The Frenchgate - Richmond

This is comfortable hotel, extremely well run by the owner who is present for most of the time serving the guests. If he isn’t there his long term staff are, and they too are excellent. It is very conveniently located on a beautiful quiet street.It has private parking at the rear or on street parking at the front, although this can be full. Breakfasts are freshly prepared and tasty. There is a lounge and a well stocked bar. We were delighted by our stay and recommend it.

Owner overbearing. Always defensive and quickly belittles customers. Covid meant top chef left and now living on its reputation.

Was ok but not great for the price. The location was great. Easy walk into town. The room smelled very damp. On checking in we were told, without prompting, that it was definitely NOT 2 beds pushed together, which it clearly was. Curious as to why this was made a focal point. It was 2 beds. That wasn’t an issue for us but the lecture was. Also given instructions about soft close toilet seats as if we had never encountered them before. Told that apparently people from Whitley Bay don’t know how to use them. Disappointed that the restaurant wasn’t open. Breakfast was ok.

An awful experience with the extremely pompous and arrogant 'David ' who was, quite simply, the rudest and uncaring person who I have ever had the misfortune of meeting. A horrible experience at a horrible little hotel. Best avoided.

I sent an email to the owner upon leaving this hotel this is what I said… We were in a rush to catch a bus upon checkout so unable to express our dissatisfaction with your hotel at the time. I would rather not leave a scathing review, especially in these trying times, but feel very aggrieved at being charged £158 for a room we have stayed in better accommodation over the past 10 days at half that price. I am therefore writing to you first in the hope that we can come to some agreement. We were looking forward to our stay at the Frenchgate expecting a beautifully appointed room furnished with every comfort. However we were very disappointed with the careworn appearance of the hotel furnishings paintwork chipped and badly repaired, our bathroom sash window broken so had to be propped open with a loo roll, bedside vanity tables badly water damaged, carpet water damaged by the radiator, single beds pushed together with single duvets to pass as a king size bed, thin pillows which needed replacing and a fairly small room all for the price of £158 which apparently had been discounted from £178 or thereabouts! Whilst I appreciate your hotel is primarily renowned for it’s restaurant (and possibly this is the reason why your rooms are set at the price they are), the rooms are still very much overpriced for the condition they are in. To date, the owner has not even had the decency to respond to my email which speaks volumes.