"We checked in and was greeted by someone who was polite but not welcoming. We left our bags as we had arrived early and it was a nice touch to find they had been taken to our room when we returned.
The bedroom was very nice - large and attractively decorated, although we overlooked the courtyard which was nice to see but a bit dark in the morning. We ate at the restaurant in the evening where the food and service were both okay but it felt a bit overpriced at about £100 per head for the set menu and wine. We were getting ready for dinner when the turndown service arrived so we asked them to come back a little later - but they didn't come back to us.
The bathroom was very large with a good bath although the finishing wasn't great and generally around the hotel there was a lack of attention to detail when you got your eye in - wonky pictures and electrical fittings, etc.
We also had a couple drinks in the mirror bar - service was good and the cocktails were quite potent but on the smaller side.
Breakfast in the morning was a buffet with some drinks at the table, the person I was with ordered a coffee three times but it never did arrive. I opted for some Rice Krispies and took a big spoonful to find they tasted disgusting and stale. When I looked at the box I found they went OUT OF DATE at the beginning of June - we were staying mid-October. I let one of the severs know who said that this was the manufactured date, but that was printed above in 2024. Someone else came over and apologised - I appointed out there was at least another six packets all out of date. He said it must have been an error with the supplier as they had just come out the box, and that may well be correct, but it is also an error in a five star hotel that no one had checked what was being served. When I checked out I told the person on reception who didn't seem very bothered and said she could mention it to the breakfast team.
I complained to the hotel afterwards who apologised and offered me a free breakfast if I stay again - I pointed out that free breakfast is standard when you're a member of the hotel club. They have subsequently offered me a free afternoon tea if we stay again, however this is of course reliant on me spending another circa £500-600 for the night and there doesn't seem to be vegetarian options for the tea. I asked for the 5% service charge to be returned, only about £27 but from the unwelcoming reception to the missed turndown service, to the mediocre restaurant service which of course we had to pay service charge for to the forgotten coffee three times at breakfast to the out of date cereal to the indifference at check out, I really didn't feel it had been earned.
All in all we spent about £850 for one night with dinner, bed and breakfast and a couple of drinks and whilst the room was very comfortable I didn't find it money to be well spent overall."
