Cally Palace Hotel & Golf Course

Sue at reception had arranged a box of local homemade chocolates in the room for my boyfriend’s birthday, a lovely touch. We stayed in the spacious, clean deluxe double suite and had a relaxing three nights in January. The grounds are beautiful, and we enjoyed walking around the lake. We also made good use of the pool, sauna, snooker and table tennis. Breakfast had plenty of choice in a roomy dining area with wonderful views, and the staff were attentive. One evening we ate in the bar conservatory, where the food was delicious and there were vegetarian options. The bar staff were attentive and knowledgeable, and Barry made us feel welcome with some lovely cocktails. We loved our stay and would definitely book again.

We booked bed and breakfast, and there was plenty of choice. The hot buffet food was cooked and hot enough, though I heard others say it was only warm, possibly because the lids had been left off. Eggs Benedict and a few other dishes cost £3.50 extra, while fried or poached eggs were free. You won’t go hungry. Dinner on our first night was a letdown: about half the meals were burnt or overcooked, and the rest were okay but nothing special. There are plenty of places nearby, so we won’t eat dinner at the hotel next time. The grounds are lovely to explore during the day, though there are only a few lights at night. The pool area looks tired compared with the rest of the well-kept hotel, but it’s perfectly usable. The lounge seats are comfortable and make a good spot to chat with other guests. Rooms and lounges are clean, well decorated and cared for. Our room was huge and very warm, even in winter, so we had to open the windows. The shower was hot and strong, and free Wi-Fi worked throughout the hotel. The TVs look tiny, but that’s partly because the rooms are so large you get your steps in just walking around the bedroom. Dogs are welcome in most areas, though not the dining room, one lounge or the pool area. You can eat with your dog in the conservatory, down three steps, and it was warm enough in winter. For breakfast, you need to take your food on a tray from the dining room and walk about 50 metres back; I’m sure staff would help if needed. Some staff went above and beyond, most were friendly and happy to help, and one or two seemed to be having a bad day without being rude. We’d recommend the hotel and will return.

The Forest wing room was large, spotless and well equipped, with lovely views. The hotel has loads of charm and character, and its big public rooms are great for relaxing over drinks. Staff were friendly and professional, and having a pool, jacuzzi and snooker table was a bonus. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and look forward to returning. Small thing, though, I’ve seen people mention the chips before.

The pool, sauna and jacuzzi were clean and warm, and the room was spacious and clean too. We had a much-needed weekend break at The Cally Palace Hotel. It’s in a stunning location, the food was really good and the staff were very professional, especially Liz in the dining room. They made our stay very enjoyable and it was definitely good value. We’ll definitely go back.