Donnington Manor Hotel

The room and evening meal were good for our one-night stay. Breakfast was another story. We’d paid in advance, but when we arrived there were no seats, and we were asked to wait ten minutes. After 15 minutes, they said we could use the bar area, where the tables were either very high or very low. There was no manager or senior staff member on site. We gave up after half an hour, cancelled breakfast and left. I definitely wouldn’t stay again for that reason.

EV drivers, be careful here. We stopped at Donnington Manor Hotel to use the Tesla chargers and received a £100 ParkingEye fine. Several other EV drivers describe the same thing in reviews, which makes it look like a recurring problem rather than a one-off mistake. The hotel keeps saying the signs are “clearly displayed”, but that wasn’t our experience. If you enter the car park, find a charger, plug in and stay in your car, as many Tesla drivers do, especially in the dark as it was when we visited, you may not see or hear about any extra requirements. If the rules were clear in practice, people wouldn’t keep getting caught out in the same way. We went inside for coffee and told staff I was charging. Nobody mentioned that I needed to register or that I could be fined. If I’d stayed in the car, nothing would have changed. It feels like a money-making scheme, and Tesla themselves have acknowledged the issue. Providing EV charging and then penalising people for using it feels like a trap, not a service. It also raises fair questions about the commercial arrangement between the hotel and ParkingEye. Until there are clear signs at the chargers themselves or a fair exemption for people charging, I’d strongly advise EV drivers to avoid them. I expect the standard reply about the signs being clear and the car park being independently managed by ParkingEye. 321....go.

The rooms are basic, but the hotel’s decor feels carefully thought out, and they even have escape rooms. Donnington Manor is just outside Sevenoaks, with a relaxed, unpretentious feel. It’s more classic country style than modern, and the friendly staff add to the comfortable atmosphere.

I’m extremely disappointed and won’t be back. I stopped at Donnington Manor Hotel on two consecutive days just to charge my car, for less than an hour each time, and got two separate £100 ParkingEye fines. That’s £200 for using the EV chargers on the hotel’s property. Why would I think I needed to go to reception just to charge for 30-40 minutes? If that’s the policy, it should be made clear at the chargers, not tucked away on a tiny sign that people don’t notice. Looking at the reviews, this has happened to lots of people. It feels like a trap, with the rule only becoming apparent after you’ve been fined. I’ve already paid because ParkingEye doesn’t care, but I’m writing this so other drivers don’t get caught out. EV drivers of any kind should avoid this place unless they’re happy to risk surprise fines and a fight with a parking company. Charging your car shouldn’t cost £200.