Cowley Manor

We went on lots of hikes nearby and each time came back to the luxury of the manor. The location is amazing, and both the indoor and outdoor pools are beautiful. Dinner at the restaurant was great. Breakfast was a treat too, though some vegetables were the only thing missing. The cocktail bar was a real Experimental experience. Great work by the mixologists, who have their own menu but can cater to any requirement.

The rooms are spacious, the decor is quirky and modern, and I absolutely loved the bathroom. The grounds are beautiful too. The chocolates left in our room were delicious and a thoughtful touch. The weather wasn’t on our side, but that wasn’t the hotel’s fault. I chose this place for a festive-feeling special occasion just before Christmas, mainly because of the spa. We stayed one night. The room was cold, and turning up the heating didn’t seem to help. The bathroom was freezing. Since we arrived in the afternoon and were only there for one night, we changed quickly and went to the spa instead of raising it. The outdoor pool was very cold despite being advertised as heated. The indoor pool has an odd setup: you can enter straight from the changing rooms into the water, which looks good in pictures but isn’t practical, or go through the lobby and a door into the pool area. It doesn’t feel well thought out. The sauna was okay but nothing special, and the steam room took ages to heat properly. I’ve been to plenty of spa hotels, and for this price the facilities weren’t good enough. I honestly think my local gym has a better sauna. Breakfast was included and okay. It was a good stay, but for what I paid for one night, I expected a better experience.

The only real positives were the reception staff and the sommelier in training at the restaurant. The Green Dragon pub down the road had a much better vibe. This was a very expensive, very average stay, with mediocre service and a crowded spa full of people and children. It got quieter after 5 pm. The bar closes at 9 pm, which doesn’t feel like a hotel experience, and the food menu was inaccurate. The outdoor pool area could be so much nicer. There are only a few seats and small tables, making it look unattractive and neglected. It’s sad to see it this way and gives the impression of the owners’ attitude. The hotel group seems to be relying on customers who don’t have much experience of a quality hotel break.

We had mixed feelings about our recent birthday stay at Cowley Manor Experimental. The staff really did their best to make it enjoyable, and we liked the room’s terrace and view, the comfortable bed, the outdoor pool, and a relaxing facial. The decor and furniture felt strangely plastic and modern, and didn’t seem to suit the country house setting. It didn’t feel five-star to us. The buffet breakfast was okay but not five-star either. There were children making noise in the spa, and the bedroom wasn’t well soundproofed, so we often heard other guests walking around loudly.