Laughern Hill Estate

The setting is fantastic, quiet and scenic, and the food was very good. We enjoyed both the sharing platter one evening and breakfast. The hotel feels more like a guesthouse since a family lives there, and the host was full of character and energy, with helpful tips for day trips. Breakfast is at 9am, with no real alternative, and everyone eats together at a communal table. That could feel awkward if you're not a morning person or don't fancy sitting with strangers first thing. The toiletries were limited too, just one shower gel and shampoo for two people, with no extras. In the Hollyroom, the TV looked tiny for the size of the room. The magazines in the billiard room were more than three years old, which is fine for antiques but not reading material. I'd give it 8/10 and call it four stars, not the five it claims. Still, I would recommend it.

We found loads to do nearby and had a wonderfully relaxing break, though it went by far too quickly. Laughern is worth treating yourself to. We were in the Holly room for three nights, looking out over the driveway and part of the rear garden. The garden facing rooms were already booked. My personal preference would have been a firmer bed and a summer quilt instead of the thick one, but you never sleep quite like you do at home. The room pack had plenty of local places to eat and things to visit for different tastes. The 9am breakfast for everyone around one big dining table sounded odd at first, but it worked well. There were cereals, juice and a well presented cooked breakfast, plus plenty of toast, tea and coffee. Everyone serving us was friendly and keen to make the stay good. Chris, the owner, was often around for a chat and suggestions for meals and places to see. It's an impressive house with an old fashioned kind of luxury you don't get in ordinary modern chain hotels. The hospitality was miles apart from a recent stay at a large Wirral hotel, where many staff couldn't even be bothered to acknowledge us. We booked through a Voyage Prive email offer after wanting a few days in the Cotswold area. I hadn't realised Laughern was at the northern end, a little way from the popular Cotswold towns, but that didn't matter once we arrived. Juli greeted us with loads of enthusiasm and made us feel at ease straight away. The welcome platter for VP guests was a lovely touch: meat, cheese and pate with fresh bread and crackers, alongside a refreshing glass of wine. In good weather it's served outside on the patio. There's also a lovely garden, a tennis court for anyone energetic, and beautiful views over the area. Bring slippers in a separate bag, as the house has a no outside shoes rule. It helps keep the cream carpets pristine and is easy to get used to. After a while it felt like staying with friends. There's a fresh milk system too, unusual but very welcome with a drink. Breakfast is served in the large dining room. The four rooms are on the first floor of the main house, and guests can use a large lounge. There's ample parking in front of and beside the entrance. The interior has a traditional feel, with light walls and carpets, and guests are asked to take shoes off at the front door. We stayed in late May 2014 and I'm late writing this because of a busy run of travel. My wife booked via Voyage Prive while we were visiting our daughter, wanting something different from the other local hotels we'd used over the previous five years. Laughern met and exceeded what we expected. It's in lovely countryside just north-west of Worcester, about 20 minutes from the M5. The white entrance gate comes into view quickly, and it's voice controlled. Once booked in, you get the security code for coming and going. The Georgian house sits back from the road behind trees, with gardens, fields, woods, riding stables and paddocks beyond. Our room was The Wisteria, with a large south-east facing bay window over the garden and countryside. It was classically decorated, with a sumptuous bed and quality fittings and furnishings. The bathroom was wonderful, with an original bath perhaps 200 years old, the most comfortable we've used, and gallons of steaming hot water. Much better than many five star places we've experienced. Breakfast was cooked to order by our host, and the young women serving were pleasant and professional. Sharing the big central table made for interesting conversation among guests who hadn't met before. Chris was charming, gentle and funny, and could be a maitre d' at the Ritz in his spare time. We met him at check-in, at the local pub and at breakfast. He was a great host, with good conversation and useful advice on where to go, what to do, and where to eat and drink in the evening. The house doesn't have a full on-licence for guests, but Chris lets you bring alcohol back. Be careful with red wine on the white carpets. We did bring some back on our second evening and enjoyed the quiet of the bedroom. All in all, a lovely stay, and we're very keen to return soon, with another excuse to visit our daughter. The Wisteria and Mulberry rooms cost more, but are the best. Stayed September 2014, travelled as a couple.

Not a very accommodating place. Check carefully before booking, because breakfast is only at 9am. I was leaving much earlier and asked if they could arrange something for me, but the girl said they don't do time slots, just 9am. You also have to eat at one big table with the other guests. There was a disposable toothbrush in the bathroom, but it had already been used. When the shower isolator is switched on, the room stinks of 💩.

We had a wonderful stay in late May 2014, and I'm sorry this review took so long because of a packed travel schedule. My wife booked through Voyage Prive for a visit to our daughter. She wanted somewhere different from the other hotels we'd used around here over the past five years or so, and Laughern more than lived up to that expectation. The house is in lovely countryside just north-west of Worcester, about 20 minutes from the M5. You come across the white entrance gate quickly, then a voice controlled gate. Once you're booked in, you get a security code to come and go. The Georgian house is set back from the road behind thick trees, with private gardens, fields, woods, riding stables and paddocks stretching beyond it. There are four rooms on the first floor of the main house, and guests can use a large lounge. There's plenty of parking near the entrance. The interior has light walls and carpets, and you're asked to remove your shoes at the front door, a nice homely touch. Our room was The Wisteria, with a large south-east facing bay window over the gardens and countryside. It was classically decorated, with a sumptuous bed and quality fittings and furnishings. The bathroom was incredible. Its original bath may be 200 years old and was the most comfortable we've used, with gallons of steaming hot water. Much better than many five star places we've stayed. Breakfast is served at the big central table in the large dining room, which made for interesting chats between guests who hadn't met before. The food was first class, cooked to order by our host, and the young women serving us were extremely pleasant and professional. Chris, our host, was charm personified, soft spoken and funny. He could do a second or third job as maitre d' at the Ritz. We met him at check-in, at the local pub and at breakfast, and it was clear he was an excellent host. He was good company and gave useful advice about where to go, what to do, and where to eat and drink in the evening. The house doesn't have a full on-licence for guests, but Chris allows you to bring alcohol back. Just be careful with red wine on the white carpets. We did bring some back on our second evening and enjoyed the peaceful bedroom. The house has an old fashioned luxury that's hard to find in run of the mill modern chain hotels. The difference from a recent stay at a large Wirral hotel was huge. There, much of the staff couldn't be bothered to acknowledge us with even a nod or hello. This was an exceptional, thoroughly pleasant stay, and we're keen to come back soon, with another excuse to visit our daughter. The Wisteria and Mulberry rooms cost more, but they're the best. Stayed May 2014, travelled as a couple.