Rectory Manor

The quiet setting was lovely, and breakfast started well with a fresh fruit salad. The cooked option was generous, though the continental breakfast felt much less so. We came with high expectations and left disappointed. The bedroom was spacious and the shower was good, but the attention to detail was lacking. Rectory Manor is advertised as a 5 star hotel, though it felt more like a B&B.

The room was clean, the bed was very comfortable, and the linen was lovely. It was so peaceful that we heard no noise at all. Frank, our host, made us feel very welcome, and the two friendly Labradors we met while walking through the gardens were a delight. We couldn’t fit breakfast into our itinerary, which we regretted when we saw the dining room and its lit open fire on the day we left. We were delighted with our stay and would certainly return. I’d recommend it if you’re in the area and looking for a bit of luxury.

The home-cooked breakfast was delicious, and we’ll definitely be back. The proprietors and staff gave us a lovely, warm welcome. Our room was beautiful and had all the little touches that made it comfortable, and there was an honesty bar in the sitting room.

We couldn’t stay and were told there would be no refund. We’d booked through booking.com using its dog friendly option, but were then told only two rooms allowed dogs. Neither was the room we’d booked, and both were already taken. The other available rooms were apparently hypoallergenic, even though a puppy belonging to the owners’ family was wandering around the main foyer. I was told I could leave my dogs in the car if I wanted to, and that I should take my complaint to my agent. That felt especially unfair after we’d chosen the dog friendly option. The customer service was absolutely horrendous, and the whole experience felt disgustingly poor and very untrustworthy. Be careful when booking, you may not get to stay and could lose your money.