Stoke Place Hotel

Dinner around the lake was excellent. My steak was cooked perfectly, my wife's fish was really tasty, and the service was very good. In the morning we had a full English in a special lounge room just outside the restaurant, so our little dog could join us. The waitress was friendly, caring, and helpful, and they even made sausages for our little man so he wasn’t left out. The room was comfortable with a lovely lake view, and we enjoyed a walk around the water before dinner. We had a wonderful, relaxing weekend break at Stoke Place, and our dog enjoyed it too. We’d highly recommend staying here. Thanks for making us feel so welcome.

The suite had no hot water, which was especially upsetting because I’d upgraded specifically for the bathtub. Reception told us to wait an hour while they reset the system, but it was already late and we’d lost the main reason for choosing that room. I spoke with the manager, Harry, hoping for help, but found him rude and not particularly helpful. They eventually offered a 40% refund, though by then the stay had been so poor that I would have preferred a full refund and to leave that evening. This was our first Valentine’s Day as a married couple, and the experience was disappointing from beginning to end. We waited about 10 minutes at reception before anyone checked us in, which felt disorganised. Afternoon tea was very average. Even though I clearly mentioned a nut allergy, they served a pistachio profiterole, which made us concerned that dietary requirements weren’t being taken seriously. Dinner didn’t help. The food was average again, and I left my main course uneaten. The waiter kindly offered a main from the other menu, but I’d already lost confidence in the kitchen. I ordered a bottle of Nosecco but got one flat glass instead, and only 15 minutes later was told they’d run out completely. The property has potential, but after this visit I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

I’d tried afternoon tea here in the summer to get a feel for the place, and the food was excellent, especially the warm scones. The staff serving us were attentive, and the hotel grounds looked stunning. It was a hot day, and the view over the lake from the veranda was lovely. Then last week I went to a Christmas Party. The room was beautifully set up, and the waiting staff, bar staff, and managers were excellent and helped with any questions. The food was hot and tasty across all the courses, with generous portions, unlike other Christmas parties I’ve attended where it was cold and there wasn’t much. The hotel DJ was brilliant and kept the dance floor busy.

It’s an impressive building set in lovely grounds, with a fabulous lake, and there’s plenty of free parking. WiFi was good, and the restaurant and bar are pleasant places to relax. The menu isn’t huge, though the choices are good. At the bar there are only two beers on draft, an IPA and Moretti, plus bottled options. The garden-view rooms are in a separate area away from the main building. They’re basic but okay. Staff were friendly and couldn’t do enough to make sure I had a good stay.