Grays Court Hotel and The Bow Room Restaurant

Everything about our stay exceeded our expectations. The location is stellar, right next to York Minster Church, although the road into their parking area gave my husband a panic attack (we had rented small SUV - he said why didn't we rent a smart car about a 100 times until he parked)! |It is a luxurious property at every turn, full of history, well maintained and elegant. The staff are lovely and professional, and seem to genuinely enjoy their roles. The room we had was huge, comfortable, spotless and had the most beautiful view via big window of a garden and part of the Minster building. Later, I watched the kitchen staff (?sous chef?) perusing the kitchen garden below our window harvesting items! |We took some time to enjoy drinks out on their lawn - it was heavenly, peaceful and relaxing. We chose to have dinner in their dining room - it was a phenomenal multiple course experience with only one other couple in the dining room - we ended up deciding it was like eating the most delicious pieces of art... breakfast was excellent as well. |Wish we had chosen to stay more than one night at this beautiful property - we hope and plan to return and stay longer next time...

Had an amazing time here for my partners birthday. Such a treat. Ian Doyle and his team are clearly very talented and every aspect of our meal was awesome. The attention to detail was second to none. Every dish was packed full of flavour and beautiful to look at. All the staff were wonderful and the whole experience was a pleasure. Would highly recommend.

Tucked against the city wall, Grays Court is an enclosed oasis of upscale calm just a few yards walk from the Minster. Although the hotel has a history dating from the early Middle Ages, the current décor is described as Jacobean. It has the wonderful feel of a sophisticated, urban manor hall where you will feel like the lords and ladies of a private club. Drappier is the house champagne, one of our favorites; and it seems the common rooms all have perfect corners for enjoying it. The Bow Room restaurant is Michelin listed, and the full, made-to-order breakfast and afternoon tea are exceptional. Of special note, the reception staff is especially welcoming and informed. Our pre-visit correspondence was answered promptly and personally. Honestly, our only regret is we only had time for one night.

My wife and I took a whistlestop weekend away in York as a birthday treat and this hotel really was the cherry and icing on the cake. In the shadow of the Minster, it’s an ancient building full to the brim with character and lovely, warm, attentive staff. We stayed in Willoughby, with its four-poster and views of the city wall. It was undoubtedly an indulgence but one we did not regret. We didn’t eat dinner in the hotel’s restaurant - although the menu looked very special - but had the breakfast and the casual lunch and truly could not fault any of it. Delicious food in the wood panelled long gallery. Wow! When we came back in on Saturday evening having been out for dinner and a chilly walk around the city centre, we warmed our hands by the glorious fire of the log burner in the hotel reception. A act which has no doubt been done by guests to the house for the best part of a thousand years.

Absolutely wonderful place to base a visit to York and the surrounding countryside. We stayed 6 nights, and the hotel was a great place to ground our touring. Besides visiting all the convenient locations in York, we had rail passes and made numerous day visits to the Brontes, Whitby, the Settles-Carlisle run, Hadrian's Wall and Newcastle. Returning to Grays Court was always relaxing after a long day. Staff made spot-on suggestions to add to our visit. Everyone one was so gracious and friendly and helpful. The breakfasts are to order with a nice selection and very ample. We also did the tasting dinner one night in the Bow Room which was especially memorable. It may be the best tasting menu we have ever had with a particular emphasis on the care in selecting the wine pairings. Really worth a splurge to do. The rooms are unique. Ours was the Edwards Room, and it was spacious and comfortable and well equipped with a bathroom on a truly higher level.

Lovely central location can’t be beat. Backs right up to the city wall and a stone’s throw from the York Minster. Quiet. But great bar and lounge. Very helpful staff. Rooms are small but adequate. Bathrooms are nice. Good water pressure. Parking available. Beds a bit firm for me. Breakfast bread could be improved to something more than sandwich white bread. But this was a random misstep. They gave us oatey flapjacks for the road. Would 100% return.

The Sunday lunch was absolutely disgusting. The staff were nice and friendly, however the food was truly awful. We had a large family gathering for Sunday lunch and over half of the roast beef dishes were untouched as it was completely raw. I had to send mine back and the one that returned was even worse, literally inedible, after chewing for 5 minutes I had to go to the bathroom to spit it out as it was pure gristle. The sticky toffee pudding was also terrible. No coffee or tea was offered at the end of the meal. I will be writing a formal complaint on top of this review.

Me and my mum stayed here for 1 night and it's such a beautiful hotel in a fabulous location. All the staff were so friendly and helpful, the room we were in was very comfortable. It definitely felt very cosy and the Christmas decorations were lovely. The location is perfect, the minster is literally next door and it's a very short walk to all the shops and restaurants. We will hopefully be back one day!