HTO15332 - Rudding Park

Room Quality: Guests describe the rooms as spacious, well-decorated, and impeccably clean, providing all necessary amenities for a comfortable stay. The inclusion of underfloor heating, steam rooms, and saunas in some rooms is a notable luxury.

Riding outdoor pool is honestly one of my favourite places. When the weather’s nice, it feels like you’re on holiday. The pool itself is lovely, and there’s such a chilled atmosphere. The service is always great too. Richard in particular is so helpful – nothing’s ever too much trouble and he’s always got a smile on his face. The food is really good as well, lots of choice and everything tastes fresh and properly done. Can’t recommend it enough if you’re after a relaxing day out in the sun.

I actually wrote this review in February 2025 when I visited Rudding Park, but they contacted my husband and asked for a second chance at making my birthday special (as long as I deleted my review). However this was the offer of 50% off the room rate for another stay with just an email saying "these are the prices" despite him trying to arrange the same trip (a spa weekend). Our visit was fine, nothing was 'wrong', but you can stay in a Travelodge for £50 a night and get fine. We visit Rudding Park because it's a special place for us (we visit every year for my birthday or our anniversary) and for the prices you expect 5* service where it's the little things that really set them apart from the competition. We checked in and reception welcomed us back and wished me a happy birthday, which was lovely, however this was the only acknowledgement during our trip. Compare this to The Woodland Spa where they left a little card for me, and you see the difference in the little things. The maid had actually left a card in our bedroom with her name, so not sure why it didn't have a birthday mention. After arriving in our room, we were also disturbed by said maid, who had forgotten to empty the bins and check the mini-bar. We requested pillows from the pillow menu (which never arrived), called to request again (never arrived) then had to walk to reception to request. Went to the spa, where my husband had already requested our treatments in the couples room by telephone, and (as happens every time we go) this wasn't set up, so we had a delayed start time while they set the room up. Went for our evening meal and the service was sub-par, we were never asked if we wanted to order further drinks and nobody cleared our dessert plates so we ended up just leaving as we couldn't get anyone's attention. Other tables were suffering too and the family across from us never received their starters before the mains turned up and nobody could work out why. As I say, it was a fine stay and perhaps I'm nitpicking, but when you're spending over £500 for a one night stay, isn't it the little things that matter? Especially when they have an automatic 5% surcharge! Since this visit I've gone to The Woodland Spa instead and cannot recommend it highly enough. As I say, they left a card for me, wrote on the dessert and put a sparkler in, gave free pastries/tea/coffee for EVERYONE etc. it really is a lovely place to visit - and this was just a day visit. As a new mum, it's a struggle to get time away just me and my husband, so it's even more disappointing that our special trip was just.....fine.