To keep our Guide up-to-date, our hotel inspections never stop – with new hotels constantly being brought to our attention for us to review. The Good Hotel Guide shines the spotlight on establishments which may feature in the next edition. Some of these may be new hotels, some under new management or some are simply new discoveries. Here is a snippet of our hotel report.

The Carpenters Arms, Felixkirk

The building is a pub in the small Domesday Book village of Felixkirk four miles from Thirsk.

We were welcomed on our arrival and shown to our room by one of the staff from the bar. He showed us to our garden room, part of a newly built (2010) block arranged round a kitchen garden where rhubarb was growing and was on the menu.

The rooms were stunning and showed off the potential of new build. Each garden room had its own patio accessed via a large sliding window and light streamed in from a further window high up in a dormer wall.

Opening and closing of the high window, and a similar one in the bathroom, was controlled via a wall switch. A wooden venetian blind was controlled remotely.

Our ‘greeter’ went through how all these things worked, and showed us how to light the hearth gas flame fire.

A discreetly built-in wooden honesty ‘bar’ contained half bottles of spirits, champagne, wine and soft drinks. Tea and ground coffee with fresh milk and Carpenters Arms biscuits were available for self preparation. Complimentary bottles of water were next to the bed.

Connecting rooms can be arranged and board games were available in the bar. There were very good facilities for people with a range of disabilities and certain rooms are available that accommodate pets.

The Information Pack really did give comprehensive and relevant information, including estimated travel times to a variety of interesting places. Rather unusual in our experience as many information packs are out of date or just contain advertising.

Breakfast was a combination of buffet table with freshly squeezed juices, cereals, yoghurts, fresh fruit etc. and waitress service of drinks and cooked breakfasts.

This was the best thought-out accommodation we have ever stayed in. The pleasant and helpful staff were available when needed but didn’t ‘hover’. The whole package demonstrated a real wish to make a wide range of people not only comfortable but happy.

• We may well include The Carpenters Arms in a future edition of the Guide. In the meantime, you can find out more on the hotel’s website: www.thecarpentersarmsfelixkirk.com. Recommended to us by VisitEngland.