CAMPBELL HOUSE A CITY INN

All my previous good memories of this property are gone. A truly awful stay. I had stayed at this historic hotel before and, despite its dated facilities, the beautiful grounds left me with fond memories. That’s why I decided to book again. We checked in around 11 PM and were sent to a room that should never be sold to guests. It was a tiny attic space—isolated, sweltering, and completely unventilated. While the rest of the building had central air, this room had no A/C and no proper airflow. It was dangerously hot, to the point where staying overnight felt unsafe. The staff’s only solution was to hand us a fan. The temperature was so extreme that the only way to make the room remotely tolerable would have been to sleep with the door wide open to the hallway, which is an unreasonable and unacceptable expectation for any paying guest. We left in the middle of the night to find another hotel. A completely unacceptable experience. We will not return.

This is one of the most difficult hotel reviews I've ever written because I genuinely wanted to love this place. I'll start with the positives because there are many. The inn itself is absolutely charming. The gardens are beautiful, the common areas are inviting, and the historic character creates a warmth that's difficult to find in modern hotels. I particularly enjoyed the complimentary cookies and the surprisingly good wine, and I appreciated being upgraded after asking at check-in. The whirlpool tub was one of the highlights of my stay. I spent nearly two hours relaxing in it without my phone, and it was exactly the peaceful experience I had hoped for. I also discovered the fireplace dried the clothes I hand-washed overnight, which was an unexpected bonus. Despite being a historic building, I found the rooms surprisingly quiet. Most importantly, I want to recognize Avery. I've stayed everywhere from the #1 rated Four Seasons in Canada to the only property in UK/Ireland to hold a double five star rating from Forbes (Ashford Castle), and Avery is genuinely one of the best hotel employees I've encountered. He consistently demonstrated professionalism, empathy, excellent communication, and remarkable composure under pressure. Before checking out, I told the owner that he had found a real gem because Avery elevates the entire property. One experience, however, significantly affected my stay. While using the whirlpool tub, some water naturally splashed onto the floor while I was getting in and out. The tub has a large visible crack that staff told me has existed for quite some time, and there is very little flooring before the area transitions directly to carpet. I cleaned up any water spillage that I could. Later that night Avery called to explain that water had leaked into the room below. He reassured me they were simply investigating the source. Shortly afterward, I received another call explaining that the owner wanted to inspect the room. By then it was close to midnight, and I had already been awake for over sixteen hours. While everyone was respectful, two late-night phone calls followed by an in-person inspection wasn't an ideal way to end the day. More importantly, the situation highlighted what I believe is the property's biggest weakness: deferred maintenance. Patching is not fixing. There were also enough operational issues to prevent a higher rating. The air conditioner repeatedly made loud shuddering noises despite several repair attempts. The bathroom phone didn't work. Housekeeping made the bed and replaced towels but didn't replace empty shampoo and conditioner bottles or my used drinking glass. Two emails I sent before arrival were never answered despite staff confirming they had received them. Other issues included no lotion in room, no toothbrush or toothpaste available at request, insects in the room despite keeping the windows and balcony door closed, and a bed that was extremely squeaky. I also developed a rash after sleeping in the bed during my stay. While I can't definitively attribute it to the bedding (or poor housekeeping), I did not experience it beforehand and it started to heal after I left. (Picture of rash attached, if it helps identify.) Breakfast was mixed. The scones were excellent, but the menu was limited, taste was like I was at a Denny's, and the service slow. Despite everything, I would stay here again. Campbell House Inn has something many hotels simply can't offer: history, personality, beautiful grounds, and a memorable atmosphere. As a solo female traveler, I also felt exceptionally safe. The property has tremendous potential but is held back by inconsistent maintenance, housekeeping, and communication. Finally, if management reads only one part of this review, I hope it's this: Avery is exceptional. He is a significant reason why I would return, and I sincerely hope he receives the recognition he deserves.

Just an amazing place. I arrived early but wanted to tool about town. They gladly held my luggage at the inn while I did some sightseeing. The grounds are amazing. Simply beautiful! A few buildings. I was grateful to be upgraded to a beautiful well appointed room. I had an evening glass of wine sitting on the grounds. So many options of outdoor areas!! Had a friend visit....a massive turkey who just grazed a few feet from me. The room was beautiful. Microwave and fridge. Lovely toiletries. The bed was sooooo comfortable. Breakfast was something I have never experienced. Buckwheat blinis with cream fraiche and salmon and capers. It was AMAZING. Another option was pancakes with fruit. The blinis was accompanied by a huge mound of delish scrambled eggs, a scone and fresh fruit. Coffee and tea avail. Just the BEST breakfast at a B and B I have every had! Staff was so kind and welcoming and friendly. A definite stay. Not to be missed!