Brandon Hall Hotel and Spa

We had breakfast here and found a good range of tasty food. We skipped dinner, but the rest of the stay was trouble-free, and I’d recommend the hotel. The grounds are attractive, and the location worked well for exploring nearby. Our room was clean and a decent size, and the staff were friendly and hardworking. The pool was big enough for swimming lengths, while the sauna and steam room were good too. You do have to go outside to reach the leisure facilities in another building, but towels were provided. Some gym equipment looked old, though I wasn’t expecting top-of-the-range kit.

Breakfast was a perfectly fine hot and continental buffet, though nothing special. Dinner with a friend was very tasty, just a little pricey. I was visiting on business in August and liked the countryside setting, which is still close enough to the city for day trips. The pool was a decent size and quiet when I went soon after it opened in the morning. My room was comfortable and quiet, but basic and ready for modernisation. There’s plenty of free parking, plus a large bar with outdoor seating. I’d stay again if I were nearby, though some rooms could use an update.

The wedding ceremony room and evening room were both very nice, and the staff were good throughout. The setting was pleasant, though the place felt a little tired. The restaurant also seemed a bit soulless, with its hard floors. The evening meal was okay, but expensive for what we got. Drinks felt very pricey to me: £12 for an average glass of Malbec and £9 for a vodka Red Bull. Our waitress was very good, but seemed overworked. I didn’t use the leisure centre, though it looked nice through the window.

The first room’s bathroom was so mouldy I was shocked it had passed any inspection. We didn’t stay in that room for long, and I didn’t take photos before we moved. The receptionist didn’t seem surprised when we asked for another room. The second room, shown in the pictures, was a big improvement but still poor. Beyond reception the hotel felt run down, with maintenance done to a very amateur standard. The kitchen smell was unpleasant, so we didn’t try the food. The decor is dated, and the curtains let in too much light to keep the room dark.