Hastings House Country House Hotel

Hastings House is a lovely property located walking distance to Ganges. Our cottage (Farmhouse West) was charming and full of character and the service was excellent. We enjoyed the country house experience!

At this price point, I would expect that parts of the cottage would be more updated (e.g. bathrooms). We ate in the restaurant two evenings. One was exceptional and the other mediocre.

Everything

Dining room outdoor doorways needed to be cleaned

Location and garden

Our suite was at the back end looking over the road on one side and another cabin on the other

Location. Views. Old world charm and the overall feel of the place. Farmhouse East accommodation was quaint and comfortable.

Restaurant - dinner was overpriced and overrated. Although the ingredients were fresh, they weren’t prepared in a way to highlight them, and as such were bland and boring. And don’t get me started on the awful Crème Brûlée. I could see the minute I took my first mouthful, it was grainy and dense instead of being silky, delicate and luscious. Alcohol had also been added to the mixture and I have to ask why, but if you’re going to do it, subtle is the way to go. Needless to say, I didn’t take a second mouthful and, although I let the waiter know, I was not offered an alternative dessert and was charged for it! I was gobsmacked! Complimentary breakfast was miserly under the circumstances. It was valued at $40 per head. We had a granola and berry parfait one morning. It was served up in a very small parfait glass with a croissant. Had a small portion of scrambled eggs and a few potatoes on another morning. We also had the option of EITHER a juice, coffee or tea. Certainly not $40 worth! A couple were allowed to bring their dog into the restaurant whilst they were having breakfast on more than one occasion, and the waitress who was serving us was patting the dog. I am a dog owner and love dogs, but I would never bring my dog into a restaurant, let alone be allowed to do so. It is completely unacceptable to allow dogs around food and other patrons and it’s certainly problematic to be serving food after having patted a dog. No safe in the room. More upkeep and maintenance required both within the room (power outlets not working, etc.) and on cottage exteriors (rotting wood, dirt, faded paint.) Although the gardens around the property are beautiful and well made aintained, if you wander a little further afield it's quite unkempt and messy. The icing on the cake was to be presented with a bill for the dinner we had had a couple of nights earlier even though I had paid for the meal in cash on the night.