This hotel was disappointing. Forget the bathrobes and candles, ultra clean description from the website as the building is tired and the hotel in decline. We stayed in room 114, a feature room with four poster bed. The upholstery has been renewed recently and is great and the furniture solid but in need of some TLC and whilst the sink and key areas had been cleaned, the ornaments had a thick layer of dust and the carpet was covered in pieces of paper especially under the bed. There was no information in the room and the restaurant opening times remained a mystery. Apparently the hotel does room service but there were no details of how to access it and the chef goes home at 9pm, on the dot.
Service was attentive in the restaurant but the food was overcooked, and service errors incldued asking me if my meal was ok after I had finished instead of during it and interupting my husband during his main course to ask if he wanted a dessert "because the chef wanted to know if he should stay on". Fancy a coffee? Not a chance, we waited but took the hint when the candles were blown out on the table next to us and it was noisily cleared.
Pets are accepted - for a fee of £15, but not in the feature rooms. However this is not a pet friendly establishment. There are no designated dog walking areas or bins just a notice saying 'do not walk on the grass', dogs are not allowed in the bar or restaurant although there is a conservatory and despite there supposedly being 24 hour reception, the main door was locked overnight and we couldn't get out when the dog needed a walk in the night. In fact the front door was not unlocked until 8.20am!
- Ivy Hotel Swindon
