Hatchers Richmond Manor Hotel

It makes sense to me now that I’ve seen this place is on the market. The challenge the new buyer will face will be to improve the reputation of the place. I was travelling in Tassie in January with my dog and so organised my accommodation in October. I stayed in various dog friendly hotels around Tasmania and had fantastic experiences and paid around the same amount at each place. I rang a few days in advance to make sure they were aware of the dog coming to be asked if I knew that I’d be staying ‘in the wagon’.. having booked on booking.com I was not aware and believed I’d booked a basic, pet friendly hotel room. Their website indicates that ‘the Gypsy Wagon’ is ‘glamping style’ and to be honest with you if I had have intended to glamp… I would’ve been satisfied, but thinking I had booked a hotel room and paid the same price for the two lovely places I stayed at earlier, I was extremely disappointed. While the bed was comfortable the toilet stank, ants came in and while the old towels were changed daily, nothing else in the room was swept or cleaned. When I arrived I was asked if I wanted milk for tea or coffee and I said yes. Subsequently milk was poured into a little jug from the one in their fridge. I asked what the local pub was like and the owner dismissed it with the wave of a hand as if it were no good (it was fantastic - friendly staff and great food). She suggested instead their restaurant which as well as having a very short dining window, she offered to bring my dog in with me as ‘we don’t care what the council think’. When I expressed my disappointment in the room and the comparative amount I’d paid for the other places, the owner suggested I try to cancel knowing I’d have nowhere else to stay. He also suggested that I shouldn’t have used booking.com and that the price they charged to stay in the room was cheap ($144 per night - it’s honestly worth about $70 at best - think a similar quality to an Indonesian backpackers). The location is excellent - great proximity to historical town Richmond which I absolutely loved. If you can though, don’t stay here; if you must, plan your days to spend as little time here as possible, eat elsewhere and perhaps wedge a chair under the door handle.

We had a lovely stay at Hatcher's Manor, nestled within Richmond's vineyards and only a 5-minute drive from town. The room is spacious, comfortable and quiet. Jeanette is a lovely hostess.

Love love loved our stay. The owners are salt of the earth people. A stay that will remain as a favourite. The environment, the animals, the homeliness. Absolutely perfect. If we visit Tasmania again, this beautiful place will be first on the list. COLIN, JAN AND BRETT GREAT HOSTS!