Three Counties Hotel - Hereford, United Kingdom     

3* Booked as accomodation for a party of 60, mainly over 60's, on a tour of local gardens. The organiser was impressed with reception and facilities. We were in a Garden Room in this relatively modern hotel on the southern outskirts of Hereford. Room was good, a liitle small,but OK for purpose. Bathroom modern and all nice and clean except for broken pedal bin in the bathroom which was broken on arrival and remained broken as we left and the frankly "worn" and old menus in the welcome pack provided were a pity and did not add anything but suspicion to first impressions. Happily the weather was dry during our visit but a walk over to the main hotel on a wet and windy day would spoil any meal in the Restaurant but those in the Main block of the hotel reported all fine. Restaurant fine in appearance and the food OK but the "dining proceedure" shouted out to all on the first evening left a "holiday camp" feeling amongst most. The 2nd evenings inclusion on the menu of "Venison en croute" comprising a not bad venison stew with a triangular piece of fat soaked fried bread as the "en croute" was memorable(!) - edible, but not what was anticipated.

The hotel is situated about 1 kilometer from the centre of Hereford in a quite area of the City and is located in its own grounds. The hotel while privately owned is pupose built and is similar in construction to many of the large chains that have sprung up in the UK. There are rooms located in a main block together with 'garden' rooms, chalet style, with parking outside. I stayed in both. The overall impression is one where the rooms need updating, particularly the bathrooms, where in both there were cracked tiles and badly stained grouting. In the garden room the bath was very badly stained and needed replacing. Overall the hotel presentation was OK, but the (very very pink - not my taste 70's style) dining room really needed updating. Generally the decor could do with new paint etc. The restaurant offered good food in quantity, however not for the budget consious at £23 for a 3 course meal. The wine list was good, offering a range quailty and interesting wine.The staff were excellent and very helpful. My recommendation, based on would I stay there again - Yes.