Best Western Ivy Hill Hotel

Superb staff

There's much to commend this hotel. It is spotlessly clean, there's ample parking, the staff are friendly and the bedroom was very comfortable. My room had a bath with both a rain shower and an extendable shower. The refreshments tray had teas, hot chocolate, biscuits and a box of raisins - a nice touch. I am not a fan of the QR Code check-in. It is a pain and when there is a staff member there who could just take your details, it seems to be unnecessary. Next time I will simply say I don't have a smart phone. Dinner in the restaurant was ok but painfully slow to get my order taken. I think there may just be a lack of training - it's not that the staff aren't competent or meaning well, they just don't seem to know to be keeping an eye on the tables. Breakfast is cooked to order so leave time to enjoy that treat! I was in a hurry so didn't get the full benefit. It's a rarity these days (usually all buffet), so make the most of that.

I enjoyed the welcoming ,caring staff, and they were always willing to answer questions and carry out my requests. The range of food for breakfast and evening meal was good.

We were visiting friends in Writtle and this is the only hotel in the area, without having to suffer the traffic hell that is Chelmsford. . We stayed for four nights. The hotel has 31 rooms and large function suites. It's popular for weddings so is often full on a Saturday night. We ate in Bartellas restaurant one evening, this is also high quality. We had a very pleasant stay, although just off the A12, it's a quiet location. The breakfast is very good and is either buffet style, or off menu, depending on the number of guests, presumably to avoid food waste. The team are very helpful. This is a good choice if you are in the area.

Warm and Friendly Staff, Spotless Public Areas — But Rooms in Need of Updating We recently stayed here for a family celebration and while there were many positives, a few aspects of the experience didn’t quite meet expectations. Staff & Service Firstly, the staff are absolutely faultless — attentive, friendly, and always willing to go the extra mile. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and they were extremely helpful when we requested additional tea, milk, and water for the room. Their service genuinely elevated our stay. Cleanliness & Communal Areas The hotel is spotless. There is a clear and consistent effort to maintain cleanliness throughout, and the communal areas are pleasant and inviting. The breakfast room, in particular, is lovely, with large French windows opening onto beautifully kept gardens — a perfect setting to start the day. Breakfast We only had breakfast during our stay. On Friday, it was cooked to order and accompanied by a generous selection of continental options. Everything was delicious and prepared perfectly. Saturday's breakfast was served buffet-style, offering both cooked and continental choices. A particular highlight was the yogurt with fruit and nut compote — deliciously whipped to a surprisingly fluffy consistency. Rooms Unfortunately, the rooms were the main letdown. While clean and equipped with very comfortable beds, both the bedroom and bathroom felt dated and in need of refurbishment. The decor was reminiscent of the 1990s, and certain features posed challenges, especially for our disabled daughter who was staying with us. The sink, for example, had separate hot and cold taps which were stiff and difficult to use, making them inaccessible for her. The bathroom, which had a shower over the bath (as we were informed in advance), lacked basic accessibility features — a grab rail would have been immensely helpful. The bath itself was chipped in places, raising hygiene concerns due to the porous surface. Additional issues included significant mould or mildew around the bathroom silicone, a stained toilet pan, a yellowed toilet seat, and a very soiled pull cord on the vanity mirror. These elements detracted from the overall sense of cleanliness. Temperature & Comfort Both our room and our son’s room (Room 34) were uncomfortably hot, even with the windows open and fans running. His room had only a small accessible bathroom window, which wasn’t sufficient to provide ventilation. Unfortunately, this resulted in poor sleep for both rooms over the two nights. Additionally, a large mark ran the full height of the wall by our daughter’s bed — something that could be easily addressed with a touch of paint/wallpaper but currently looked unsightly. Overall Impression We had hoped to treat our family to a special stay (daughter’s graduation) and the photos online suggested a more up-to-date and high-end experience. While the staff and breakfast lived up to that promise, the rooms did not. It felt overpriced for the sta

I recently stayed at this hotel for a family wedding. It was a very handy location and very pleasant overall stay. The breakfast was also lovely.