Widbrook Grange

Where to start!? Widbrook Grange was chosen specifically to enjoy use of the pool with our two young children. Sadly, we were informed, only upon arrival, that the pool was colder than usual due to recent maintenance. It was intolerable! Even the air temperature in the pool house was only 15C and the water temperature was totally unsuitable for young children. More concerning was that my (4-year old) daughter ‘slipped’ on one of the steps entering the pool. Only to find that the step was unstable. She hurt her leg and was understandably badly shaken. However, if it had been an elderly person on their own, the consequences could’ve been much worse. The incident was reported and, surprisingly, it was acknowledged that the damaged step was already known about (but was still to be repaired!). Yet, there was no warning sign, nor any cordon to prevent use. The following morning at breakfast a metal staple was found in the homemade yogurt/muesli being fed to my youngest (1-year old) daughter. This was again reported and escalated to the site manager. It clearly wasn’t considered serious enough (my daughter hadn’t eaten it, and choked!?) to warrant the manager apologising in person. On the final morning my daughter requested a boiled egg for breakfast. It arrived undercooked. Not just slightly runny but the whole ‘white’ was completely clear. Fortunately, it was again noticed and returned before my daughter ate it. It seems implausible that any chef would be unable to boil an egg. So, it begs the question just who was responsible for ‘preparing’ and serving it? It was a shame that such a beautiful venue could fail so badly on multiple accounts. It indicates poor procedures and inadequacy of the management team and those in positions of responsibility. This was further illustrated when a letter was written to the General Manager to highlight our concerns. She kindly investigated the incidents we reported but refuted all claims, concluding, ‘The swimming pool steps were inspected and found to be intact and fit for purpose. No defect or structural failure was identified. Replacement of the pool steps had been scheduled for aesthetic reasons only and not due to any safety concern.’ ‘An investigation into the alleged foreign body found in the overnight oats did not identify any evidence to support the claim. Our suppliers’ packaging does not contain metal components of the nature described. Staples are not used within the kitchen or food preparation areas. No evidence of cross-contamination or procedural failure was identified during the review.’ ‘Based on the findings above, we are unable to substantiate the concerns raised.’ Accidents can happen, but refusing to acknowledge they occurred, even in the presence of multiple witnesses, raises serious concerns about the culture and prevents any opportunity for improvement. The evidence from our stay indicates an urgent need to review procedures and (re-)train staff, where appropriate. This is unlikely to happen when overall responsibility for Health & Safety is with a management team in denial. Being uncertain how a foreign object entered the kitchen is not vindication nor verification that it didn’t happen. Surely, the aim should be to implement additional checks or processes to help ensure a similar event doesn’t reoccur? Choose wisely.

Staffs are helpful. Hotel room is clean and spacious.

My husband and I had a lovely short break of two nights at Widbrook Grange. Our room was in the converted Hay Barn which is one of the quirky options of accommodation outwith the main hotel building. The hotel itself has a very unique and interesting decor in keeping with the age of the building and its previous farm house use. The facilities onsite including a very nice and well resourced gin bar, a restaurant with an excellent choice of food cooked to a good standard and a spa area with a gym & pool. The staff were welcoming and helpful. Nothing was too much. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would certainly go back when in the area.

My wife and I stayed at Widbrook Grange as part of an Off Peak Luxury package. The room was comfortable, the bed was excellent, and breakfast the following morning was enjoyable and filling. Unfortunately, the evening meal was a major disappointment and ultimately overshadowed the stay. Our package included a £35 per person dinner allowance, which initially sounded generous. However, most meat main courses were priced between £26 and £30, with a 12.5% service charge added on top. In reality, the allowance barely covered a main course once service was taken into account. I ordered the roast pork loin (£26), while my wife had the market fish (£28). Both dishes were attractively presented but surprisingly small. The pork consisted of two small pieces of pork, two small dumplings and a cabbage roll spread across a large plate, while my wife's fish dish was essentially a single piece of fish served in broth. More disappointing than the portion sizes was the fact that neither dish was particularly memorable in terms of flavour. As we were both still hungry after our mains, we ordered the cheese board for two (£20), expecting it would round off the meal. Unfortunately, this was also much smaller than we anticipated and did little to solve the problem. With two pints of beer and the cheese board, our final bill came to £99, meaning we paid an additional £29 on top of the £70 allowance. What was frustrating was that this extra spend wasn't the result of ordering expensive extras, but simply an attempt to leave dinner feeling reasonably fed. The end result was that I went to bed hungry after a dinner that cost close to £100 for two people. For a hotel marketed as a luxury country retreat, that was not the experience we expected. Overall, the room and breakfast were good, but the restaurant represented poor value for money and left us disappointed.

Went to Woodbrook Grange for Sunday lunch and it was the best we had had anywhere. Everything was cooked to perfection, the presentation was beautiful, portion size generous and staff were attentive but also left us to enjoy our lunch in peace. The hotel itself is full of interesting things well worth a look round.

Stayed here for 2 nights DBB. Stable block room, end 21. Good size, comfortable, everything you’d need. Small bar, very well stocked with Gin !!!! Small comfy lounge leading to small conservatory. Indoor pool – very nice. Nice large garden with some very good & interesting sculptures. VERY good staff. Dinner both nights very good. Breakfast, food & service, both mornings very good. However……….a number of small children active in the dining room and a lot of whining & crying ruined first morning. So 2nd morning when faced with the same disruption and discomfort, we ate in the conservatory which is where guests with dogs can dine. Criticism ? Yes, sadly. The hotel, restaurant, bar & staff, especially the staff, all very good. Hot water in room was SCALDINGLY hot from the shower. NO way could a human being who wanted to keep their flesh use that. So 2nd morning we were given keys to a vacant room to use that shower. It meant a short walk back & forth outside but there was nothing else the staff could do. It wasn’t their fault. Room 21 location. At the end of the block with only one adjacent room it seemed ideal. But actually it is not. Staff park their cars next to you on the gravel at the side and out the back of your lounge/bedroom. Then walk into the hotel across the shingle (block paving starts at room 20 next door). So there’s noise. Crunch, crunch, crunch across then crunch, crunch, crunch across again etc etc. Much worse is contractors. First morning the laundry van collecting at 06.45 parked right outside our window until he eventually moved away closer to the actual laundry room, but radio on ! Second morning, again before 07.00, a food delivery van/lorry, parked right outside our room again, engine running constantly, crunch, crunch, crunch, talking to kitchen staff loudly with the kitchen door open. Eventually, after maybe 10 minutes, I was so annoyed I got up threw on some clothes and ‘spoke’ to him. It was a refrigerated van but the engine can still be switched off (don't let someone tell you otherwise). I went to reception and asked the lady there to talk with him and get him to stop and move away. Even she wasn’t happy about it/him ! Some people have absolutely zero consideration and zero common sense. It’s a hotel. These are guest rooms. People are in bed. I was NOT happy and, I am not proud, but I was not polite to him. Again, it wasn’t the fault of the staff for the behaviour of these drivers. But clear instructions obviously need to be given to suppliers as they obviously have no consideration or common sense.

andA quirky farmhouse Manor hotel that has an aspirational dining menu that is inventive and interesting, and quite good. The staff were a delight, welcoming and friendly and made for a pleasant stay. There are some issues regarding the maintenance, only minor in importance but irritating at times if you have to live with it. Probably the only area that needs significant uplifting, but if your evening dining menus are approx £50 without drinks then the rest of the establishment needs to live up to that aspirational level

I went with three friends for the Christmas wreath making experience and it was the most perfect way to spend a Sunday. Warm mulled wine and home made mince pie on arrival and greeted with such warmth from Reception staff and the host. The wreath making instructor was amazing because she was informative and knowledgeable but very chill. Afternoon tea followed with a wonderful array of goodies delivered with a sprinkle of banter. All this for £80 was value for money for sure. Well done Widbrook - you smashed it.