Rockliffe Hall Hotel

The restaurant was the biggest disappointment during our anniversary stay at Rockliffe Hall Hotel from 19th to 21st December. We arrived for our 8pm Saturday booking and found Terra gloomy and uninviting. Since it was the weekend before Christmas, we stayed, assuming we wouldn't find a table in town. The menu had no vegetarian dishes. When I asked for a vegetarian menu, I was told there wasn't one, so I had to ask what I could eat. The waiter came back with two suggestions: fish salad without the fish, or a burger. For a supposed special anniversary dinner at a 5-star hotel, that wasn't enough, and we left without eating. We'd emailed ahead to ask for a menu so we could decide whether to book, but were only offered a sample menu. At checkout we also mentioned that the cleaner had changed our room from warm to cold. After the spa on Saturday afternoon, it was freezing when we got back. The receptionist noted both complaints when we politely explained how let down we felt. I waited a month to post this, hoping someone might get in touch to apologise, but nobody did. We paid £1,200 for two nights' bed and breakfast and expected better.

The spa garden facilities were immaculate, and all the staff were lovely and really helpful. Rachel F deserves a shoutout for the most incredible Indian head massage. You’re a star.

The service was excellent, the room was lovely and the beds were wonderful. Everything else was faultless, and we had a truly wonderful stay. One of us had a slight issue with a spa treatment, while the other had a lovely one. We'll certainly be back.

Anna made this stay feel completely different from my previous visit to Rockliffe Hall. I arrived needing to switch off and recharge, and she welcomed me with real warmth, took care of what I needed and made sure things were right throughout. Her kindness and eye for detail stood out. The whole Rockliffe team is fantastic, as you'd expect from a 5-star hotel, but Anna really made the visit for me. She's a real asset and showed me what five-star hospitality can feel like. Thanks to Rockliffe Hall and Anna, I left rested, grounded and grateful, reminded to slow down and make time for myself.