Richmond Hill Hotel

Came here for Sunday lunch with family a few weeks ago, when there was a carvery. On offer were slad or soup starters, then chicken, pork, or beef, and to finish, an array of desserts from a menu featuring a lemon tart, assorted cheesecakes, ice creams, sorbets, etc.

I couldn’t knock the price. But there were a number of other points I could have a go at. We were after an early lunch; arriving at 12, the bar wasn’t manned. After much pfaffing, we eventually got seated. The soup, mushroom, was pleasant but undistinguished, and was quite possibly not home made, unless home is a Campbell’s factory or the catering equivalent. Plates and bowls were cold ( not something that bothers me, but it did other members of the group).

The meat…aaaaah. I’m very much in two minds about carveries. Sitting under a heatlamp doesn’t bring out the best in it. The pork was overcooked and dry, and probably wasn’t going to be improved by the experience. The beef was also cremated, again not helped by the fact it looked like a fairly lean joint to begin with – no such thing as “rare” here apparently.

The desserts were pleasant enough, allowing for their obviously having also been bought in and refrigerated ( slightly soggy pastry on the tarts, for example).

Sigh. Couldn’t knock the price though. In sum, it brought one to mind of a “good day” in a minor public school canteen, or perhaps a posh nursing home.

Brilliant hotel! Brilliant Location! Last but not least staff also brilliant especially 'WILLIAM'!

Excellent hotel with friendly knowledgable and helpful staff & well appointed rooms. Would get 5* but for the fact that the sound proofing between my room and the guest next door was not up to scratch. Recommended.

This is a rather odd, slightly old-fashioned hotel with very poor service.
The rooms are variable quality, but tend to be well equipped but on the small side. The public rooms are scattered along the front of the hotel, and it seems a long and tortuous route between reception and the bar and restaurant areas.
Service at the bar was laughable. There were three members of staff in the area, but getting a drink took ages. When I was served the staff seemed to have no knowledge of the wines that they had.
Breakfast was not so good: I was seated quite quickly in a slightly raised area of the restaurant. The meal is self-service, which was just as well because it was difficult to attract the attention of any of the staff. When I was seated there were at least half a dozen tables around me with the remnants of breakfast from earlier diners. When I left, these tables were still not cleared.
If the management and staff improve it might be nice, but otherwise I would avoid it.