Hotel Restaurant L'Ecluse en Perigord

‘Fiasco Towers’. We were really disappointed that this ‘grand old lady’ of a building in a beautiful Isle river-front location 850m up a drive away from the road should have been so neglected and let down by abysmal lack of service. We had really wanted it to be acceptable as we enjoy the individual charm and character of non-chain hotels but, alas, it really did not measure up. We stayed for two nights as pre-booked in a premium room. On arrival we were checked-in in a friendly manner but found the room - extremely dated in furnishing - had not been properly serviced from previous occupancy. There were no hand towels, no soap or any other amenities, but there were two empty used shampoo sachets left in the shower. We reported this as we left to visit friends. On our return five hours later, clean towels and shampoo sachets and postage stamp sized soap tablets were present, but the beetle and the cobwebs were still present In the morning a buffet breakfast had been laid out for the few overnight guests. There were cereals available but no bowls, and after making a request in the kitchen three non-matching bowls were forthcoming. Then we discovered that there were no spoons with which to consume said cereal anyway ! We made do with coffee spoons ! There was cheese and ham, bread and croissants, butter, jams and honey and a little fruit. We left the room at 11:45 to see friends and returned to the hotel at 22:00 to find that the room had not been serviced at all despite their ‘YES Please make up the room” left on the door handle more than 10 hours previously. Bed was unmade and used towels still on shower floor. New towels and a loo roll were obtained from Reception by my wife. Hardly the sort of service to be expected of a Hotel claiming 3*. Yes, it was cheap, but one still should expect to get the basic essentials to be provided. Breakfast the following morning was another fiasco. Again no bowls or spoons for cereals. So we used coffee cups and spoons which was not a huge problem as there was no coffee anyway ! And nobody in sight or hearing. It was like the Marie-Celeste revisited. Eventually another guest plucked up coverage and wandered into the kitchen eventually finding a coffee machine and bringing back coffee and serving other guests ! We checked out. “Avez-vous bien dormit?” We were asked and so I explained the fiasco. Transpires that the lack of room cleaning was all our fault ! Despite not having been advised of cleaning staff working hours, it was our fault for not vacating the room before 11:45 “as they leave at 2pm” ! We left and, genuinely with some sadness, will not be returning.

We came to this region because we were fascinated by the countryside and cuisine as described in the novels by Martin Walker. L'Ecluse was the perfect place to stay and explore the region. The hotel is dated in a charming way and very comfortable. The best things about the hotel are the friendly, welcoming staff and the beautiful setting beside the river l'Isle. It is very quiet and peaceful. It is also very inexpensive. We would definitely visit again.

Stayed here for the third time. We arrived very late but no trouble for staff on duty. This hotel is dated in décor and we noticed it has undergone some work since our last visit. This is quaint French style, unfortunately this time we did not get to dine as it was only a one night stay and our arrival meant we were too late for food. The room was comfortable as usual. The surroundings are beautiful and they still have the mad goose which I discovered when we were leaving and he started to run after me. (Is it just me he has a problem with?) If we return to this part of France again I would stay here and I would recommend to travellers planning on visiting the area. The only down side is that there are no tea/coffee making facilities in the room but this is a minor thing.