Arrived at the Bell for a one night business stay. Reception and check in was fine, rooms a bit basic but clean and the beds very comfortable. Dinner in restaurant was slow service (one girl on for 15 tables), and the food was patchy, the ceasar salad was not great but the salmon dish was fabulous. As was breakfast in the morning with eggs benedict. Friendly and polite, but just lacking that excellent touch. The restaurant really did let it down as it was shabby. OK for a one night. wouldn't stay there for a holiday though.

First impressions on arrival were optomistic - on river and from outside looked promising. Room overlooked the river which was nice but bathroom very shabby with rusty chrome fittings. Went down for a drink in the evening and sat in the draughty bar(had glass missing in window pane)which was most unwelcoming. After about 9pm we were the only people in there and the barman told us this was normal. It was just dark and dismal. Breakfast in the morning was a complete shambles. Staffed by one poor young lad who was run off his feet. Breakfast was self service and when we got there at 9am the cooked food had run out. On the whole we were ignored and had to wait about half an hour before we were asked what we wanted to drink. The next morning was an even longer wait - an hour! and some of the guests took it upon themselves to serve coffee to the other guests! Needless to say the 'British Spirit' took over and we were all laughing about it. Thehotel is badly understaffed and in need of a makeover. Would not reccommend to anyone and Thetford itself is quite grotty. Diss (17 miles away) is lovely.

The website looked good. But the hotel was disappointing when we arrived. The bar prices were far more expensive than we had expected, the room was shabby and bathroom was dirty. Cobwebs, etc. The whole hotel needed decorating and new furniture. Staff were helpful

Needed a 1 night stay in Thetford and settled on the Bell Hotel. I'd stayed in an "Old english inn" before and the experience was pretty similar. Clearly, when renovated the hotel was smart. Unfortunately it has suffered at the hands of time. Our room was large and well appointed with good quality furnishings. Unfortunately, the walls were scuffed and chipped. The bathroom fittings were limescaled and dirty with age. The sheets were threadbare and the throw was disgustingly filthy. We were also unfortunate in that the central heating in the hotel had failed and so we shivered ourselves to sleep fully clothed. However, it's not all bad. If you're prepared to overlook the shabby decor, the room was well appointed. Breakfast was well above expectations. A bright and sunny lounge with a good choice to eat. For the money paid (?50 for a double b&b) , I'd probably consider this hotel again to give them another go. It's fine for an over-nighter, but wouldn't really recommend it for anything more..

Room, food all OK. Insufficient number of staff but almost all who were there worked liked slaves and generally with resigned good humour. Evening was OK because we - a party of 8 - made the most of it but the disco was dreadful. The self-proclaimed DJ - though he did little to justify the description - constantly played loud, fast, 'bomp, bomp, bomp' music throughout the evening until well after midnight which must have been for his own pleasure since it wasn't for the majority of the guests who were 45+ and probably nearer 55+ (many 60+) in age. Asked to play some 60s music he announced he would but put on some 70s music - perhaps doesn't know the difference. Further requests brought one Elvis and two Beatles numbers and, finally, the first slow number at about 1230am and after several had given up and gone to the bar (or to bed). Sorry Bell but this party of 8 - our third New Year's Eve at The Bell - will not be coming back for any special events because of this DJ.