I was planning a holiday in the Yorkshire Dales so I decided to book into a pub in a small Wensleydale market town. The pub looked appealing on the website so I booked and paid upfront in full.

There was trouble as soon as I arrived. The person at the bar stated firmly that there were no bookings that weekend and showed me the pub's bookings diary. I pointed out my name written in red. I was then told that the room wasn't ready and to leave my case on the stairs and it would be taken up for me if I went for a walk around the town.

I arrived back two hours later and discovered my case exactly where I had left it. I carried it upstairs to my room to discover the door lock broken, the bed unmade, and no sign of towels or soap. Disappointed, I laid down on the bed to watch TV. The remote control didn't appear to work but that didn't really matter as the television had been bolted to the wall a metre away from the plug but there was only a half-metre electrical cable and no aerial lead. The room was not cleaned once during my stay.

I had intended to have Sunday lunch at the pub but the sight of an assistant dropping cigarette ash over the food on the Saturday convinced me to look elsewhere.

I ended up at another pub which advertised 'Welcome - Sunday Lunch' proudly outside but was turned away because I hadn't booked. Another pub greeted me with the less-than-friendly sign 'WALKING BOOTS TO BE LEFT OUTSIDE'.

On my final day at the 'inn', breakfast was inedible - there was more grease than food on the plate and the coffee was simply undrinkable.

As a final insult the manager stopped me when I was walking out of the front door and said I hadn't paid. I looked at the bookings diary to see my name and '£10 deposit only paid' written. This had not been there when I had seen the same page three days previously.

Rather begrudgingly, I paid the difference. When I returned home I checked my credit card statement and saw that I had indeed paid upfront. A rather abrasive letter was sent. Needless to say I won't be going back there again.
Geoff Gwillym, Harrow, Middlesex

· Have you had a crap holiday? If so, tell us about it. The writers of stories we publish will receive a £16 Lifesystems Adventurer First Aid Kit from Cotswold Outdoor (0844 557 7755; cotswoldoutdoor.com) for taking the sting out of minor holiday mishaps. Email crap.holidays@observer.co.uk