Staying at this hotel in the pretty Cotswolds town of Chipping Campden felt like stepping into an Addams Family episode. Never have I come across a staff so similar to the macabre but amusing and eccentric characters created by Charles Addams.

It started at the front desk, where a black-clad woman sat expressionless as she waited to be addressed.We had found Morticia.

She took us, walking slowly, to our room, which bore some resemblance to the gloomy mansion at 1313 Cemetery Lane, where the Addamses reside. Wall cracks had been dabbed with paint, the floor sloped, traffic roared, a radio blared and the loo when flushed sounded like a wild beast dying a horrible death.

Downstairs in the bar a large man with sunken eyes (our Lurch, the butler from The Addams Family) silently poured drinks. Then we were wordlessly handed menus by a cheerless man in a dark pinstripe with a pink tie. After quite a while, my “Campden Pie” — tasty, and consisting of pork, apple and thyme — and my companion’s baked potato with beans arrived.

The next morning we were served by a rotund waiter in a waistcoat, who delivered not-so-good poached eggs on toast. He, we decided, was our Addams Family Uncle Fester.

In this way, our stay became quite fun. If only the staff were having a little fun, too.

Noel Arms Hotel (01386 840317, www.noelarmshotel.com), High Street, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire GL55 6AT. Mystery Guest paid £130 for a B&B double.

Room 2 out of 10

Food 5

Service 5 (cheer up!)

Value 5

Score 4.25

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