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Summary of reviewsThe Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns is located in the charming village of Thaxted, offering both beauty and practicality. Its central position in the historic town, opposite a church, adds to its picturesque appeal. Proximity to Stansted Airport makes it a convenient choice for travelers, while easy access to the town’s quaint shops and scenic walks enhances its attractiveness.
Breakfast at the Swan Hotel is generally praised for its quality and variety. The full English breakfast is a highlight, along with vegetarian options like avocado and poached eggs on rye. Friendly breakfast staff contribute to a pleasant dining experience, although some guests experienced occasional organizational issues and delays.
For dinner, many guests found the food to be enjoyable and well-prepared with traditional English pub fare like steak and an award-winning pie standing out. The evening meals were often described as excellent, offering good value for money within a genuine old English atmosphere. Despite some complaints about slow service and meal inconsistencies, the positive feedback on taste and portions predominates.
The rooms at the hotel are mostly praised for being clean, modern and comfortable, featuring stylish decor and well-equipped amenities. However, there are occasional mentions of small room sizes, ventilation issues and minor maintenance concerns, such as noise from the boiler or cleanliness lapses.
Cleanliness is a strong point of the Swan Hotel with guests appreciating the spotless rooms and public areas. The friendly staff further enhance the welcoming environment, although some isolated instances of cleaning oversights were noted.
The staff at Swan Hotel receive high marks for their friendliness, professionalism and helpfulness. Guests frequently describe the team using superlatives like amazing, exceptional and fabulous. The reception, bar and restaurant staff are commended for their cheerful demeanor and excellent service.
While the wifi has been lauded for its speed and reliability by many guests, others encountered access difficulties and security concerns, especially Macbook users. This mixed feedback suggests room for improvement in ensuring consistent and secure internet access.
The beds are a highlight, often described as super comfy and very comfortable, contributing positively to the overall stay experience. However, some guests found the beds to be on the small side or the mattresses too soft.
As a three-star establishment, the Swan Hotel offers satisfactory accommodations that provide value for money. It stands out as an ideal choice for travelers with pets, thanks to its dog-friendly policies. Dogs are warmly welcomed in the bar and restaurant areas and the convenient parking facilities enhance the overall experience for pet owners.
In summary, the Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns offers a pleasant stay in a picturesque setting, notable for its charming location, quality breakfast, enjoyable dinners, clean and comfortable rooms and exceptional staff. While there are areas for improvement, the overall guest experience is positive, making it a reliable choice for travelers. Show more
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3-Star Inn
Located in Bury St Edmunds, this inn offers a traditional and comfortable experience. Guests appreciate the historic charm and on-site dining options.
Room Types
Double RoomThis double room features a TV, desk and an en suite bathroom.
Single RoomThis single room features a TV, desk and an en suite bathroom.
Twin RoomThis twin room features a TV, desk and an en suite bathroom.
Family RoomThe family room offers a wardrobe, an electric kettle, as well as a private bathroom boasting a bath or a shower and a hairdryer. A sofa, a flat-screen TV, a carpeted floor and heating are offered in this family room. The unit has 2 beds.
Superior Double RoomThe double room features a wardrobe, an electric kettle, as well as a private bathroom boasting a bath and a hairdryer. The unit has 1 bed.
Guest Reviews
8.2
Very Good
Location
Situated in the picturesque village of Thaxted, Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns enjoys a prime location that guests frequently praise. The hotel is centrally positioned in an attractive historic town, offering the charm of the Essex countryside. It is conveniently close to Stansted Airport, making it an ideal stop for travelers with early flights. The location is both beautiful and practical, providing easy access to the town's quaint shops and scenic walks.
Many reviews highlight the village’s allure, describing it as a lovely, quiet and charming spot. The hotel's position opposite a church adds to its picturesque appeal. Parking is readily available and the convenience for car users is often mentioned. Guests also appreciate the historic aspect of the town and the hotel itself, contributing to a rich cultural experience.
While some guests note occasional noise from planes due to the proximity to Stansted, the general consensus is that the location is excellent for a peaceful and convenient stay. Whether visiting family, exploring the area or preparing for a flight, the Swan Hotel's location meets varied needs, ensuring a pleasant stay in a beautiful setting.
Breakfast
When staying at Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns, guests can expect a mostly positive breakfast experience with some notable highlights. The breakfast often receives praise for its good quality, variety and delicious offering. Many guests commend the full English breakfast, finding it very good and enjoyable and the selection, including vegan options, receives nods for being generous and well-priced. The cooked items, like avocado and poached eggs on rye and chargrilled bacon are especially appreciated for their exceptional taste. The available continental breakfast is noted as good value and ample.
Friendly breakfast staff are frequently acknowledged for their helpfulness with the breakfast menu offering a rich and varied spread, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Self-service options and buffet choices also add to the convenience and appeal. Despite some reviews mentioning organizational issues and delays leading to subpar experiences, the overall feedback skews positive, highlighting a tasty and hot breakfast that adds value to the guests’ stay.
However, not all experiences are stellar; some guests noted occasional lapses, such as long waiting times, limited availability of items and less satisfactory service on some days. On rare occasions, issues with the availability of produce, cold beverages and poorly managed breakfast services were mentioned.
Overall, while there may be some inconsistencies, most guests find the breakfast at Swan Hotel satisfying with excellent food quality and a welcoming environment that, more often than not, meets their expectations.
Dinner
The Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns garners mixed reviews when it comes to its dining experiences, yet there's a significant stream of commendable feedback highlighting the positives. Many guests enjoyed their meals with descriptors such as good, great and delicious frequently emerging. The restaurant offers a solid selection of traditional English pub fare with an extensive dinner menu and the food quality was often praised as high with standout mentions for the steak and the award-winning pie.
Evening meals, in particular, struck a chord with numerous diners, who described their dinners as excellent, very enjoyable and amazing. The food was also characterized as well-prepared and varied, promising something for every palate. Guests appreciated the generous portions and the reasonably priced menu, underlining the establishment's good value for money. Notably, the pub and restaurant were commended for their genuine old English atmosphere, contributing to an enjoyable dining experience.
However, the service did receive some criticism with several accounts of slow service and understaffing issues. There were also mentions of inconsistent meal quality with some describing their food as disappointing or inedible. Despite these hiccups, the dedicated staff received praise for being friendly and helpful, navigating through challenges such as shortages and high demand.
While some minor grievances like limited availability of certain menu items or beverages were noted, it seems the positive aspects of the hotel's dining—specifically the taste and quality of the food—predominated guest experiences. Guests often highlighted the appeal of the meals and the welcoming atmosphere, leaving many eager to return.
Rooms
The rooms at Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns receive mixed reviews, though there are consistent highlights. Many guests praise the rooms for being clean and well-appointed, featuring modern decor and comfortable beds. A considerable number of rooms are described as spacious with some guests noting they enjoyed a quiet and restful stay. The interiors are frequently referred to as stylish with well-equipped amenities and a pleasant atmosphere.
However, some drawbacks were noted. A recurring issue is the small size of many rooms, which some guests found cramped. There were also occasional problems with ventilation and room temperature with some rooms being either too hot or too cold. A few guests mentioned noise from the hotel's boiler or ventilation system as disruptive. Additionally, there were minor maintenance issues such as odors in the bathrooms, stained linens and the need for better soundproofing and more thorough cleaning in some cases.
Overall, the hotel's rooms are appreciated for their cleanliness, comfort and modern amenities, but potential guests should be aware of the varied room sizes and occasional maintenance concerns.
Beds
Guests overwhelmingly praised the comfort of the beds at Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns. Descriptions such as "super comfy," "very comfortable," and "comfortable room" were recurrent in the reviews. Many guests specifically highlighted both single and double beds as being very comfortable. However, there were a few mentions of the beds being on the small side with some describing them as standard size or even small single beds. A few guests noted that the mattresses were soft, which a couple found less than ideal, pointing out a soft or springy feel. Despite these minor critiques, the general consensus is that the beds provide a comfortable night's sleep, contributing positively to the overall stay experience.
Cleanliness
The Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns stands out for its commendable cleanliness across various aspects. Guests frequently highlight the clean and well-appointed rooms, noting that these are spotlessly maintained and offer a comfortable stay. The bathrooms are often described as very clean and well-equipped, enhancing the overall comfort of the accommodation.
The cleanliness extends to the hotel's public areas too with mentions of a clean pub atmosphere and a generally well-maintained interior. Positive reviews particularly appreciate the modern, clean and attractive decor of the rooms. Additionally, the friendliness of the staff adds to a pleasant and welcoming environment.
However, a few reviews mention occasional lapses. Some guests observed that certain rooms were not cleaned daily and there were instances of cobwebs or a musty smell in bathrooms. There were also mentions of specific issues such as a broken electrical socket, no towels and broken blinds in some rooms. Despite these few drawbacks, the general consensus highlights a well-kept, clean and comfortable hotel experience with good quality amenities.
Overall, the Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns receives high marks for its cleanliness, making it a reliable choice for travelers seeking tidy and well-maintained accommodations.
Staff
The guest reviews of Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns predominantly highlight the exceptional quality of the staff. Visitors consistently praised the staff as friendly, welcoming and helpful with numerous mentions of their professionalism and attentiveness. Words such as amazing, exceptional, brilliant and fabulous were frequently used to describe the team.
The reception staff were particularly noted for being polite and efficient, offering a positive first impression upon check-in. Additionally, bar and restaurant staff received commendations for their great service and cheerful demeanor. Guests felt well-cared-for with several pointing out that the staff couldn't do enough for them and were always accommodating and understanding, even during challenging times like the pandemic.
Specific employees, like a young lad at check-in or an older, friendly lady, left a lasting impression on the guests. There were isolated instances where the service wait was longer than expected or staff appeared harassed and disinterested, but these were exceptions rather than the rule.
Overall, the reviews depict a hotel with a dedicated and professional team that strives to create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, ensuring guests have a memorable and pleasant stay.
Wi-Fi
The wifi at Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns has received mixed feedback from guests. Many appreciated the good and fast wifi available, lauding its speed and reliability. However, some guests encountered difficulties with access and experienced poor signal or slow connection. Issues were particularly notable with Macbook users struggling to connect and concerns were raised about the security of the wifi with some guests preferring not to use it due to their perceptions. Although there are positive remarks about the speed and general availability of wifi, improvements appear necessary to ensure consistent and secure internet access for all visitors.
3 Star
The Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns is a mid-range establishment with a three-star rating, offering satisfactory accommodations that provide value for money. The facilities and rooms at this hotel conform to standard expectations for its category. While the services and amenities align with what one would anticipate from a three-star hotel, guests can expect a reliable and straightforward experience.
Dog Friendly
Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns stands out for its exceptional dog-friendly facilities and services, making it an ideal choice for travelers with pets. Dogs are warmly welcomed in the bar and restaurant areas, allowing them to accompany their owners almost anywhere within these spaces. The pub and rooms are particularly noted for being dog-friendly, emphasizing a welcoming atmosphere for pets. Guests appreciate the easy access to rooms with their dogs and mention the hotel's good parking facilities, which adds to the overall convenience. The establishment's commitment to accommodating dogs ensures a pleasant stay for both pets and their owners.
No, Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns.
No, Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns.
No, Swan Hotel by Greene King Inns doesn't have a gym.