The Times’s Mystery Guest was not very impressed with his B&B stay at the Pied Bull pub in Chester. The reception was poky, his top-floor room was small and hot, the meal of sausage, peas and mash he ate in the restaurant was “disappointing”, and a DJ played loud rap music in the bar.
From the outside, the Pied Bull, one of the oldest pubs in the city and just a short stroll from the cathedral, looks like an ancient coaching inn with sturdy stone arches. But Mystery Guest gave his room one mark out of 10, the food 2.5 out of 10 and value 2. Service got five out of 10.
Mystery Guest summed up by saying: “I don’t think I’ll be going back in a hurry.”
The Times 02/08//08 (travel) page 19
