The Izaak Walton Hotel

Avoid, a once beautiful place (used to go here in the 90s) but it is now sadly on its last legs. The rooms are spacious and clean, but very tatty and not what you expect for £160 a night. The WiFi didn’t work. We were told they don’t do food anymore but that we could order an Indian meal from their outside cateres. We did so, and were told to come to the bar at 19:30 to have the meal. We arrived at the bar, got a bottle of wine and waited, and waited and waited… by 9pm we had drunk too much to drive safely, so we had no choice but to carry on waiting. The food finally arrived at 22:15, cold and with some of the order missing. We ate it anyway as we were ravenous by then, it was mediocre at best and ridiculously over-priced. Breakfast the next morning was a bit better, at least it was on time, but poor quality, cheap ingredients and badly cooked. Such a shame to see a once splendid hotel come to this. On a brighter note, the staff were excellent, trying their best in an impossible situation, so hats off to them

The hotel only appears to be open at weekends and there was little or no provision of an evening meal. I had stayed here last year with my husband when the food was great. This year I had stayed with my sister in April whilst walking the Limestone way, when we had a very good meal in the Dovedale bar. However,apparently the chef left earlier on in the year and they have had locums since. This week's evening chef had not turned up. There was a chef for breakfast but the whole thing felt very basic and the hot food provided was not exactly what was listed on the menu. On the plus side, the rooms are spacious and clean, the views are fantastic and you can do lovely walks from the door. Overall, I would not visit this hotel again unless it improves as it didn't feel good value for money.

This hotel is in a lovely setting near the stepping stones . Staff are nice and room was no nice , breakfast was nice , only downside was there was no food on in the evening only an Indian caterer coming in and we didn’t want Indian so had to go off site to eat which we didn’t want to do. After a long drive !

Location was perfect & the hotel looks nice, although needs a bit of updating. Breakfast was very limited especially if a person doesn't like cooked breakfast, there wasn't anything else to eat apart from 2/3 types of cereals. To take a shower was an absolute nightmare as the shower head & knob was very old. Water pressure was awful which meant I couldn't stand under the shower head so I had to do everything single-handed. A quick shower turned to a very long one! Cleanliness was not great as spiders & spider webs were in many places of the room. Heating would not come on when needed as they set it a timer for it Reception never answer the phone whenever we rang, when we go to reception there were 2 people there!!

Good-sized room with lovely view. Good hot breakfast.

The location of this hotel is awesome. Waking up with the view of the hills is very special. The room was comfortable and the food was good. There is a mild air of under-investment throughout the hotel and while the staff were perfectly pleasant to us, they did seem a bit overwhelmed at times. Overall though we enjoyed our stay and would stay here again.

Stopped for lunch but the menu offered in the bar area was much reduced and very different from that on the website. The cutlery was dirty and had to be returned and overall the bar area is tired and gloomy. Disappointing experience and nothing like portrayed on the website

We had stayed here many years ago and loved hiking around the hills and then coming back to the hotel for a beautiful dinner. This is no longer true. The hotel is tired, very short staffed and the food is "ok". Dinner was not in the beautiful dining room as advertised on the website, instead in the dark bar. Jodie was the only staff person that was friendly and very helpful but she was new and didn't know all of the details yet. Breakfast was a lukewarm buffet. The hiking is still wonderful. The hotel has been sold so I hope the new owners turn it back into the jewel it used to be.

Lovely location. Good bedroom. Poor bar with very poor choice and disappointing restaurant.

However good this hotel used to be, it certainly is not now. For it to trade under the auspices of 3 AA Stars and a two AA-rosette restaurant is a misrepresentation, and our arriving for a four day stay with the expectation of a quality dinner each evening was rapidly shattered. After waiting for eight minutes at check in whilst the receptionist on the phone arranged for her car to be mended and transport arranged for the following day, the only apology and welcome we received was ‘name’ and ‘you’re in room **’, together with ‘You need to pay in advance’ On asking about Dinner we were told it was not in the large dining room but in a room at the back of the hotel. No mention of a menu at this stage. The room was categorized superior, clean but basic, with two tea bags and two packs of biscuits on the hospitality tea tray. Petty and confusing notices on display, left us unsure whether room service would happen at all, and thinking that we were only to ask about fresh towels after three days usage. At the bar we asked for a sample dinner menu for the evening and were shown a bar menu, which would be liable to change as a new chef was due to start that evening. Unexpectedly, meeting the incoming chef at the reception desk as we left the bar, he informed us that he had only just arrived and would have a new menu ready in a couple of hours when he had ‘seen what was in the fridges’. True to his word the menu was ready two hours later, far more comprehensive than the bar menu, and later remarkably executed considering the time he had ‘Thank You, and Well Done,’ All food and drink needed to be paid for by credit card, no cash and no putting on the hotel tab. Unfortunately, the improvement did not extend to breakfast, which was basic tinned fruit and a bowl of yoghurt, sliced bread (without tongs) and cold greasy cooked food because the plates and tureens were not hot. Miniature pots of a well-known preserve, with labels and paper seals removed from the jars but not the lids, had been refilled, we were told with sweet marmalade from a large container. Surely this is a hygiene and deception issue. After speaking with the waiter who agreed with us, we took our complaints to the receptionist who firstly went to speak with someone ‘behind the scenes’ and then told us that we should put our complaints into an email. When we insisted that we wanted to speak with a manager she told us that the duty manager would be coming to stocktake in the afternoon but was unable to supply a name. Not getting anywhere with the receptionist we spotted an older woman speaking with other staff and clients and entering the private areas of the dining room and reception areas. When she returned, we asked her if she was a manager/ owner. but without answering us directly, she told us to put our complaints into an email as she had a meeting to attend. When we answered that that was not satisfactory, she told us that we should not speak to her ‘like that ‘as she was a consultant paediatrician and that we should leave. As she stalked off, we followed her to a room where she then claimed she was a visitor and was having a meeting. The meeting turned out to be with someone dressed in a tabard – possibly a housekeeping staff member, who asked us to leave and claimed that she would ‘find a solution’ to our problem. Our solution was to leave immediately with a full return of our prepayment, which was achieved with a little difficulty Clearly this hotel is in trouble and is contemptuous of its clients’. It is hiding behind some of its employees and is employing evasion tactics to deal with complaints. At least two of its employees admitted to being told not to identify hotel managers to hotel clients. However, Companies house records soon expose who the owners/ managers of this hotel are and that we had spoken with one of them despite her having an identity crisis. No wonder the hotel is up for sale. Meanwhile, we can only concur with and add to the many negative comments made by other travellers on Trip advisor. If you don’t want to risk having your arrangements ruined by inconsistency, often poor food, indifference, unacceptable behaviour and contempt we suggest giving this hotel a miss until some caring new owners/ managers are able to restore its former reputation.

The views of Dovedale were superb and the position of the hotel idyllic with easy parking. Dinner and breakfast were not high standard and the only waitress was rushed off her feet. Generally pleasant and helpful Staff.

Hardly any staff...toilet in room did not flush...had to use bar toilets..despite us paying a lot of money for a "superior room" breakfast was awful on first morning Second morning even worse..appeared to be leftovers heated up ftom previous day....would never go back

Very quirky and dated needs a complete refurb. Great location

Booked on Booking.com and requested late check-in as we were flying into Birmingham after work on Friday 18th July and driving up. The booking was accepted but then I received a blunt refusal from the hotel for the late checkin. The hotel wouldn’t answer the phone or respond to VM or email and Booking.com were similarly unable to contact them. We had to pay for another hotel for the Friday night as the Izaak Walton wouldn’t engage and we had to find somewhere to sleep after our flight. We proceeded to the hotel on Saturday and were told that it was all a mistake! - they could have facilitated a late checkin because they had a wedding the previous night! They apologised profusely and assured us that our booking.com reservation would be refunded - and indeed was apparently alreadycancelled on their system. However, they would need to charge us separately for the Saturday night. We paid this in good faith, however what we witnessed later that evening was an indication of what was to come. Sitting in a corner of the bar we heard management discussing who to cheat! “You can’t cheat Peter, we need him but don’t pay Ashgates”. Perhaps unsurprisingly after this, we received no refund, and the hotel won’t engage or reply to emails. So in effect, we paid for 3 nights for a one night stay. It’s a shame because the Izaak Walton used to be popular for Sunday lunch for my family in the 1980s. It was always an elegant hotel in beautiful surroundings. So it’s really sad to see that it’s descended to this. It’s clearly on its last legs, (we even heard staff talking about jobs they were applying for) so maybe after it finally collapses it will be bought by someone who will run it competently and honestly again. In the meantime, I would suggest, it is best avoided.

As others have said dated but clean. Hot water ran. Wifi was good. Problem was food, there was no cooked breakfast and only basic options for toast and cereal. Someone mumbled that the chef had worked late the night before so hadn't come in. But would they let food sit there in fridges and go to waste? Another guest had said it was the same the day before. And breakfast started at 8.30. To be fair, unlike others, our meal the evening before was pretty good, not great chips but one of the best steaks I've ever had. So they can go from 1 to 2 out of 5. But still, there are't enough staff - although they were friendly and trying. I think then if you look at recent reviews its a bit inconsistent and difficult to know what you're going to get. Check companies house to see if its changed hands, it is for sale. But perhaps if you can get a cheal deal, it might be ok.

Full Breakfast , location excellent for walking Bedrooms big historic hotel

Restaurant closed and no other in village. We were not told about this despite booking on the morning of our stay. Breakfast very poor, poor sausages,lack of eggs, my wife did it get gluten free bread despite prior notice. Room on ground floor no sound proofing, people upstairs sounded like they were in your own room. We have had lovely stays here before so very disappointed.

Great location in Dovedale. One bedside lamp was broken

We stayed here last year and the staff were different and a pleasure to be around. The food was much better last year and there was more choice. The hotel needs a makeover in our opinion

Awful menu choices,only in the bar area not the restaurant. One man running around doing everything,hence,the very slow service. Food was cold. Breakfast was worse,there was a permanent cry of "no eggs" staff were kind but not up to catering for a hotel full of guests. Shower was noisier that a pnematic drill and when using it there was tap no water! The TV didn't work as a TV only as a radio in the morning . The cups in the room were dirty.Beautiful views ! I came a few years ago and can't imagine that it will still be here in another couple. Running on a shoe string,about to snap!

Only a 5 minute walk to the stepping stones.

Beautiful area fantastic views

Stayed here several times in the past, the last time being two years ago. It is in an amazing location and previously , although the hotel is dated our stays have been brilliant. We arrived this time an hour before check in but as it was an exceedingly hot day decided to see if our room was ready. On arrival we were met by, who I believe was the senior housekeeper, who glared at us & was extremely rude in her manner & did not offer to store our suitcase until we requested it. On our return at our allotted time she walked straight past us & out of the door, leaving us to wander to the bar to find someone to check us in. The room as usual had a superb view but remained dated with a poor shower over the bath. Next morning the breakfast was basic apart from a decent selection of hot food. Sadly this was not to be repeated the second day when we returned eagerly looking forward to the cooked breakfast, to find that the chef had failed to attend.Breakfast, therefore consisted of cereal, yoghurt & toast with jam. Not the full English as advertised. No one was informed that this was the case unless they asked where the hot food was. I understand from other guests that a chef had been missing on several other mornings earlier in the week. On a positive note the majority of the staff were friendly & very helpful but sadly the general standard was far below what is to be expected for the cost of the stay. Cleanliness on the whole was pretty good although on the last day we were horrified to find a bright pink piece of ladies underwear nestling behind the suitcase stand! In summary it was not the break we were hoping for & it is such a shame as the hotel is in an idyllic situation & is a charming building with some very professional hard working staff.

In need of some tlc Room was nice and spacious- old fashioned furniture, boiling hot - apparently pipes run under the rooms which they cannot control the temperature of. A fan provided but of little use. Evening meal was nice although lack of staff meant a long wait for everything. Breakfast buffet average

Lovely welcome provided by this hotel. We didn't get to stay overnight but stayed for meal and drinks. Our meal provided by chef Mark was outstanding with a 5 star personal service. Warm atmosphere in the cosy bar area and felt very welcomed by bar manager Matthew. Highly recommend to anyone visiting this beautiful area.

Booked for a two day stay with bed and breakfast which was paid for. Second Morning we were told the cook failed to turn up so no cooked breakfast. Asked for a refund to no avail. Staff did not seemed bothered. Told by other guests staying this happens often so will not be staying again

Very poor staff attendance food passable if you like salt breakfast first day only just passable was cold and evening meals passable with salt booked three nights have had breakfast once lol not a happy bunny think£ 120 a night is out of this world and staff do not care not i blame them I would not recommend this hotel to anyone txt 07851 092339

The hotel is in a most perfect location and is lovely inside too. Sadly the hotel is not operating to its full potential and there is a number of very serious issues to be resolved. As my family have owned and operated hotels and I was chef in London for 25 years. The evening menu was mainly redacted only a few choices of a pie, fish, scampi or Cumberland sausage. Main course took 2.5 hours. There was no chef and no gas . Our breakfast in the morning was cancelled as the reason was given as owners son was exhausted ! There was no reception staff just a sign saying No Staff open at 11.00 am ! A Restaurant staff member ( only 1) apologised and said due to no planning there wasn't even a continental breakfast ham/cheese etc which could have been easily been set up. This was our wedding anniversary morning so very sad, especially in such a lovely location and what it could offer if properly managed. A sign was put up no restaurant in the evening. So we had to eat somewhere else. Another group of 25 guests family reunion also had to eat out. When we all came back , there was a chef however guests had not been informed. We got back to the bar at 10.00 got one drink then the staff apologised as they were ordered to close. We said a party of 25 guests was following us back for evening drinks but the staff said they couldn't do anything !. The second morning there was some breakfast available poorly cooked sadly but at least it was something. Awaiting refunds and explanation.

Had to wait for too long for dinner the first night. In 1 /2 hours we only had a starter. We got fed up and left without any dinner. We think someone had been sick outside our door - the smell was revolting. There were a pile of rocks outside I emergency door. (We have a photo).

Called in for lunch with kids after visiting Dovedale stepping stones. We were advised they didn’t have a children’s menu! Ordered an adults meal to share, food was very slow, when the food arrived it was lovely. However whilst waiting numerous people were turned away as kitchen couldn’t cope with volume of food orders, only around 4 tables eating! Credit to the blonde barmaid behind the bar who was doing everything and having to constantly apologise to customers for poor service. Have read in previous reviews that the hotel is up for sale which would explain why it’s being run on skeleton staff. Hopefully it will improve once sold.

Staff were helpful and friendly, breakfast was very good and the bed was comfy... Location was superb

Based on some other reviews I almost cancelled my trip but it was too late...and I'm glad! I think some people just like to complain, this is a typical English B&B but with great views in an amazing place! We only ate breakfast , which was perfectly fine. Choice of cooked buffet (eggs, sausages etc) plus cereals, yoghurt, fruit etc. The bar was great after a day's hiking, yes some of the staff are a little laid back and could do with being a bit more proactive, but everyone was friendly enough. The room had a huge bed, was clean and overlooked Thorpes cloud! The only issue we had was the restaurant was closed both nights due to a problem and we were told different stories about them being able to put on Limited menu, only to eventually be told they weren't serving...but then we spotted what looked like a private party eating in another room! We did order a take away to be delivered and they were fine about us eating it in the bar, so no real issue. We'd definitely return.

Stayed before and it was good but this time the service in the restaurant was abysmal!! We had to wait more than 2 hours for food!!!!!!!!

We had booked 3 rooms for 2 nights, for a family wedding. We had made a reservation in the restaurant for 15 of us on the Friday evening. Check in was interesting. The chef checked us in and asked us to pay up front (“because people sometimes leave without paying”). This wasn’t an issue but my Daughter and her family had checked in earlier and not been asked to do so. Maybe we looked dodgy! I explained we had a dinner reservation for 15 people and had been expecting a menu to pre order from when I made the booking, but had not received anything. He printed one out for me and I was able to message everyone and confirm orders ahead of the meal. We decided to have some drinks in the garden but there were a lot of wasps and used glasses on empty tables. The service at the bar was very slow and not being served by experienced bar staff. My husband noted the girl behind the bar was the one doing housekeeping. The meal was a bit of a nightmare. The table had been booked for 7:30 and we arrived to an empty restaurant with our table set up. We wanted to order some drinks but there was no one around so my husband returned to the bar and ordered the dinner drinks there. After a very long wait, some of the starters arrived. We were still waiting for a sharing starter after everyone else had finished their starters. They eventually arrived but the fries and bread were missing. Again we had to wait for a member of staff to appear before we could ask if they were going to turn up. The wai

Based on a number of previous reviews, our expectations were not great. However, we were pleasantly surprised. Our room was great - large, huge bed, very clean and great views. The hotel was very clean throughout. Admittedly the decor could be described as dated but previous comments about it being tatty are unfair & there is clear evidence of investment in replacement carpets, etc.. We only ate breakfast but that was of good quality. Overall it is comfortable, reasonably priced, great location and lovely views; we shall definitely return.

Great location for an hotel. Probably severely understaffed. Man on reception went off with another couple to sell them a room without even acknowledging me. Another guy turned up, said he was new manager. I asked about the fishing. He said there was no fishing!!! First man came back and showed him the day tickets and pointed me in general direction of the river and pointed me up the stairs to my room. When it came to check out there was nobody on reception. He seemed to be cooking the breakfast and didn’t appear when asked. A chambermaid took my payment for the fishing. The room had been paid for in advance via Expedia which seemed to flummox them. The room was ok but the shower screen leaked all over the floor (room 15). As for the fishing, this was challenging and not helped by the dogs and people in the river on the far bank where there is a footpath. Not worth the £40 it cost. I don’t think I’ll be hurrying back which is a shame.

Beautiful views from the room , large comfy bed , easy access to dove dale

Makes Fawlty Towers seem like a five star hotel. Understaffed with staff who did not seem to know what was needed. For example a member of bar staff had no idea what a white wine spritzer was! The fine dining was a pub menu and extras such as wine had to be paid for in cash. They also expected guests to fetch their drinks from the next door bar. Would this to be related to the fact the hotel is up for sale?

Hotel is in an absolutely stunning location. Hotel itself could do with a bit of a refurbishment and the gardens are very tired and need de-weeding and generally a good tidy up. We stayed in a dog friendly room and the bin for dog waste was overflowing when we arrived and still overflowing when we left two days later. Apart from Jim who was very helpful, all the other staff (I say all, we only saw one cleaner/come receptionist/come bar person/come waitress, one general manager and the owner), were quite rude and unhelpful. It is clearly obvious that the staff are not really interested in making customers feel welcome and I wonder if this is because the hotel is yet again on the market. Breakfast was limited and very poor quality. On the second day, we had to wait half an hour for the hot food to be brought out and things ran out quickly. Orange juice was watered down and butter in packets had already melted before you could even put it on your plate. The sausages had a very unpleasant taste; almost as if they were off.

Overall experience was poor. The restaurant was understaffed and involved long waits for food. The breakfast service was also poor with all cooked food not being available when the service started. Staff seemed very inexperienced and there appeared to be no one in charge. In general customers seemed to be an inconvenience!

Setting & scenery fantastic, the rest pretty poor. While the bar staff were attentive other staff were poor failing to provide basic information (like where to eat - the restaurant was shut) & showing little interest in doing their job or being attentive to residents. Breakfast was the poorest I've ever experienced in terms of quantity & quality. No croissants, pastries, fresh fruit. Yoghurt reused for a second breakfast after being left out in the heat on our first day. Had to ask for bread & hot food to be replenished. On checking out was told we owed money despite paying in advance & the hotel operating a pay as you go policy which meant food & drink had to be paid for when ordered/consumed. Giving the hotel 2/5 is being generous.

We picked this hotel for its stunning location to go fishing and walking in the amazing scenery and it didn’t cost the earth. We arrived late for our booking (our problem) expecting to be sent away, from arrival Jim and Matt bent over backwards to sort out our booking ensuring we had a room. The rooms were clean and serviced every day. We pre booked a table in the bar each night with the meals being prepared fresh, and of a great quality. If you are looking for a great place to stay with a bit of character, an amazing base to explore the country side and is value for money with staff that genuinely do their very best I’d stay here.

Hotel prime rural position, great view from comfortable bedroom although we did pay the upgrade fee for this, clean, part friendly, sadly lacking apparently cuz Monday andTuesday chef day off and lets say unique staff that were available

We booked a one night stay at the Izaak Walton on our way home from the Lake District to Dorset. Yes, it was chosen for location but also because there were several vegetarian options on the menu. We would not have booked if no vegetarian options were available and just to be sure I added to our booking a request for vegetarian meals. We turned up for our 7pm reservation in the Dovedale Bar to find that neither menus advertised online were available and that the short menu on the blackboard had no vegetarian options. We were advised by the waiter that there were no vegetarian options. We said that this was unacceptable as we had booked in good faith with online menus showing 3 possibilities. He went away and returned with the offer of chips and salad. We said this was unacceptable. He went away and came back with the offer of gnocchi and pesto. We said this was unacceptable. He went away and came back with the offer of cannelloni with spinach which we foolishly accepted. We requested a bottle of wine at a serious discount and the waiter confirmed we would not be charged for the selected wine. The food came and it was the most stunningly average attempt at a vegetarian dish we had ever experienced but our only choice was to eat it or go hungry. Unsurprisingly we were still hungry so ordered a cheese board to share and guess what - no grapes. To be fair they said we had extra cheeses and extra pickles so I have to assume this was the case. Then the bill came and the waiter rescinded the offer for free wine and we had to pay for the wine and cheese board but not the laughable vegetarian splat. We were too tired to argue and too stunned with the whole shenanigans so we just paid and went to bed. The waiter advised we email in a complaint, I did with no reply, using the published reception email address. I emailed again, no reply, I submitted an online contact form, no reply, I sent a signed for letter, no reply. This is not poor service, it is not existent and totally unacceptable contempt for a customer. This from a hotel that advertises an AA 2 rosette for culinary excellence! Book here at your peril.

Best location in the dales. Room with a view! Very comfortable and good sized bedroom. Nice food. Friendly staff. Lots CV of parking

Bedroom and bathroom were clean, thankfully and the views are stunning. However, it is a most unwelcoming and peculiar place. The few staff are disassociated and awkward - sometimes even confrontational. Breakfast was a very poor affair. Very little to choose from, the cheapest ingredients and provisions and, when items had run out, they were not replaced and did not figure the next day, either. Sadly, it seems this old hotel is in some trouble.

We have known this hotel for decades, went through all the different ownerships with them, every time hoping that somebody would make a long term success of it because the location is so beautiful and we love hiking there. Unfortunately it is again not to be. Hotel for sale yet again, but still trading and pretending to be a hotel/restaurant! No one to check us in, eventually a man arrived. He seemed to be doing all the jobs, front of house, waiter, cook, gardener, handyman, with no knowledge of any of the above. Room not ready, we wanted to get some lunch in the bar area, nobody behind the bar, but the man doing all jobs said he would take our order, after first telling us extensively about how brutal the hospitality business is nowadays, how slow business is and that being the reason why he is the only one there. We didn’t really want to be bothered, we were on a vacation and just wanted good service and lunch. No menu available, just a few things on a blackboard, half of which were not available! After a hour (!) of waiting for a sandwich ( We had a walk planned, while the afternoon was passing by sitting in this dark bar) we wanted to know what was going on. Could not find anybody to ask for 20min. Finally a manager showed up. He blamed us for being rude to ask why our sandwiches had not been served after such a long time. He said “You can wait for your food or leave!”, using a tone as if we were schoolchildren. That was it for us. We cancelled our booking at the Walton. Meanwhile the man who took our order arrived and started shouting right up our faces about that he was trying to get our sandwiches done etc etc. All feeling of respect for guests and hospitality is gone at this place. We just left, while we were walking to our car the man was still shouting at us in the doorway. Extraordinary. These people are so stressed about their situation that they can’t hold it together anymore. And even though I can imagine it is stressful, their behavior is unacceptable. We will never return. (Unless maybe, when there is new management again?) We checked into a lovely hotel not far from the Walton, where we felt welcome and had a lovely lunch, served promptly and the rest of our vacation was wonderful and as planned. The Izaak Walton should close itself down. This is no service level to speak of. If you can’t deliver you should close (and wait for a buyer) otherwise the reputation of the place is going completely down the drain. And it’s already happening, reading the many bad reviews.

food was terrible, owner not got a clue how to run a hotel in a prime location ,manager was good and went out of his way to sort any problem out. .location was excellent for walkers .king size rooms good bed comfortable. they have lost there chef and a-la-carte menu not available as advertised just bar meals if you want to wait for ages and no afternoon tea

Every body tries very hard, but yjey do need a good chef

Stunning location. Great for walking up Thorpe Cloud. Peaceful outside spaces with amazing 360 views. Hardworking staff. Nice large clean rooms. Shower dodgy. Don’t accept cash. Never quite had chips like that - suspect they are missing a chef?

On arrival scenery breathtaking.hotel looked tired outside .windows not cleaned ( to look at beautiful view ) broken window .pots messy not plants in false flowers in basket .grounds could be beautiful but weeds everywhere.no ice when had drink .for cost should have been better . Self service at breakfast should have been waitress service.food was cold out of Baine marine had to ask for it to be heated up .fantastic location but needs updating for cost .

Very pleasant hotel. Room spotless and comfortable. Wifi terrible but that is a small point. The kitchen was closed while we were there but breakfast was supplied although dinner not an option which was a pity. Lovely location and excellent waiters - very helpful and friendly.

Disappointed. Having decided to book a three-night break via booking.com (thankfully), I arrived on Monday (9th June) around 3:30. The views were as I remembered - stunning. The purpose of the visit was to relax and spend time in the gardens or public areas to complete some research. Signed in. Given my room number. Asked to pay the £404. I simultaneously ask what time food is served during the day. To be told that the restaurant and bar food are not serving food for lunch or dinner. I said just tonight? Answer not sure could be till at least Thursday. Well, the Izaak is situated on its own. Nothing within a mile. A couple came in who had booked 6 nights and paid in advance. Staying for an 80th birthday treat. A couple of walkers arrived. They decided to stay and caught a taxi to Ashbourne, where they would get food. So several points. 1. With something so fundamental and part of the advertising for staying at the Izaak Walton surely you ring the guests and inform them so they can make an informed decision to come or cancel. 2. How about a £20 / £30 a night reduction for the inconvenience? 3.And ideally, actually mention it first as people check in if you haven’t managed to tell them in advance. 4. Why not suggest a few solutions, i.e. if you purchase food for lunch we can pop it in our fridge etc. We were told it was a kitchen parts failure and conveniently, there was a box behind the reception marked kitchen parts. I personally suspect they have no chef. But it may be one or both reasons. The assistant manager (arrived after 20 minutes) cancelled my booking, but wasn’t authorised to refund for the couple on the birthday treat. I only live an hour away. They lived 2.5 hours away but were contemplating going home. As there is no phone signal at the Izaak I drove to Ashbourne to find another hotel. The hotel was up for sale in 2019, and I can only hope the new owner loves it and invests. I understand things happen, but please, please, contact guests prior to book in. This appears to have been an issue since the previous Friday. I am still pining for the views and the holiday break I had hoped for.

We booked more than 4 months in advance, and as we were on a walking holiday so had no car, and the hotel is more than 3 miles from the nearest restaurant, we tried to reserve a table for dinner by phone a few weeks before our stay. We were told that we could sort that out on arrival. When we arrived there were already a number of dissatisfied guests in reception who had just been told that no evening meal was available. A hapless young man had been left on reception to try to pacify the guests while the manager was away. We had to get a taxi to Ashbourne at a cost of £14 each way to find a meal, but Ashbourne is a culinary desert especially on a Monday evening. We are grateful to Ashbourne Taxis and the Bowling Green restaurant for saving us from going to bed hungry on the first night of our holiday. The Izaac Walton Hotel made no attempt to warn us in advance or to find us a meal or recommend an alternative. On the plus side the hotel is comfortable, well-appointed and in a picturesque setting.

We have stayed here for many years and continued to come back due to the surrounding area and dog friendly nature of the hotel. The rooms and general hotel are looking very tired and seriously need an update. On Friday arrival having arrived earlier than check-in we quite happily sat in the bar and had several drinks, all fine. Only to be told after a couple of hours that there was no chef and no food being served on the evening! We had to wait several hours to even contemplate driving to the nearest pub which was 1.5 miles away (despite the suggestion from a staff member that they'd never seen ay police near there) and actually ended up 13 miles away before we found a pub with space for us for food! We had no prior warning of this and the hotel acknowledged that they had forgotten to push a note under the door of our dog-friendly room ! The outside grass areas were very overgrown and scruffy looking compared to usual, one of the umbrella's was lying on the floor from the day we arrived to the day we left, glasses on table outside for 2 days and the waste bin was full from the time we arrived on Friday until we left on Sunday suggesting that costs may have been cut too far? The hotel used to have plenty of staff and a really good vibe but it seems to have lost all of that along with the fading decor and whilst the staff were pleasant, the new staff seemed very inexperienced and unsure of what they were doing. Saturday bar food was good, if a little on the pricey side, but again, whilst we ate, a customer was complaining that he'd waited for 2 hours for his food! Another customer complained that he and his wife had not been told that the award winning restaurant was closed and having spent £500 on his stay had eaten a take away on the bed on Friday night ..... Sunday breakfast was a shambles with food quickly running out, an awful vibe as customers were discussing their experiences. All in all, we were very sad to see the decline in this once fabulous hotel, we were very disappointed with our weekend other than the walk and it's a shame to say that we won't be back until we've seen and heard much improvement which after many years of wonderful visits is quite upsetting.

The Izaak Walton is old fashioned and could do with some money spent on updating and redoing the rooms, but the room and bathroom was very clean. Again the bathroom was in need of some updating The food in the bar/restaurant was really great, we loved the new menu that the new chef is doing. The manager dealt with issues with good friendly customer service. the other staff were a mixed bunch. There was one young man working in the bar and restaurant who was excellent. sadly that cannot be said for the rest of the staff. Some were just not experienced in restaurant work and the reception staff could do with some extra customer facing training. This is hotel could be really stunning if some money was spent on it and money spent on luring in good staff.

We had a lovely stay for one night. The hotel location is stunning and we were delighted to see this on arrival. We had a room with a beautiful view but the interior of the hotel was comfortable but quite dated. Dinner was delicious but we waited a long time for it. Breakfast was ok but we had to go and look for cutlery and ask for coffee as it wasn’t replaced. Overall it was ok and we would return.

Hotel in a beautuful location

Nice spacious room, very clean, serviced daily. Had one meal in the bar which was very nice. Breakfast OK without being gourmet but perfectly acceptable. Staff very friendly and welcoming. Stunning location, great walks and plenty of local pubs.

The surroundings are beautiful but the hotel experience is tired and stale. I loved staying in a historic building but would have appreciated plumbing from this century, especially when we could hear it scream any time the neighbours turned on a tap. The staff were a mixed bag. The young lad who was the night duty manager and the breakfast staff were top-notch: helpful, resourceful, well-informed. The others were disrespectful, unhelpful, and generally acted like they didn't want us there. Asking for an extra towel felt like you had asked them to donate an organ. I would not recommend staying here unless you have no option and are only there to get a pint and sleep after being out most of the day.

Let's start with the + points. Hotel location is amazing, check in process went well. Unfortunately thereafter it fell apart. The overpriced food was very basic, the hotel is very dated furniture is extremely dated. The TV was 15inch a difficult to watch from 4 meters away. I was on the ground floor so walkers walking past the window had to close the blinds. Sleep was none existent there were extremely loud noises from the hot water system and a knocking noise from the radiator, when someone turned a tap on there was a screeching noise that travelled through my room. Unfortunately and not the hotels fault I had a neighbour upstairs that decided to put the TV on at 4.30am I could hear everything. Decided to check out a day early, lack of sleep not good. If you stay for breakfast it doesn't begin until 0830 which isn't ideal for people who need to leave before 8, as to say didn't get breakfast. The one chap running the hotel bar reception and restaurant orders did a good job.

Stunning setting but as expected, rather tired and in need of some refurbishment. It was clean and we had a comfortable bed. Dining experience not so good - the Award Winning Restaurant is no more and hasn't been open for the last 6 months. No-one told us this and even confirmed before our stay that they had booked us in to eat there on the Saturday night! Waiting staff no knowledge of their wines or how to serve them - we were given 3 bottles one night before they got the right one and then it was warm! Breakfast disappointing - very limited cereal, no brown bread only cheap white sliced. No fruit option whatsoever, serve yourself tea and coffee. When a lady asked if it was possible to have a freshly cooked egg she was told that the eggs had only been put out 15 minutes ago! When the waiter came back and she asked again he said 'it would take some time'! How long does it take to cook a fried egg?!! Not much idea about hospitality and service standards. We won't return.

Terrible service and with no management direction, customers were left waiting for long periods stood at the bar being ignored by staff. Breakfast was due to start at 08.30 and was still not out at 09.00 with many having to leave without the breakfast they had paid for. When it did arrive it ran out in a few minutes at this point one of the cleaners started to try and sort things out as the one member of staff in the dining room did not seem to have a clue what to do. Checking out was just as chaotic and we stood in reception with others for over half an hour.

I had been to the Izaac Walton in 2024 and was satisfied with the experience so booked again. However, I was very displeased with what I found. On checking in I was told that I could dine from 6 pm onwards. I went to the bar at 6 pm and spoke to the barman saying I had come for dinner. He disappeared behind the scenes. Nobody came to seat me or give me a menu. There were no staff to be seen as the lady on reception had finished for the day. I waited 30 minutes but nobody appeared so I left and went in search of food elsewhere. This was not a simple task on a Monday evening when many hostelries are closed. As a result of this experience I decided not to stay for a second night as booked. The following morning the breakfast arrangements were most unsatisfactory. The dining room filled up before the scheduled start at 8:30 and guests helped themselves to cereals and coffee until the milk and coffee ran out. Eventually a waiter arrived with the tureens of cooked breakfast items but he was also acting as receptionist. Unfortunately he did not know how to operate the computer for bookings and was on the telephone to someone to seek advice. I had paid for two nights and stayed only one so wanted a refund for Tuesday. As the receptist could not cope with the requirements of the guests in front of me, I deposited my key and told the cleaning lady that she should inform reception that I had been in Room 4, was departing now and would speak to a receptionist later to organise the refund. Later that day, I tried to telephone twice only to receive the message that the lines were currrently busy and that I should leave a message. Nobody came back to me. The same happened the following day and again today (Thursday). The hotel is seriously understaffed and would appear to be in financial difficulties. I feel sorry for the staff coping with over-extension and doubtless many other complaints from customers. This is a great pity as the hotel is in a picturesque location.

A disappointing stay. Our room was perfect but sadly everything else wasn’t. We arrived at about 12-30 , were told we couldn’t have our room until 3 ( although it appeared to be ready) but we had to pay in full straight away. We tried to book the 2AA rosette restaurant but were told it was closed. No mention on their website. No problem, we had checked the bar menu on line & it looked quite good. How wrong were we! Very basic menu appeared with restaurant prices. We just ordered mains , we wanted 3 courses but all prices were unjustifiably high. My husband had fish & chips & me a burger. We both left most of it. To make matters worse the wine list was the price of a top class restaurant-cheapest bottle was over £40.00. Breakfast started at 8-30, we got in at 8.50. Bacon had run out. One waitress was run ragged in a hotel that was full. I have never done a negative review before and am so sorry to submit this. I don’t want anyone else to feel so let down & deceived.

Absolutely beautiful location. Lovely walks from the door. Last stayed here back in May 2019 and couldn't wait to return. We booked for two nights. The bed was comfy and we had a nice view towards Thorpe Cloud. Nice selection of drinks from the bar, and prices reasonable. Bacon and sausage were nice quality at breakfast. There was a small selection of mini boxed cereals, pots of yoghurt, cooked breakfast items, bread, butter and a couple of preserves. Shower gel , body lotion, hand soap and shampoo in the bathroom. Towels nice and soft. Tea and coffee facilities in room. Very small digital TV, but worked fine. We couldn't think of any more positives. We would probably stay elsewhere in future should we come back to this area as, unfortunately, the hotel appears under different management now. There was zero customer service. No one seemed to bother, with guests appearing low on staffs agenda. Meals overpriced for sub standard food, and served in bar area. Staff did nothing despite food being inedible. 10 minutes of opening hot food ran out. No dairy free or gluten free options. Staff didn't know what porridge was when asked. Had to ask for plates and cutlery. Toaster didn't work. Room needed a good clean and looked part decorated and shabby. Dirty cutlery left on floor in restaurant, tables left uncleared whilst guests were looking for tables. Such a shame how down hill it has got. We had a lovely meal at a nearby location the following day.

Hmmmm... After a week of unexpected sunshine we (probably in common with the rest of the uncharacteristically optimistic British public) decided that summer had arrived and headed for the hills. We were surprised to find this quite large and (on the website) grand-looking hotel still had rooms available, so we booked with alacrity. On arrival it was apparent that the location, as advertised, is indeed wonderful. However, it looks like the hotel itself has been trading on faded grandeur, and now something seems to have gone suddenly and rather dramatically wrong. The decor and furnishings would originally have been reassuringly high-end, but are now showing their age and the wheels have finally come off as far as staffing is concerned. The entire place seems to be run by three rather overwhelmed people with varying degrees of aptitude. The dining room remained deserted in the evening as guests judiciuosly headed for local pubs, but the next morning the full contingent of us arrived on cue for the promised full-english breakfast in preparation for a busy day in the Peaks. After a few minutes the essentials in the self-serve trays ran out, and the sole waitress began (an eventually fruitless) attempt to keep the eggs, bacon, sausages, mushrooms etc topped up with ever-diminishing supplies from the kitchen. It appears that the receptionist was roped in to help, but eventually to no avail as, first the bacon, then the eggs and finally the sausages and mushrooms ran out, and it became clear that no more would be forthcoming. Punters were left facing tinned tomatoes and warmed up bread (the self-serve toaster was missing most of its elements). If you do decide to visit and are keen on one of the advertised "Rooms with a View" - do make sure to check with the hotel that you get a room on the upper floors, otherwise you will need to keep the net curtains drawn against the stream of hikers that pass by on the adjacent trail from Ilam to Dovedale. Also, remember to make your own bed before heading out for the day as this is not part of the service.

The Izaak Walton Hotel is situated in a magnificent location within Dovedale. We booked directly with the hotel for 2 nights. Unfortunately our experience was rather disappointing. Our bedroom had a superb view of Thorpe Cloud and whilst spacious and clean was in need of modernisation. The extensive gardens were rather neglected. The staff were friendly but there was evidently issues as the receptionist was also acting as barman /server. Our main problem was the arrangements for evening meals. We were expecting to eat in the hotel restaurant but were informed that meals were being served in a back room and that only a restricted menu was available. This was not the Al a Carte menu we were expecting but a very basic bar menu some of which was not available. We then waited an hour before our starters arrived followed by very average main courses. Following this disappointment we ate out at a nearby pub on our the second night. With the right management and modest investment in staff and facilities this hotel could be a real gem but it is far from that at present.

The hotel is located in a beautiful area. The rooms are spacious, but need some updating. The service is excellent as well as the food in the pub and restaurant. From here one can make nice trips by foot or car. We stayed three nights, but it could have been more.

I have visited this hotel for a light lunch for about 15 years and always been delighted. This time the sandwich, however, the sandwich ordered at £9.95 arrived and it was 2 slices of cheap sliced bread , sliced cheese , pickle and a few undressed salad leaves thrown in the plate. I complained and asked to speak to the manager who was unavailable. It has taken at least 8 e-mails and several messages on voice mail to reception for a resolution to be achieved. I cannot understand how a manager in hospitality can be so dismissive over a genuine complaint over food quality, value for money and appalling customer service. It is such a shame that this fine establishment seems to be struggling through the lack of care and attention.

The room was clean and the bed nice and firm. Decor in the hotel is very dated. Despite the setting which is very beautiful, the stay was spoiled by poor service and staff that didn't seem to want to be there. Breakfast was served on the Sunday morning between 8 and 10 we arrived at 9. The turn over for cooked breakfast was too slow with fried eggs, sausage,bacon, mushrooms and tinned tomatoes on offer. All the stocks were low and there was a wait for this all to be replenished. There was no choice/alternative for milk or gluten free left . We asked for soya milk and while it was provided they only had half a carton a d this was soon finished, the dairy free spread was provided once we asked. Finally not long after arriving for breakfast they ran out of regular milk and left little uht milk as an option.

A quirky little spot with bags of character — and just as many creaky floorboards. The staff were warm and welcoming, and our room was spotless, although any notion of soundproofing seems to have been more of a suggestion than a feature. Expect to become well-acquainted with your neighbours’ late-night coughs and early morning floorboard sprints. The hotel itself has a certain quaint charm, the kind that teeters between “authentically rustic” and “in need of a modest refurb”. A lick of paint and a few modern touches wouldn’t go amiss. The bar food was a mixed bag — the pie and mash was genuinely enjoyable, while the burger looked like it had done a short stint in prison before making its way to our table. Edible, just not… uplifting. Fortunately, we had a decent Hotels.com discount, which made the stay feel like fair value. Without it, the price tag — particularly for food and drink — would have been hard to justify for what is, in essence, a perfectly average experience with a side of charm.

The location of the hotel is lovely. Once there some interesting places are within walking distance - Dovedale and Ilam for example.

Comfortable room though squeaky doors and broken chair. Bar food pricey but ordinary, breakfast sufficient but below expectations. Friendly and helpful staff. Beautiful setting in magnificent surroundings.

The property was charming and fantastic location. The food, however was very basic, both dinner and breakfast.

Nice and comfortable location is perfect to stay in. Good view all around.

Well located hotel within beautiful countryside, room good size and clean, breakfast OK but dinner menu very restricted -- ordered steak & ale pie but received chicken pie, offered a complimentary dessert but actually charged for it.

Beautiful location. Hotel really old fashioned and outdated, in need of major refurbishment! Staff ok but professional they are not. Room was ok but shabby. Second night our meal took an hour to arrive, it was only a burger and fish with oven chips and peas. Would recommend area but bot hotel!

I had a one-night mid-week stay for walking & cycling. I've never stayed at the Izaak Walton before, but I knew of it. The staff were friendly & helpful. The food was good - evening meal & breakfast. The room was pleasant & the view stunning. I'd read some 1 star reviews the day before my stay, but wasn't put off because of the overwhelming number of 4 & 5 star reviews. Is it a tired hotel? Yes - undoubtedly. The decor is stuck in the past - but so what! It's catering for walkers in muddy boots, damp clothes & rucksacks. The owners could spend a fortune on it, but they'd still have the same customer base. Any problems? After a long walk, the shower was a bit lacklustre, but there was tons of hot water - so I had a bath instead. Great! Problem solved. Would I go back? YES - DEFINITELY!

Well fellow travellers let break it down honestly: The surrounding areas are stunning with multiple hikes locally or a gentle walk down to the stepping stones. We arrived and got parked (plenty of space) The outside look a bit past it’s best but given the time of year that ok, as we entered the hotel things to a downward turn very fast. We met the man on reception (dressing in tweed). Not a smile, not a nice to see you, did you have a safe journey….. just an entitled look and couldn’t give monkeys formalities requests, clearly doesn’t understand what hospitality is his lacklustre attitude. If he’s the owner he’s playing fast and loose with the reputation of this once iconic hotel. He may also want to ask someone to help with refurbing as the current attempt in the bar is confusing mix of kitsch modern toot and poor reworking of the reason for the hotels name. The upstairs wall decor is also chosen weirdly. Our room was much as it seemed in the picture, clean by an obviously proud housekeeping team. although the heating didn’t seem to come on, the bathroom fan didn’t work and the cctv camera hopefully not pointing directly into our room was a bit disconcerting. No shower possible (no water) then again in the morning barely tepid after 2 mins (attempt abandoned) Breakfast was a series of unfortunate disasters - the was a frozen bread, the poor cereal and yoghurt choice, the stewed coffee was just the opening gambit. Broiled aenimic bacon, the wierd looking sausages tinned mashed tomatoes and hash browns only surpassed by the 6 mushroom and black burnt eggs on offer. The multiple 2 rosette awards on display definitely don’t match this, nor whilst on the subject does the joke of dinner menu. Seriously take them down its a complete misrepresentation of the offering. If the owner wants to reach out and have a constructive conversation on quick wins and some Free advice (from someone with 40yrs in the trade front and back of house) then do. However if it’s yourself from reception I doubt you care enough to do even than. Unlike the rest of the team I interacted with Fellow traveller beware.

A truly beautiful location. Good sized rooms with comfy beds. The food, breakfast, lunch and dinner, is really tasty with high quality ingredients. There is plenty of free parking but no EV charging points. The nearest fastish chargers are in Ashbourne. The only problem is that it all felt a bit Faulty Towers!

Overnight stay in a dog friendly room. The room was spacious , the bed firm & very comfortable . Easy access to outdoor space , no having to traipse through the whole hotel in order to exercise the dog. Plentiful toast , cereals , yoghurt , juice , tea & coffee at breakfast . My husband had the full English & I had the eggs benedict ,both were excellent . The location itself is stunning , hills & fields for miles and the river just a few mins walk away . Each & every member of staff went out of their way to be helpful. This was our second stay , we will be returning again .

The location is superb but the hotel does not match this. The staff are reasonable, the food is very expensive for not much quality or quantity and the place is tired. Coupled with problems in checking out it was nice but we will likely not return.

A must for anyone visiting Ashbourne and the manifold valley. Lovely hotel with amazing staff. Little dated but full of character. Comfy bed with an incredible view. Great breakfast too x

The hotel is in a fantastic location. If you’re expecting modern and contemporary then think again. It’s an old building but the staff are very nice and it has character.

A characterful property with a warm and comfortable atmosphere and excellent service. Location is perfect affording great and unspoilt views of dovedale, makes an ideal base for walkers. Would definitely recommend.

Comfortable hotel in fabulous location

Such a beautiful and relaxing setting. A quiet ambient indoor setting to and furnished well. The food was adequate at breakfast and the evening meal was good. An improvement would be better quality pillows as the ones provided where flat and uncomfortable.

Excellent breakfast, friendly staff, terrific location. Clean, tidy room that could do with a refurb. Very hard bed! Close to hill walks as well as Dovedale and The Tissington TrAil

Rooms very comfortable and clean.Lovely scenic area Excellent chef

Hotel, restaurant and bar meals all grossly overrated and overpriced. For example, £10 for soup and £12 for a piece of cheesecake on the bar menu. The breakfast selection was poor; full English and/or cereals. No continental options such as meats, fruits or pastries. The hotel is very tired looking, with damp areas showing throughout. The rooms are very basic, even though we paid for an executive room. Woken in the night by the noisy shower in the next door room. Altogether, not the experience we were hoping for. Very disappointed.

We didn't like the menu. And where you could eat sirtain menu items. Much improvement needed. E.g you couldn't have a gammon steak in the restaurant,bar only

Fabulous walking area - comfortable rooms

We both slept well in very comfortable beds. My average scores reflect the draughty and cool Derwent Bar which reduced the pleasure of a pre-Dinner drink. My wife’s diet is restricted and she was allowed to order the Haddock and Chips in the Restaurant - sadly - no Mushy Peas. My choice of the Lamb Rump proved to be mediocre and as such well over-priced at £30. We enjoyed sharing the Cheeseboard which was enough for two. The Waitress was helpful and very pleasant. Breakfast OK but limited choice of Cereal.

The only thing going for this hotel is its location. The rooms, staff service, are poor. AA 3* is very generous. Everything seems to be very basic.

Everything about our one night stay was perfect. The location and views were great. Staff were helpful and friendly. Evening meal in bar was great as was breakfast in morning. Bedroom overlooked hills and was comfy and spacious.

Lovely staff, amazing hotel and amazing views

The location is wonderful. The staff are pleasant. Breakfast was fine afternoon tea scones were delicious.Evening meals were disappointing.

The location was lovely and so was the hotel itself beautiful view from our room and food was very good. Just a couple of niggles which was a shame and let it down, we felt the staff were quite arrogant, we specifically booked a table early to sit in a window seat. However a booking for 10 took priority and they totally changed the layout of the room, this after we had already spent over £50 on drinks.No apology no alternative just it is what it is. The prices of the drinks changed we were charged 3 different prices for the same drinks whicy was disappointing. Finally, we arrived Saturday afternoon and sat next to a couple who had food, our glasses and their plates of leftover food were still outside this morning! when I did take our empty glasses back to the bar there wasn't even a thankyou. I think that training on politeness and cleanliness needs to be given to certain staff members!

We stayed at the hotel as we were attending a friends party the staff were all most helpful it was clean and the food was excellent no complaints