The Cathedral Hotel, Salisbury: value and quality
Posted on 30 April 2009 with no comments from readers
Smaller UK cities can prove a challenge to the luxury traveller, and the most frequent criticism is that the hotels are dirty, small and over-priced. However, some young hoteliers are challenging this impression, and the last of the pre-crisis hotel refurbishments are now opening for business.
The Cathedral Hotel, Salisbury falls into this bracket. Its owners appear to have spared little expense in refurbishing this fine traditional English inn.
Facilities good
There are only 10 rooms yet they are not only spacious but show plenty of attention to detail and minimalist chic. The bed covers and curtains are brand new as is the carpet, bed, furniture and shower room. Tea and coffee facilities are provided, wireless that works for free and even an ironing board and iron.
It is a really pleasant room for all of $99 a night. If you do your Net search this is the best deal in town, and you can only hope that the owners have got their business plan right. It seems too little for what they have just paid a lot of money to complete.
Downstairs and there is a large open plan bar, lounge and restaurant into an extension. The staff are eager to please and the owner actually asked me whether a refill would be in order – not the sort of service you often get in a small English hotel.
Service issues
However, enthusiasm is not everything and a letter appeared under the door to apologise for some ‘issues with the breakfast service’. A nice personal touch, perhaps, but then this reviewer had not eaten breakfast and would otherwise not have noticed. No need to point out your own errors, let others do it.
The hotel is located bang in the city centre just a two minute walk from the medieval marketplace, and opposite the more famous and expensive Red Lion Hotel. The latter is an older concern, originally dating from 1220 although it has undergone several refurbishments since then.
Food in The Cathedral looked to be of the hearty pub variety and again very modestly priced. There is almost certainly not a better place to stay in Salisbury right now, and fussy tourists would be pleasantly surprised.
