Le Friquet Country Hotel - Castel, United Kingdom 

First of all, I must say that our stay was purchased as part of deal so we got a good price. However, that reduced price we paid probably reflects a fair amount for the overall experience. My overall impression is that the hotel has a regular base of customers in their 50s - 60s who like the traditional atmosphere. The Hotel management were notable by their absence and perhaps the owners have given up making an effort to keep standards high. Here is my full review This hotel looked promising as we drove in - nice gardens, clean outdoor swimming pool and flowers everywhere in the gardens. Inside the hotel the reception area was average but the restaurant, bar area and dining room lacked any atmosphere at all. Most of the residents appeared to be in 50+ and there was nothing to show that the hotel management were trying to appeal to a younger clientele. Staff were pleasant but for most of them English was a 2nd language and not very well spoken. This gave the impression that the staff were not very hospitable. There was one guy, who may have been a manager of some sort, who appeared to be local and was very helpful. The bedroom was pretty bad - on the 2nd floor and up the windy stairs that other reviewers have mentioned. Outside the temperature was about 16C but our room never dropped below 25C. Even during the night we had to keep the noisy in-room air conditioner switched on. The room decor was dated and the room was cramped, but we did have a modernised bathroom which matched any 4 star hotel. Only thing was that the ceiling sloped through the corner bath unit so we had to kneel in the bath to take a shower. Bizarre. The dining room offer "fresh fish specials which change every day" - but they didn't! There was a Carvery for ?7.50 with 3 meats every night. It was an average carvery I guess but far too sloppy and under/over cooked and most nights they ran out of a main ingredient before 8pm. Strange to have a carvery where they run out of the main meat, or the yorkshire puddings on 'beef day'. Breakfast was the highlight with a good selection of cereals, juices, bread, danish pastries, fruit, yoghurt and a good selection of hot options including a full english breakfast. I won't be going back - but I know that others (of a certain age) will.