The Radnorshire Arms Hotel

I do love to stay in an historic building. We definitely got this: our room was under the eaves and had Elizabethan oak beams to bump your head on. (A lot of the rooms are in a new building at the back, we peeped into one, they look much more accessible and comfortable, but less fun.) Breakfast is continental only --- I am fine with this but people who love a full fried breakfast are going to be disappointed. The food in the evening is fine for its price bracket. And the area is pleasant, and under-visited. The hotel is right in the town centre; an easy stroll to the pharmacist and some convenience stores, but still manages to have a decent car park.

I could more-or-less leave this blank. Be warned that there is no dinner on Sunday evenings. There are neighbours who have a rooster that crows, but it is the country: what do you expect? If you cannot manage steep stairs, make sure you ask for one of the rooms at the back. If you are in a wheelchair I would definitely go elsewhere.

The location was great: Presteigne sits in nice green, and generally quiet Welsh countryside. Our room was large and comfortable, more like a suite. The hotel had plenty of character as it dates back to the (I think!) 17th century. It has a large garden, the bar was well stocked (though a bit odd everything closed at 6pm on the Sunday) and the evening meals were substantial and tasty.

B&B? - well, the bed was great; the breakfast was not (no cooked food; it was continental and even those offerings were not the best ... soon got bored after the second morning). No lift was unsurprising for such an old building, but the climb up to the top floor was tricky for two pensioners; one with two new knees (though to be fair we could/should have requested a first floor or garden room). And a couple of these not-so-good features were not made plain until AFTER we'd booked.

Location was excellent for us. Staff were helpful and friendly. The room had a well stocked kitchenette which we found very useful. The chef produced an evening meal for us very quickly one night when we had tickets to an early concert, which we appreciated. We loved the history of the hotel.

Breakfast was very disappointing. Not only was there no hot option, the continental breakfast was well below the standard I would have expected. Apart from the prepared fruit and the coffee, both of which were good, other elements were dire. Cheap marmalade and jam, cheap pots of yoghurt, tasteless cooked meats, pain du chocolat in plastic bags etc. Given the efforts the hotel has made with the rest of the amenities this was a pity and I’m sure they can do better.

Provided hot milk with coffee at breakfast time upon request! A decent continental breakfast provided and regularly topped up. Friendly and helpful staff. Large airy room and a comfy bed and pillows. Good shower. Good location in Presteigne - quiet and secluded but near to the shops, restaurants etc. Pleasant bar, restaurant and gardens.

My husband far prefers to have a cooked breakfast. All the steps from the car park down to the hotel - challenging as some of them are quite steep. We brought the car around to the front at the end of our stay to load bags up from there.

The lively Hotel Director really made sure we settled in quickly. The hotel is very old and quirky with a Priest hole etc. but this what makes it special. The new owners deserve to make a success of it. Despite only a Continental breakfast being provided the range provided (including cheese and hams) more than made up for lack of a cooked breakfast option. My room on the top floor was massive with a jacuzzi bath/ shower and separate study room..

The new Studio opposite the hotel still needs the fitting out to be completed and ideally should not have been opened until complete: no wifi or mirror in the room. I don't doubt it will have already been Been sorted by now.

We walked to this hotel from Offa’s Dyke. Extremely pleased to find a very old building (1616) still with a great pub atmosphere. The receptionist was very welcoming. Really comfy bed in a large room, en suite bathroom with jacuzzi bath which was very welcome with aching muscles. We ate downstairs in the bar - hearty fare served with a smile. Breakfast was continental but plentiful and we were able to take some fruit for the next day. Can’t fault it.

Very happy with our stay. There is no cooked breakfast but they make that clear beforehand so it wasn’t a problem.

Staff were friendly & helpful. The accommodation is very good with historical information about the building. I really enjoyed my stay.

It would have been good to have slightly more detailed information in advance about the fact that the car park is accessible from behind the hotel not from the town centre at all; also that the car park has a great big sign with the hotel name on it. All very obvious when you know but until you’ve been there the road the car park is on appears to be taking you out of the town so a hotel car park is not what you’d expect.

We were made very welcome by the friendly staff. The rooms were spacious, clean, and well appointed. Car parking was ample, and free for the guests. There was a large play area for children. The breakfast was sumptuous, with a choice of breads, juices, fresh fruit, tea / coffee. The hotel has a decently stocked bar where one could also enjoy a meal, along with drinks. All in all, it was a refreshing stay, although we just stayed for 1 night as we were visiting the Hay Festival nearby. A longer stay is recommended.

To get to our rooms, we had to climb a couple of narrow flights of stairs. At the end of a tiring day, climbing stairs did require an effort.

A lovely 17th century timber framed building with wood panelled public rooms, very cosy public bar and outside seating in the garden. Good food at reasonable prices. The room was huge on the top floor and well decorated and furnished. The staff were all very welcoming and helpful. A pretty little village with some shops and restaurants, which looked interesting, but we were only there on Sunday evening and didn’t get the opportunity to look around. We will happily stay here again, if we get the opportunity.

Nothing to dislike!!

Only continental breakfast was served, but that was made clear at the outset. We found the range of items, supplemented with hot tea, coffee and toast more than adequate. On a 3 day break it suited us better than full cooked breakfast every day We appreciated being contacted on the morning we were due to arrive to explaining our options for food and drink on Sunday evening. The owner manager was friendly, helpful and hardworking. He upgraded us to a garden room for our stay. This was great as it offered more flexibility for meals having a fully equipped mini kitchenette. We ate in the hotel on 2 night. Food was good, prices reasonable (locals were drinking there) and the beer well kept.

Overall our stay was excellent. The room could have been checked and cleaned a little better, but as we arrived on the Sunday of the long Jubilee weekend and the hotel had been extremely busy it was excusable.