinner and the prepared breakfast buffet are anything to by, I expect it to be superb. A 10 out of 10 if it wasn't for the noise.

Hotel was very central for shops, railway station, cafes. Lovely traditional building with wooden beams, nice atmosphere. Large dining area, bars and lounges. Room was large, heated in cold weather, and good sized bathroom. Queen size bed was very comfortable. I was offered a quiet room with breakfast at very reasonable price. Accessible car park at back of building. Staff very helpful with requests.

Too few staff at breakfast made it difficult for them to keep on top of a large number of guests at same time. Items of food ran out or took time to replenish. I assume this is short-term problem? Building isn't up to modern soundproofing as evening noise from bars is audible until closing time. But very quiet during nighttime hours. Difficult if you need a nap after long journey in early evening. Old building could prove difficult for someone with mobility problems although hotel may have accessible rooms to offer. Signage could be improved to help find one's way around the passages.

Greeted by a really nice friendly guy on my arrival. Room a decent size for what I wanted. I saw everything was very clean and had the smell of clean as well, you could tell they'd made the effort. The toilet and shower and sink etc were cleaned spick and span. Plenty of toilet roll. Good things provided like tea bags and milk, even really tasty shortbread biscuits on the table! Bed could have done with an extra pillow, but that's just my preference. Bed was very comfy and soft! Some beds I've slept in before at hotels/b&bs have left me in pain as I am physically disabled, but this one didn't and I slept well. Didn't have anything to eat in the restaurant, but that's my own fault cos I didn't have time. Will definitely stay again!

The floors are EXTREMELY creaky and noisy. Every time I got up for the toilet etc, the creaking and squeaking of the floorboards in the room was very loud. The entire floor of the room itself made lots of noise. Might be an idea to get that fixed. I can imagine the people in the next room or downstairs wouldn't have been pleased to have been woken by that in the early hours, or if you weren't alone in the room, you'd easily wake up the person you were staying with. Also, for some reason the "on" button on the TV remote didn't work, so only way of switching the TV on or off was by turning it off by the plug on the wall. Apart from that, no other problems.

Everything was exceptional. The room was clean and comfortable with plenty of utilities. The couple who run the hotel are absolutely delightful. Kind, friendly, helpful and a pleasure to stay with. The continental breakfast has plenty of choice and options. The restaurant on the evening is exceptional. The food was excellent and all fresh and prepared and cooked by the owner Nidal who has years of experience running restaurants and my god does it show. Fantastic food for a very reasonable price. I can’t recommend the hotel and restaurant run by a delightful couple highly enough and would stay again in a heartbeat

Nothing at all

Room was in the old part of the building - timber framed - very nice. Nice location in the centre of Braintree. Nice lady on reception gave us a discount card at check out for future bookings & meals.

No staff on reception when we arrived. Lots of stairs and no lift (The building is a bit higgledy-piggledy). No filter coffee left at breakfast (9am - so that's a bit early to run out) so we had to make do with instant. No yoghurt left either Waitress basically said 'When its gone its gone":(

The staff were very friendly. We stayed there because my sister lives in Braintree and it was her 50th birthday. We had a meal and they were very accommodating while we had our celebration meal The room was very comfortable.

The radiator had been left on full. By the time we got back to our room at midnight it was far too hot. I managed to turn it off, but it stayed hot for most of the night. The second night was fine because the radiator stayed off.

We cannot thank the staff enough especially Ben & Tash they were exceptional, the hotel has a great atmosphere, food is excellent and very reasonably priced, fantastic breakfast and rooms lovely & clean and comfortable. A truly wonderful stay and we would truly recommend it , every member of staff make your visit such a great experience thank you so much the Mabbutts - Jeanette, David and our cocker spaniel Aero xxx

Location and the downstairs areas were brilliant. Staff were lovely and the menu great although dinner service was SLOW. I must also comment on the TV selection being very generous.

Lack of electricity sockets in the bedroom. There should be a warning about the steepness of the grand staircase to the bedrooms which do require some updating on the whole and the car park was FULL due to functions when we arrived.

This is in a good position for the town of Braintree and not far from the train station or bus station!! It's a lovely old pub, and has quite a few stairs up and down to rooms, but is the only negative if you don't like stairs!! The staff are lovely and friendly and can't do enough for you and the food is also lovely to eat and you get big portions!

The only thing we didn't like was the amount of stairs, but you expect that in an old pub!!

Very friendly & welcoming staff. Comfortable & clean room.

Parking was an issue,when we first arrived there was no room,we drove around braintree looking for an overnight car park with no luck. We tried again at the hotel & managed to find the last spot. Although our room was very clean & comfortable,when we arrived there was an overpowing smell of too much air freshener.. had to open the windows..not a major deal but a little less would've been better.