Harrogate, The Kestrel Vintage Inn, Wetherby Road,53.980859,-1.476068(Show on Map)
8.7
Very Good
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+5 Photos
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Checkin - Checkout dates
1 Room2 Guests
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Summary of reviews
The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection stands out as a highly praised destination nestled in the picturesque English countryside, offering a perfect blend of old-world charm and modern amenities. Guests frequently highlight the hotel's ideal location, surrounded by serene hills and fields, yet conveniently accessible via major roads. This makes it an excellent base for exploring nearby towns and cities like Harrogate, Knaresborough, York and Leeds. The proximity to local event venues further enhances its appeal.
The dining experience at The Kestrel receives high acclaim, particularly the breakfast which features a variety of freshly cooked and hearty options, often served in a cozy setting. Dinner at the hotel's restaurant is similarly praised for its delicious offerings, wide variety of choices and accommodating service. The food quality, combined with the friendly ambiance of the bar and restaurant, creates a memorable culinary experience for guests.
Rooms at The Kestrel are noted for their immaculate cleanliness, thoughtful decor and comfort. Many guests appreciate the spacious and beautifully designed rooms which often include amenities like comfortable beds and modern bathrooms. While issues like poor soundproofing and inconsistent WiFi are occasionally mentioned, these minor drawbacks do not significantly detract from the overall positive impression.
The exceptional friendliness and efficiency of the staff are frequently highlighted with numerous reviews commending their welcoming nature and attentive service. This warm hospitality greatly enhances the overall guest experience, making stays at The Kestrel particularly enjoyable.
The ample parking facilities also add to the convenience, ensuring a hassle-free arrival and departure for those traveling by car. Families find the hotel particularly accommodating with spacious, well-prepared rooms and a family-friendly atmosphere.
However, the firmness of the beds receives mixed reviews. While many guests find them comfortable, others feel they are too firm for their liking. Despite this, the overall comfort and cleanliness of the rooms remain a strong positive aspect of the hotel.
In summary, The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection offers an excellent value for a three-star accommodation. Its charming location, high-quality dining, immaculate rooms and outstanding service make it a highly recommended choice for travelers seeking a blend of comfort, character and modern convenience.
Categories
Family
Parking
Small
4 Star
Room Types
Double RoomRooms retain charming old features and feature a TV and tea and coffee making facilities.
Family Room (2 Adults + 2 Children)Rooms retain charming old features and feature a TV and tea and coffee making facilities. The family room has a double sofa bed for children up to 15 years old.
Guest Reviews
8.7
Very Good
Review Summaries
Location
Situated in a stunning part of the English countryside, The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection offers an excellent base for exploring the region's attractions. Its semi-rural location provides a peaceful backdrop, surrounded by hills and fields dotted with sheep, creating a picturesque and tranquil environment.
Despite its rural charm, the hotel remains highly accessible and conveniently located near major roads such as the A1, making it easy to drive to nearby towns and cities, including Harrogate, Knaresborough, York and Leeds. Many guests appreciate the short drive required to reach these locations, highlighting the hotel's ideal positioning for both business and leisure travelers.
For those attending local events or weddings, The Kestrel's location proves to be perfect with several key venues just minutes away by car. The proximity to Harrogate, Wetherby and Knaresborough further enhances its appeal, offering numerous opportunities for shopping, dining and sightseeing.
The property's blend of old-world charm and modern amenities adds to its attractive setting, featuring a lovely beer garden and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Whether for a short stay or a longer visit to explore Yorkshire, The Kestrel's superb and handy location receives widespread praise from its guests.
Breakfast
Guests at The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection have largely positive things to say about the breakfast offerings. Many reviewers highlight the excellent, freshly cooked and well-prepared food, often mentioning the superb Full English breakfast and the extensive range of choices available. The service is frequently praised for being prompt and friendly, contributing to an overall enjoyable morning meal experience.
Diners appreciate the variety, including options like granola, fresh fruit, pancakes and specific dishes such as poached eggs on sourdough and avocado. While some express minor concerns over the coffee temperature and the lack of certain continental items like cereals or cheeses, these issues appear to be occasional. Regular comments about plentiful servings and the hearty, healthy nature of the breakfast further emphasize the high quality.
The ambiance also plays a role with mentions of cozy settings like a warm lounge and real fires adding to the comfortable morning experience. Despite being located next to a busy main road, guests note the soundproofing as effective, ensuring a peaceful start to the day.
In summary, The Kestrel's breakfast receives high marks for its quality, diversity and service, making it a standout feature of guests' stays.
Dinner
Guests at 'The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection' consistently commend the food quality at the hotel’s restaurant. Many reviews highlight the “amazing,” “delicious,” and “fantastic” evening meals. The Sunday roast, breakfast and various dinners receive high praise for their taste and presentation. A few noted exceptional experiences during special occasions like Christmas and New Year’s Eve, emphasizing both the top-notch food and generous portions. The restaurant's menu is appreciated for its wide variety and appealing vegetarian and vegan options.
The atmosphere of the bar and restaurant is well-liked, described as having a nice ambiance with some enjoying the comfort of the outdoor area and views. Guests often mention the great service, noting that the staff are helpful and accommodating. Despite some isolated negative comments about specific dishes or missing menu items, most diners report a very positive overall experience.
In summary, dining at 'The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection' is lauded for its excellent food, appealing atmosphere and warm service, making it a highly recommended aspect of the stay.
Rooms
The guest reviews for The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection highlight the hotel's immaculate and thoughtfully decorated rooms. Guests frequently mention the clean and spacious qualities of the rooms, often describing them as beautiful, cozy and comfortable. The attention to detail in the decor, such as classic styling and original features like wooden beams, further enhances the charm of the rooms. Additionally, the rooms are well-equipped with modern amenities, boasting comfortable beds, good showers and ample facilities including tea/coffee making sets.
Many guests appreciated the spacious nature of the rooms, noting they were ideal for families and featured lovely views and beautiful decor. Cleanliness was a recurring theme with numerous mentions of spotless conditions. The bathrooms, many of which had modern fittings and large showers, were also frequently praised.
While the overall feedback is positive, some reviews identified issues such as poor soundproofing, the absence of air conditioning and occasional cold temperatures in the rooms. However, these minor drawbacks did not significantly detract from the overwhelmingly positive experiences of the guests, who found the rooms to be a welcoming retreat in a beautiful old building.
Beds
The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection seems to deliver a mixed bag when it comes to its bedding, but there are plenty of highlights. Many guests found the beds to be quite comfortable, contributing to a good night's sleep. Comments like comfy bed, very comfortable and beds were wonderful are recurrent. The rooms themselves are described as lovely, comfortable and spotlessly clean, which adds to the overall pleasant experience.
However, it's clear that the firmness of the beds is a significant issue for some guests. Phrases like hard bed, bed was far too firm and mattress hard appear frequently in the reviews. A substantial number of visitors found the beds too hard for their liking, indicating that the mattress firmness may not be suited to everyone's preference.
There is also a mention of the beds being too small or a bit firm, which may potentially affect the sleeping experience for those who prefer more spacious or softer beds. The pillows received mixed reviews as well; some found them comfy while others described them as dreadful or in need of improvement.
Despite these varied opinions on the mattress firmness, the consistent positive mentions of the rooms' overall comfort and cleanliness paint a generally favorable picture of the accommodation. Comfortable warm bed, beautiful bed and beds comfortable and beautifully made up reflect guests' appreciation for the care taken to ensure a pleasant stay.
Cleanliness
Travelers who have stayed at The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection consistently praised the cleanliness and maintenance of the hotel. Guests frequently described the rooms as very clean, comfortable and well-maintained. Many specifically mentioned that the rooms were spotless, immaculately clean and tidy. The decor of the rooms and the overall inn was also appreciated for its charm and attention to detail. Furthermore, guests highlighted the fluffiness of the towels and the modernity of the bathrooms, adding to the overall comfort of their stay.
A few isolated comments noted issues such as dusty lights, hair on the floor and a smell of bleach in some rooms, but these did not overshadow the overwhelmingly positive feedback. The inn's facilities, including the restaurant and common areas, were also kept in pristine condition, contributing to a welcoming atmosphere.
Overall, the emphasis on cleanliness and comfort at The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection ensures guests a pleasant and refreshing stay.
Staff
Guests at The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection consistently praise the hotel staff for their exceptional friendliness and efficiency. Many reviewers highlight the staff's welcoming nature, noting how they go above and beyond to assist guests. The team is described as attentive, polite and incredibly accommodating, creating a pleasant and inviting atmosphere throughout the stay. Guests often mention the excellent service received from the moment they arrive until they leave, appreciating the staff's professionalism and their ability to make everyone feel at home. While there are a few mentions of slow service and some instances where staff were unable to answer specific questions, these are outweighed by the overwhelming positive feedback. The friendly demeanor of the staff significantly enhances the overall experience, making The Kestrel a preferred choice for those seeking warm hospitality.
Wi-Fi
The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection offers a mixed bag when it comes to WiFi connectivity. While the WiFi in the bar and restaurant areas works well, guests often struggled with connectivity in their rooms. Many reported that the WiFi was either non-existent or unreliable in the bedrooms with some experiencing intermittent connections or weak signals depending on their location within the hotel. This inconsistency extends to the public areas as well, where WiFi occasionally proved to be faulty or slow. For those who need steady internet access throughout their stay, the patchy and limited availability might be a drawback. In summary, while the communal areas might offer a reasonable online experience, the same can’t be said for the guest rooms.
Parking
The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection offers a notably positive parking experience. Guests have often highlighted the ample and plentiful parking available on-site, making it convenient for visitors with vehicles. The free parking options and secure spaces add to the overall convenience. Many guests appreciate the roomy and large car park, which makes finding a spot easy, even though it can get busy on Sundays. The parking facilities contribute to the ease of access to the main road, ensuring a hassle-free arrival and departure. Despite occasional busyness, the majority find the parking situation excellent and convenient.
Family
The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection offers an exceptional experience for families, ensuring both comfort and enjoyment for all ages. The hotel maintains a clean and comfortable environment, perfect for a family stay. Guests have praised both the spacious and well-prepared family rooms, often highlighted as ideal for accommodating families with children.
The welcoming atmosphere with cozy high-beam rooms and open log fires, enhances the family-friendly vibe. Families appreciate the establishment's attention to detail, like the beautiful large towels and walk-in showers in the bathrooms. Guest reviews frequently mention the attentive and friendly staff, who go out of their way to make family stays memorable, whether by making adjustments for fussy children or fussing over little ones.
Activities such as watching sheep in nearby fields contribute to the child-friendly appeal and the venue is well-suited for family gatherings and small parties. While some guests noted minor inconveniences like the sofa bed's comfort, the overall experience receives high marks for its family-oriented approach and excellent service.
3 Star
Nestled in a picturesque setting of hills and fields, The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection offers an affordable experience with a blend of old English inn charm and modern amenities. Guests have consistently praised its excellent value for a three-star accommodation, highlighting the comfortable and spotless rooms, as well as the cozy and inviting atmosphere. The quality of the breakfast, lunch and dinner is commended, featuring wonderful and excellent food that complements the beautiful character and decor of the building.
The staff receive consistent accolades for being very helpful, enhancing the overall satisfaction of the stay. The inn boasts comfy beds and spotless facilities, ensuring a pleasant and restful experience. The quaint bar and rustic feel contribute to the overall charm, creating a super cozy environment that feels luxury-infused despite the budget-friendly nature of the stay.
While some guests found the nightly rate without breakfast somewhat steep, others appreciated the fair price considering the quality and services provided. The location is optimal for budget travelers seeking a quaint getaway with the inn providing a great price compared to other hotels in the area. Suitable for short stays with family, The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection stands out as a satisfactory choice, delivering a balanced blend of comfort, character and value.
FAQ
No, The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection.
No, The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection doesn't allow dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection.
No, The Kestrel by Innkeeper's Collection doesn't have a gym.
