Dartmoor Lodge Hotel - Ashburton, United Kingdom     

We have stayed at the Dartmoor Lodge tiwce in the last twelve months. We (My wife and I and 3 kids) have been totally satisfied on both occasions. Our two girls have stayed in one of the rooms over the car park and the rest of us in the ground floor family room. I accept that the decor outside is tired and that the inside has seen better days. However the rooms were on each occasion spotless and comfortable. The food (esp this Easter) was really good (chef invited us in to the kitchens!!), the service always with a smile and pleasant chat. Really great place and we will certainly be back Gie the place a spruce up and it will be a very clear "5"

My initial reaction on driving into the car-park and seeing the exterior of the building was to turn around and try to find accommodation elsewhere. We had chosen this hotel (motel) we stayed simply because we could not find another in the vicinity with a vacancy for the dates we required - there was nowhere else to go. The exterior of the motel does not give a good impression; hanging baskets containing long dead flowers, weeds growing between paving stones, peeling paintwork and what appears to be derelict outbuildings. Inside, the decor is dated and in desparate need of refurbishment. We were allocated a 'feature room' - the feature being a four poster bed in an otherwise featureless room. The room, however, was clean and adequately equipped for our overnight stay. My impression is that the room had been recently refurbished - fittings were not of high quality and showing wear and tear. Saturday is disco night and the music was blaring and thumping at 11.45pm. I imagine the management are aware of the potential disturbance to guests because the exterior doors were closed and although the music could still be heard, we did not find it intrusive. When the exterior doors were opened briefly the noise was deafening. We ate a bar lunch which was good quality and plentiful. The buffet breakfast was also of good standard and plentiful. The redeeming feature of the experience was the staff who were very helpful and friendly. The cost of the room at ?95.00 was expensive and did not represent good value for money.