Cantley House Hotel

The manager’s response made a bad meal even worse. I politely explained what was wrong, but he smirked, seemed uninterested and walked away instead of trying to sort it out. I was looking forward to the pizzas and was glad to see the outdoor oven open again for summer. The first pizza came with far too much raw flour and wasn’t properly cooked, so I sent it back. The replacement was still undercooked, with thick patches of flour across the base. The texture and taste were awful, and the raw flour left a nasty aftertaste that made it hard to eat. I paid £54 for one pizza and a bottle of wine, and that food and service were unacceptable. This wasn’t my first bad experience at Cantley House Hotel. I hadn’t left a review before, which I now regret. The quality was poor and the customer service worse. We won’t be back.

The room was peaceful and beautifully furnished, and the hotel and garden were kept in lovely condition while still feeling like an old country house. We had a perfect short break. Thanks to the reception team for the warm welcome, especially Adrian, who made my birthday extra special.

The bathroom in room 10 was unhygienic and nowhere near a four-star standard. There were cracked tiles, a broken bath tap, black mould and a shower held together with gaffer tape. We were there with two very young children, so it was a safety hazard. The room was sold as a Superior Double for £264 a night. Photos are included for people to judge for themselves. We were staying for a wedding, and I didn’t expect to have to take time out during check-in to inspect the whole room and check that basic standards were met. Staff were unhelpful, and management wouldn’t help find a solution. The impression I got was that the hotel gets wedding guests in for one night and then brushes off complaints because it can get away with poor service. Cantley House, repair the rooms to a presentable standard and restore this venue to what it should be.

Breakfast was a real highlight, with plenty to choose from. I had the Eggs Benedict, cooked just right. My room was huge and beautifully furnished, and the en-suite was superb, much larger than bathrooms in most hotels I’ve stayed in. One of the best hotels I’ve visited.