The Ancient Unicorn
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Summary of reviewsThe Ancient Unicorn, situated in a serene and picturesque English village just off the A66, offers a charming retreat with a true country life ambiance. Its strategic location provides a convenient stopover between northern and southern England and serves as a perfect base for exploring the stunning countryside, historical towns, castles and museums. Notably, it is a short drive to Barnard Castle and other attractions, making it an excellent choice for history enthusiasts and walkers.
Guests praise the peaceful setting and the enchanting, old building, which adds to the hotel's overall charm. The comfortable and well-decorated rooms come equipped with essential amenities and the friendly, welcoming staff further enhance the experience. Many reviews highlight the cleanliness and tidiness of the rooms, noting the modern amenities, clean common areas and stylish decor. The quirky historical character of the building combined with spacious, well-furnished accommodations provides a unique and cozy atmosphere.
The dining experience at The Ancient Unicorn is well-regarded. Guests frequently commend the delicious and well-cooked evening meals with standout mentions of flavorful dishes like curry and chicken tikka burgers. The traditional Sunday lunch and high-quality breakfast offerings, often described as excellent and beautifully executed, contribute significantly to a satisfying stay. Moreover, the breakfast receives high praise for variety and quality, featuring both hot and continental options served in a cozy restaurant with friendly service.
Comfortable beds are a standout feature with numerous guests highlighting the firm mattresses and high-quality cotton sheets that ensure a restful night's sleep. The hotel's soundproofing and the overall cleanliness create a warm and cozy environment, further enhancing guest comfort.
For travelers with canine companions, The Ancient Unicorn proves to be very accommodating. Offering spacious, clean rooms and direct access to peaceful walks, it’s an ideal spot for an overnight stay with dogs. While dogs are not allowed in the restaurant, the overall hospitality ensures that guests with dogs feel welcome and comfortable.
The exemplary staff, especially figures like Cali, often go above and beyond to be helpful and accommodating, contributing to the positive ambiance. Although there are occasional critiques about specific dietary accommodations and menu knowledge, the overwhelmingly positive sentiment speaks volumes about the dedication to guest satisfaction.
In summary, The Ancient Unicorn excels in providing a comfortable and tranquil retreat with exceptional service, hearty dining and charming accommodations, making it a favorite among travelers exploring the beauty and history of the area.
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Guests praise the peaceful setting and the enchanting, old building, which adds to the hotel's overall charm. The comfortable and well-decorated rooms come equipped with essential amenities and the friendly, welcoming staff further enhance the experience. Many reviews highlight the cleanliness and tidiness of the rooms, noting the modern amenities, clean common areas and stylish decor. The quirky historical character of the building combined with spacious, well-furnished accommodations provides a unique and cozy atmosphere.
The dining experience at The Ancient Unicorn is well-regarded. Guests frequently commend the delicious and well-cooked evening meals with standout mentions of flavorful dishes like curry and chicken tikka burgers. The traditional Sunday lunch and high-quality breakfast offerings, often described as excellent and beautifully executed, contribute significantly to a satisfying stay. Moreover, the breakfast receives high praise for variety and quality, featuring both hot and continental options served in a cozy restaurant with friendly service.
Comfortable beds are a standout feature with numerous guests highlighting the firm mattresses and high-quality cotton sheets that ensure a restful night's sleep. The hotel's soundproofing and the overall cleanliness create a warm and cozy environment, further enhancing guest comfort.
For travelers with canine companions, The Ancient Unicorn proves to be very accommodating. Offering spacious, clean rooms and direct access to peaceful walks, it’s an ideal spot for an overnight stay with dogs. While dogs are not allowed in the restaurant, the overall hospitality ensures that guests with dogs feel welcome and comfortable.
The exemplary staff, especially figures like Cali, often go above and beyond to be helpful and accommodating, contributing to the positive ambiance. Although there are occasional critiques about specific dietary accommodations and menu knowledge, the overwhelmingly positive sentiment speaks volumes about the dedication to guest satisfaction.
In summary, The Ancient Unicorn excels in providing a comfortable and tranquil retreat with exceptional service, hearty dining and charming accommodations, making it a favorite among travelers exploring the beauty and history of the area.
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Guest Reviews
Nestled in a picturesque and serene English village, The Ancient Unicorn offers a charming retreat with a true country life feeling. Its convenient location just off the busy A66 makes it an ideal stopover between northern and southern England with plenty of easy parking available.
The hotel provides a perfect base for exploring the stunning countryside, historical towns, castles and museums. Notably, it’s just a short drive or taxi ride to Barnard Castle and other nearby attractions like the Bowes Museum and Scotch Corner, making it an excellent choice for history enthusiasts and walkers alike.
Guests appreciate the quiet, peaceful setting and the lovely, old building, which adds to the overall charm. The rooms are described as comfortable and well-decorated with friendly and welcoming staff enhancing the experience. The attached pub serves well-cooked food, making dining convenient.
Whether it's breaking a long journey from a Scottish holiday or exploring the Pennine Way, the location offers both tranquility and accessibility, making it a favorite among travelers looking to experience the beauty and history of the area.
The Ancient Unicorn receives high praise for its breakfast offerings. Guests frequently use terms like "excellent," "great," and "very good" to describe their morning meals. The breakfast is noted to be hot, fresh and quick with some reviews highlighting its inclusion in the stay as an unexpected perk. The variety of options is well-received, featuring both hot dishes like the full English breakfast—often commended for its quality ingredients, particularly the bacon—and a selection of cereals, yogurts, fruits and juices.
Many guests appreciate the friendly service and the cozy atmosphere of the restaurant. The breakfast ambiance, sometimes accompanied by soft morning music, adds a pleasant touch to the start of the day. The offerings are also praised for exceeding expectations, whether it’s a traditional cooked breakfast or a locally sourced continental spread.
However, there are occasional mentions of the breakfast being pricey or lacking in variety, particularly for vegetarian options. Despite these minor criticisms, the overall consensus is that the breakfast experience at The Ancient Unicorn greatly contributes to a satisfying stay. With numerous mentions of returning guests, the breakfast seems to be one of the hotel's standout features.
'The Ancient Unicorn' hotel garners a range of feedback regarding its dining experience with the majority skewing positively. Many guests commend the staff for their friendliness and helpfulness, significantly enhancing the dining atmosphere. The culinary offerings, particularly the evening meals, are frequently praised for being delicious with standout mentions of home-cooked and well-cooked dishes. Some guests specifically enjoyed flavorful options like curry and chicken tikka burgers and many appreciated the affordability and value of the meals. The hotel's breakfasts also received positive remarks, often highlighted as both satisfying and beautifully executed.
Despite the overwhelming praise, there were a few notes of criticism. Some guests found the food to be amateurish or disappointing and a few reported that it lacked catering for special diets and vegans. Nonetheless, the consistency of positive reviews, especially regarding traditional British dishes, the exceptional Sunday lunch and the overall quality of both dinner and breakfast, suggests that visitors can generally expect a pleasant and hearty dining experience at 'The Ancient Unicorn.'
The Ancient Unicorn offers an array of remarkably comfortable and well-maintained rooms housed in a historic, charming building. Guests frequently praise the cleanliness and tidiness of the rooms, noting that they come well-equipped with essential amenities such as heaters, hairdryers, tea/coffee facilities and toiletries. Many reviews highlight the comfort of the beds and the high-quality showers, making for a pleasant stay. The rooms vary in size with several guests appreciating the spaciousness and tasteful decoration, especially those who stayed in the large, well-furnished accommodations.
The hotel's quirky and historical character adds a unique touch and the rooms' décor complements this ambiance with a blend of modern and classical styles. Guests staying in courtyard rooms also mention these being comfortably accessible. The convenience of having rooms just off the courtyard is appreciated, though they might be a bit smaller.
Overall, The Ancient Unicorn's rooms are noted for being quiet and cozy with ample space for relaxation. The staff’s friendliness and the high quality of food further enhance the overall experience. Whether for a short stay or an extended visit, guests find the accommodation to be a good value for money, making it an ideal choice for a comfortable and tranquil retreat.
The Ancient Unicorn has garnered a plethora of positive feedback specifically focused on the comfort of its beds. Many guests have consistently highlighted the beds as being incredibly comfortable, often describing them as comfortable, warm and cozy. Phrases such as great beds, extremely comfortable beds and super comfy bed frequently appear in the reviews. Additionally, guests have praised the firm mattresses and high-quality cotton sheets that help ensure a good night's sleep. The accommodation is also noted for its clean environment and soundproofing, contributing to the overall comfort. Besides the beds, other amenities like comfy chairs and large bathrooms have added to the pleasant experience. While there was a mention of a hard bed by one guest, the overwhelming sentiment suggests that The Ancient Unicorn excels at providing a restful and comfortable stay with lovely rooms and attentive service.
The Ancient Unicorn has received consistent praise for its cleanliness from its guests. Many reviews highlight the impeccably clean rooms and modern amenities, emphasizing the comfort and stylish decor. Guests commonly noted the spotless state of the rooms and common areas, appreciating the attention to detail and effort invested in maintaining high cleanliness standards. The ensuite and shared bathrooms were often described as very clean, though a few guests mentioned minor issues such as the need for fresh sealant and paint in certain parts.
The property, set in a beautiful village with a charming pub, offers a warm welcome from friendly and attentive staff, adding to the overall positive experience. Modern, well-decorated rooms equipped with tea-making facilities and TVs were consistently mentioned as clean and inviting. Guests were particularly impressed with the accommodations in the stable block for their comfort and spaciousness, likening them to a home away from home.
While the majority of reviews were overwhelmingly positive about cleanliness, there were isolated mentions of areas needing improvement, such as floors covered in dog hair and cobwebs in windows. Despite this, the vast majority of guests found the rooms to be extremely clean, well-maintained and comfortable, suggesting that The Ancient Unicorn excels in providing a hygienic and pleasant stay.
The Ancient Unicorn boasts a reputation for exceptional customer service, as echoed by numerous guests who have experienced stays at this establishment. Friendly and welcoming staff consistently make patrons feel at home, often going above and beyond to be helpful and accommodating. The cheerful and approachable nature of the team, including notably attentive figures like Cali, contributes greatly to the overall positive ambiance. While there are occasional comments about staff lacking extensive menu knowledge or conversational engagement, the overwhelmingly positive sentiment highlights the staff's dedication to ensuring a pleasant and comfortable stay for all guests. Moreover, the combination of friendly service and high-quality food significantly enhances the dining experience, solidifying The Ancient Unicorn as a choice destination for both accommodation and meals.
The Ancient Unicorn warmly welcomes guests traveling with their canine companions. This dog-friendly hotel offers convenient off-road parking and spacious accommodations, such as spotlessly clean, large bedrooms in the old coach house. Guests can enjoy lovely walks with their dogs directly from the door, taking advantage of the peaceful local surroundings. While dogs are not permitted in the restaurant, the overall hospitality makes visitors with dogs feel very welcome. Access to the cobbled yard is a nice feature for easy outings. Overall, it's an ideal spot for an overnight stay with furry friends, providing a clean, quiet and accommodating environment.
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Location
The hotel provides a perfect base for exploring the stunning countryside, historical towns, castles and museums. Notably, it’s just a short drive or taxi ride to Barnard Castle and other nearby attractions like the Bowes Museum and Scotch Corner, making it an excellent choice for history enthusiasts and walkers alike.
Guests appreciate the quiet, peaceful setting and the lovely, old building, which adds to the overall charm. The rooms are described as comfortable and well-decorated with friendly and welcoming staff enhancing the experience. The attached pub serves well-cooked food, making dining convenient.
Whether it's breaking a long journey from a Scottish holiday or exploring the Pennine Way, the location offers both tranquility and accessibility, making it a favorite among travelers looking to experience the beauty and history of the area.
Breakfast
Many guests appreciate the friendly service and the cozy atmosphere of the restaurant. The breakfast ambiance, sometimes accompanied by soft morning music, adds a pleasant touch to the start of the day. The offerings are also praised for exceeding expectations, whether it’s a traditional cooked breakfast or a locally sourced continental spread.
However, there are occasional mentions of the breakfast being pricey or lacking in variety, particularly for vegetarian options. Despite these minor criticisms, the overall consensus is that the breakfast experience at The Ancient Unicorn greatly contributes to a satisfying stay. With numerous mentions of returning guests, the breakfast seems to be one of the hotel's standout features.
Dinner
Despite the overwhelming praise, there were a few notes of criticism. Some guests found the food to be amateurish or disappointing and a few reported that it lacked catering for special diets and vegans. Nonetheless, the consistency of positive reviews, especially regarding traditional British dishes, the exceptional Sunday lunch and the overall quality of both dinner and breakfast, suggests that visitors can generally expect a pleasant and hearty dining experience at 'The Ancient Unicorn.'
Rooms
The hotel's quirky and historical character adds a unique touch and the rooms' décor complements this ambiance with a blend of modern and classical styles. Guests staying in courtyard rooms also mention these being comfortably accessible. The convenience of having rooms just off the courtyard is appreciated, though they might be a bit smaller.
Overall, The Ancient Unicorn's rooms are noted for being quiet and cozy with ample space for relaxation. The staff’s friendliness and the high quality of food further enhance the overall experience. Whether for a short stay or an extended visit, guests find the accommodation to be a good value for money, making it an ideal choice for a comfortable and tranquil retreat.
Beds
Cleanliness
The property, set in a beautiful village with a charming pub, offers a warm welcome from friendly and attentive staff, adding to the overall positive experience. Modern, well-decorated rooms equipped with tea-making facilities and TVs were consistently mentioned as clean and inviting. Guests were particularly impressed with the accommodations in the stable block for their comfort and spaciousness, likening them to a home away from home.
While the majority of reviews were overwhelmingly positive about cleanliness, there were isolated mentions of areas needing improvement, such as floors covered in dog hair and cobwebs in windows. Despite this, the vast majority of guests found the rooms to be extremely clean, well-maintained and comfortable, suggesting that The Ancient Unicorn excels in providing a hygienic and pleasant stay.
Staff
Dog Friendly
No, The Ancient Unicorn doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Ancient Unicorn.
Yes, The Ancient Unicorn welcomes dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at The Ancient Unicorn.
No, The Ancient Unicorn doesn't have a gym.
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