OYO the Leven

Not the best experience! Due to an admitted mix up with keys by the hotel staff we were given another room described as luxury. Definitely not the case. Not a patch on the one we were supposed to have. No wardrobe, no drawers, just 2 chairs and the ‘floordrobe’. 4 hooks on the wall behind the door with some hangars. Window latch broken, sink tap loose, no hair dryer, toilet rolls on the bathroom floor with no holder. Mentioning this to the reception the response,although polite, was ‘it is what it is’ that or nothing! Having read the website before booking our stay, it mentions work in progress as such we expected signs of work in progress as was the case. No small commitment. The web site did however mention that although no breakfast was served, an offering of toast and cereal was available to those requiring it, perfect...I booked my room. On arrival I requested this toasty offering only to be told that it is not available! I mentioned the web site and showed the web page to the reception staff. Blank looks! Over night the web site page was mysteriously edited accordingly. Good job I took some screen shots! Thinking positive, yes, the staff were very polite and as sympathetic as their remit allows. Asking for a call with the management to discuss the above… as yet I have received nothing, the reception staff asking if I had been contacted at all (again a polite follow up)’ by the reception staff. This experience did tarnish our visit but that to one side, Stokesley and the surrounding area a gem to visit.

Visited recently for some food, for a family meal with my partner and the kids, and our friends. We had food and it wasn't great, it arrived cold when we raised this as an issue the guy that was serving us (I can't remember his name, but he had a waistcoat on) seemed very flustered when we complained. The restaurant area was cold and had an odd smell about it. Certainly didn't look like the pictures we had seen on social media which made us book in the first place. Wouldn't recommend.

I have started frequenting the hotel bar on a regular basis for a couple of years now and recently tried the food going for the large parmo appropriately named "The Big Boy" which was fantastic. The staff here are a credit to the owners Becky and Martin who have really tried to make it one of the places to be in Stokesley, trainee manager Caitlin and her colleague Scarlett make people feel welcome with a smile, sheer effort to make customers happy and a good sense of humour.