Sketchley Grange Hotel & Spa

Please pass our thanks to the team, especially Katelyn!!! She was an absolute diamond and went above and beyond, even taking our suit cases to the room while we had lunch. The meet and greet, information, room readiness, bar, food, gym, spa, room and views were all fabulous. We’ve stayed at many hotels, and I can honestly say the customer care was five star. It’s a wonderful hotel with facilities right on the doorstep. Keep doing what you are doing, Sketchly Grange!!

The only good part was the food and the friendly bar staff. We booked two nights expecting the hotel to live up to its 4* rating, but it fell far short. Booking through a third party meant paying extra to use the spa and gym, and that wasn’t made clear when we booked. On the first night, an EXTREMELY LOUD wedding reception carried on until 1am. The music shook the walls and pillows. The next evening both key cards stopped working, so we couldn’t get back into our room. Once we did, there was a SILVER FISH in our bed. The corridors were constantly cluttered with rubbish, bottles and glasses, and were very untidy and unhygienic. The bathroom door was rotted, with part of it missing and splinters exposed. At the spa, I was told dressing gowns were few and far between because staff couldn’t keep up with cleaning them. The staff member told my partner she didn’t know if she’d have one to fit him because he’s a “big lad”, then laughed. It was embarrassing for him. When reception offered £50 off our second night as compensation, the woman there charged our card instead of refunding us. I’ve emailed the manager Mark Chapman about all this, but he has ignored my emails. Unprofessional. I wouldn’t recommend staying here if you want a relaxing experience.

The children loved the little chequebook they could use to claim treats, and the Christmas decorations were beautiful. We had a spacious room with a lovely bath, enjoyed a very nice meal in the restaurant and went to the pool a few times. We stayed just before Christmas and had an amazing break. The staff were great, and we can’t wait to come back next month!

The restaurant food was incredible, and the staff there were lovely, always ready to help and check everything was okay. Hotel staff were friendly too. Our room was nice, with just a crack in the sink. I booked an overnight spa package through a third party, including dinner, breakfast and spa facilities. I paid separately to the spa for a massage, which was fine, but when I checked in I was only given a towel. I’d seen people wearing robes, so I asked for one. The man said I couldn’t have one because I hadn’t bought a package deal. I explained that I had a spa package and had only paid for the treatment directly to the spa, but he still refused. I even offered to rent a robe, but got a firm no. There were no instructions for the coded lockers in the changing room. The spa itself was nice, but there weren’t enough beds to relax on, and towels were left on beds all day with nobody using them, so people were hogging them. We went back to the room for an hour, but without robes we had to get changed just to go upstairs. We thought we’d return later when it might be quieter and we could get a bed, but there were no beds then either, and the area was full of families with children screaming and jumping in the pool. Children were also in the sauna and steam room, even though it says under 8s aren’t allowed. The website does mention children’s swim times if you read through it, but Saturday, especially Saturday evening, is when many people want a relaxing spa visit together. This really isn’t a place to relax.