The Chalk Hare, Royston, Hertfordshire - Acorn Pubs

Hotels
8.2 (454 reviews)
The Chalk Hare, 16 Melbourn Street , Royston , gb

Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Family rooms
Luggage storage
Non-smoking throughout
Private check-in/check-out
Kid meals
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Good food
Nice location
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Noisy rooms
Maintenance needs

Categories

Cleanliness
6.28
Multiple reviews mentioned significant cleanliness issues, including dust, mould, and dirty areas.
Service
9.25
Many reviews praised the staff for being friendly and helpful.
Location
8.79
Guests appreciated the convenient and appealing location.
Room Quality
7.24
Some rooms received mixed reviews, with complaints about noise and tired decor.
Amenities
8.27
Amenities were generally well-received, though some issues were noted like toilet flush problems.
Value for Money
8.23
Guests found the overall experience to provide decent value, but some felt it fell short given price.
Food and Beverage
9.28
The food, especially breakfast, received excellent reviews.
Overall Experience
8.25
The overall experience was positive, though certain issues impacted the stay.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-08 00:33

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodation
Experience comfort and style at Banyers House with beautifully furnished rooms featuring modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs and private bathrooms.

Delicious Dining
Indulge in a delightful culinary experience at our on-site restaurant, offering a variety of breakfast options including continental, Full English/Irish, and vegetarian choices.

Convenient Location
Conveniently situated just a short distance from popular attractions like Audley End House and the University of Cambridge, Banyers House is the perfect choice for your next getaway.

To book your stay at Banyers House and enjoy a memorable experience, contact us now!

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Groups

    When booking more than 5 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.2
Based on 454 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.28
Service: 9.25
Location: 8.79
Room Quality: 7.24
Amenities: 8.27
Value for Money: 8.23
Food and Beverage: 9.28
Overall Experience: 8.25
G
Graham extended_group gb
10
Great, staff, rooms and food. Will be back soon.
Pros:

Great staff.

Cons:

Wonderful decor.

2026-05-13 via Nuitee
G
Gary couple gb
9
A very comfortable stay, friendly staff and great location.
Pros:

The hotel is located in the centre of Royston close to all the shops and facilities. The room was superb and very comfortable. All of the staff were very friendly and couldn’t do enough for us. Breakfast was excellent, and we were looked after by Karen, who was both friendly and very efficient. Thank you

2026-05-13 via Nuitee
J
Jayne solo_traveller gb
10
2026-05-02 via Nuitee
D
David solo_traveller gb
10
2026-04-20 via Nuitee
A
Antony solo_traveller gb
10
Excellent service, facilities and food
Pros:

Relaxed and comfortable

2026-04-20 via Nuitee
M
MP20121069784 Friends getaway Royston, Hertfordshire, England
8
First, but not last, visit
Pros:

Overall we had a good experience, with good food well prepared and presented. Our waitress Olivia was excellent.
It was our first visit under the new name/management and we found the atmosphere very welcoming and friendly. The new decor and furnishing brought a much softer ambiance. The menu was varied and appealing and well priced for the quality. A couple of negatives that could be ironed out; no light in one ladies loo cubicle, quite a long wait for meal and some drinks. We were charged for 2 glasses of wine we didn’t have but this was rectified when we pointed it out. It did make us late moving our car from their car park (there is a 3 hour limit).

2026-04-15 via Tripadvisor
X
X3489LOjohnr Family Ware, Hertfordshire, England
10
Perfect Sunday lunch for a family birthday
Pros:

We had a surprise birthday celebration for our daughter. On entering, the manager was on meet and greet and couldn’t be more helpful, we were taken to our table and drinks ordered. Perfect! Party of 7, 4 adults and 3 kids. Service was faultless, food was fantastic, served by Shelly who was very attentive and entertained the children. Roast beef Sunday lunch beautifully cooked. Two of us stayed overnight and had an anti-pasta sharer for supper as we were still stuffed. Bedrooms are newly refurbished and beautifully done. Great breakfast choices. Great meals, great staff and great stay and we look forward to going back.

2026-04-14 via Tripadvisor
R
Ralph couple gb
7
Very enthusiastic staff .
Pros:

Breakfast was great . Dinner as average as the pie was rock hard and the only thing that was as hot on my plate was. Our second room was comfy but a bit too stuffy .

Cons:

The first room no 5 was very noisy due to kitchen vents on the roof outside.
I had to send my dinner back as it was actually cold ( except for the pie which was grossly over heated and rock hard )

2026-04-10 via Nuitee
P
Petra couple de
10
Sehr schönes Hotel mit super gutem Essen
Pros:

Sehr schönes Haus mit super gutem Essen (Frühstück und Abendessen), sehr gute Qualität, große Auswahl, keine Wünsche blieben offen.
Parkplatz direkt vor dem Hotel, schönes Ambiente

Cons:

nichts

2026-04-08 via Nuitee
R
Rebecca solo_traveller gb
5
it was ok
Pros:

The room was decorated lovely, the food was beautiful, both dinner and breakfast, and i loved the old building. Location was great for what i needed.

Cons:

The room was very noisy at nighttime, im not sure if i stayed in a room next to a staff room, but there was doors banging and clattering late into the night, i assumed it was night staff, which kept me awake during the night, so it wasn't my best nights sleep.

2026-01-20 via Nuitee
T
Tina couple gb
8
Overall our stay was pleasant, staff amazing and very friendly, food great, location great … just a little overpriced fo
Pros:

The food was excellent, staff very friendly

Cons:

Very noisy room , unfortunately over looking busy road , definitely overpriced for a deluxe room as didn’t meet those standards, very cold bathroom as very large (but nice )so needed heating for towels , had a nice mirror with lights but didn’t work!

2026-01-19 via Nuitee
N
Neil couple us
9
2025-12-29 via Nuitee
H
Heather solo_traveller gb
9
Loved it ! A historical ,warm and good place.Just the toilet flush buttons needed sorting
Pros:

It was Christmas and was all I needed.

Cons:

The toilet didnt flush properly at all

2025-12-27 via Nuitee
T
Tony solo_traveller gb
10
Pros:

The cleanliness of the hotel & its friendly staff

2025-12-26 via Nuitee
A
Amira couple gb
7
Disappointed & wouldn’t stay again.
Pros:

The location was perfect with the addition of a car park.

Cons:

Some areas of the room were very dusty/dirty for example behind the side table (where I went to plug my phone it), the velvet curtains looked very dirty and the corners of the room. It could do with a deep clean. There was also an unpleasant odour in the hallway between the reception and first floor. I was disappointed with the cleanliness.

2025-12-17 via Nuitee
M
Marcus couple gb
5
It's was pleasant
Pros:

Food was good

Cons:

Room was vert tired, which was disappointing

2025-12-15 via Nuitee
A
Alistair solo_traveller gb
7
Nice hotel good atmosphere shame about the room being cold
Pros:

I liked the night watchman: He prepared an early morning continental breakfast with a lovely warm croissant and was very helpful. Thanks !

Cons:

The room was cold !

2025-11-22 via Nuitee
R
Rebecca couple gb
8
Very comfortable and staff very friendly.
Pros:

Excellent breakfast. Really added to the value for money. Very comfy bed.

Cons:

Toilet flush didn’t seem to be working properly.

2025-11-17 via Nuitee
L
Leigh couple gb
10
Good value. Good food.
Pros:

Friendly staff. The breakfast was 10 out of 10. Comfortable bed.

Cons:

Nothing

2025-11-08 via Nuitee
M
Mrs Laura couple gb
4
Dissapointing
Pros:

Staff lovely, breakfast good, location good

Cons:

Absolutely filthy dirty room, pills, fluff and hair under bed, dust was everywhere as were cobwebs. Tv only had 3 channels BBC 1 no volume, bathroom blind permanently down as all air con until outside window which hummed day and night. No shower gel.

2025-11-06 via Nuitee