Guest User
October 30, 2024
We are visiting from UK and Bells was highly recommended by friends who had had dinner there last week. We arrived about 12 noon and hoped to have coffee and a lite lunch/bite. The Bell Bakery is part of the hotel and is signposted on the main road. Having travelled all the way from Sydney, specifically to visit this place, on arrival at the cafe, we were told by the server (politely and very embarrassed) that we could not enjoy coffees and pastries on the premises but that we could ‘take/away’! (Buy, but sit in our car). We asked if we could have our refreshments in the garden, ‘no’ was the answer. The hotel looked delightful but was quiet, and I could see only one car in the car park and there was only one table occupied by guests in the cafe terrace. When we enquired if they would make an exception as it was obviously very quiet, the server said ‘no’. The thing was, that we were hoping to do some sightseeing and then shortly after, return for lunch, but this experience was enough not to return. Seriously short-sighted policy by this business which was, it would seem, be a victim of their own ‘residents only’ rule as the place was deserted!! Such a shame.