Poets House

Location: The hotel is centrally located in Ely, within walking distance to the Cathedral and local schools, making it convenient for sightseeing and local activities. Its proximity to key sites is frequently praised by guests.(based on 2 reviews)

Entering the Dining Room at Poet's House sets you up for a first class dining experience, which feels very intimate in the tastefully decorated dining room, almost as if you had been invited to a close friend's house for dinner. The service was excellent, as you would expect in an establishment of this kind. Now for the food: As a starter, I ordered the "chargrilled asparagus spears with a lightly poached egg and bacon with a drizzle of hollandaise". For the main, I settled on the "seared duck breast, served with black berry and red wine sauce, dauphinoise potatoes and glazed rainbow carrots." The menu items are descriptive enough not to leave you guessing what you're in for, and they roll off the tongue almost like a poem. The presentation on the plate is perfection in itself. Not pretentious, but carefully arranged, with each single item perfectly in its place. The taste? Simply sublime, with each item keeping its distinct flavour, but creating a harmonious ensemble in your mouth. And to my surprise, the meal offered a good sized portion that left me fully satisfied - so much so that I didn't even have room for dessert. I make it a rule never to visit fine dining restaurants, because I don't like the stuffiness, and the often elaborate creations that don't fill your stomach, but empty your wallet. Poet's House offers a first class dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere, with good portions and at a price that is affordable. What more could one wish for?

After visiting poet’s house for the 3rd time last night, hoping that would be third time lucky, now feel the need to express that it most definitely was not. And that the service was just as poor the previous two times we have visited. The building itself is beautiful and presents itself as being of high standards however that is not the case when it comes to the service within the establishment, with the exception of the events manager who is absolutely amazing throughout the planning and organisation of a special event that we held their last year in the private function room. Yet the staff on the night did not live up to the same standards or expectations as the event manager. The main bar man serving us on the night stank of cigarettes and didn’t explain to our guests that the drinks he was stood next to were complimentary And therefore all and included in our party package. Meaning our guests ended up going to the bar to buy their drinks despite there being hundreds of pounds of drinks paid for on the table behind him. Then, after dining there for breakfast after an our private party and one night stay, was not greeted at the entrance to the dining room. Therefore, we had to call a member of staff to seat us. Which they did without explaining how the breakfast worked. Therefore, we placed our breakfast order without being told there was a complementary breakfast bar offering a choice continental breakfast and breakfast juices. Therefore, drinks were ordered and charged for, when they were not necessary! The restaurant manager took our order, for 2 full cooked breakfasts but then only served us one. other tables were offered toast ( which is included in your bed and breakfast package ) prior to ordering their breakfast, where is we were not and had to ask. All of which we let pass without complaint thinking that it would just be a one off. However, feel that that is now not the case. And that poor service seems to be re-occurring. Last night, as a special birthday treat, we returned to poets house for drinks in the bar where we witnessed the barmaid and bartender kissing and cuddling behind the bar in front of customers, whilst our drink sat on the sides with the ice melting and diluting our drinks. With the same bar manager ( same woman who served us in the restaurant the year before) took our orders but communicated to the staff the wrong drink which was then served and rejected. Last night’s cocktails, Looked great however Most of the glass was filled with ice with very little alcohol or fluid content and were poor value for money are over £12 a cocktail. So overall it was not third time lucky it was third and last time we will ever visit poet’s house.