Shendish Manor Hotel & Golf Course

The manor sits in a lovely park, and James welcomed us warmly. The staff were genuinely friendly, and we found the stay charming. For Harry Potter Studio, a taxi is very handy, though budget £30-40. Some parts of the hotel are showing their age. The walk from the station is unappealing, so sturdy shoes are a good idea. Breakfast could be better, there was no fresh fruit. Our cheaper room had a modest view, looking onto a courtyard cluttered with beer barrels. If a view matters, it may be worth paying a little more for another room.

Rooms were spacious, clean and had all the amenities we needed. The food was good too, and the hotel and restaurant had a warm feel. The grounds are lovely, quiet and well kept. Staff seemed a little inexperienced, but they were friendly and accommodating, and management made a real effort to make everyone feel welcome and well looked after. We had no problems during our stay.

The food in the restaurant was incredible, probably some of the best I’ve ever had. We were also impressed by how clean our room was. I have OCD and couldn’t find anything to fault. I’m sitting in a piping hot bath as I write this, and the toilet works, so the claims about no hot water or a toilet seem like shambles to me. We booked through a Harry Potter Warner bros tour deal without researching the hotel first. After reading some reviews later, I’m glad I hadn’t let them put me off. We arrived almost two hours early, and the team said they’d get our room ready as soon as they could. Saphire at reception and James, the F&B manager, took our luggage and stored it safely while we relaxed at the bar with a drink and the views. They showed us around the grounds and the suites, and after we saw the main room they even got the wedding coordinator down at short notice so we could discuss potentially booking our wedding there. Every staff member was accommodating and checked we were okay and had no complaints. We were first given a ground-floor room, then asked about larger rooms and saw the upgrades. We paid an extra £30 to upgrade. The only negative was that our phones wouldn’t connect to the smart TV for screen mirroring, so there isn’t much to watch. If you’re staying a while and can’t stand free view, bring an iPad or laptop for Netflix and the like. Otherwise, perfect. A huge thanks to Saphire, James, the chef and the whole team. Our stay topped off the day, and we’d absolutely recommend coming back.

Sapphire, James, the younger James and Jordan made my partner’s birthday weekend special. Thank you all for looking after us so well. The room was faultless, the staff were friendly and helpful, and both the food and service were high quality. It was such a pleasure staying at The Shendish Manor and enjoying the grounds. We’re looking forward to returning in the summer, when we can appreciate their beauty and splendour even more. See you all soon, Jenny & Dave.