Stratton House Hotel & Spa

We had a very relaxing spa day. They kept the number of people in the spa down, and it was clearly well managed. The treatment was amazing, the food was really good, and the staff were incredibly helpful and friendly. Ordering drinks with a QR code was handy. I'd highly recommend it.

Comfortable is the word I keep coming back to. The country house furnishings suit the building, while most of the facilities are modern. It's an attractive hotel in pleasant gardens, and the staff are lovely. Nothing seemed too much trouble. At breakfast, our waitress even turned the tea and coffee pot handles towards the right people. Top that! The food was top notch, with an interesting menu, and prices seemed quite reasonable for what you get. It looks like a great place for weddings. There isn't room service or a lift.

The rooms were a decent size, and the bed was large, though not especially comfortable. The hotel itself is lovely, but the poor service means I wouldn't hurry back or recommend it. I hope management can get the teams some support. On Friday, after a long day at work and the drive down, we were looking forward to dinner. The £22 cauliflower steak was just a plain slice of cauliflower thrown in a pan, with no seasoning. When we asked which sauce the chef recommended, we were told he prefers customers to choose for themselves. The peppercorn sauce didn't taste of peppercorn, so I sent it back. It came back with an explanation that it was made from scratch, but it tasted like cornflour. The rump steak, on the other hand, was cooked perfectly. We raised the whole issue with Jason, who was lovely and very accommodating. The receptionist suggested the bar menu for Saturday, since we were on a package deal. That evening the food was better, though they had run out of fries. Tables inside and outside were piled with glasses and cups, which made it feel short staffed. Jason was attentive and made a real effort to improve things. Sunday breakfast was chaotic, with waiters and waitresses running around, forgetting orders, cutlery and glasses. It was stressful to watch and not relaxing for us, and I felt sorry for the staff. At lunch, drinks took ages to arrive, then it took a long time to order food. Everyone seemed stressed, but they stayed polite and apologetic. We used the spa too, but it wasn't anything special. Luckily the sun was glorious, so we sat outside for a couple of hours.

For £110 on a Tuesday night, our gorgeous room felt like a bargain. The staff were friendly and attentive, and I really have to commend the hotel for its prices. A 175ml glass of house red is £6.40, and teas and coffees are £3. That’s great value for a quality coffee in such lovely surroundings. The food was excellent too, well priced and a little cheaper than the nearby pubs.