Haleys Hotel & Restaurant

We came here for Sunday lunch today, on account of there’s a bright blue sandwich board outside HSBC on Otley Road advertising ‘HELP YOURSELF CARVERY FOR £7.95′.
You’d think they’d expect a few extra people, with that there, on a main road, in a busy student area, no? I was a bit narked, if I’m honest, with the snooty ‘so you haven’t booked then?’ that we got when we the two of us tipped up at 1pm. Having said that, we had a drink in the bar and got a table after twenty or thirty minutes, but there was another dig about some other people who were ‘like you, they haven’t booked either’. Soz, dude.
Anyway, the food was lush. I had beef and pork (bit disappointed that crackling wasn’t on offer), parsnips, broccoli, carrot and swede mash, roast and boiled potatoes, carrots and green beans AND a yorkshire pudding. For under £8. You can’t go wrong, can you? Nope. Unless you take offence at snobby patrons looking you up and down in your jeans and commenting on the ‘trash’ sitting near them. Nice.
Next time I’ll book, dress up a bit and talk lah-​di-​dah. Cos I will go back, as it was lush.

I have been staying here very regularly for a few years, as my company Head Office is nearby, though we are moving next week.
Haleys has had its ups and downs over that period, but many rooms have now been refurbished, some coverted two into one room to make larger, and flat screen TVs added as well as free wireless Broadband. The current chef is pretty good (Rump of Lamb especially good), but could do with more vegetables, my sea bream last night had some veg but no potatoes or carbohydrate.
Staff friendly and courteous. But it surprises me how sometimes very few are staying there (except when there is an event at Headingley Satdium, when you cant get in). They need some way of promoting themselves more.
Update 7^th April 2010… The hotel came under new ownership at end 2009, the new owner is also the owner of Cornmill Lodge, which I shall try soon. The ‘vegetable issue’ mentioned above has been adressed, and you now get a side plate of veg. But again at 7.30 I was the only person in the restuarant, followed by just one couple. so theer isnt a lot of atmosphere. Still 4 stars, but not yet close to 5.
Further Update 10÷11÷10. Just one year after my original review. I have just spent two more nights here. Dinner continues to be of a high standard (though strangely no bread roll was offered), but there have been a number of instances of cost saving which has caused me to reduce this place to 2* from 4.
Rooms are really nice but when I checked in mine had radiators turned off and a window open. Temp outside was 3 deg ! It was freezing ! Also the shower wasnt really very powerful (The same showers used to be excellent), so has the water pressure been reduced to save cost ?
Breakfast has been dumbed down. It always used to be cooked to order and served piping hot from the kitchen. Now you have to fill in a slip of paper if you want a fried egg or bacon, and hand it to the ‘waiter’ (who was not of smart appearance and wearing jeans.). At first I didnt identify him as a member of staff. When it comes you have to go to a so called hot buffet to get other items. Its a struggle for the heater to keep them all hot ! Butter used to be served properly in dishes, now they have sunk to providing those infernal ‘mini ‘parcels and you cant avoid getting some on your fingers.
I believe room rates have been reduced, and they are trying to attract clients of a lower social standing rather than middle class business men. Some guests at breakfast were decidedly scruffy, and probably contractors of some sort.
They have also stopped offering a newspaper service.
Update two weeks later again (24÷11÷10)
I got the same room — heating was switched on when I arrived, but second night it was turned off again and freezing ! Its only just warm now 4 hrs after I arrived (9.30pm)
No TV ‘remote’ in the room !. Again dinner absolutely superb, but I was the only person dining ! No atmosphere.
Another update (25÷2÷11).
This place is going from being once very good to pretty poor now.
Still being dumbed down to save money. Paper napkins at dinner now, instead of linen, and they are very flimsy, not even good quality paper.
A bread roll at dinner isnt served automatically. My steak the other night was red raw when I asked for medium. Food used to be good, and what kept me there.
Ive stayed here many times (as many as 80 – 100 nights) since 2002. Now Ive made my last visit. Down graded further to one star