The Wood Norton

Little gem.

Beautiful hotel and grounds. Food is excellent BUT the hotel is let down hugely by its waiting staff and evening receptionists. We arrived on our first day at 7.30pm on a Friday and were greeted by the receptionist who just handed us our room key, checked us in but didn’t let us know meal timings etc so presumed this would be in the room - it was not. Went back to reception - no receptionist around but found a piece of paper with the relevant info on the reception desk. Why was this not given to us earlier! At dinner that night the waiting staff behaved like they did not want to be there! Breakfast the next morning there was only one waiter on duty - we waited ages to be seated and when we were taken to our seats we were left there and not told that we had to help ourselves to tea and coffee etc which was round the corner along with the continental breakfasts - one of the guests actually told us this! Appalling lack of interest again by the waiting staff. The next day early evening - couple of guests were found wandering around the hotel trying to find a receptionist to check them in as they had just arrived! The receptionist was too busy having a cigarette outside! there was no bar staff during the evening at one point - again had to go and find someone then three bar staff appeared at once! Later on a guest came to order a drink at about 10.45pm and the girl who was behind the bar told the guest that she was about to go but ok will get the guest his drink. Beautiful hotel and grounds, food is good but let down hugely by the waiting staff and evening reception team. Will not return and definitely would not recommend this hotel.

Booked through *********** which seemed to make a difference to what room you were allocated. We were put in the Pear tree annex. Room 402 was boiling hot, no air con and only a small opening window. There was a fan in the room which helped a bit. Room overlooked the bins which caused us to be disturbed early morning when staff put thing out there. It was hot and yes they did smell a bit. Grounds are very nice but needed a bit of tlc snd watering as everything was wilting. Breakfast in the restaurant was included. Started well, attentive restaurant lead checked us in and pointed us to continental breakfast bit, good range pastries, cheese, salami and cereals etc as well as juice and vegan options. However we ordered eggs benedict and full English. At this point the order for tea and coffee was made as well as toast, these came out promptly but after 40 minutes we had to ask where our breakfast was. After 5 minutes we were told that our order had been somehow been missed and it was being done and would be 5 minutes, the restaurantlead was very apologetic. I asked for more coffee. After 10 more minutes our breakfast arrived. Eggs benedict was good, full English was average with the bacon very tough and dry. Coffee never did come. Room not all the lights worked, bathroom did not have shower gel. When we checked out we told reception about the faults snd suggested that 402 should not be used in the hot days. She was dismissive saying yes ut does get hot up there, but the room was not hot it was more akin to an oven. She also said she'd get the lamps sorted and shower gel filled - not much good after you check out.