Makeney Hall

Dinner and breakfast were both a real highlight, and everyone we dealt with was so helpful. Roger seemed to be doing a bit of everything, from the bar to restaurant service and getting ready for an event, and he made us feel completely at ease. He suggested a walk up to Holly Bush Inn, which was well worth it. The breakfast buffet had plenty to choose from, plus cooked options, and checkout at 11am was welcome. We stayed one night as a couple in the Strutt suite, which has a sauna. It was easy to use, and having robes supplied made it a fun and unusual stay. The suite felt very private, with no rooms alongside or above, and was peaceful overnight. We loved sitting out on the balcony with a drink on an unusually warm March afternoon, though the trees blocked the grounds view and the windows face the wrong way for it. The room was huge, with a very comfortable large bed and a spacious bathroom with both a bath and walk-in shower. It was a bit tired: the curtains were coming off their tracks, there was a £1 coin under the table, and the edges could have been cleaned better, though the bed, bathroom and main walking areas were clean. A few coat hooks for robes would help. The shower door placement meant water got on the floor by the entrance and controls. TVs and phone signal worked fine, but we didn't use the WiFi. We'd asked ahead if an earlier check-in might be possible for a rare, special occasion, and they did what they could to welcome us early. The 3pm check-in time is good anyway. The bar and restaurant were quiet on a Thursday in March, but service was quick and friendly, and it didn't feel awkward. The public areas and grounds were nicely presented. A lovely night away, and we'd come back.