The Wood Norton

Disappointing stay

Lovely surroundings. No welcome or interest on arrival - like doing the paperwork for a purchase. No milk in room. Lavatory seat, stained at the front, slipped dramatically sideways when sat on - dangerous to an elderly or unsteady person. How could a cleaner have missed that? A Lovely room but there was a layer of dust on the ledge of the wood panelling all the way round it. We began to doubt the Covid measures allegedly carried out between occupants. After reporting the lavatory seat for a second time, an older receptionist sent up a man who made it secure. Un-engaging waiting staff - apart from one very nice young lady with amazingly long false eyelashes. Food very disappointing in evening - indifferent. Good breakfast, pleasant waiter. We stayed one night out of the two booked.

Such a shame. It should have been better

The positives first: it a lovely old building full of character in a wonderful setting. The quality of food was a high standard.
The negatives: our bathroom (room 106) had dirty grout - something we wouldn t allow at our own home. The bedroom furniture was cheap and nasty which spoilt the feel of the wood panelled room. The wardrobe only had 4 hangers (when I requested more I was told by reception that that was all we could have and there were no spares). In addition to this the whole hotel felt undermanned so that made service unacceptably slow. When this was mentioned we were told Brexit & Covid (when will that stop being an excuse?). What probably had the biggest effect of our 4 night stay was the fact that there were weddings everyday which impacted in enjoying the grounds and getting served at the bar and even on being able to get a space in the car park.

I guess another Brexit/Covid impact is the reason you have to ask to get your room serviced. If you don t ask you get to come back to an unmade bed and no coffee/ teas supplies.

Nothing wrong with being a wedding venue but it doesn t work when you are trying to be a holiday venue at the same time.

In summary this hotel does not deserve the rating it has. It is closer to a three star. We will not return.

3 day stay Sunday to Wednesday

We are both registered disabled at 85 & 86 No porter to assist with luggage, the receptionist did assist with the cases.
No room cleaning, I accept this was due to restrictions There was a wedding reception on Sunday evening, our food at the evening meal was very poor and I commented on this to the waiter who basically shrugged his shoulders. The evening serving staff on each evening were obviously temporary and poorly trained.
The breakfast was really exceptional and the breakfast staff well trained.
Reception staff were very good and obliging.
The hotel building and grounds was well maintained an clean in all respects, a lovely hotel let down by temporary and poorly trained evening staff
The occasion for our stay was to celebrate 63 years of marriage and my wife's birthday.
Not a good memory.
R,H,Jones.