Donington Manor Hotel

I booked one night through Booking.com and travelled 100 miles that afternoon, arriving at the time the hotel had specified. They had contacted me that day to confirm when I’d arrive and explain how to get into the car park, but when I got there the place was locked. Nobody answered the Ring doorbell or the phone number they’d given me. After waiting more than two hours, I called Booking.com customer service, who also tried to reach the hotel. They said the hotel would call me, but I waited until 2130 and then found somewhere else to stay. Booking.com eventually gave me a full refund, though it took two weeks. The hotel still hasn’t replied or explained why I couldn’t get in. Disgraceful customer service. I’d avoid it and go elsewhere.

The food tasted nice, but the Sunday menu didn’t have many options. The roast potatoes weren’t hot or crispy, so it seemed like they’d been cooked an hour or two before serving. I mentioned it to the staff, but nothing was done.

For my birthday I was given an afternoon tea voucher, and when I tried to book they told me they no longer accepted vouchers, even though mine was still in date. That was after I’d called three times before and been promised a call back. Really poor customer service and no empathy. I wouldn’t recommend them.

We had a Groupon deal for Sunday lunch, three courses for two, and left really disappointed. The hotel has some character, but the food and service need a lot of work. We heard other people around us complaining about slow service and cold food too. The first courses were just about passable. Then both pork loin dinners arrived basically cold, as if they’d been sitting out for ages. The Paxo stuffing was hard and dry, there was no gravy, and the mash and vegetables were cold. The roast potatoes were covered in cold duck fat, and the pork was poor quality. It was the sort of meal I’d expect at a roadside cafe, and probably would have been hotter there. We waited for the third course until we got fed up and left. It never arrived while we were there, if it ever would have. Nobody asked if everything was okay, even when two nearly full plates were collected, and nobody mentioned the missing course as we left. It gave me the impression they’d seen this before. I can’t imagine paying full price for this.