Put off by the exorbitant price of 12 shillings and sixpence per night, they phone to cancel and the rooms are snatched by Walter Ormund, a wealthy industrialist and his wife Janet.
A mysterious time-travelling Dr Görtler also checks in and quickly begins to unsettle the staff and fellow guests as it becomes apparent that he already knows who they are and has intimate knowledge about the way they live their lives.
JB Priestley's play explores the theme of recurring lives where we travel a perpetual loop, going over the same things time and again – an existential version of supermarket music, if you get my drift.
Görtler's theories influence the actions of those around him as it becomes apparent they have all been to the Black Bull before and their behaviour follows a pattern familiar to the weird doctor.
Hannah Stow puts in a typically impressive performance as Sally the innkeeper's daughter.
John Sunderland plays her father Sam. Vaughan Leslie plays a sneaky schoolteacher who swoops amorously on downtrodden Janet Ormund (Kate Leslie) while Ben Sweeny excels as Walter the cuckolded capitalist.
The star of this play was Martin Aylott, who put in a truly convincing performance as the German doctor with time on his hands.
Freda Kelsall's direction and an impressive stage set created the right atmosphere.
The production runs at the theatre, in Holme Street, until Saturday.