Statham Lodge Hotel

The hotel itself was lovely, and the grounds were beautiful. Our first impression, though, was poor. We arrived around 11am while attending a nearby festival, knowing check-in was at 3pm. We only wanted to leave our bags and head out. The receptionist, whose name I think was Becky or Ellie, came across as extremely rude and judgmental from the start, immediately telling us check-in was at 3. We hadn’t expected an early room, so her manner really took us aback. When we politely asked if the bar was open, she replied in the same dismissive tone, “It’s 11am, no.” The interaction felt unwelcoming and left a bad first impression.

We had lunch, dinner and breakfast, and the food was very good overall. Lunch and breakfast were excellent; dinner would have been perfect if the venison hadn’t been a little overcooked. I still enjoyed it all. Most of the staff were friendly and accommodating, and the hotel was nice. The rooms could use a few cosmetic touches, but for the deal we got, I’ve no complaints. I’d return and recommend it.

We were here over Christmas for a wedding, and the staff did a wonderful job. The wedding was amazing, and the room set up for the service looked gorgeous. Our bedroom was clean and the beds were comfy. It was a bit too warm for my preference, so we turned off the radiator and opened the window slightly. The blackout blinds and heavy curtains kept the room dark. Breakfast looked good and the portions were generous. The kids and my other half said they enjoyed it, though I didn’t manage to eat after having too much fun the night before.

The bed was clean and comfortable, and the breakfast was great. The complimentary toiletries were nice too. The room itself could’ve been cleaner, though: there were stains on the bedside table, lots of dust by the skirting boards and a grubby-looking carpet. You could also hear far too much through the walls between bedrooms and from the corridor.