The Feathers Royal - Ceredigion

Was planning to visit Aberaeron again and was looking to The Feathers as we've stayed there previously and found it to be excellent.

Booked a room for 31st August 2018 but got an email in July 18 to say they are closing due to retirement and our reservation was cancelled. Don’t plan a visit we booked elsewhere and walked past. It really has shut down. We phoned them and they told us the planned buyers backed out.

We shared a family dinner at the Feathers Royal on our last night in Aberaeron. The service was excellent and the meals were very good.

This hotel is supposed to be a 5-star establishment, but the service is far from acceptable. There is a noticeable lack of staff throughout the day - no one is at reception, the bar, or the restaurant. We checked in during the afternoon and inquired about dinner reservations, only to be told that booking was unnecessary as long as we arrived between 6 and 9pm. However, when we returned to the hotel just before 9.00, we found only two other diners in the restaurant and were informed by the bartender that the chef had already finished preparing food for the day. Despite it still being before 9.00, the chef refused to make us any kind of meal, not even a simple plate of cold cuts or sandwiches. When we asked for alternative dining options, we received no helpful suggestions from the unhelpful bartender. We ended up walking around Aberaeron on a chilly Friday night, only to discover that most restaurants and even the fish and chip shop had already closed. We were left cold, hungry, and utterly disappointed. Our supposed relaxing getaway turned out to be anything but.

We'd been to The Feathers Royal for lunch during the week, but this was my first time on a Sunday. The restaurant is geared for families. Tables and floors are spotless. The carvery line had a good selection of meats and vegetables. We had no more than five minutes of waiting before being seated. And the dessert menu? Small, but each item is mouthwatering. Can't wait to go back for another Sunday meal.