Weston Manor Hotel

The gardens were pleasant, and I imagine they'd be lovely to spend time in during summer. I arrived after dark, and the driveway lights made the house look grand. It has a sense of grandeur without going overboard, with just a tiny bit of a Downton Abbey vibe, which was great. Breakfast was all good, with both continental and cooked options included in our booking. I'd definitely recommend it.

The food was incredible, and it was great that they made the vegetarian breakfast I ordered. Our room felt so romantic, and the huge bed was ridiculously comfortable. We slept amazingly well. The shower was the best I've ever had, absolute bliss. We'll be back, they've earned a loyal customer.

We returned to Weston Manor Hotel 12 months after a first stay that had impressed us a lot. The building and grounds are still full of character and beautifully maintained. Our evening meal in the restaurant was excellent again, reception staff were friendly and helpful, and the suite we were upgraded to was excellent. That upgrade was because of the problems below. Breakfast had been superb last year, with an a la carte menu. This time it would have struggled to compete with a Premier Inn buffet. The hot food was rubbery, there were no coffee cups, and the fruit was overripe. We felt short-changed. Staff said they can't offer a la carte at busy times, even though we stayed on almost the same date last year, including a Saturday morning. Why not let guests choose it when booking? We know this is a listed building and physical changes are limited. I worked for years in a local authority planning department. Still, music from reception and the bar carries into the bedrooms above all day, from early morning to late at night. I like the Beatles, but didn't need muzak versions coming through the floor. Please lower the volume or move the speakers. They don't need to be in the ceiling. The breakfast music was deafening too, and we had to ask for it to be turned down. Our interconnecting room also meant we could hear individual conversations through the door. Some soundproofing would help. In Room 14, the radiator took several hours to cool down. We understand cast iron radiators cool slowly, but it seems logical not to leave them running full tilt all day after the previous guests have checked out. Both coffee machines need repair or replacement: the coffee dribbles out, and we had to keep pressing the button to fill a cup. Finally, asking guests to sign a long Terms and Conditions form on arrival, with about 40 items, doesn't look good. Is anyone really going to read them all?

This thousand-year-old Manor is a lovely spot for a romantic getaway. The staff were very friendly and arranged a special touch for our arrival for an extra 30 pounds: rose petals on the bed and a card with the personal message I chose for my partner. The room was warm and cozy, and the hotel's restaurant was really good, with a wide wine selection and some fine food.