Guest User
September 25, 2023
One of us had a previous positive experience at this hotel a few years ago, which was the reason for booking it this time. We were on a visit to a family member, who is in poor health and visiting for the first time since Covid restrictions were lifted. However there is now something afoot with this hotel. We were told that the former owner has passed it on to his daughter, who was absent throughout our four night stay. We aren't in the habit of posting poor reviews here and we always seek to say something positive. We found the hotel to be very clean and the bed linen and towels were all fresh. The beds were comfortable and we slept well. There is also a convenient car park at the rear and the hotel is centrally located. Sam who appeared to be trying to hold the show on the road was nothing less than apologetic and polite at all times. However...... This was one of the weirdest hotel stays we have had in many a long year. Our suspicions should have been aroused when we booked the hotel direct and had a call three weeks before our stay asking us to pay up in full in advance. On arrival, we were greeted in the car park by Sam, who said he had been there for only a few days himself. We found that the bar was closed and chained and padlocked due to "changing the licence". As far as we could tell neither the front door or the back door to the car park were ever locked, so we didn't feel completely safe. In the room we found we had no plug in the sink. The sash windows were stuck closed. The weather had cooled down by the time of our visit, but we could have done with some fresh air and the room (no 6) would have been insufferable in the recent heatwave. At breakfast the following morning there was one gentleman wandering around taking tea and coffee orders, still in his puffa jacket. There were some self service cooked items on the hot range, but no cerals, juices, milk, yohurt offered. Our request for soya milk had been noted. We sent Sam a text with a list of requirements for next morning and to be fair these items were provided the next day. Our final evening was Sunday and we appeared to be the only people staying. We came down at 08:35 the next morning to find no-one around and no breakfast laid out. The kitchen was deserted and no-one responded when we called out. The only thing missing was tumbleweed blowing around! We finished packing and loaded the car. Still no-one around. We ended up having breakfast in the Wetherspoons across the road before heading home. A reply to a request for a refund for our last night is awaited. We wish Sam and the new owner the best of luck in getting this place straight - they are clearly going to need it. Finding quality accommodation in Hawick has eluded us. If Premier Inn ever make the numbers work and open here they will clean up on present form. To close on a positive note, we had some very good restaurant experiences in and around Hawick and will post some further reviews.