Description: Mercure York Fairfield Manor Hotel
Shipton Road
York
YO30 1XW - YORK
We became very friendly with three other couples while on our trip to China some years ago and since then we have been meeting up regularly either at each other’ homes or at a hotel somewhere interesting. This hotel was our latest meet as we thought York would offer some interesting distractions for us.
The hotel was outside the city which we chose deliberately as parking added quite a bit to a city centre hotel. This hotel was not too far from the park and ride which all those over 60 got to ride on for about £1.20 while the younger ones of us and those who had forgotten their gold cards had to pay about £2.60 each. We managed to use only two cars to get to the park and ride and it was less than 5 minutes from the hotel so perfect really.
We booked the four rooms through the internet and paid in full in advance. One person booked and we re paid them just to ensure that we all got in to the same hotel. The deal was two nights stay but did not include breakfast or anything else. This was not the best deal we have had when booking our group reunions as the two nights cost us £138 per couple for two night’s accommodation only.
ARRIVING
We happened to have booked this for the week end when we had the heavy snow at the end of March and so it was touch and go as to whether we were going to get there. We did get there despite the weather and found the hotel easily. It was just off a fairly minor road and parking was plentiful.
The hotel was not the most beautiful outside and had been extended but inside is what counts I suppose. It was supposed to be an 18th century Georgian building but it was well disguised in my humble opinion.
"Relax in Yorkshire countryside at the 18th century Mercure York, Fairfield Manor, which blends modern amenities with old-world style in a Georgian manor house. The sweeping oak staircase leads to traditionally styled guestrooms."This is what it said on their website.
We carried our bag in and went straight to the desk. We were given a room on the ground floor. The reception desk is on the left as you enter the hotel. The rest of the area around the entrance is comfortable seating with low coffee tables. There are areas sort of demarcated with railings, arches and so one so that it isn’t one huge area but several smaller areas so you can sit and enjoy a few drinks from the bar in the bottom right hand corner. You can also order snacks, sandwiches and the like from the staff and eat them in any of these areas as our friends did for their lunch.
I have to say the kitchen or staff serving were not very adaptable re the lunch order as my friend wanted a bread roll with her soup and ‘It doesn’t come with a roll’ was the response. Surely it would not have been that difficult to find a bread roll or offered bread instead but no nothing was offered which I thought was poor especially as she offered to pay extra for it. I am glad we had our home made rnies in the car on the way!!
OUR ROOM
This was quite a walk away along a couple of corridors which were nicely carpeted and had bay windows with vases in them to break up the length of corridor.
The room had a double bed and a single too as well as a couple of armchairs, a fitted desk unit with drawers for storage. The wardrobe gave plenty of hanging space with those stupid hangers that are not steal able because the hanging bit is attached to the pole. I find them really annoying to hang things on but they do the job when you have managed to fix tiny stick bit into the hole in the hanging bit. Not something to do after a few drinks or of you suffer from Parkinsons I would imagine !
The beds were made up with fresh white cotton sheets with a striped dark maroon coloured cushion in the centre of the pillows and nothing else. The carpet was plain and quite dark coloured grayish while the furniture was a bit dated in a sort of lightish coloured wood. The long floor length curtains were dark and heavy with a kind of leaf pattern and the window had net curtains as well.
The flat screen TV was quite small and nothing special and we had a small kettle with tea and coffee stuff with a couple of biscuits too all on a small tray.
The bathroom was small but had a bath with shower over it and the usual toilet and basin with a vanity mirror behind and a long shelf to put make up and bits. They left us with shampoo, shower gel and body lotion as well as soap, a shower cap and mending kit but no conditioner as is often the case. They were nicely set out in striped green colours standing on their lids.
There was free wifi in the lobby area but I also got free wifi in the room as well which was quite a bonus
in the UK.
EVENING MEAL
As we were so far out of York and the weather was bad and there was nothing else in reasonable distance that offered anything more interesting, we ate both night at the hotel. The service was excellent and the staff could not do enough for us; the food however was average in my view. A number of our party had the curry with chips and rice and all said it was tasty but too many carbs for me. I had fish on both nights and it was okay but forgettable. There was not anything specifically I could pick fault with but I can’t say either of the starters or main courses that I had were ones I would go back for a second time. We ate there on the first night and went looking for another place for the second night; we only ate in the hotel because there was nothing else nearby so that is the sort of standard you are looking at.
It was not especially cheap either as starters went from £6 upwards and mains from £8 upwards. The rinks were okay but again not cheap. Our share of the bill came to nearly £80 for the two of us which is expensive in our opinion but that often happens when you split a bill with other we have found.
BREAKFASTS
These were in the same dining room as we had eaten the night before and if you booked ahead they were £10 each if you didn’t book ahead I believe they were about £15. Had we been by ourselves we would have not bothered and eaten breakfast in York somewhere but as we were with other we paid up. My husband had fruit juice and a cooked breakfast whereas I had yoghurt and some fruit and a pastry for my £10. The options were cereals, some fruit which was not that interesting, yoghurt, pastries and various cooked bacon, eggs, rosti potato, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms and that kind of thing. For someone wanting a full English cooked breakfast it was not a bad price but for me it was an expensive yoghurt and pastry. We did also have coffee and tea offered to us and brought to the table.
OTHER SERVICES
For those with disabilities the main communal areas of the hotel are on ground floor and there is a ramp access, Wheelchair access, and accessible bathrooms.
SUMMARY
I would happily stay in the hotel again if we wanted to visit York again as the park and ride being so near is really handy. I would however avoid a week end as the prices are less at other times and I would look to see when there were stays for less than we paid. I would also NOT have breakfast in the hotel but would wait till we got into York and find a café. I would have a coffee or tea in the room with a cereal bar to keep me going.
The hotel was okay but considering the price we paid I would expect that. We got much better value from the Hilton we stayed in in Newbury last year and the hotel we stayed in near Manchester the time before.
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