Name: Ellesmere House
Address: South Street, Castle Cary, Castle Cary, Castle Cary, BA7 7EX, United Kingdom
Rating: 10

Smoke-free property

Heating

Newspapers

Garden

Television in lobby

Terrace

Private check-in/check-out

Outdoor furniture

No elevators

General

Allergy-free rooms

Non-smoking rooms

Family room

Indoor Fireplace

Hairdryer

Flat-screen TV

Shower/Bathtub

Bathtub

Bathrobe

Toiletries

Rooms

Iron and board

Ironing

Laundry

Concierge services

Dry-cleaning

Shoe shine

Luggage storage

Services and amenities

Diet menu (on request)

Breakfast

Common kitchen

Bottled water

Kettle

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

Area shuttle

Airport transportation

Transfer

Barbecue grill(s)

Picnic area

Barbeque

Recreation

Parking

Family/Kid Friendly

Kids

Pets allowed

Pets

Temperature control for staff

Personal protection equipment for staff

Extra decontamination measures

Personal protection equipment for guests

Additional measures against COVID-19

Health and Safety Measures

Location

At the hotel

Room amenities

Bristol Airport

Bournemouth Airport

Ellesmere House

Castle Cary

Excellent six star service 😀. Very homely atmosphere provided by hosts. The breakfast was delicious with home made specialisties. Beautiful well maintained gardens. Quiet and peaceful overlooking the meadows. We visited the Newt and the B&B is convenient located. We highly recommend anyone considering visiting the area. Andre & Dina

Excellent stay?

Melanie and Martin are the perfect hosts, making us feel very much at home. A lovely, stylish house, with lots of personal touches and an outdoor area and garden perfect for relaxing after a busy day of sightseeing. The breakfast is truly outstanding, with a range of delicious homemade compotes and fresh fruit, the best granola ever and Martin’s scrambled eggs a tour de force.

Castle Cary’s best

Charming and beautiful Bed and Breakfast run by lovely people. We had a lovely comfortable night stay and breakfast with Martin and Melanie. The house is so well decorated and the room was excellent. The food was all fresh and homegrown and we loved the whole experience. 

Charming and beautiful Bed and Breakfast run by lovely people. 

Absolutely wonderful stay. The place is beautiful, impeccably clean, the breakfast is delicious and the best hosts - guardian angels- Melanie and Martin.  The place is re-energizing and tranquil. Even the dogs are absolutely lovely! Thank you for everything, can’t wait to see you again!

Fantastic stay

Simply one of the best experiences I have ever had staying anywhere in the world. Amazing rooms, superb food, stylish in a totally relaxing way. But the best thing of all is Martin and Melanie. The kindest and most helpful hosts ever. We felt as a whole family privileged and lucky to have found this truly unique and utterly delightful spot. And Martin’s tie was a perfect wedding addition. 

Wonderful in every way

A beautifully appointed house with wonderful hosts.  Nothing was too much trouble for Martin and Melanie. Luxurious linen and fluffy white towels with an invitation to dip into an array of gorgeous bath products. Delicious breakfast, we had the continental with Melanie’s amazing assortment of stewed fruit and homemade granola. We also enjoyed Martin’s legendary scrambled eggs and a delightful cooked breakfast on our second morning. Excellent advice on local restaurants and pubs and Martin very kindly fetched us from dinner so we could have a drink (or three). We will return! 

Luxurious accommodation and brilliant hosts. 

I write this as a hotel owner (in the U.S.) who totally understands that there are days when things just go wrong.  But everything that went wrong with my attempted stay at Ellesmere House could have been avoided if the owners had acted like professional innkeepers and not someone doing this as a hobby.

There were some glitchy communication issues during and after booking and it only continued--and worsened--on the day of my arrival.  On the morning of my arrival in the UK, I began receiving emails from Melanie.  First, that they wouldn't be at home when I arrived (though I booked this room almost a  month before) but that someone would check me in.  I replied that this was fine--innkeepers need a break sometimes and we do this ourselves, leaving our very capable assistant in charge.  I assumed this would be the case at this bed and breakfast, too.  I then got an email asking to talk on the phone.  I hadn't signed up for phone service while abroad so this was not convenient but luckily I was visiting a British friend and we used her phone.  Melanie seemed very far away with a bad phone connection.  She then pressed me repeatedly for the exact time of my arrival.  Have you ever had a hotel demand this information?  I never have.  I explained I was an hour away and didn't know the exact time.  She continued to press until i told her five o'clock.  This call had been on speaker on when I hung up,  My British friend said this innkeeper was all about herself (I'll spare you the rude Brit expression).  

So off we set, with a deadline imposed by Melanie, and we made it right on time.  But wait, was this Ellesmere House?  The sign said so, but it was dark, only a light showing through the front window from the downstairs hallway.  The door opened instantly when I knocked.  The housekeeper was waiting for us and she seemed nervous.  The rooms to the left and right of the hallway were in darkness.  I assumed they were common rooms and wandered into one but the housekeeper said no, we had to go up to my room.  I asked where breakfast was served.  No answer 

Up the stairs we went (very steep and narrow) and into my room.  It was COLD.  Cold and chill.  I remarked on this and the housekeeper pulled a blanket out of the cupboard.  Then she pulled out a space heater and plugged it in.  My friend and I waited a few minutes and touched it and it was stone cold.  Meanwhile, the housekeeper couldn't explain how the coffeemaker worked and was getting more and more nervous.  She was a nice person but clearly unqualified to check in guests.  We have housekeepers, too, and their job is to clean rooms.  We would not ask them to do a check in.

At some point during all of this, she informed us that I was the only guest in the house that night.  I looked around at the cold room in this unwelcoming B&B, imagined coming back there after dinner, and said, No way am I staying here.  My British friend agreed completely and we left.  Luckily, I was able to reserve a room  at The George down the road, where I received a warm (in every way) welcome.

The George didn't even take my credit card until I checked out.  Melanie, however, had my credit card info, and she insisted on charging me for one night, despite the fact that I had had a very bad experience on arrival and that I hadn't cost them a penny in utilities (no heat, hardly any light).  Unless you count cost for the 15 minutes that the housekeeper was there.  We had a very frustrating back and forth on email, during which Melanie managed to insult me by assuring me they would have made the house "roasty toasty" for me  (I'm from Maine, way colder than the West Country), that they lived on site (how would I know that when I didn't meet them and the housekeeper didn't say so), and that they would have met me after my dinner out--but how did they know what time I would be back?  

Melanie wouldn't back down and has kept my money, which my bank will dispute.  The last thing I want to do is to trash another lodging property, but I've been left no choice.  

There will be a space under here for the owner's reply but what I have written is exactly what happened.

Dark, cold, and empty

Wonderful 3 night stay in this gorgeous Victorian house. Fantastic hosts Melanie and Martin.  The hotel is situated just a few minutes walk from the picturesque market town.  The hotel was lovely and homely and the breakfasts were superb. Continental lovely choices with quality ingredients .  There were some fantastic walks up in the hills behind the hotel which were so picturesque and on the doorstep. Thanks to Melanie and Martin the morning chats were great .  Thoroughly recommend .

Lovely 3 day stay 

What a wonderful stay we had.
 Martin and Melanie are the most perfect hosts who just cannot do enough for you. I had an issue which Martin sorted with a few trips to his local post office. Much appreciated.  
Big bedroom, big bathroom a super duper breakfast which gives Martin the chance to show his culinary skills off to great effect! Everything is fresh and home made - do not pass over Melanie’s own made granola. Delicious. 
 The breakfast is taken at a communal table which gave us the chance to chats to other guests who were lovely...fellow Celts from Scotland and Ireland. 
Thank goodness genuine hospitality is alive and thriving and especially in this marvellous bed and breakfast.

Top marks....top place, top host and hostess, highly recommended.   


Super B and B 

We have just returned from a wonderful stay at Ellesmere House.  Such an engaging welcome from Martin set the scene, walking through the beautiful house built the excitement and opening the door to the gorgeous room, overlooking gardens and fields, had me beaming. We were made to feel so comfortable, lots of tea choices, coffee machine, hot chocolate, fresh milk in the mini fridge and luxury toiletries. Breakfast was delicious (Mel's fresh fruit compote was a revelation) and hilarious.  Melanie and Martin are so warm, considerate and funny, I commented that it felt like having Christmas morning with complete strangers. We didn't want to leave - can't wait to go back. Linda

Ellesmere House

Main amenities of the hostel

Location

Available rooms

Location

Description of the hostel

What other amenities are there?

Policies

Check-in terms and conditions

Paid on the spot

Payment