The Bell at Skenfrith

Cannot fault, Maria greeted us with a warm welcome, providing treats for Monty our little dog. After being shown to our room, which had everything we needed, including a dog towel we headed for the bar, where Maria was again, super helpful and friendly. She could not do enough for us or Monty, even bringing him a dog bed! We ate in the bar area at dinner because of Monty but he again was given a bed! We are keen foodies and what we had didn’t disappoint, can thoroughly recommend the crab starter! Breakfast again, was plentiful with fabulous, quick and friendly service. If you have a dog and want a gorgeous little find with stunning walks on the doorstep, a warm welcome and great food and accommodation then please book.

The location is great, that is about it though sadly. The vibe is just pompous and rude. The food is totally okay, but for the prices you pay you would expect a lot more. The staff honestly leave a lot to be desired and are strangely dressed, further giving rise to the odd atmosphere. I don’t think I’ll come back when we have so many other more welcoming places. Suggesting avoiding only to protect others.

Our fourth stay in this little gem of a hotel. Maria and Joseph (and their hard-working and attentive team) have created a wonderful atmosphere here by the banks of the beautiful river Morrow. The welcome is warm, the food spectacular and the rooms clean, cosy and imaginatively decorated. The ideal spot for exploring this lovely region and for anyone considering taking on the 'four castle' walking trails.

Very expensive drinks… We stopped off at The Bell when passing for a late afternoon drink in the garden and I was shocked to be charged £17.95 for an Aperol Spritz. I thought it might be a mistake but after checking with the bar maid apparently not.

I'm not one to write reviews but this is an exception. I booked "The Bell" as my previous choice for hotel in the area now does weddings only. The experience far exceeded my expectations and everything was abolutely spot on. I still have a strong afterglow! The food was excellent - not fussy but quality ingredients mixed very skilfully with splendid results. Pride of place must go the two ladies in "front-of-house", notably the Bulgarian-lady. With possibly one exception, I cannot think of a more professional, seamless and "customer-caring" service I have ever had. A lot of up-market hotels try to play at these things, but it does not often seem to work with difficulties behind the scenes. In my view, the reason it worked so well at The Bell is that the "unseen" mangement is top class and reward staff loyalty who are extremely involved in the running of the hotel. Bravo - I look forward to coming back. Richard Gadsby.

We have dined on a couple of previous occasions at the Bell Inn , (When we have been holidaying locally) but never stayed, so our recent three night break was a real treat. From check-in to departure we were wonderfully impressed. The “house“ team is relatively small but consistent and that it makes the whole experience that little bit more intimate and friendly. We stayed in an intermediate room (tups indispensable) overlooking the garden. it was lovely and spacious with a freestanding bath, a large separate bathroom and all the usual hotel room accoutrements (teabags, coffee, water – you know the drill). The bed was huge and comfy, lots of pillows and blankets. And the room was very clean, housekeeping very efficient. again, we were very impressed. And so to dinner Head chef certainly knows how to make the best of his suppliers and larder. We had some delicious meals although, I do think it’s a tad expensive – ditto the wine list, but certainly not enough to put us off eating there each evening. and it’s the kind of place where, dress wise, pretty much anything goes.It was lovely to put aside my feminist sensibilities and enjoy getting a little dressed up. If I was being ultra picky – in actual fact I don’t mean picky, I mean if I was going to give my preference- I would much prefer bigger bath towels. Somehow they just add to the luxury and relaxation of a Hotel experience. Breakfast time – between 9 and 10 is lovely and civilised but, in our experience, everybody turned up at 9 o’clock so it’s difficult to get a head start on a long walk if you want breakfast first, and as we were leaving early on our last morning to get ahead of the traffic we inevitably missed out. Be aware there is no mobile signal to speak of in Skenfrith but Wi-Fi is provided throughout the hotel. It is not just accepting of dogs but openly welcomes them.And there’s a lovely area by the bar with views across the bridge if you bring your four-legged friends with you. The hotel is shut on a Monday and Tuesday so do you plan your visit accordingly and make a special trip to Saint Martins at Cwmyoy. A very beautiful church – with a difference! All in all a very special, relaxing break that we are very much looking forward to repeating.