Kenilworth, Clarendon House Hotel

The location of Clarendon House Hotel in Kenilworth is fabulous if you want to wander around this beautiful little town, or as a centre for visiting Warwick or the hugely under-rated City of Coventry. We were lucky enough to land the 4 poster bedroom (by chance), which was comfortable and adequate in size. The breakfast has improved immeasurably since our last stay, and it is now done by table service (as opposed to the very poor buffet offered a couple of years ago). The tables outside at the front were a delight in the evening (we were lucky with the weather), and the bar was nicely busy. We didn't eat at the hotel in the evening, but that was simply because we fancied a wander around the town. Staff worked hard and were friendly. The hotel overall has a nice olde-worlde feel about it, and we will certainly visit again.

One overwhelmingly bad point was the bathroom in the 4 poster room. It was hopeless. The water had two temperatures; ice cold or scalding. Achieving a mix on the inadequate shower (a hand held thing attached to the bath taps) was impossible. This was frankly unacceptable in a room of that calibre. Bathroom aside, this was a very pleasant stay and I recommend the hotel.

I was rather disappointed with the the Clarendon House Hotel in Kenilworth. I first visited it in 2002 for a meal. The place was really buzzing with hardly any tables to be had and a really friendly accommadating attitude amongst the staff.

I visited the Midlands again at the end of January and was looking forward to staying at the Hotel but was disappointed with what I found.

We arrived late (8:45pm) but the restaurant was not busy and the hotel had been forewarned (and anyway the restaurant was officially open until 9pm).

The decor was looking tired and in need of a lick of paint and the excited 'place to be on a Saturday night' had gone. The elegant table displays and muted lighting had also disappeared.

The food was not really adequate and (IMO) expensive for what arrived. The menu was not extensive or adventurous. When the meal did arrive, no vegetables were forthcoming and after reminding the waiter, what did turn up look like it was the remnants from the previous diners meals - a disappointing single small bowl of cabbage and broccoli.

To give you an idea of the menu:

Starters:

(a small portion of) Oak smoked salmon with Caper and lemon dressing: £5.95

Salmon Fish Cake with Spinach sauce: £5.45

Main Courses:

Beef Rossini - £15.95,

Poached Salmon, £10.95

Wine: approx £12-£15 per bottle

Breakfast was OK although the manageress seemed at pains to keep pointing out that she had been up since 7am.

The room was OK when you consider that the Inn dates back to the 16th century but at £79 per night I think it didn't offer great value against companies like Ramada Jarvis. They also offered a Dinner Bed and Breakfas rate of £45 per person (with £20 towrads the meal).

On checking out, it transpired that the Hotel had changed hands in August, 2003 and was now owned by Greene King.

The Hotel is situated right in the centre of Kenilworth, close to the Castle at the end of the road. It has it's own parking area at the rear but this is nowhere near big enough for the thirty odd rooms of the Hotel and the parking out front is very busy on a Saturday night.

The one redeeming factor was the Bitter which was gorgeous.

The Hotel dates back to the 16th century and the original tree beam around which it was built can be seen near the reception. Hopefully the new owners will realise the error of their ways and elevate the standards to those in evidence this time last year.