The Briars Resort & Spa

Sandra gave us great massages, though I wish there had been an esthetician available for pedicures during our stay. The staff, from the bartender and servers to the front desk, were top notch. We also loved dinner: arancini, shrimp, fish and chips, fresh salad, and wonderful cocktails. Breakfast was excellent too, especially the French toast and eggs bennie, and the coffee was incredible. My daughter and I had a girls’ weekend at this timeless, historic inn. It’s beautiful and sprawling, and our room was spacious and spotless, with a working fireplace, comfy beds, plenty of pillow options, a balcony, and a great view. We usually don’t watch TV, but missed Game 1 of the World Series because we couldn’t get a feed. The grounds look gorgeous in fall colour. I’m sure the weddings there would be exquisite, and a summer booking on that beach would be phenomenal.

The Briars is a lovely property, and the staff were amazing during our stay. Some parts were dirty and quite run down, though. There were lots of dead bugs in the lookout room, and the spa only offered massages. The place itself is nice, but it’s dated and needs attention.

The service was so helpful and friendly that I would have rated it a six if I could. One young woman at the front desk spent 15 minutes running around the resort to find us a replacement ping pong ball, and she did find one. The Briars also has lovely grounds, a great location by the water, and plenty of amenities for guests. The rooms and resort need renovation. Our carpet was stained, two light bulbs didn’t work, and the towel rack kept falling off. With investment in the buildings and better upkeep, this could be a top-notch resort.

The Briars has so much potential, but after going there every year for eight years, it’s become a local embarrassment. We used to visit often for dinner and the spa, and sadly it seems to get worse each year. The building badly needs maintenance, and the bathrooms are in awful shape on every floor. Housekeeping needs attention too. There’s inch-thick dust around the building, and they might want to rethink the tacky fake plants. Restaurant meals taste like Sysco food when the kitchen doesn’t forget them, and the staff are poorly dressed. The spa isn’t worth the money either. We’ve had booking problems and bad treatments, and recently they haven’t offered the full spa menu. It could rank alongside Elora Mill and Ste Anne’s, but it doesn’t.