Champneys Forest Mere

Lunch was lovely, with a great selection, but breakfast was a letdown because hot food cost extra. The spa and pool also need some repairs and attention. We couldn't add a room to our gifted spa day for 2 through Champneys, and the booking process was awful, with repeated waits and generic emails. We didn't get a warm first impression. Claudine at reception was curt and didn't offer any pleasantries. We'd missed the morning snack and were told it was our fault, though when we checked the welcome letter again, it didn't say when the snack was served. Simply offering us a coffee would have sorted it out. We booked a room through a 3rd party at a much better rate than Champneys could offer. For the money and the hype, it wasn't worth it.

The food was healthy and absolutely delicious, and I came home feeling like a new person. The 5 day Wellness Reset Retreat was just what the doctor ordered and went beyond what I expected. Evelyn was a fantastic instructor, kind, passionate, knowledgeable and fun to be around. Our group of 10 came from different ages and backgrounds, but classes, shared meals and stories helped us all connect. There were different classes to try, and no pressure to attend every one. Plenty of free time meant I could use the spa facilities or just have some time to myself.

The place wasn't too busy, which has been an issue on past visits. We had a lovely 3 night stay with a friend last week, in a comfortable ground floor room with a small patio and seating. The kind weather made that outdoor space especially nice. Everything we ate was good quality, and we enjoyed the new spa room as well as the outdoor pool. Lauren in the coffee shop deserves a special mention, she was charming and excellent at her job, and nothing was too much trouble. It was a shame the orangery wasn't available, but we're looking forward to enjoying everything again next time.

The pool is a good size, and there are plenty of saunas and steam rooms. The trouble is that the rooms are quite small, so there often isn't space for everyone at the spa to use them. The gym could use more weights and a bit of a makeover. I also find it frustrating when people leave towels on chairs to reserve them while they're sitting in the surna or steam rooms. I've stayed here a couple of times, had treatments and used the spa facilities. I've enjoyed my visits overall and will keep booking weekend getaways here.