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Reviews of The Dorset

3.5 out of 5
The Dorset
22 Malling Street, Lewes, England

Reviews

8.2

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 94 out of 281 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 121 out of 281 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 44 out of 281 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 18 out of 281 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 4 out of 281 reviews" "

8.2/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

7.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Christofer

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A nice typical English pub.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Response from Manager on 19 Mar 2024
Thank you!

8/10 Good

Rickey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great stay at a bargain price
Last minute booking, was unsure due to some reviews but glad we went ahead! Very welcoming staff when we arrived. Shown to room and given instructions about out of hours procedure. We had dinner at the pub which was good value and again same helpful staff serving us. Room was clean and well equipped although bed was a bit small but maybe because we have a king size at home! Breakfast was included which we were surprised at! There was toast, selection of cereal, yogurts and pastries! Overall a great night stay at a bargain price and very nice staff!
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024
Response from Manager on 30 Jan 2024
Thanks for your review

10/10 Excellent

mark

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Took a while to find a space in the car park
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024
Response from Manager on 30 Jan 2024
Thanks for your review

8/10 Good

Gillian

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good budget stay
Comfortable room. Staff on checking in very matter of fact and didn’t feel particularly welcoming. Good variety at breakfast (gluten free cereals and oat milk) but no plates for croissants and muffins. Shower needs a good clean round the edges. Books got stuck to surface in room as stick drink rings had not been cleaned off. Overall a good budget stay.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023
Response from Manager on 30 Jan 2024
Thanks for your review

4/10 Poor

Bruce

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Avoid
Some may say great old classic tavern others may say run down pub in need of some care and attention!! The room was extremely small, one way to tell was because the bed was extremely small and only matched by the extreme uncomfortableness of it. If you want something relatively cheap and old school look elsewhere if you want something dirty and uncomfortable this is for you
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023
Response from Manager on 8 Dec 2023
Thanks for your review. We are a very old pub. 1638 in fact. All beds are standard doubles. I guess comfortable beds are subjective. But I will be refurbing the last of the rooms in January. Maybe that would be the improvement you feel t needs. Kind regards

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Friendly staff and a good location. The room was a bit small but was clean.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023
Response from Manager on 8 Dec 2023
Thank you!

8/10 Good

Craig

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023
Response from Manager on 8 Dec 2023
Thank you!

6/10 Okay

william

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
ok for the cost
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Response from Manager on 30 Nov 2023
Thanks

6/10 Okay

David

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Room Freezing both days, First day outside 6deg told Rads not due on until 5pm. Next day still not on 6pm, Mgr said Stat gone wrong. Had no other form of heating room.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023
Response from Manager on 30 Nov 2023
Thanks. Yes got caught out with the drop of temperature. Then a problem with the stat. All sorted now.

8/10 Good

Rob

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
ideally situated in the town , close to the south downs , great bar , good clean rooms ,
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Response from Manager on 27 Nov 2023
Thanks

10/10 Excellent

Paula

Travelled with family
Liked: Amenities
Had a lovely short stay here. Perfect location for parking and for walking into the centre of Lewes. Staff were very friendly and helpful. The room had all that we needed. Yes, the bedside lamp did not have a bulb in it and there was a little mould on the bathroom ceiling in one area but the bed was comfortable and the room was quiet and we had en-suite with complimentary toiletries. Coffee machine and kettle, tea & coffee in the room. Continental breakfast at 9am of cereal, yoghurt, fresh fruit, croissants and blueberry muffins plus really tasty toast. Great value for money. Would stay here again.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023
Response from Manager on 20 Nov 2023
Thanks

10/10 Excellent

Alan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Perfect for our needs
The Dorset is perfect for our needs, a central location, plenty to see and do and handy if, like us, you are seeing a performance at Glyndebourne. Staff are friendly, rooms clean and the bar serves good beers!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023
Response from Manager on 20 Nov 2023
Thank you.

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Well placed for what i required
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023
Response from Manager on 12 Nov 2023
Thanks

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Travelled with partner
Liked: Amenities
Absolutely spotless. Lovely staff. Nice proper pub atmosphere. Free overnight parking.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023
Response from Manager on 1 Nov 2023
Thank you!

4/10 Poor

R

Business traveller
Liked: Room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Could have been so much better
The Good - Room OK, Bed Surprisingly comfortable and good quality bedding. Food great in the pub The Bad - Tired furniture and especially rickety wardrobe. (Room 2) Breakfast was almost non existent, had to search for member of staff. ran out of coffee, no hot food available. Was begrudgingly offered toast as a hot meal
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023
Response from Manager on 1 Nov 2023
We don’t offer hot food. We offer a cold continental breakfast with toast, bagels etc. we are always happy to top the coffee up once it goes. It’s a wardrobe not sure what’s rickety about it. But thanks for the suggestion

8/10 Good

Peter

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Bad start but overall pleasant stay
Great value for money. The room was clean and warm. Most of the staff were friendly and helpful. Only let down was the miserable guy on duty when we hecked in just before 11pm. We were told by him that we had to be there for 11 or we could not get the key. We rushed to get there after he begrudgingly told us he would wait a few minutes as we rang a said we might be a few minutes late. He was cleaning up the bar anyway. So he could easily have waited. Apart from this the stay was very pleasant and even more so for the price.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Response from Manager on 1 Nov 2023
Hello. Thanks for the review. Check in is by 10pm. The staff stayed on duty to allow you to get in. So they was in a rush as they needed to get home. This is why check in is by 10pm normally. We’re glad you enjoyed your stay.

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Friendly staff, comfortable and clean room. Breakfast ok but would be nice to have bacon/eggs etc. only offered toast. All round good stay though.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023
Response from Manager on 1 Nov 2023
Thank you .

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The hotel is conveniently located for a stop off if Hiking the South Downs Way, unfortunately I wish it was one I'd avoided. The cleanliness leaves a lot to be desired, a stained duvet cover, bits on the carpet, mould on the soap tray in the shower, dust/cobwebs everywhere, hair in the sink and even the teaspoons supplied for the drinks in the room were stained. Maintenance is also an issue, marked and damaged walls, leaky tap and shower, the quality of the bed and bedding was also a complete eye opening experience. There was also an attempt to charge an additional £15 on check in when the payment had already been made through Hotels.com Every conversation and complaint being made to the staff from the room next door was carried through to my room, along with the repeated sounds of doors opening and closing, which went on late into the night. I had planned on eating here that night, but after seeing the beige soggy looking food a table we're eating on check in I thought better of it. The description and photos don't reflect what is being provided unfortunately. The complimentary shower items were nice, however all four of them were shampoo.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023
Response from Manager on 20 Oct 2023
You was unhappy on arrival. This is just not true. Our food is exceptional and all reviews prove this. We are a pub with rooms you expected a posh hotel. We can’t help doors be opened and closed. All photos are taken of the rooms. So yes they fully are the rooms! I’ve passed this to house keeping but your review is solo against a large amount of positive. We didn’t try and charge you 15. For what?

10/10 Excellent

James

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great night sleep
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023
Response from Manager on 14 Oct 2023
Thank you

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Disliked: Cleanliness
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023
Response from Manager on 10 Oct 2023
Thanks

6/10 Okay

P.S.THOMAS

Travelled with group
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023
Response from Manager on 24 Sept 2023
Thanks

8/10 Good

Angela

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
comfortable stay
Everything was fine, but the shower was dripping and had caused black mold in the cubical. I am only writing this to point it out to the owner. The continental breakfast does not include ham, cheese or eggs.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023
Response from Manager on 24 Sept 2023
ThankYou!

8/10 Good

malcolm

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023
Response from Manager on 13 Sept 2023
Thanks

10/10 Excellent

Ian

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023
Response from Manager on 8 Sept 2023
Thank you!

8/10 Good

Melanie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Loved our one night at The Dorset!
Warm welcome at the Dorset for our one night stay to visit Lewes. Parking was opposite in a council car park and free as a bank holiday. We were taken to our room, given instructions for a late night return after closing hours and breakfast timings. Room comfortable and clean. Noise minimal as pub closed at 10pm. Breakfast was a continental with plenty of options. Liked the pub too where we had drinks only as food is not served after 4pm on a Sunday.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023
Response from Manager on 8 Sept 2023
Thank you!

6/10 Okay

Stephen

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Good vfm for an overnight stay.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023
Response from manager on 29 Aug 2023
thanks

6/10 Okay

Brenda

Travelled with group
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Tired needs some updating especially bathroom
Visiting friends
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023
Response from manager on 29 Aug 2023
thanks

8/10 Good

Collette

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Central location
This was a clean, friendly place to stay- central to Lewes and close to the venue we had to go for a wedding which was ideal
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023
Response from manager on 21 Aug 2023
Thank you

10/10 Excellent

Allan

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023
Response from manager on 21 Aug 2023
thank you!

8/10 Good

Greg

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Old style English pub basic good food cold drinks from the bar easy to walk to the main area of town lots of other pub and tavern options.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Response from manager on 21 Aug 2023
thank you!

10/10 Excellent

STEPHEN

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023
Response from manager on 21 Aug 2023
Thank you

10/10 Excellent

katrina

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023
Response from manager on 12 Aug 2023
thanks

8/10 Good

Andy

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Local and convenient for what I needed.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023
Response from manager on 5 Jul 2023
thank you

8/10 Good

Mandy

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great value for the money
Its a cheap and cheerful place. Couldnt moan about anything really becausr we paid £47 for 2 people bed and breakfast. Its a bargain. The room was adequate, en suite, tv, tea, coffee and biscuits. Fresh clean linen and towels, shower gel and shampoo supplied. Whats not to like. I will definitely stay there again as its near to my daughters college and its cheaper than camping!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023
Response from manager on 5 Jul 2023
Thank you!

6/10 Okay

Kingsley

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023
Response from manager on 5 Jul 2023
thanks.

10/10 Excellent

Paula

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
No complaints at all!
Extremely pleasant stay. No complaints whatsoever. Will definitely stay again!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023
Response from manager on 5 Jul 2023
Thank you!!

10/10 Excellent

Shane

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very good for price with breakfast included. Welcoming and a good choice of beers.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023
Response from manager on 5 Jul 2023
Thank you!

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent stay
Lovely hotel in the heart of town, we have stayed here twice and will be back. Very warm and welcoming staff, clean and comfortable rooms, and satisfying continental breakfast to start the day
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023
Response from manager on 5 Jul 2023
Thank you!

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I’ve stayed here many times in the past (and recommended it to friends) and have always found the staff welcoming, helpful and extremely courteous. The location near to a large car park is ideal, especially for visits to the opera at Glyndebourne.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023
Response from Manager on 20 Jun 2023
Thanks

10/10 Excellent

Kathrhona

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A lovely characterful pub with great food
A lovely friendly old fashioned English Pub. The staff were very nice and prepared to to go over and above to accommodate needs. They have a large beer garden in which my large family enjoyed wide a varied and delicious lunch that suited all our tastes. The rooms are traditional with comfy beds and the continental breakfast has a range of products along with warm croissants and toast. Overall a wonderful stay and will definitely return there.
Pub beer garden
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Response from Manager on 20 Jun 2023
Thanks

10/10 Excellent

B

Stayed 1 night in May 2023
Response from Manager on 20 Jun 2023
Thanks!

8/10 Good

Andrew

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Workinh
Comfortable room, friendly staff, good rate but remeber, you are.sleeping above a pub. Don't complain about the noise.
Stayed 1 night in May 2023
Response from Manager on 27 May 2023
Thank you

10/10 Excellent

HELEN

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Refurbished since our previous stay, so fresh and clean. Enjoyable breakfast and the coffee machine in the room was a lovely extra.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023
Response from Manager on 28 Apr 2023
Thank you!

8/10 Good

Juliet

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023
Response from Manager on 16 Apr 2023
Thank you!

8/10 Good

Paul

Liked: Room comfort
Lovely little stop over
Overnight stop on the way to the ferry at newhaven
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023
Response from Manager on 13 Apr 2023
Thank you!

10/10 Excellent

Sonia

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023
Response from Manager on 12 Apr 2023
Thank you

8/10 Good

Bryn

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023
Response from Manager on 16 Apr 2023
Thank you!

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023
Response from Manager on 5 Apr 2023
Thank you!

6/10 Okay

Susanne

Travelled with partner
Bed area ok but bathroom wasn't very clean - (i.e. shower had grime along door tracks and the sink had yellowed limescale. Also the coffee machine had an old pod left in it. Basically just needs a bit more care! Also pub noise from room directly under but this finished around 11pm.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023
Response from Manager on 13 Mar 2023
Thanks for your review