When I looked for a hotel close to the railway station in York - I was coming
down from Scotland on the East Coast line and fancied visiting the city for
the first time - I had not expected to end up quite so close.
Turn left out of the station and there was the Royal York: a huge rambling
Victorian building that was once visited by Queen Victoria herself (she
stopped for tea on the way to Balmoral).
I entered through a creaky revolving door and passed into a reception with two
giant chandeliers and a stately staircase snaking to a glass dome.
Then came a surprise. Upstairs, I discovered my room overlooked the station.
There, straight ahead just a few feet away, was the curved roof over the
platforms: a decent leap and a shimmy down a drainpipe, and I'd be at Costa
Coffee in time to order an espresso and catch the next train.
I stared in disbelief. Then I heard something. It was a station announcement.
From the bathroom I could hear the mumbling intonations of the loudspeaker
system. The 16.24 was on time, arriving at platform 5. No excuses for
missing my train tomorrow, I thought to myself, wondering how I'd managed to
end up virtually sleeping in the concourse.
The room was modern with purple decor (has Britain gone purple mad, the colour
is everywhere?) and the original wooden furniture, which added a bit of
class. There was even a Corby trouser press, not that I've ever used one of
those before.
Things weren't so bad, I decided, and went for a walk around York after
inspecting the hotel grounds. These consisted of a large garden at the front
(the rooms at the front of the hotel have marvellous views of York Minster,
not railway sheds) with a fountain and a row of flags that made it look as
though an international conference was about to be held there.
I enjoyed seeing the sights, and got back to the hotel to consider trying the
basement pool. The pool had been one of the reasons I'd chosen the hotel,
but it was very small and packed with people, so I didn't bother. From my
room, I watched a lovely orange and mauve sunset above the station roof.
Dinner was in a fine room with a high ceiling, lots more chandeliers and big
windows looking on to York Minster, which was lit up in a caramel glow down
the hill.
I was given a window seat and ordered Thai fish cakes (more potato than fish)
and roast beef with winter vegetables. The beef was good, though my request
in advance for Yorkshire pudding was greeted with: “Sorry, but we don't have
the mixture.”
Back in my room I checked the train times on the internet, listened by the
bathroom window in case there were any special announcements, and got an
early night.
Bottom line Mystery Guest paid £119 for a B&B double.
Sampling the fare £30 for three courses.
Best thing Easy check-in.
Worst thing Station view.
Need to know Royal York (01904 653681, www.principal-hotels.com),
Station Road, YO24 1AA.
Room 6.5 out of 10.
Food 6 out of 10.
Service 6 out of 10.
Value 6 out of 10.
Score 6.13
PUT TO THE TEST: 20 Mystery Guest questions for... the Royal York, York
1. Do rooms have kettles/coffee makers? And is there fresh milk?
Kettles with milk cartons, but guests can request fresh milk from reception.
2. Is there a hairdryer, and is it fixed to a wall?
Handheld hairdryers.
3. Are coathangers metal, wooden, removable?
Wooden, removeable.
4. Complimentary bottle of water?
Only in suites.
5. Sheets and blankets or duvets?
Sheets and duvets.
6. What about a 'pillow menu'?
No.
7. Is lighting good enough for reading?
OK lighting.
8. Is there a shaving/make up mirror? And is it well lit?
Yes, lit well.
9. What about the in-room entertainment system?
Satellite television.
10. Is there a temperature control panel?
Yes.
11. Do the windows open?
Yes.
12. Is there good sound-proofing?
OK really - the railway mumblings were not too loud.
13. Is there wi-fi internet access?
Yes, wireless: £10 for a day.
14. Is there a good place to go jogging nearby?
Jogs along the York city walls recommended - a three mile circuit.
15. What is the vegetarian food selection like?
Good: two vegetarian-specialist chefs.
16. Is there baby listening/babysitting? And are children welcome at
adults' evening meals?
No baby listening, but baby-sitting team is on call.
17. Is there wheelchair access to all areas?
Yes.
18. Do you get a free paper in the morning?
Yes.
19. Is there a pub round the corner?
Coopers pub in the station.
20. Is there free car parking? And is it secure?
Parking is secure: £10 a day.
I have the most marvelous photographs of the Minister taken at dawn from my open window at the Royal York.
Mark Hatchett, Eden, North Carolina USA
If you check out your hotels in advance on the internet you will never be surprised by the location. Looking at google earth, the Royal York appears to be a Victorian railway hotel, so it is hardly surprising it is next to the station.
Oliver Chettle, Bedford,
We stayed at The Royal York about two years ago. We took swimming costumes looking forward to a luxury spa. It was the biggest disappointment ever. The, well you can't even call it a spa, was like a school's PE department. Tatty notices everywhere, only cramped communal changing, dirty showers. Hotel guests even had to deposit £1 for a locker key. No robes, only towels. The pool was minute and like swimming in a flooded (as in river-water flooded) basement. The jacuzzi had scum on it. An altogether horrible experience. I belong to a spa that is run alongside a 4-star hotel (Tre Yscawen ) on Anglesey. A haven of luxury by comparison.
Jenet Peers, Llanbedrgoch, Anglesey