Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club

Eloise gave me an amazing massage and was friendly from the moment she greeted me until she said goodbye. My husband and I spent a relaxing day at their Cederwood Spa, with full body massages, time by the pool, and visits to the sauna and steam room. We also had lunch at the restaurant in the spa building. We both felt rejuvenated afterwards, and would 100% recommend this restful experience. Everyone we met in the different areas was very friendly and ready to help or offer advice. We'll definitely be back soon 😀

Oben made sure we had everything we needed, and the visit was great from beginning to end. The eating areas were clean and comfortable, the food was fab, and the music in the Zest was so good we sang our hearts out. Lisa did our facials and was amazing, professional and knowledgeable. I'd absolutely book her again. The masseuses were just as excellent, and I'll be booking here again myself.

The spa itself was calm and welcoming, and our massage was genuinely lovely. The dinner was also good, though service was very slow. We weren't asked about drinks during the meal, so we were glad we'd picked some up from the bar beforehand while waiting for our table, which wasn't ready at the booked time. The staff were kind and helpful, but the hotel seemed unprepared for the number of guests and things felt disorganised throughout our one-night New Year's Eve spa stay. My friend and I had booked dinner, breakfast and a 30-minute treatment each, hoping for a relaxing way to celebrate, but the pool was dangerously crowded. Staff had to introduce time slots quickly once it became unmanageable. The changing rooms smelled strongly, the lockers didn't work, and the facilities weren't what you'd expect from a spa hotel. There was no New Year's Eve atmosphere in the bar, which felt empty and flat without music or any sense of occasion. When we and other guests asked for music or a countdown, the manager refused and made us feel like a nuisance. We ended up taking a group of fellow guests to a local pub to find some atmosphere and mark the New Year. The next morning, we politely explained our disappointment. The receptionist was kind but noticeably defensive, and the very small discount offered didn't reflect the overall experience or the price of the night. The idea had real potential, but poor planning, organisation and atmosphere made the stay disappointing.

I slept really well because it was quiet and peaceful, even so close to Christmas. This lovely hotel is tucked away in a tranquil spot, and I thoroughly enjoyed my overnight stay. The complimentary spa was impressive, especially the superb pool, sauna and steam room. The team at Forest of Arden are a credit to the industry. I'll make a point of staying again soon. Five stars 🥳⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️😉