The Black Swan sits on the Market Square in the pretty Yorkshire village of Helmsley. The exterior of the hotel is attractive - however it is pretty dark inside (I guess that's par for the course in what seems a very old building). The room was fine although the decor was a bit dated. Staff seemed very laid back and... more

I booked a 2 night stay as a surprise for my very hardworking husband's birthday. We were impressed as we pulled up outside, this is a lovely looking building in a fabulous location. Alarm bells started to ring as we arrived at an unmanned reception desk with no instruction as to how to summon attention. As we were being checked... more

Wished I'd checked Trip Advisor first!. On impulse and at the end of a touring break we decided to stay including evening meal for my birthday celebration. We'd been before, years ago, and loved Helmsley and surrounding area. The receptionist invited us to have the 'September champagne special rate' What a joke!! We arrived for dinner and the waiter/manager had... more

We had read reviews on Trip Advisor, which are a mixture of either indignant comments or guests praising the hotel to the skies. The pair of us decided to make up our own minds when we took a couple of days off work for a night at Helmsley. We paid the deposit on booking our night away – I have... more

A real disappointment as it has the perfect position in a picturesque market town in the Yorkshire Moors. But, in our experience, it did not deliver what it attempts or aspires. We booked a room over the internet which included dinner bed and breakfast. On arrival at 6.30pm we were asked if we had booked dinner, which we hadn't as... more

Attended a wedding here at the weekend and stayed for two nights. From the moment we arrived the service and attention we received was second to none. Our room was beautiful, overlooking the lovely garden. We were very lucky with the weather, which added to our wonderful stay. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff, who were all friendly,... more

Exceeded my (high) expectations. The food was fantastic and the service excellent: discreet and efficient. The room we had was a little disappointing as we were in the newer part of the building and it's looking a little jaded, but if the decor in the lounge and dining room is anything to go by, when the bedrooms are refurbished they... more

We paid full price for a classic room - and got grubby carpets, threadbare furniture, stained baths, dirty walls, and peeling black wall paper around the windows which were damp. We didn;t want to stay in the room - although the hotel areas downstairs were pleasant enough for an afternoon of paper reading. There are more options attracting supplements than... more

The hotel website promised lots and the stay more than met our expectations. The room was spacious and comfortable. The communal spaces within the hotel are beautifully presented and in keeping with the age of the building. The highlight of our stay was the excellent food, wine and service during our evening meal. We had chosen the tasting menu and... more