Our first thought was who had stolen the original chateau doors. Front entrance totally underwhelming and everything they don't want you see is covered by curtains. Behind the curtains are old boxes and plastic bags and a good impression it isn't. There's a smell of cigarette smoke coming from somewhere and reading a previous review it must have been the chef smoking in the guest's lounge. We weren't advised that there were any common areas although in a hotel you would certainly expect them. Our room was all faux wooden doors which looked like they were Ikea self assembly. For 150 euros we had a shower over the bath, no air-conditioning, minimal lighting and about as much charm as a motorway toll booth. The keys to these rooms were obviously designed by a Cathar knight as they are the size of a small shield and take time and dexterity to actually lock and unlock the door. To add insult to injury our room in no way resembled any of the advertising material - so much so that we thought we had come to the wrong place! But the bed was really comfortable. And then there was dinner, apparently the reason most people make the trip. The chef may drive on Michelin tyres but his food will never earn a star. Service is pretentious with more than a hint of arrogance and the food is plain ordinary. They try and divert your attention from the main course by feeding you, what seems, an endless procession of amuse bouches. My cote de boeuf tasted like it had been cooked over a pile of smoldering newspapers but the cheapest wine on the carte du vin was probably the best part of the meal. Drive on by there must be somewhere better somewhere to stay and to eat.

I expected top-class service from this highly-praised restaurant (not hotel) when I booked two months in advance, but my requests for a table either on the terrace (with spectacular views) or the elegant dining room were ignored. Instead, the owners used a staff sitting room (complete with large TV screen and chairs pushed out of the way under a shelf at the side) and told us it was a "private" room. It was dark because the window was small, overlooking the parking in the square rather than the rolling vistas at the rear of the hotel. I was told there was no room left on the terrace or in the dining room because the people there had made their reservations before i had. This was a lie: when I booked, in person, the reservations book was empty and I was not told then of any other unlisted reservations that precluded my request. The large dining room, almost empty all night, was not available to us, I was told, because they had to keep tables there available for unexpected parties of two or four who might turn up to eat. (I paid more than 600 Euros for my group of clients, so you would think they might give preference to the bird in the hand... I think it was sheer greed on their part). On top of that, the menu was limited - main course choice of fish, chicken or the inevitable Cassoulet - and the food very twiddly in presentation but not that impressive to eat (although the puddings were good). One member of the group sent back his fish which he said was inedible, getting it replaced with the chicken, which had been cooked quickly and was bloodily undercooked in the middle. He left that too. These were prestigious clients who expected great things from a Michelin-starred restaurant. Their private verdicts on my customer satisfaction forms gave the restaurant an average score of 2 out of 5. Needless to say, we won't be using La Pomarede again. (My company, The French House Party, runs arts, cookery and leisure holiday courses together with facilitating corporate events throughout the year. We always include visits to excellent restaurants as part of our customer service.)
Moira Martingale

The reception is luke-warm and not very informative, you're left feeling not welcome. We were dispatched to our room with no idea about facilities or meal arrangements.

One lounge area was never presented to us and with the owners often taking refuge in it to watch television and smoke, we were left thinking it was their private TV lounge.

Our room was located in the new (2009) annexe (The Old Vicarage), in general the room was ok, furnished in a modern style decor, either minimalistic or not quite finished?Those finishing touches you would expect for a four star hotel were absent, for example, glasses, tarif and bottle opener were all missing from the mini-bar, loungers and parasol from the terrace. The room-safe was neither bolted down nor with operating instructions. However, the vicarage bell located in the same building, starting at 7am and ringing every half hour is THE show-stopper for staying in the Annexe. The owner said he was trying to have is stopped (at least until 9am) but did not seem really concerned or give any real apology.


The restaurant and food is excellent and made-up a lot for all the other short-comings. The waiters and sommelier were professional, friendly and polite.

In conclusion the owner is clearly an excellent creative chef and restaurateur, but together the couple are amateurish n running an hotel and give the impression their heart's are not in it.

Go for a great meal, but don't stay over.

This is a lovely place, an hour east of Toulouse and 40 mins north of Carcassonne: Its a former castle - you drive over a bridge and moat to get in! Our room overlooked rolling countryside and was very tastefully decorated. We went halfboard for 180 Euros between us. Dinner was a delight - lots of nibbles to start with (focaccia bites, chorizo, parmesan crisps, etc), homemade foie gras, a deliciously tender cod fillet on fennel, a cheese board to die for, a tarte tatin with creamy vanilla ice cream and finally lots of biscuits and chocolates with your coffee. A choice of breads, a choice of butter, a choice of coffee types.

The wine waiter is great - he recommended trying a different glass of wine with each course; thus enabling us to trying local sweet white, a red from Bordeaux and a white from the Languedoc.

Excellent service, tables well spaced so you can talk properly... oh and breakfast in bed at no extra charge.. breakfast was copious and good quality too.

ITs in a great spot for exploring this lovely region - I live down here so I'm a bit biased !