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Summary of reviewsThe Devil's Punchbowl Hotel enjoys an enviable location next to the Devil's Punchbowl National Trust site, offering spectacular views and easy access to numerous walking trails. Its quiet, picturesque setting makes it ideal for nature lovers, hikers and those looking to participate in local events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Many guests appreciate the peaceful ambiance, old-world charm and convenient access to major roads, underscoring the hotel's suitability for a variety of activities.
Guests have mixed but generally positive reviews about their breakfast experience. Many praise the full English breakfast for being well-cooked, tasty and filling with generous portions and excellent value. The breakfast staff’s hospitality further enhances the experience. However, there are suggestions for improvement, including increasing the variety of offerings and ensuring better food temperature and portion size control.
Dinner at the hotel's restaurant is highly praised for its delicious and varied menu, quality food and enjoyable ambiance. Many guests commend the good value for money and the standout dishes like fish and chips and steaks. Although there are occasional mentions of inconsistencies in portion sizes and service, the dining experience is largely described as superb, making it a delightful culinary stop for travelers.
The rooms at The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel present a mixed experience. Guests appreciate their spaciousness, cleanliness and comfort with amenities like free WiFi and tea and coffee-making facilities. However, the rooms are described as outdated and in need of refurbishment with issues like worn decor, musty odors and maintenance problems often mentioned. Despite these drawbacks, the basic comfort and cleanliness are notable positive aspects.
The hotel maintains basic cleanliness standards but could benefit from more consistent housekeeping and a thorough refurbishment. While rooms and public areas are generally clean, dated infrastructure and occasional signs of disrepair detract from the overall experience.
The staff at The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel receive high praise for their friendliness, helpfulness and professionalism. Guests commend the team for their attentive and efficient service, which significantly enhances the overall stay experience.
The hotel offers free WiFi as a convenient feature, though the quality is inconsistent with some guests experiencing slow or unreliable connections.
Families find the hotel accommodating, particularly valuing the spacious rooms, firm beds and welcoming staff. Although some areas need improvement, such as dealing with minor wear and tear, the overall family-friendly atmosphere and the convenient location make it a good choice for family reunions and gatherings.
Lastly, the hotel beds are frequently praised for their comfort and cleanliness, contributing significantly to a pleasant stay. Most guests find the beds extremely comfortable, despite a few critiques regarding thin duvets or hard mattresses.
In summary, The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel offers a serene location, friendly staff and comfortable accommodations with a need for modernization and improved breakfast variety. The dining experience stands out as a highlight and the hotel remains a charming choice for nature enthusiasts, families and leisurely getaways. Show more
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Family Friendly Hotel
Room Types
Double RoomAll double rooms have a TV, a private bathroom and/ or shower room, tea and coffee making facilities, trouser press and hairdryer.
Twin RoomAll twin rooms have a TV, a private bathroom and/ or shower room, tea and coffee making facilities, trouser press and hairdryer.
Family Room (2 Adults + 1 Child)This room features free Wi-Fi, a dressing table, a TV, and tea and coffee making facilities.
Guest Reviews
6.4
Rated
Location
Nestled in a picturesque setting, The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel boasts an enviable location right next to the Devil's Punchbowl National Trust site, making it an ideal base for nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts. This charming hotel is described as being directly opposite a beautiful wilderness area, offering spectacular views and access to numerous walking trails. The convenience of its proximity to major roads like the A3 adds to its appeal, making it easy to reach and perfect for those who are exploring the local area or attending nearby events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Many guests appreciated the quiet and peaceful ambiance, ideal for a restful overnight stay. This historic coaching inn carries an old-world charm while providing the essential amenities, making it suitable for weddings, business trips and leisurely getaways. The location has been consistently praised as perfect, fantastic and even incredible, underlining its suitability for a variety of activities, from scenic walks to family visits. Whether you're a walker, a cyclist or simply someone looking to immerse in nature, the hotel's prime positioning by the Devil's Punchbowl offers a serene retreat with ample opportunities for outdoor adventures.
Breakfast
The breakfast experience at The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel has received a mix of feedback from guests. On the positive side, many guests praised the breakfast, describing it as good, very good, excellent and superb. The full English breakfast, in particular, received accolades for being well-cooked, tasty and filling with some highlighting the generous portions and excellent value for money. Guests enjoyed the thoughtful presentation and the fact that breakfast included in some room rates was especially appreciated as it set them up for the day. The breakfast room's pleasant ambiance and charming, helpful staff added to the overall positive dining experience.
However, several guests pointed out areas that could use improvement. There were frequent mentions of a limited selection with a noticeable lack of cereals, yogurts, fruits and cheeses. Some felt the portions were too small for the price and there were instances of food being served cold or improperly cooked. The breakfast menu was described as a bit limited with some items not adequately explained or more expensive than advertised. A few guests also mentioned long waits during busy times and felt the breakfast lacked overall variety, which could benefit from additional options like fresh vegetables and different types of bread.
In summary, while many guests found the breakfast at The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel to be a highlight of their stay, there is room for enhancements, particularly in terms of variety, portion size and temperature of the food.
Dinner
Nestled in an inviting atmosphere, The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel offers a largely positive dining experience that leaves visitors with fond memories of their evening meals. The hotel's restaurant garners high praise for its superb and delicious dinners with many guests complimenting the excellent food quality and varied menu offerings. The establishment also provides a pleasant ambiance, making dining an enjoyable experience.
Several reviews highlight the value for money, stating that the meals are both excellent and reasonably priced. Guests specifically mention the fish and chips, scampi, gammon steak and a notably good steak as standout choices. Additionally, there are commendations for good vegetarian options, ensuring a diverse range of preferences are catered to.
While the dining room is well-regarded for its nice appearance and the bar and restaurant areas are described as welcoming, it is important to note a few mixed opinions. Some guests experienced inconsistencies with meal portions, service quality and the pricing of the evening meals. Despite these occasional drawbacks, the overall sentiment leans towards positive with the majority considering the dinners excellent and the atmosphere enjoyable.
Ultimately, The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel appears to excel in providing a notable dining experience, making it a delightful culinary stop for travelers.
Rooms
The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel offers a mixed experience with its rooms, where cleanliness and comfort are consistent highlights but are counterbalanced by a pervasive sense of wear and outdated decor. Guests appreciated the spaciousness of the rooms, often describing them as large, quiet and warm, featuring comfortable beds with well-laundered linens. The presence of essential amenities like free WiFi and in-room tea and coffee-making facilities are also noted positively.
Despite these comforts, the state of the rooms leaves much to be desired. Many visitors found the decor outdated, mentioning plaster cracks, peeling paint, stained carpets and aged bathroom fittings. Common issues included musty odors, malfunctioning showers and in some cases, broken windows and insufficient heating. The overall ambiance is described as tired and in dire need of refurbishment.
Rooms were generally clean and functional with some exceptions where more thorough cleaning was needed. The architectural design and the secluded nature of the rooms away from the pub added a touch of charm for some. However, the need for a comprehensive update is a recurring theme with guests urging for an extensive remodel to address the evident disrepair and enhance the overall experience.
In summary, while the rooms at The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel provide basic comfort and cleanliness, their outdated condition and maintenance issues detract from the potential charm of the property. Visitors looking for a cozy stay might appreciate the space and comfort but should be prepared for the evident need for modernization.
Beds
Visitors to The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel frequently praise the hotel beds for their comfort and cleanliness. Guests often describe the beds as comfortable with many highlighting the superbly comfortable and extremely comfy nature of their sleeping arrangements. Clean and fluffy bed linens contribute to a pleasant sleeping experience and rooms generally leave a nice clean feeling.
Several reviewers note the beds being clean and stain-free with terms like soft mattresses and comfy pillows enhancing their stay. Modern, updated décor and cozy rooms further add to the overall comfort. However, there are occasional critiques regarding thin duvets and pillows, saggy or hard mattresses and smaller bed sizes. Despite this, most feedback emphasizes the positive aspects, suggesting that beds contribute significantly to a most enjoyable stay at the hotel.
Cleanliness
The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel presents a mixed bag of experiences for travelers with a notable focus on cleanliness. While many guests commend the cleanliness of the rooms, singling out the clean and comfortable beds and bathrooms, there is significant feedback highlighting areas in need of improvement. Although the rooms themselves are often described as clean, they are consistently noted to be dated and in need of refurbishment. Public areas of the hotel, while generally clean, are described as dated and occasionally grimy.
A recurring theme is the presence of mold, especially in the bathrooms and various signs of disrepair such as cracked tiles, broken bath panels and creaky floors. There are further mentions of stale or musty smells in both the rooms and corridors, which detract from the overall comfort. Inconsistencies with housekeeping standards are also noted, including sporadic issues like stained carpets, dirty windows and the need for deeper cleaning in certain areas.
In summary, while the hotel maintains a basic standard of cleanliness, its aging infrastructure and attention to detail in cleaning practices suggest that it could greatly benefit from a thorough refurbishment and more consistent housekeeping efforts.
Staff
The reviews for 'The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel' highlight the exceptional nature of the staff, consistently emphasizing their friendliness, helpfulness and professionalism. Guests frequently describe the staff as lovely, polite and accommodating, often going out of their way to ensure a pleasant stay. Specific mentions of individuals—such as Tom for his exceptional customer service, Peter at breakfast and Fred at the reception—underscore the personal care provided by the team. The staff's readiness to assist with any issues, including dietary needs and broken lamps, further reflects their commitment to guest satisfaction. There are occasional comments about some staff juggling multiple duties or being momentarily unavailable, but these are overshadowed by the overwhelmingly positive feedback. Overall, the staff at 'The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel' receive high praise for their attentive, cheerful and efficient service, significantly contributing to guests' enjoyment of their stay.
Wi-Fi
The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel offers complimentary WiFi, which some guests have found to be good. However, experiences with the hotel's internet connectivity are mixed. While there are positive remarks about the internet quality, others have noted that the WiFi can be unreliable, sometimes slow and occasionally prone to crashing. The service is accessible, but the performance may vary with some guests experiencing disruptions or a weaker connection. Despite these inconsistencies, the provision of free WiFi remains a convenient feature for hotel visitors.
Family
The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel offers a reasonably convenient stay for families, particularly for those coming together for family occasions or gatherings. The location of the hotel is repeatedly highlighted as a significant advantage, being the closest and most suitable option for families visiting relatives in the area.
The hotel provides a family-oriented environment with a welcoming atmosphere and accommodating staff who strive to make guests feel comfortable. The rooms are spacious, well-designed and equipped with firm beds that evoke a sense of royalty for guests, notably described as suitable for a prince and princess.
However, there are a few areas where the hotel could improve. Guests have pointed out issues such as cracked tiles and windows, indicating some wear and tear. A noisy child in an adjacent room and the limited variety of dishes available were also mentioned as minor inconveniences. Despite these issues, the overall cleanliness and comfort of the hotel contribute positively to the family-friendly experience.
Overall, while The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel may not be perfect and could do with some updates, it excels in providing a comfortable, accommodating stay for families looking to reunite and spend quality time together.
No, The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel.
No, The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel.
No, The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel doesn't have a gym.