Forest Side Hotel

Our wedding anniversary dinner fell far short of what we expected, although the meal itself was good and the team serving it were great. The four-course food was enjoyable, just not Michelin-starred. Earlier, the sommelier served us house champagne and English fizz that were both flatter than a pancake. When I politely asked if he thought they were acceptable, he said not all champagne is sparkling. That’s true, but the bottles had clearly been open for days. Two replacement glasses then arrived from fresh bottles, and they tasted and looked as expected. On arrival we’d been welcomed warmly and shown into the fabulous Rose room, but the pungent smell of vomit was so strong that we asked to move. We were given the nice Walnut room. We’re happy to pay a premium, but not for this.

Some staff were friendly, while others seemed poorly trained, and the food did not live up to its reputation. The portions were extremely small, and the quality was only alright, far below what I’d expect from a restaurant with a Michelin rating. My wife and I went for a birthday lunch. While I was parking, a staff member took her designer jacket and was openly rude and impatient with her for no reason. It made an occasion that should have been simple and enjoyable uncomfortable. When the jacket came back, it was torn beyond repair. It had been forced against a metal fixture instead of put on the clear hanger built into it. That kind of damage doesn’t happen through normal handling, and showed a complete lack of care. We told staff straight away. They apologised and said the manager would contact me, but nobody ever did. At this price point, and with the restaurant claiming Michelin status, that lack of responsibility is unacceptable. Guests should be able to trust staff with their belongings, and when something goes wrong, the least they should do is take responsibility and follow through. I’m justified in making this complaint. I’d strongly advise against handing staff anything valuable, since there seems to be no accountability if it’s damaged. Between the jacket, the unnecessary rudeness, the lack of follow-up and the food, the whole experience was far below what you’d expect from a restaurant of this level. I’ll never return and will advise others to stay well away. This is a restaurant-only review.

The bedrooms were spacious and clean, and everything about our daughter’s wedding felt perfect. The staff were excellent, very friendly, and nothing was too much trouble. A special thank you to Jess for making Tracy & Darryl’s wedding perfect and stress-free. xx

We chose the six-course menu, and it was well worth the money. The flavours, presentation and quality of the food were exceptional. A beautiful hotel and restaurant, with an amazing venue and service too.