Wickham House

We have stayed in bed and breakfast establishments the length and breadth of the country, and we are amazed at this particular one! Initially, we thought it was lovely. We had a warm welcome, tea and scones were made for us and we were shown to our room. From then it goes downhill I am afraid. How on earth this has a 4 star rating is unbelievable! The teapot in the room had months of grime in there, so did the cups, solitary teaspoon, the kettle and the drinking glasses — we just could not use them they were filthy. We tried boiling water but they really needed a good hot soak in bleach and washing up liquid, which has not happened in months and months. We just did not have any hot drinks in our room due to the filth in there. The surfaces were dirty, and the carpets grubby and so were the bathroom mats. Breakfast was very basic, cheap cornflakes, rice krispies and orange juice which tasted vile. Cooked breakfast was edible but quite basic, no mention of porridge etc. There was a small bowl of fresh fruit available and one piece of cut grapefruit which nobody ate and kept appearing every morning (the same piece) The doilies covering the milk jugs were ingrained with dirt and grime, and so were the cutlery and plates. We had to wipe every item before we could use it. The butter dish had sticky residue on there and bits of jam etc ingrained from previous days. I had requested soya milk before our arrival which they said they would provide. Unfortunately when we arrived she said she ‘forgot’ to buy some, so I could not have milk in tea or coffee due to my intolerance. I was promised there would be some for us later that day — there wasn’t. Next morning still no soya milk — obviously too much trouble. We were also told ‘I hope you don’t want cornflakes, I forgot to buy some’ (is this really a 4 star — surely not)??
We like to shower morning and night in hot weather and there was no mention in the room information of what the towel policy was. Generally, most establishments say either ‘use again’ or leave in shower tray/​bath for new towels. After we had used them 3 times, we decided they needed changing and put just 2 bath towels (one each) in the bath to be changed. On our return at about 6.00 pm, we noticed the towels hanging up but looking quite grubby which is easy to spot when they are white towels. I asked her if she had replaced the towels and she said she had tumble dried them. Here is where she went very defensive — and she said ’ I only have to change towels after 3 days because we are not a hotel, but a bed and breakfast’ and we are cheaper than a hotel! Hm not necessarily! But if this is the case then why not say this in your information AND you are supposed to be a 4 STAR bed and breakfast and I am afraid they come nowhere near 4 star establishments we have stayed in before. I also pointed out that we don’t know who’s towel is who’s and with my skin condition and my husband’s athletes foot — it was not very hygienic. I also pointed out that if we had known about the towel policy, we would have kept our towels apart. She then said she would change them the next day after breakfast (like it was some favour) I pointed out that another shower that evening before going out for a meal, and another in the morning (do I have to justify that we like to shower twice a day?) she thought it was odd and not normal — it would mean 2 more uses on grubby towels that have been tumble dried and we didn’t know whose was whose. (Did I really want to use a towel on my face when my husband has wiped his feet on there)? — and vice versa. At this point any reputable establishment would have just given us 2 towels, unfortunately she did not and the towels did not appear until the next day after we had gone out for the day! These were very grey looking and hard, and in need of a good hot wash with a bit of bleach, but at least they had been replaced after we had used them 5 times. I don’t mind eco friendly savings, but unless it is in the information, how are we supposed to know what the towel policy is? And this is a 4 star? This was a question me and my husband repeatedly asked each other? Is this really a 4 star???
The last bed and breakfast guest house 4 star we stayed in was 8 weeks ago and was in Derbyshire and also had 3 bedrooms. They were immaculately clean, provided hot chocolate and biscuits in the room daily, slippers, and dressing gowns. The choice of food was exceptional, and nothing was too much trouble — also it was the same price per night that we paid at Wickham House. Wickham house did NOT provide hot chocolate or biscuits in the room, so what were the ‘little extras’ they advertise in their website? Yes they provided toiletries, shoe sponge, hairdryer and water but so do others and they are not all of them 4 star. In fact we have stayed in better 2 and 3 star accommodation than Wickham house. I personally think either there was a ‘slip of the pen’ when they were awarded a 4 star rating or the