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I needed to complain most strongly about a 2 night stay in The Crown Inn, Bishop's Waltham. We booked it thinking it would be a good place to take some friends for dinner whist on our trip South from Yorkshire. We had booked two dinners, one for 3 people and one for 5 people on the Tuesday and Wednesday nights. On the Tuesday afternoon, just 3 hours before our booking we were informed that there was a "problem with the kitchen" and they had to cancel our two bookings. Strangely they could still provide our two booked breakfasts. The room was lovely, but we noticed at once that the waste plug in the washbasin wouldn't work properly. We coped with it that night and then the next morning there was no hot water! We were told that the gas had tripped and it would be sorted. We reported the washbasin problem and was told that would be sorted. The room was not serviced during the day. We were told when we left that we should have requested the room service, but we hadn't been told this. So we didn't get any replacement coffee. tea, or water. Also the water in the washbasin was still cold and the waste tap had still not been repaired by the evening. The water was still cold that night and in the morning. Fortunately the shower was presumably electric as it worked well. On the positive side we had four excellent breakfasts, but the service was rather slow. It was useful to be able to recharge our electric vehicle overnight. We paid £318 for these two nights, but did feel that we should be eligible for some sort of refund as this is hardly the sort of accommodation we would expect for that price. I await your response.

Bishops Waltham is a large village/small town which has many attractive buildings, very typical of the Hampshire area. Good selection of restaurants/pubs. The ruins of the Bishops palace are free to wonder round. The town itself is close to several further places of interest with Winchester about 20 mins away, Portsmouth which can be accessed via road or train - we took the train from Fareham which was about 20 mins and took us to Portsmouth harbour station next to which is the Gun Wharf shopping centre and the historic docks. Marwell Zoo also close by as is the coast. Lots of very attractive villages and countryside including the Meons and Hambledon which close by has the famous Bat & Ball pub with lots of cricket memorabilia.

Bishops Waltham is a local hub with plenty of history and in lovely surroundings. Places of particular interest are the Bishops' Palace, the Crown Inn and the parish church. The variety of buildings down the high street give an indication of the history of the town and the number and variety of eating establishments give plenty of choice. Josie's is great for lunch and I can recommend the Anatolian Turkish restaurant just south of the town. Further afield Winchester and Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard offer plenty to see and do.

The town centre was a a major highlight. As I approached Bishop's Waltham, I got the impression there was nothing around it and I would be staying in some rural outcrop, but I was pleasingly wrong. Bishop's Waltham is a superb place. I got up in the morning and following a delightful breakfast I strolled around Saint Peter's Church, which was charming. After that, and the absolute highlight of the trip, were the ruins of the Bishop of Winchester's Palace. I had heard bishops in the Middle Ages received large estates and held considerable political power, but this place put it into context. Even as a ruin, it is breathtaking.