The Brown Hen B&B

My husbond and I foundation The Brown Hen at the Ireland website. We were touring around and stayed at The Brown Hen for two nights. We loved staying in the big room with a sitting area and with a fantastic wiew. Gwenetth is a very good host and she knows a lot about the area. We enjoyed the children and felt like a part of the family when the daughter song for us. Thank you for a lovely stay.

What a gem! We were fortunate to stumble upon The Brown Hen and we feel so grateful we did! We had spent two weeks touring beautiful Ireland and at the conclusion my husband and I both agree The Brown Hen was at the top of our list. Gwen’s hospitality was superior and by far the best breakfast we had the entire trip. We can’t recommend this B&B enough. It’s quaint, clean, comfortable and we can’t wait to come back and visit again.

Gwyneth was a gracious and accommodating host. We arrived later than expected as the gps in the car and on our phones had difficulties (google maps wasn’t working at all). She helped us navigate over the phone, and suggested a very nice restaurant to have dinner at in Bandon. It was a great recommendation. We were offered a choice of a standard room with a king-size bed or the larger room with a queen-size room with the sitting area. We chose the larger room and left a small gratuity, as the host did not need to even offer it. The breakfasts were delivered to our “cottage” at an agreed upon time, and we thought that The Brown Hen was the most beautifully appointed room we stayed in during our trip. Beautifully situated and gorgeous place in which to lay our heads. Added bonus: an absolutely comfortable bed!

My clients were booked here. On arrival they were offered a "free" upgrade to a better room with a view on arrival. The room was lovely with a great view, however there was an envelope in the room that strongly "requested" they pay for the upgrade with a "tip". Clients were unsure how to handle as they were in a new country and they did not want to appear ungrateful. As a travel agent, I wont be using Brown Hen again, which is to bad because many of my clients have liked it otherwise, but we don't do business with anyone (in any country) who doesn't treat our clients like family.

Host's Reply:
Dear Nancy, Many thanks for getting in touch. While you haven’t disclosed the name of your clients, I was delighted to read they found the accommodation at the Brown Hen lovely. Based on the information you have provided, your clients were upgraded in our Garden Suite. This is a large, newly decorated room comprising a luxurious double bed, large shower ensuite complete with its own sitting room area which offers panoramic views of the West Cork vista. Traditional in design, the room is bright, warm and cosy and has a 5-star ranking for country home accommodation. In relation to the gratuity card, it appears there has been a misunderstanding. There is no envelope in the room that strongly requests payment for any upgrade. There is, however, a generic gratuity card on the coffee table. As you are aware, gratuities are standard in the service industry and are very much the norm in the USA. They are discretionary and I would never request any guest to leave a gratuity. When guests arrive, they are given a wonderful West Cork welcome and are helped in every way possible to make their stay most memorable and enjoyable. Everything from the weather and breakfast requirements to local tourist attractions are discussed. They are advised on arrival that my door is always open and are welcome to seek advice in relation to any issue. It is regrettable that your company has decided to cease using the services at the Brown Hen. May I take this opportunity to thank you for your business over the past couple of years and I wish you and all your clients every success going forward.

Gwenyth was a wonderful hostess! The Brown Hen is in a lovely setting and the cottage was exceptionally clean, cozy and very quiet. Breakfast was wonderful and fresh! The location is a little off the beaten path but a short drive to Kinsale, the coast and other favorite tourist spots. Gwenyth is wealth of knowledge and can offer you tips on where to go and what to see. The only drawback was that the room, although comfortable, was a bit small and there is no other area in which to spread out. Otherwise a fabulous stay!