Oulton Hall Hotel Spa and Golf Resort

We were greeted with a birthday balloon on the bed, which was such a thoughtful touch for my boyfriend’s birthday. The room upgrade was great value, with a huge, really comfortable bed and a well-stocked mini-bar. We had a lovely lunch at the Champagne Bar, and the staff there were attentive. The spa was spotless, and having robes in the room made it easy to settle in and relax. Dinner was just as good. I’d recommend the chicken breast, and the curry was a hit too. Breakfast had lots of choice and was high quality. The team were so helpful and made the celebration feel special.

The grounds and grand-looking building made a lovely first impression, and the guest areas and reception are beautiful. The staff we met were polite, friendly and attentive, and were always happy to help. We enjoyed our first stay at Oulton Hall Hotel. Our room was clean, tidy and had the usual facilities, though it felt dated for the price, especially the bathroom, which looked very 1990. The bed was clean and comfortable with fresh linen. The A/C didn’t seem to work, so we tried opening the window, which was difficult, and some fixtures and fittings looked worn. Breakfast was okay over the couple of days we had it. There weren’t enough clean plates at the cooked breakfast station on either day, something we also noticed a couple of times while seated. The cooked selection was small, but you could ask for extra items at the table. The pastries were okay, though they seemed more brought in than freshly baked. There was a good range of bread, fruit, yoghurt and cereal. At busy times, the single coffee machine had a queue, and another one would probably help. We also used the pool, which looked a little dated, and the lack of heating was very noticeable. The heated jacuzzi/hot tub was comfortable for about four people. The changing rooms were clean, but a few locker keys and lockers were broken. We did enjoy our time and would come back in the future.

We wanted a bit of luxury to unwind after the festive period while travelling, and the hotel was gorgeous, beautifully presented and clean. The staff were lovely, and our room was spacious. The bed was so comfortable, we had the best hotel sleep we’ve had in a long time. The spa had a lush, relaxing feel and was very clean too. Dinner was nice but average, with limited choice. Breakfast was very good, with plenty to choose from, whether you wanted a cooked meal, cereal, pastries or fruit.

The surrounding area is genuinely beautiful and picturesque, and we had excellent restaurant service from Oliver. He suggested some great dinner options, which we enjoyed. The bar was pleasant too, especially in the evening. We came with my husband for a celebratory weekend, excited for the stay, but left disappointed because the hotel didn’t meet our expectations. The rooms were extremely dated, with mismatched, random furniture. The glassware didn’t look clean, so everything needed a thorough rinse before use. The towels were old and worn, and there were no slippers or bathrobes in the room. I’ve never stayed at a spa hotel where those basics weren’t included or at least offered for purchase. The spa, including the pool, sauna and steam room, was disastrous. The changing rooms looked like they hadn’t had a deep clean in ages. The sauna and steam rooms weren’t switched on and couldn’t be used. The whole area seemed neglected and poorly maintained, so we couldn’t relax and left after 15 minutes. Apart from those few positives, the experience was underwhelming. The hotel needs refurbishment, proper maintenance and facilities that work to justify its reputation and prices.