Brockencote Hall Hotel

Maybe our expectations were too high

The hotel was in a quiet country setting so sleep should have been good but the bed was uncomfortable and we slept poorly. Floor boards squeaked and windows barely opened. A fan was supplied on request. The restaurant was okay for meat eaters but very ordinnary for a vegetarian. An entre of par cooked and raw carrots was memorable for all the wrong reasons. Serving sizes were very small, the same as if your were doing the degustation menu. Breakfast was very good. Service excelllent. The staff were attentive but overall it was a disappointing experience.

I really wish that I could rate this hotel excellent BUT

Our problems with the hotel related solely to the rooms that we were allocated. The building and grounds are impressive. Food and service in the restaurant are outstanding.

The weather was awful when we arrived. We were allocated to room 20. We unpacked. The room was cold. We could not turn on the radiator and found that the window frame was rotten resulting in a strong draught. We complained to the reception desk and were told that 'there must be another airlock'. There was no comment regarding the window. After checking the hotel's records the receptionist advised that we could move to room 21. We repacked.

We were next told that room 21 had not been cleaned. It and no other room was available until the next day so we had to stay in room 20, A small oil filled radiator was provided which did little to warm the room. We unpacked again. My partner showered first before dinner (the radiator in the bathroom was working) and the bathroom flooded. Called the receptionist who arrived with a bucket and mop. When I suggested that we could not be the only people to have a problem with the bathroom flooding the only response was a wry smile.

We did ask the receptionist at what time room 21 would be available the next day. We were told that the cleaners arrive 'around 9.00' and would take 'around 40 minutes' to prepare the room.

The next day we repacked again. Having heard nothing from the reception desk, at 9.50 we asked if room 21 was available as we would like to settle in and get on with our plans for the day. No. When would it be available? We would be advised.

At 10.30, again having heard nothing, we advised the reception desk that our day was being ruined and that we wanted immediate action. Within 5 minutes we were told that we could move into room 6. We unpacked again in room 6 and went out for the day.

When we returned we found that there was no heating on in the bedroom or bathroom. One of the radiators in the bedroom was turned on 'centrally'. We were told that we could not adjust the temperature. The radiator had to be 'on or off'. 2 waitresses (?!) separately tried to turn on the radiator in the bathroom and failed. We asked to see a manager. The only manager available was the restaurant manager who politely listened to our experiences and apologised, as had so many other members of staff. He did manage to turn on the bathroom radiator by opening a valve which leaked so we finished up with a pile of towels under the radiator and wrapped around the valve to mop up the leaking water. It stayed like that for the third and final day of our stay.

Brockencote Hall advertises itself as a 'luxury country hotel'. That was not our experience, perhaps because we had booked a package deal so we're not going to be given the best rooms are we?

Would we stay at Brockencote Hall again? No. Would we have a meal there? Most definitely, yes.

Very small room

Lovely location. Some staff helpful. Room very small. Shower pressure VERY poor. No handle on inside of shower door.