The Western Hotel

Here’s a short list of what we found in our room at the Western Inn: dirty/stained carpeting; a dingy drop ceiling; hair in the bath tub; flaking lead paint around the windows; a view of the road and an asphalt roof (the room was described as having a view of the Delaware); an ancient AC window unit; a rusty radiator; bare nails just hanging out in the dirty, marked-up walls. The room was really depressing: worn out, run down, and looked like it simply had not been updated in at least thirty years. As we were going to bed, a bug crawled across the sheets. The Western Inn states on its website that all rooms include “microfiber bathrobes”, Apple TV, a coffee maker, and a hair dryer. None of these things were there. There weren’t even privacy curtains on the windows, even though the room faced the road. We were in town for a wedding and needed an iron for a few pieces of clothing. One of the staff members managed to track one down, but let us know they did not have an ironing board. She suggested we iron our clothes on the table in the room, which was made of laminate (plastic). Probably not a great idea… What makes the Western worse is that the inn actively misrepresents on its website what it is. There has clearly been some effort put into updating the downstairs bar/restaurant area in order to attract diners. Upstairs, however, is a real hot mess. We gently approached the owner, Irene, shortly after we arrived to tell her that we felt the room did not really correspond to the description online. She wasn’t rude, but just unhelpful and unwilling to admit the reality upstairs. We had the feeling that she has likely heard this before. She told us that there were only two rooms that had been renovated but that they were not available (we booked months ago), that the inn was completely full, that there was nothing she could do. No offer to comp us a night or a meal, or even give us a discount on the room, etc. At $189 per night, she suggested that we were already paying next to nothing. She also noted that the inn was 150 years old, as though that explained the mess upstairs. We lived in the UK for a decade. They manage to keep their 500+ year-old properties in pretty good shape. Irene’s staff also took the full payment for our stay before we stepped foot into our room. In hindsight, this was a sign (and a real mistake on our part). I am sure that there are guests who have refused to stay or pay upon seeing their room. Irene seems happy to take the money of travellers unlucky enough to book at her inn and expect—as her website suggests—an “idyllic weekend getaway.” Maybe if you only have two rooms that are clean and well appointed, you should just book those rooms, rather than deceiving people? Or maybe wait to open your business until all of your rooms are up to the same standard? Skip this place.
8 years ago (25-09-2017)

Enjoyed our cozy dinner out in the patio with crispy tofu and fresh local trout last night. Came back here for brunch again this morning. The house made salmon is the best smoked salmon I ever had, I highly recommend it.
8 years ago (03-09-2017)

Totally specific place. Havent slept in a room with this much character in a while. Unique; a story. Check it out.
8 years ago (15-09-2017)

Very below average. Cheese plate was super weak. The steak was so chewy I could not even eat it. The waitress agreed but the manager would not remove it from the check. Would never return.
8 years ago (12-08-2017)

I'm coming back for more. I've eaten here at least 4 times and always had a good meal.. Recommended
8 years ago (29-06-2017)