The Wood Norton

The hotel has a picturesque view from the front lawn, though the road about 150 yards away can be heard now and then. It seems to attract an older generation. I struggled to get into the bath to use the shower because the sink was in the way. The room’s chandelier was ridiculous, and a ceiling fan and fridge would have been improvements. Since we were on the ground floor, we couldn’t leave the windows open at night.

We had our daughter's wedding at Wood Norton and everything about the day was perfect. David deserves a special mention for being outstanding from beginning to end. The venue is stunning, the food was fabulous, and the fantastic team managed the whole day seamlessly. Highly recommended!

The setting is gorgeous, the main building looks spectacular outside, and the view on a clear day is lovely. The hot breakfast had a good range of options, and the eggs royal were cooked perfectly. Still, it felt overpriced and disappointing. We booked two nights mainly for the Spa, then found out after booking that it was closed. That closure wasn’t mentioned on the website when we booked. We asked for a small complimentary gesture, even just a glass of wine at the bar, but were offered nothing. The Spa is presented as the hotel’s main luxury experience, and it seems to be run by a third party. But guests shouldn’t have to care about internal arrangements. We were left disappointed. The bar’s style really hurt the experience. It has nothing to do with the rest of the property, and I heard other guests complaining too. The fish wallpaper and blinding lights were so distasteful and ruined the vibe. We stayed in the Orangerie, where the tacky style didn’t match what the main building had led us to expect. The room was full of ladybugs, and I’m not sure why.

The main building looks fantastic, but I never got to stay there. We were sent to 'Pear Tree Mews', which sounds posh but was quite the opposite. It was clean enough, though very dated and reminiscent of a certain famous hotel in Torquay. Each morning at 06:30, delivery lorries and the bin lorry idled right outside our window. (See picture.) Breakfast was okay, though I’ve had much better at similar hotels. The staff tried their best. I’d booked based on the idea of the spa, and was surprised to find it wasn’t part of the hotel. It’s a BUPA-run service linked to the care home next door, with only limited slots each day, £25pp in Mar 26. I was lucky enough to get the last two.