Mercure Bewdley The Heath Hotel

The show was great, with lots of audience interaction and a DJ during the break and afterwards. It’s a shame the meal was so poor. The soup was watery, the vegetables with the main course were cold, overcooked and watery, and the peach tart and custard were cold too. We were told that was how the chef intended it. Someone asked to have her pudding warmed. Nobody checked whether we’d enjoyed the food. Drinks were very expensive: over £8 for a beer and half a pint of Pepsi, and other people at our table paid £24 for wine or £12 for a beer and gin and tonic. The dining room was nicely arranged with round tables for ten, and we had a warm welcome and were shown where to go. We were early, so went to the bar first and were taken aback by the prices. After chatting with the others, we had the set soup, main and pudding meal. The hotel was invited to respond to our complaint and said it would take our comments “on board” because it had received lots of positive feedback.

The gym was up to a good standard, and the staff were pleasant, but the hotel is tired and struggling in too many areas. The bar and reception don’t have enough staff, and our food was very disappointing overall. Our room needs updating, and the place lacked atmosphere. During all five nights, a room near reception had both a TV and piped music playing at once. I wouldn’t recommend staying here and think its current grading needs an urgent review.

The wedding itself was beautiful, and both families made it a lovely day to remember. The hotel’s service and prices let it down badly. Drinks were far beyond what seemed acceptable, even allowing for wedding prices, and some guests with children went to a local shop for pop and crisps. Non-alcoholic drinks were unusually expensive too. We were meant to eat at 4pm so photos could be taken in the garden, but the meal started at least an hour late. The pig roast came with salads and a roll, served on side plates in a way that made the piled-up food look greedy. Meat came first, then the roll, then salad. After the speeches, the party started, and more guests arrived for the evening. Food was served as the queue eased, but when the bride’s parents and others went up, four of roughly ten tables got nothing because it had completely run out. We’d asked family to wait in the bar areas, which remained open to the public and served menu food. It felt as if the hotel was cashing in, charging five star prices for two star service, and that spoiled an otherwise lovely family day. I’d posted this before, but it was taken down because I hadn’t edited it two months ago as the site said. I’ve given two stars because we still had a good time.

The staff were generally friendly and helpful, especially at breakfast, and the pool was good. The beds were comfortable and the heating worked, though it ran a bit hot. But the building felt tired: damp on the outside walls, peeling ceiling paper, faded carpets, and tape holding one carpet down. The changing rooms looked more like a boarding school. Restaurant service was very poor even though it was quiet, and the food was average and overpriced. Breakfast was much better, although several items had run out, apparently because it was a bank holiday after a busy weekend. A wedding party was very loud near the bedrooms, and reception hadn't warned us that might happen. I was surprised it has four stars, as it felt closer to a budget place. The location is handy for the Safari park, but other hotels or B&Bs may be better. I’d probably only stay again if there were a very good deal.