Brandon Hall Hotel & Spa

I found it very good value, despite some reviews here that don't match my experience. The room was clean and well equipped, with a comfortable bed and good toiletries. I did spot mould on the shower sealant, though. Everyone I dealt with was friendly, and the barman deserves a special mention for being such a gentleman. Breakfast was the letdown. The ingredients seemed poor quality, and I couldn't finish mine. Also, the restaurant wasn't open when I visited. The village pubs stop serving food in the late afternoon, so bear that in mind if you're planning to eat.

The staff are what made our weekend. Everyone, from reception and the bar to the breakfast team and cleaners, was friendly, professional and so lovely with us. We had our newborn and our seven-year-old Staffie with us, and felt completely welcome. They even had a travel cot ready in our spacious room and arranged a late checkout. We enjoyed the pool and wandering the grounds and woodland with the dog and baby. It's also a handy base for Warwick, Coventry, Rugby and Leamington Spa. There are dog-friendly pubs nearby, plus a Co-op and fish and chips shop in Wollaston. There wasn't evening food at the hotel during our stay, though the staff brought ketchup and vinegar when we got food in. Breakfast had everything we needed and was great value. Some parts could use a bit of TLC, but I'd happily come back.

Joy at the front desk went out of his way to make us more comfortable, which was a lovely touch. We visited with two friends over the May bank holiday. The rooms felt spacious compared with other UK hotels and spas. Breakfast could have had more choice and the service could've been better, but there was nothing major to complain about.

The setting is wonderful and has real potential, but the place feels very tired. Breakfast took three tries to arrive and was still wrong. We were hurried out, then found there was no hot water in the room. Even with the Do Not Disturb sign up, someone tried to come in. Really disappointing. I wouldn't recommend it.