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Recent stay at Ellenborough Park Hotel

This was a special family gift for our birthdays which did not turn out as we exactly as expected because of the following drawbacks . 1)No glasses of champagne on arrival as stipulated. 2) Lack of shower cabinet in room and to expect older guests to step into a high and narrow bath to shower without even a bath mat provided was positively dangerous ! 3) On ordering wine for dinner at the Horse Box I distinctly ordered and got merlot house wine priced at 24. On checking out I was informed that we had Malbec at 37 . Rubbish but I suggest one of your reception staff has an attitude problem. 4) At breakfast we were seated, given menu and not informed that cooked English was available in an adjacent room !!

We enjoyed it but not five star luxury

We felt the deal was overpriced and that was with a very good package including dinner allowance and glass of bubbly. Had we paid the full hotel price of over 400 just for B&B, we'd have been gutted. The good stuff: Amazing historic building, fantastically comfortable bed, friendly stuff trying to do their best in difficult (covid) times, unstuffy atmosphere, pretty grounds, very ice breakfast and good service at breakfast, served on the terrace with lovely views. The bad stuff: Very average dinner in very average bar surroudings (formal restuarant was closed), most definitely not 5-star cooking. Weak wifi signal in bedrooms and no smart TV, just terrestial channels which is surprising for a hotel claiming to hod 5 stars, waited 45 minutes for ham sandwich at lunchtime, vey small outdoor pool with all sun loungers hogged by the same people all day long and no attempt to allow others in for a swim at a safe distance. That said, after initial disappointment, the place grew on us and we found it relaxing for one night.

Just Ok

Rather disappointed in limited choice on both Restaurant and Bistro menus
Didn t make an issue of it but ordered Mille Feuille for desert which the waiter announced on serving only to be served a Sticky toffee pudding !! Silly thing was by his face he knew it was wrong so why serve it ?!!
Service of food was very slow and restaurant not at all busy
With the limited choices on the menu was rather disappointing especially for 60 for 3 courses !
Horse Box prawn cocktail /fish and chips was good
Restaurant really does need to improve to substantiate price

Our mini moon

We arrived on Sunday 5th May as we got married on Sat 4th but unfortunately due to full capacity we couldn't get an upgrade.
The room was still nice and the bar staff/waiters were lovely and very knowledgeable but I think i probably got my hopes up about an upgraded room as this is what generally happens with honey mooners .

Lovely hotel, could be much better

Hotel: lovely vintage building with great grounds
Staff: clearly understaffed - restaurant wait times were far too long for a 3* let alone a 5* hotel. The way we got around it was to book early at each meal sitting so our order could be placed in good time before the staff and kitchen were overrun
Restaurant: food was on the whole good but only one vegetarian option on the menu. The menu was static throughout so a bit 'samey' by the end of our stay.
Spa: nice facilities that could be booked for private sessions (Sauna + steam room + hot tub). Treatments were expensive. No indoor linkage between main building and spa so guests required to go outside in robe. our discount from staying at the hotel was not applied.

Not as Expected

On arrival we unload the car and booked in at reception to learn that our allocated room required us to drive back to the front gate in a separate block. Ended up walking back to the main building to get assistance in locating the room as all we had was a room number which were not well signed though out the property
On the plus side the rooms are super - spacious and well appointed with super size bathrooms with all amenities and quiet.
I had hoped that the overnight experience would have included some fine dining to match the location and the hotel itself.
However we were pre booked by the hotel into the Horse Box Restaurant situated off the bar area of the hotel and the menu was less than exciting. Pub style feel to the restaurant with menu and food to match - but at restaurant prices - and topped up with 12.5% service charge which includes the wine - at restaurant prices
Reception took 2, in hotel, spending deposits due to a transaction malfunction that did indeed go through- one of which was on a debit card and I am still awaiting the refund as the actual charges where put on the second Credit card.
The staff where friendly enough under difficult service circumstances at this Covid time.
I can't say that the stay was value for money or offered the experience that we expected