The Minster Hotel

I have mixed feelings about this hotel. There are several things it does very well, but unfortunately my experience with the reception staff left a lasting negative impression. Starting with the positives, the location is excellent. The hotel is just minutes away from all the main points of interest, and directly opposite the hotel there is a Sainsbury's convenience store, which is very convenient. Another great advantage is that the hotel offers free parking if you book directly with them. The breakfast was excellent. The hot breakfast was freshly cooked to order and was always delicious. Although the selection was not extensive, the quality more than made up for it. The staff working in the breakfast area were always friendly, welcoming, and made every morning enjoyable. The rooms were also a satisfactory size. Unfortunately, the reception staff were the biggest disappointment. For a family-run hotel, I expected hospitality, but instead I often felt like I was inconveniencing them whenever I asked for assistance. This started on the first day. Before arriving, I emailed the hotel explaining that our flight was delayed and we would arrive during the early hours of the morning. They replied that this would not be a problem and that the night porter would be waiting for us. However, when we arrived after a long journey, the security guard asked why we had come at that time and told us we could not check in until the morning. Only after I insisted that this was unacceptable, especially after receiving confirmation by email, did he make a few phone calls and eventually check us in. The following day I reported a few issues with the room. Instead of trying to help, the response was dismissive and made me feel like I was bothering them. I decided not to take the matter any further because I didn't want to spoil my holiday. Housekeeping also needs improvement. The room cleaning was below the standard I expected. There was nowhere to place the soap after opening it, only disposable plastic cups were provided for brushing teeth instead of proper bathroom glasses, and the overall cleaning was inconsistent. The Wi-Fi was another disappointment. The internet connection in the room was unreliable, sometimes working and sometimes disappearing completely, making it difficult to use consistently. Overall, the hotel has many positives: an excellent location, free parking for direct bookings, comfortable rooms, and a freshly cooked breakfast served by wonderful breakfast staff. However, the unfriendly attitude at reception, inconsistent housekeeping, and unreliable Wi-Fi prevented what could have been a much more enjoyable stay. With improvements in these areas, this hotel could be excellent.

a month ago · via Google

We have stayed at this hotel three times now. The location is great, a secure car park too. Breakfast is amazing. The staff and customer service is exceptional. They are all friendly, polite and always have a smile. Even walking back from the bars one night, we had our card key in hand for the main door. It wasn't needed as the security officer walked to the door and opened it for us. We thanked him, he said, I saw you both looking in when you were walking past so I knew that you were coming in. 😊 if you book direct with the hotel, parking is included. You can ask for extra milk, sugar, tea or coffee at reception, its no trouble at all. We would definitely stay again abd we would recommend. Thank you to alm of The Minster Hotel team 🙌

a month ago · via Google

Overall I would recommend the Minster Hotel. The parking was quite tight but no issues The receptionist was very friendly and knowledgeable. The breakfast was very nice with lots of options and the service was excellent. One of the best things was the ease of driving to the hotel as it is directly on Bootham, so no going down side roads or one way streets. York Minster is only about a 10 minutes walk so its perfectly situated for all the main attractions. The only down side was our room. Overall it was clean and had a very comfortable bed. It just needs a bit more care when cleaning. The three bulb light in the room had not been dusted for a long time, by the amount of dust on it also one of the bulbs was out. The bathroom could do with a new bath panel and the top on the bin looks as if it has not been cleaned for a while also and one of the net curtains had what look like black mould on it.

2 months ago · via Google

We had an overnight stay at the hotel on the 21st May. The room was situated in the courtyard & furnished to a high standard. It was comfortable & spacious with private bathroom which was fresh & cleaned to a high standard. Breakfast was good with a varied menu. The staff at the hotel were courtesy & helpful & the customer service was outstanding throughout. The location of the hotel was excellent & a short walk into the centre of town Car parking was privately managed & situated behind the hotel with a security gate in place. We will definitely be visiting again and overall it was a very pleasant stay 😊

2 months ago · via Google