Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa

I booked this through a Wowcher voucher, which I could use between January and March. After I asked for available dates, I chose one, but a few days before arriving I couldn’t make it because of work. I asked if the voucher could be extended, and although that was an issue, the company accommodated me and offered several dates for the following month. I’d never been before and was taking my mam for a treat. The grounds looked lovely and spacious when we arrived. At reception we asked how to get to the spa. The woman behind the spa desk welcomed us warmly, gave us locker keys and information, and told us our lunch was booked for 1pm. The spa is small, with only six loungers and chairs around the rest of it. The pool’s deep end is 1.5m. Some areas could do with a bit of attention, but overall it was good. The water tank at the top of the stairs is poorly placed for people with mobility problems, and if the steps get wet they could easily become a trip hazard. Lunch was included as a two-course meal, with £6 extra for a third course, which wasn’t bad at all. We also had a bottle of wine for an extra £33. The food was amazing.

We had such a dreamy three-night stay and could easily have stayed a week. The rooms were beautiful, the grounds gorgeous, and the decor was old school and impeccably tasteful. Take wellies for the maze! Staff were lovely and attentive, and nothing was too much trouble. The food was out of this world, and the afternoon tea was delicious. We also had fabulous spa treatments. Cocktails and board games in the bar made for a hilarious evening. We’re already longing to come back for Christmas next year with the children.

The evening meal was excellent, and the welcome on arrival was friendly. Our room was better than expected, but it was too hot and we couldn’t turn the temperature down overnight, so we slept poorly. We mentioned it to reception when leaving and were told we should have called the night porter, which wasn’t an option. Breakfast also fell short because key buffet items, especially marmalade and fruit salad, had run out. Staff should top up those items regularly.

We stayed two nights and could easily have stayed a week. The decor was fantastic, the staff friendly, and the dining exceptional. Kurt and his restaurant team were so helpful and couldn’t do enough for us, and the same was true of the other staff. One of them even came to find us when the fire had been lit. I would have liked some time in the library, but there was a photo shoot going on during both days. The chefs deserve a mention too: the stone bass, fillet steak, fish and chips, and scampi were amazing. I’ll be dreaming about them until next time.