Belgrave Sands Hotel & Spa

The spa facilities were very basic, with no jacuzzi or space for loungers, and it wasn’t quiet during treatments. Lunch felt rushed because the spa treatments hadn’t been planned properly, and I had to go out and arrange pre-ordering as the service was so slow. In the morning it took 40 minutes just to get tea and coffee, with one biscuit each. Some of the men behind the bar were very grumpy, though the maintenance guy was lovely. I wouldn’t recommend a spa day here.

The female night wait staff were fantastic, professional, friendly and attentive, but their service was overshadowed by the night managers’ hostility, arrogance and unwelcoming manner. As a hotel manager myself, I stayed at Belgrave Sands Hotel & Spa for a few nights and found the night management made the place feel extremely uncomfortable. Both managers were men. One had brown greasy hair and a scruffy beard, looked to be in his mid-30s to late 30s, and the other had receding black hair and a goatee and appeared to be in his late 40s. They wore white shirts, black trousers and brown shoes, and carried walkie-talkies. Their unkempt, expressionless faces and intimidating stares made the atmosphere tense and oppressive. They didn’t greet guests, smile or say anything when serving drinks. The drinks were overpriced, and the bar was often unattended. After serving a drink, they pressed buttons on the card machine for tips, then walked away or sat down. It felt completely unprofessional. They hovered by tables, cleared plates before people had finished, and listened in on conversations, leaving guests feeling rushed, unwelcome and scrutinized. Both managers also smelled of body odour, which added to the unpleasant experience. The night management is entirely unsuitable. Unless significant changes are made, I can’t recommend staying here. Potential visitors should know the experience was uncomfortable, stressful and unpleasant.

We had a roast beef sandwich on granary bread with skinny fries and a small salad for £10 at lunch today. The food was fantastic, and the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. I’d thoroughly recommend it.

I’d stayed here a couple of years ago, and this time we came for dinner. The food was great, the dining room lovely, and the staff attentive.