Macdonald Compleat Angler

Being so close to the Thames made the room's view incredible. We had fabulous drinks at the bar in the evening, and the local flavoured gins are worth trying. Breakfast the next morning was amazing, both the food and service. I'd definitely stay again.

This is just about the lawn bar. We didn't stay at the hotel or use the other facilities. The setting and view are lovely, but the meal was disappointing for the price. My £22 halloumi burger was just one battered piece of halloumi with limp lettuce that had obvious insect holes, plus undercooked chips. My friend ordered the avocado and roast veg sandwich and got only a little avocado, two pieces of pepper, and three cloves of garlic. The tables and cutlery were dirty, and condiments came in those irritating little packets. We arrived at 7.15pm, with food service ending at 8pm, so maybe we caught them at a bad time. In the evening, the area is also plagued with mayflies. Staff were hard to get the attention of, and we were tired and hungry. Otherwise, we would've just left. For what we paid, Marlow has much better food and a nicer experience to offer.

The Riverside has a lovely setting, but our afternoon tea with my mother and her friends was let down by poor service. The glasses weren't clean, and the sandwich stand was uneven and kept wobbling, so we took the food off and put the plates on the table. The restaurant looked tired and could use freshening up. When we asked to take the leftovers away, they brought boxes over for us to pack ourselves. I've never had to do that in a restaurant before. Sadly, I'd think twice about returning.

We've stayed here 17 times, and the Compleat Angler is still one of our favourite places for Christmas. The hotel is beautifully decorated, and I could happily spend the whole day in the lounge. This year was especially memorable. The restaurant was very busy for Christmas Eve dinner and lunch, but Om gave us high-quality, attentive service and was always there with a smile when we needed something. The staff were excellent, and Manager Charles was very accommodating. Room 94 was lovely, and housekeeping came every day. Thanks, Om, for making our stay memorable. We'll be back in summer to enjoy dining on the lawn.