Nice location but a tired hotel

Location is very picturesque and the building is beautiful, this hotel could be amazing! Unfortunately it s very tired in need of an overhaul. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Food in the restaurant is good with no complaints, the decor in the restaurant is stark and the lounge area is the same, it s such a shame because the building is amazing. The rooms are dated and need modernising.

Basic

We booked a sparkle break through off peak luxury.

The room was basic and quite tired looking. Bathroom decor was very tired. We were only staying a night to break our journey so was OK.

Perhaps our biggest disappointment was the restaurant. Felt customer service was quite sloppy. They weren t exactly rushed off their feet! We ordered drinks with our evening meal and had to remind staff twice. We think they d been sat on the bar for over 20 minutes. We were eating our main course by the time we eventually got them. As we d booked a break with a late checkout at 12 noon we thought we have a lazy morning and go down for breakfast about 10ish. On arriving at the hotel we were told the latest we could have breakfast was 9 am! A wedding party had booked their breakfast at 9.30 am and basically took over the restaurant. Breakfast food was basic. When we went at 9am the jars containing the ingredients to make your own granola etc were all nearly empty. It was just as if staff didn t really care and lacked professionalism.Coffee was from a machine which you collected yourself. Not the same as having filter coffee at your table.

Champagne escape.underside

Hotel room lighting in room
could have been better , lacking in clothing hanging and draw space .Underside of toilet could have been cleaner with black mould on underside of toilet pan. Afternoon tea was held in one of the Pods which was good value for money with excellent food which was also good value for money. Cheehse board wih evening meal poor vae for money with little choice of cheeses.

Very tired

Our room had one net curtain for a double window and this was ripped and hanging off the rail, the carpet was heavily stained, the restaurant evening food was extremely bland and we didn t dine there again but went outside to eat which was far better.
However the staff at the hotel were extremely friendly and helpful and we have nothing but praise for them.
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Lovely location, friendly staff, cleanliness of rooms disgusting

The hotels location and staff was excellent the food from the restaurant absolutely amazing, but unfortunately is let down by the cleanliness of the room,
Room 1, walk in to a stench of wet dog.
Room 2, big patch of blood on quilt, which cleaners tried to hide with a throw.(contamination and disgusting).
Room 3, dirty hair brush left in draw with more hair on it than a German shepherd.

Bowden Hall Hotel

The weekend was relaxing. The Hotel was in an excellent setting and the staff were very friendly and helpful. However We were extremely disappointed with the evening menu. The choice was no better than the average pub menu, very limited and several were not available even as early as our second night. It would appear that the kitchen had not catered for the number of guests at the hotel .Sadly we will not be returning.

Short Stay

Attentive and helpful staff to be complimented for their willingness to help. However , rooms in need of some attention and particularly in the bathrooms where basins were lacking mixer taps and those fitted were so short as practically impossible to wash and rinse your hands. Also, in room 233 basin soap dispenser empty, one mirror light not working and window frame dirty.

Good Hotel but...

Well appointed hotel and room BUT
Despite the food being reasonably good our evening meal was spoiled by absolutely shambolic service. It took a good half hour from our reserved time to be seated and then an age to even get a drink. Maybe it was just a bad night but it was absolutely terrible - the opposite of relaxing.
The breakfast buffet was excellent BUT we could not book the times we wanted.
Our room was comfortable but when our room was serviced the maid managed to leave us without a bath mat and did not replace the canned water, instead just leaving what remained from the night before.