The Westerwood Hotel

I can only echo the reviews of others here. I was really looking forward to my stay at The Westerwood, a few days on business in a lovely location, evenings to myself to enjoy some good food and lovely scenery. I arrived at approximately 7.30pm on a Tuesday evening after a 7 hour drive. A warm welcome and checked in with no problem so I headed to my room and unpacked. About 8.15pm I headed to the bar for a pint and a bite to eat, I tend not to eat in the restaurant if travelling alone. Ordered my beer and asked for a menu only to be told that they did not do food at the downstairs bar I would need to go to the restaurant or the upstairs bar. So I sat down with my drink at the bar and read for about 30 minutes. After finishing my drink I headed to the upstairs bar. Here I waited for one guy to finish getting served ahead of me and then ordered a pint and asked for a food menu, only to be told that they stopped serving food at 8.45pm, the time was now almost 8.55pm. Now it may have been nice if the barman downstairs had mentioned this to me at the time. But these things happen so I took my pint and went to sit on the balcony to watch the sun go down. The balcony although nice in design was particularly untidy, fag butts, cold chips and napkins littered the tables and floor of the area. Then to rub salt into things the guy who had been served just ahead of me at the bar had his food delivered. As it turned out this was an off duty member of staff, who seem to receive better service than guests. So my Tuesday night then finished with a trip to the handy ASDA superstore down the road for last pickings of the days sandwiches. Wednesday started reasonably well, a nice breakfast and then off to my days work. Not going to fall for the same tricks again tonight so back from work, a shower and down to the ‘upstairs’ bar for 8.15pm. I asked which red wines they sold by the glass and could I have a food menu. A cursory wave at a row of red wines behind the bar and “These” was not the response I had hoped for. Asking if they had a Rioja I was asked to take a table where I would find a wine list and they would be over to serve me. So I went and sat down and read the wine list, a reasonable selection which was just as well. Having read the wine list a number of times and watched the staff continue to serve other guests at the bar for the next 25 minutes and still receiving no service or food menu I gave up. I decided to give in and try the hotel restaurant to see if it was any easier to get some food there. Still no joy I was told I would have to wait at least 40 minutes for a table although I could see empty tables in the restaurant at the time. So having complained and cancelled my third nights stay at reception I headed again for ASDA late pickings! The hotel seemed pretty uninterested in my complaint and this has been born out by their lack of response to my complaint form, and phone calls since. Even head office don’t seem to want to talk to me about this as I have now contacted them twice and I am still awaiting a response. A brief example of of what lies in store for you is shown in the picture of my ironing board from the room. Would you want to put a white shirt on that ?!

Stayed here with a collegue fom work, arrived to find a building site - no mention on website - couldn't find reception - no signs outside - plasticised signs on walls of hotel placed next to existing signs so you had arrows to reception pointing at each other. At reception was advised to book dinner which we did - on arrival at restaurant they had no knowledge of booking, sat down at 8 not 7.30 as booked, ordered a two course meal, 20 minutes for starter not too bad, but main courses finally arrived at 10.50 - despite several complaints from ourselves and my collegues dinner was cold and had to be sent back. The resaurant was staffed by 17 year olds and one quit her job while we were at dinner, it was so bad it was almost funny, once several other tables cottoned on to our complaining, every one was at it, total shambles. Complained to manager in morning who took lots of notes and promised to write to us but never did, and to top it all despite paying up front on lastminute.com they invoiced my amex so paid twice! Avoid like the plague.