Bessemer Hotel

We were a party of 10 old friends who were on an annual trip to discover more of the UK and decided to base ourselves on Merthyr this year for 3 nights. We found the hotel pleasant, friendly and well appointed. The staff were exceptional in dealing with us all and with a couple of very minor glitches such as a dead remote control; they looked after us all very competently and cheerfully. The hotel is in a quiet area, with ample parking. Rooms were very good, especially at the price. The dining room served a variety of excellent meals with veggie and other options. The carvery is epic. Bar is spacious which allowed us to enjoy our company as a group in comfort. [This was fortunate as there are few alternatives within easy reach.] Overall, we all enjoyed ourselves there and would come back again.

Really, nit-picking here: the key cards were a nuisance and went wrong a few times. Staff dealt well with this.

Plenty car parking space. Quick check in with friendly staff. Large room with alot of space to move around. Large bathroom with his & hers wash basins. Lovely warm shower. Bed a bit soft so interrupted sleep during the night. Ok breakfast on first day although poached eggs well overcooked, like eating boiled eggs on toast.

On late return, around 11.30pm, keycard didn't work. Two attempts by porter and door still locked. He went back and reassigned card as it had been set for 24 hours and should have been 48 hours; we booked for two nights. Maybe reception staff need to reset cards for duration of stay once booking starts. At breakfast next morning we were told no breakfast as room didn't come with breakfast. Not true and quickly sorted out. Boiled eggs on toast again. Maybe cook needs to practise how to poach eggs. Hint, 3 minutes should do it. Location of hotel is around a 25 minute walk to town. Ok going, downhill. Coming back more like 30 minutes and all uphill. Maybe take a taxi if you have difficulty walking.

We only stayed 1 night as a stop over on route to somewhere else. Very welcoming and friendly staff. We arrived as the restaurant was closing but they were happy to provide a meal and the portion was huge and very tasty. Free car parking with plenty of space, lovely view of the town and the surrounding countryside. On the morning of leaving, the receptionist provided me with local information.

The only negative were the creaky floorboards. When the guests in the next room walked across their room, i could hear their footsteps, and it made me conscious of walking around our room and disturbing anyone.

First impression on entering the hotel, was....oh gosh this is lovely. All areas were very clean. Decoration immaculate throughout. Staff very friendly, very polite and welcoming. Reasonable priced drinks at the bar. Bedrooms very spacious with a good sized bathroom, with an amazingly powerful shower over the bath. I would recommend this Hotel to all who are visiting the area we will be returning that's for sure.

I would recommend this hotel, even though the only downfall was the mattress, in both rooms we booked, if the mattresses were replaced with new or memory foam, this hotel would be 100% but it would not put us off from revisiting. I would highly recommend.

Breakfast was really good. All freshly cooked. Dining room staff and cleaning staff were very helpful and friendly

I could have been given more information on arrival. The receptionist simply gave me my key card and told me I could use stars or the lift. I had to ask where the dining room was. What time was breakfast etc. I had to ring down to find the WiFi code. It would be good to have an information sheet in the room. The tv was ok, very small and there was no way to adjust the colour Or sound as the speech was fuzzy. The light in the bathroom was very dim. These are not complaints, but just suggestions to make people’s stay a little easier

Restaurants food was exceptional. Carvery was same as other carveries in major chains but all food appeared to be home made. We gave the hotel restaurant a go on night 1 and went back again night 2. Staff were really friendly when you could find them as they all multitasked. Room size was great, both our rooms had double and single beds in.

First impressions were really poor. Reception locked so had to go walking round a function to find a member of staff. Tried charging me a higher room rate until I pointed out I'd booked few months previously. Door cards temperamental, old system needs updating badly. Mum got stuck in toilet as didn't have strength to open door as handle stiff. Location is a bit out of the way in residential area. Seems that a lot of locals use restaurant to eat in and for takeaway service. My bed was very soft, when my partner moved, so did I.

The staff were excellent! Very helpful and welcoming and couldn't do enough to make my stay perfect. The bed was really comfortable and I had the best nights sleep I've ever had in a hotel and I have stayed in lots. There is ample parking, comfortable bed, great shower and good food. Very impressed the staff even went to the trouble of making me vegetarian gravy. I often travel to Wales and this is the first time I have stayed here. If I come back to this area, this will always be my first choice.

I have no dislikes only comments which might be helpful. There is guest internet provided and the password would have been useful to have noted in the room. I also noted that the double light switch between the beds is prone to be a bit temperamental and would probably benefit from being replaced. But none of this would deter me from coming back. The location and parking are ideal and the staff are amazing.

Free parking was available. The staff were very friendly. The room was large and the decor of the hotel was fascinating, in a pleasantly quirky sort of way. The menu was excellent without being over fussy. Try the banana boat…Amazing! And where else can you get trifle on the menu. The service was good and the music very much to my taste. I can see why it’s a popular place locally. We only stayed one night and at the price we paid there’s nothing to dislike. We were very happy with the hotel.

I tend not to read reviews before I stay in a place as situations can vary from night to night and everyone has different opinions. I can see why this hotel might not suit some people, but a genuine desire to please and good value for money counts for a lot.

All was great, but we ate in the hotel for our evening meal - superb carvery and very reasonable. Staff were excellent. On two mornings we had an early start and they allowed us to go down to the restaurant early - because no hot food was available, they made us a sausage sandwich 'to go' (which was a god-send for my daughter who had two really early shifts at the local hospital)

Our room was directly over the generator - although not on during the night, it was really loud and annoying during the day/early evening. Not at all relaxing. Also, TV signal is poor, it keeps cutting out - this was a problem last time we stayed here.

We arrived in heavy rain on bicycles. The bikes were securely stored in the events room. Check in was very quick and efficient. Room had good wifi and was quiet. The heating did come on, so we were able to dry everything off. Breakfast was good and plentiful. Nice historical photos of Dowlais in the hotel.

Signage to the hotel is limited and we had to ask a local to find it. Carvery was on in the evening, meat good, veg stewed. Vegetarian options very limited. Bed and bedding could have been better. Just for information, Dowlais is about a mile outside the centre of Merthyr.