Castle Bromwich Hall Hotel, BW Signature Collecti

The scones with cream and jam were nice and a better size, although the jam tasted like a budget brand rather than something homemade. The cakes were soggy and about as underwhelming as the sandwiches. Mary Berry wouldn’t have been impressed. We’d booked afternoon tea for three and got our table promptly. One plate had a big chip and dried-on jam, apparently left by another diner. They replaced it, but the next plate had two chips. The tea arrived first, then we waited about 20 to 30 minutes for the food. It looked good, but by then the tea was tepid. The ham, cheese and Branston, and tuna and sweetcorn sandwiches all had dry bread and stingy fillings. We found them disappointing. Nobody asked about allergies. When I asked whether there were nuts in the food, the answer didn’t reassure me, so I left it rather than risk needing an EpiPen. I was only an hour from the school run and didn’t want to end up travelling by ambulance. It’s a lovely venue with good parking and accessibility, but the food and service let it down. Would I go back? I’m undecided, and I’d find it hard to recommend the afternoon tea.

The staff were extremely friendly when I arrived, which was the one bright spot. I paid £135 for a twin room after a 15% discount, so it should have been £155, and it was a real letdown compared with the online photos. I wasn’t expecting a grand suite, but the smaller rooms are embarrassing at that price. The beds are so old and creaky that rolling over wakes you. The tiny wall TV and radiator that barely heats even on full blast didn’t help. In winter the room hadn’t been warmed before I arrived, and it was freezing. There’s no air conditioning, and in summer opening the ground-floor window beside the car park would be awful. The bathroom floor was sticky, there was no hand wash, and the ripped tissue box on the sink was cheap and half empty. The shower grout was covered in black mould. Unless you’re paying good money for one of the nicer rooms, don’t bother. Stay at a Hilton.

Aftab and his team made our visit to The Lost Marquee at Castle Brom Hall Gardens feel magical from the start. Booking was easy, and on the day the decor looked stunning, with every detail carefully put together. The team’s warm, attentive service and professionalism made everyone feel special. Their passion helped turn a beautiful event into a memory I won’t forget. I can’t recommend The Lost Marquee enough for its atmosphere and service.

Marius, our wedding coordinator, was fantastic. He was thorough in the planning meetings and came up with excellent ideas. On the day I spotted him calmly and confidently keeping everything on schedule, and the whole event flowed beautifully. The team were friendly and accommodating, and both we and our guests were well looked after. The food was excellent, especially on the wedding day, when it was even better than at the menu tasting. Our guests also praised the hotel, their rooms and the staff. We loved having our wedding at Castle Bromwich Hall. The historic building is fabulous, with its well-kept grandeur and architecture, and the gardens and indoor spaces gave us plenty of great photo spots. I stayed in one of the recently opened Coach House rooms the night before, and it was lovely. The refurbished Malt House suited everything we needed, and the bridal suite was huge and grand. The ghosts weren’t much trouble either 👻. It’s great to see the hotel investing in itself, and we’re looking forward to meals, afternoon teas and stopovers there in future.