Hoar Cross Hall Reviews 114

Just stayed overnight Saturday to Sunday today Mother’s Day. Hoar Cross Hall serenity spa stay.

Food exceptional and made very enjoyable by their waiting staff especially Andy the somelliar sorry probably spelt it wrong prompt service.

Room very spacious and slept extremely well.

Spa treatments beautifully executed by Morgan who managed to clear my head cold with great facial and back massage. My taste returned after it so Morgan worked her magic on my sinuses I think! for my beautiful lunch in Hugo’s where I enjoyed more lovely food. I thought the duck terrine with peppercorns was really tasty. Especially without full taste capacity due to cold. All meals worth the price. It was all a lovely stay not too packed out.

Also not forgetting great check in and out to efficient reception staff.

Will be back in the summer to test the terrace out. From Suzanne Broadhurst and daughter Abbie. Ten out of ten!

We booked a special spa weekend at Hoar Cross Hall as a treat for my wife, who was 32 weeks pregnant at the time, and unfortunately we were really disappointed with the overall experience.

From the outset, communication was poor. When arranging the booking, staff were very unresponsive and often took over a week to reply to emails. Because of this delay, we completely missed the opportunity to book any spa treatments, which was a huge part of why we chose this trip in the first place.

When we arrived, the issues continued. There was no body wash in our room and, even after we asked, it was never replaced. Our room was located at the top of a staircase directly above the hotel bar, which meant it was extremely noisy each night. We couldn’t get to sleep until around midnight due to the music and general noise. Given my wife’s pregnancy, this was particularly difficult. We asked reception if we could be moved to a quieter room, but they were unable (or unwilling) to accommodate any changes.

The food throughout the stay was average at best and definitely not worth the high prices being charged. Customer service in both the restaurant and at reception was poor — staff seemed disinterested and not especially helpful.

The spa itself was also a let-down. It was completely overcrowded — the pools, day beds, and every corner of the spa were packed with people. It felt far from relaxing, which defeats the whole purpose of a spa break. We also noticed staff walking around the pool areas in their outdoor shoes, which didn’t give a particularly hygienic or premium impression.

Overall, it felt like the business had prioritised getting as many guests in as possible over maintaining quality of service and experience.

We were originally booked for three nights but, due to all of the above issues, we decided to leave one night early and checked into a nearby B&B, The Cow at Dalbury, which was absolutely lovely and a much more relaxing end to our trip.

The hotel was very reluctant to provide a refund for the unused night and it took around three weeks to finally resolve.

All in all, this was meant to be a special, relaxing treat ahead of a big life moment for us, and it fell far short of expectations. Sadly, we would not recommend staying here.

Attended as part of a 3-day organised Wellness Retreat. This is the most amazing Spa Hotel I have ever visited. I felt like I was floating from the most incredible facial (shout out to Natalia). The variety of rooms, ambience, facilities is wonderful. Bedroom overlooking the gardens with perfect topiary was exquisite and the Nespresso machine was much appreciated. I loved the relaxation/quiet/sleep area. A dreamy water sound meditation. Top quality food. I honestly came back a new refreshed, recharged woman. Very happy and I will be back!

My daughter, husband and I spent the night there on 28/1 to celebrate my husband’s 80th birthday. I had pre-informed them but they wished him a Hapoy Birthday on the wrong day with a pathetic plate pre-done with a chocolate written Happy Birthday on it.

The SPA is wonderful and worth a visit but the stay was appalling 1) food was terrible and minute portions 2) wine was excessively expensive at £22 for a 125ml glass of red wine 3) their own G&T was £12.75 which equates to a mark of 700+%. 4) service was unprofessional 5) flowers on tables were dead 3) lunch on day 2 was left overs and badly done.

Extremely disappointed!

⭐ **1 Star – Deeply Disappointing Experience After Spending Over £3,000**

We booked a spa break at Hoar Cross Hall for **7 adults**, costing **over £3,000**, which included an overnight stay, spa access on day two, dinner on day one, breakfast and lunch on day two, treatments, **plus four additional evening meal guests**. We also paid an additional charge specifically for **room hire of the Chapel** (private dining room) for our evening meal, which was clearly stated in emails and **confirmed in writing by Hoar Cross Hall**. We also confirmed that **all other meals (breakfast and lunch on day two) were to be in the Ballroom** (the hotel restaurant).

Check-in initially went well. Despite a very busy car park, we found a space, check-in was smooth, and we helped ourselves to the sparkling wine provided for overnight guests.

Unfortunately, the experience quickly unravelled.

Imagine my surprise when we were taken not to the **Chapel**, but to the **Meynell Suite** instead. For context, the Chapel caters for **up to 12 guests** and is intimate, with **one long table**—perfect for a celebration. The Meynell Suite, however, caters for around **40 guests** and had **two separate round tables** set up for our group of 11. This completely destroyed the atmosphere we had carefully planned and paid for.

I immediately raised this at reception. I was told **nothing could be done**, that there were “no long tables available,” and that the setup was supposedly what *we* had requested. I was then told it was our responsibility as customers to specify not only the room (which we absolutely did) but also the table layout—and that the assumption had been made that we wanted two tables. This makes no sense, as the Chapel (the room we explicitly booked and had confirmed by email) can only accommodate **one long table**.

We were left standing awkwardly in this large, impersonal room waiting for service. From there, things only got worse:

* **45 minutes** to receive a Kir Royale
* **Over an hour** for a half pint of Peroni
* **20 minutes** for our cake box to be returned
* Desserts arrived **with no cutlery**, followed by another **5–10 minute wait** for spoons

Staff repeatedly told us they were “very busy” and would “chase the drinks,” yet nothing improved. This level of service is unacceptable, particularly given the amount paid upfront.

To add insult to injury, on arrival we explained that my grandmother had become unwell and would not be attending the evening meal. We were told to inform staff at dinner, which we did—only to be told they **could not remove her charge**, as the sales team would not be in until Monday. We were instructed to **pay the bill in full** and then dispute it later. Again, unacceptable.

For a venue that markets itself as a luxury destination, this experience fell far short. Poor communication, incorrect room allocation despite written confirmation, painfully slow service, and a complete lack of ownership or resolution ruined what should have been a special celebration.

We will not be returning, and I would not recommend Hoar Cross Hall based on this experience.

Just had a little pre christmas night away at hoar cross hall, this is my second visit,first time was in the summer.
The place was decorated with amazing christmas trees and over all very christmasy.On the downside it was very busy not enough staff on the bar so very slow,in the evening restaurant, so service was slow,and we had to keep reminding staff for things we,d ordered water,wine bread ect.Reception was well manned and check in was swift and thorough,special mention for Cody who's only been working there 3 weeks, but fid a remarkable job.
Overall lovely night away just what needed before Christmas madness begins.

A lovely experience, though a little pricey for what was received. A slight down turn following the new ownership. Staffs were kind and accommodating. Some lovely and unique experiences. We were there last Wednesday and could hear the bells from the neighbouring church till about 21:00, lovely to hear while in the hot tub, and gave a very British vibe to the evening.

Title: An Incredibly Accommodating Stay – Sally in the Spa is a Credit to the Hall!
Review Body:
My recent stay at Hoar Cross Hall was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. The entire team was incredibly accommodating, making me feel welcome and looked after throughout my visit.
I would like to give special recognition to Sally, a beautician working in the spa. My treatment with her was a particular highlight.
Sally's knowledge of the products was impressive, and she took the time to explain what would work best for my skin without ever making me feel rushed. It was refreshing and incredibly valuable to be seen by someone of a similar age who genuinely understood the specific concerns that menopausal and perimenopausal women have.
She listened carefully and understood immediately that sometimes we just need to maintain what we have and feel good. I felt heard, listened to, and completely understood. Her professional yet relatable approach made the experience truly special. She is a true credit to Hoar Cross Hall.
I highly recommend booking a treatment with her and cannot wait to return!

Attended the Twilight Spa session which on the whole is a very nice experience, especially the terrace. Lovely helpful staff.
The issue is the gravelly, very poorly lit car park which certainly needs modernising and made fir for purpose, I would not feel safe if i had been on my own.

We have used Hoar Cross Hall in the past, but not for a while. We have always enjoyed it and decided to book an overnight stay to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary.
We had a fantastic time, all the staff were excellent, especially Siobhan in the restaurant. She made us feel like we had been friends for years.

After a really tough couple of weeks I decided to treat myself to a night away.
I am a member of Hoar Cross, but I have only ever used the gym and had a massage, but here goes.
I have worked in hospitality for over 20 years and if I had one work to describe Hoar Cross it would be grubby and low end.
Amazing facilities, but a grim.
My welcome at reception was warm. Little glass of Prosecco and a lovely lady to check me in.
When asking what time I would like breakfast, I said 0930, to which she responded, ‘oh we only have 1045 available, but just go down when you want and they will let you in.’
When I got in the lift it was filthy on the floor and hand marks all over.
On exiting the lift I was greeted by the cleaning cupboard. The walk to my room and in my room the carpet was just pitted with bits, hair and just dirt. Just a very unclean look.
Upon entering my room it reminded me of a hen do in Blackpool 20 years ago.
The carpet was filthy.
The curtains don’t have a stopper so just glide from side to side.
My lock on my door didn’t work.
The toilet bowl has never seen bleach or a toilet bush used to clean, it was completely mouldy.
Had a nice bit of faeces on the bathroom door.
Bath mat mouldy.
Windows mouldy, which would wipe off.
Had a deep bath which I had to quickly empty as chunks of mould were coming out the overflow.
Underneath the toilet bowl (something that I always do to gudge cleanliness and carry wet wipes everywhere) was caked in dried urine! 🤮
I had forgotten my hair brush so called to ask for one of those plastic amenity combs, they don’t have this only toothbrushes.
Room service was good, I do rate the food, small portions but well presented. No sooner had a finished my starter though and they were banging on the door with my pudding, so that was slightly cold when I got round to it.
I had a lazy morning and went for my 1045 breakfast to be told it shuts at 1030…. That my booking must be in the other restaurant. So I headed to Henry’s. Explained to the lady in Henry’s my room number and the situation and my name and she just kept asking if my name was other peoples names. I asked her just to take my order and if I had to pay so be it. Which thankfully I didn’t (had 3 meals included).
Now onto the spa and members side…
I NEVER use the member changing room, it’s mouldy and just grotty. Smells musty, damp and dirty.
The showers through in my time have always been freezing, they have had a water issue for months.
Toilet seats wonky, stinking and dirty.
The chip and pin and members sign in screen is just filthy, covered in grime and dirty finger prints. When I alert staff, either blank look, one even told me, ‘it’s not my job’.
I not just don’t bother signing in or out as just refuse to touch it.
Communal toilets thick with dust and just grim.
The gym equipment is never wiped down so just dusty and covered in dried sweat.
The treatments are simply glorified tickles. It’s a one in one out groupon special. So many staff to maximise output with not a lot of substance.
It’s rammed all the time, so just not peaceful.
If you don’t know any better or don’t have an eye for detail, I can understand Why you would think it’s ok.
This really really is a low end experience.
£320. I could have driven a bit further to a Marriott country club for £104 and had a peaceful, cleaner experience.
Just to top it all off, it took exactly 30 minutes for my breakfast.
I’m a veggie so ordered the vegan breakfast.
I heard the chef shouting that he needed tofu and mushroom, I almost shouted over not to worry about the tofu I would just have normal eggs if it was a problem.
Breakfast arrived with no tofu, but covered in peppers and avacado not as advertised.
I asked where my tofu was and the waitress said the chef had substituted it with avacado and pepper as didn’t have any. So I asked why no one had asked me about this. Blank look. Told the waitress I have an intolerance to avacado and I just don’t like peppers and to just bring me normal eggs, she offered to take away and remake, but I didn’t fancy another 30 mins….
If you like places like Butlins then this is the place for you.
Bubbles devere very much springs to mind.
My next gym with the equipment I need is 50 minutes round trip away, so it pains me to pay but my time is worth more.
Clean up your act.
Just uploaded and remembered the dusty, tacky chandelier 🤦‍♀️

No turn down service!!
It was my wife’s 70th special treat , and organisation was made aware of this but we didn’t see any effort to make it special.
We just returned from a four day stay in Dubai,the hotel was not told it was her 70th, when we got there the room was decorated with balloons,a miniature birthday cake & a happy birthday card (they worked it out from customers information).Considering what we are paying for one night & facilities here we paid that for three days and my wife felt she was pampered!
Very disappointed
PS:large cob webs on the inside windows in dining room(photos taken),We had to ask for a gown to be changed it was badly worn and had a rip.Dirty hand towel (photos taken).Little things but create a big bad impression & spoilt what was supposed to be a special experience!

We’ve just returned from our third visit to Hoar Cross Hall, and once again it was a truly lovely experience. The staff are consistently attentive, warm, and professional, which really makes the stay feel special from the moment you arrive.

A particular highlight this time was the warm welcome from Ian on the front desk, who recognised us from previous visits and very kindly upgraded our stay — such a thoughtful and personal gesture that genuinely made our trip feel even more memorable.

The food is excellent, the facilities are beautifully maintained, and the treatments are exceptional – especially the massage, which was one of the best I’ve had.

Hoar Cross Hall manages to feel both luxurious and welcoming, and we’re already looking forward to our next visit. Highly recommended!

I booked a spa day on the 27th of August, and I was really looking forward to it. I was dropping my kids to Alton Towers and then coming to the spa to have a lovely relaxing day.
I arrived and the reception staff were amazing, explained to me where everything was, couldn’t do enough for me. I asked where it would be best to go and get a coffee, she pointed me in the direction of the new terrace.
I went up and ordered a drink at the bar. The member of staff looked at me with a disgusted expression and told me that I needed to go and sit down and wait to be served - so I did. After waiting 10 minutes and nobody coming round to ask me what I would like, I went back to the bar and said to the lady who still had the disgusted look on her face ‘Could you please just make me a coffee?’ She eventually relented took my money and then told me to go and sit down and somebody would bring it over which they eventually did.
Lunchtime was the worst experience though, I turned up to the restaurant as a single person with my book in my robe. I was left waiting at the door for a couple of minutes while the staff rushed around. A young lad then came up to me ask my name and then proceeded to show me to a table right in the middle of the very busy restaurant. Well, if you’ve ever eaten in a restaurant on your own, you’ll know that it’s much more preferable to be tucked away on the side as opposed to surrounded by lots of other people. I asked the guy if I could be moved to one of the five free tables around the outside of the restaurant. There was lots of huffing and puffing and tapping on a computer, then he proceeded to show me to another table which wasn’t quite in the centre of the restaurant but not far away. I took it however then realised I’d paid £180 for my spa day and I wasn’t prepared to feel uncomfortable so I went back up to what I thought was the restaurant manager, explained the situation and asked again to be seated around the outside of the restaurant. Much furious tapping on the computer continued and then eventually he showed me to a table on the outside of the restaurant, thank goodness.
He then proceeded to make a big show about removing the second place setting at the table. I’m not sure he could’ve highlighted my Singleness anymore to a room full of busy people!!!
Onto the food. I have a preference, not an intolerance, to be gluten-free and I was really excited because so much of the menu could be gluten-free. However on asking for the gluten-free French onion soup I was told that to make it gluten-free they just took the crust off the top - the cheese crust was half of the appeal! I queried this and asked whether they could just make bread gluten-free, at which point the young lad said to me ‘well they can but it’ll take an extra five minutes.’ Erm so what? They clearly didn’t want to do that but I insisted anyway.
The soup when it eventually came was lovely, I ordered the salmon for lunch, hugely disappointing, essentially just a small piece of salmon on a few crushed new potatoes with some sweetcorn thrown around the plate. However, credit where credit is due the gluten-free crumble was absolutely divine.

On checking out of the spa, the girl at reception asked me if I’ve had a good day I explained to her everything that happened and she asked me to put it on the feedback form so I did. I then had Chloe from Hoar Cross Hall, call me the following Friday, she left a message telling me that one of her staff members would be calling me back over the weekend to discuss my comments. I’m still waiting……
Overall just really disappointing, when you pay £180 for a spa day you expect more. It’s also not hard to know in a restaurant that if somebody is dining alone they would like to be tucked away in most cases. There are really simple changes that could enhance this experience and make it worth the cost.
But failures all over the place here, especially the lack of contact to discuss my comments.

The good:
-Really liked the spa
-Staff were friendly
-Outside of the building was beautiful
-Food included was very nice

The bad:
-Room stank of weed when we arrived so we were given a downgraded room, I was given the difference but not offered anything extra until I pushed, kind of killed the occasion, hotel should have picked up on this
-Room phone didn't work so I had to travel down two floors and across the hotel to go to reception in person
-New room was next to the vents so very noisy
-Fan included to cool us down was semi broken so couldn't be used
-Dinner staff told us they'd be with us, sat us down in the waiting room, checked in a different couple under our room and forgot about us, had to chase them to let us in to dinner
-Never asked for our wristband back from the spa when checking out, gave them in afterwards but didn't get my deposit back

Overall, it didn't meet expectations, was a big let down :(

What an absolute sham!! I could have gone on an all inclusive 2 week holiday abroard for what I paid to go here for 2 nights and it was absolutely not worth it!! The place was crawling with wasps, all over the food and everywhere!! I was served raw pork from the restaurant which I of course sent back! The hotel was so noisy at night you couldn't sleep. The place was so hot it was unbearable and there wasn't a portable air conditioning unit in sight!! I would not recommend this place to anybody, it is not worth the money they charge and when you try to make a complaint you are greeted with an administrator, the manager doesn't have time for you! Very very poor customer service!

Had a lovely experience here on Monday. The spa terrace is just amazing..my friend and I had such a lovely relaxing day. The food was great. I had a massage with Donna and I must say it's up there with one of the best I've had. Cannot wait to come again.

As a family, we have been loyal visitors to Hoar Cross Hall for over 25 years, creating many fond memories here. Our most recent visit, however — an overnight stay purchased by our children to celebrate my wifes birthday — left us feeling disappointed and uncertain if we would return.

We wanted to share our experience honestly, in the hope it can contribute to improvements, especially as Hoar Cross Hall has long held a special place in our hearts.

Arrival & First Impressions
We received a pre-arrival link that didn’t work, so we phoned ahead and were reassured we could complete everything on arrival. The reception team on the day was excellent, and the welcome glass of bubbles was a lovely touch.

We were allocated room 231 on what was a very warm day. Unfortunately, the room lacked air conditioning, and instead had a small fan. Upon opening the window, part of the handle fell off. There was no fridge to keep water cold, only a warm bottle of water .The sink in the bathroom also didn’t drain properly — a small issue but not one you’d expect in a premium setting. The bathroom itself was modern and pleasant, but the rest of the room felt tired. An ironing board leaning against the wardrobe added to the impression that this was closer to a B&B than a luxury resort.

Spa & Terrace Experience
One of the reasons we returned was to experience the newly invested-in Terrace Spa, which looks fantastic. However, the service within the spa let the experience down significantly.

When we arrived at the drinks area, we were told someone would take our order. We waited five minutes before going back to ask again. When the drinks arrived, they were warm and poured poorly — even the staff member admitted she’d made a mess of it. One glass was dirty, and overall it felt like there was no supervision or attention to guest experience. Staff drinking Coke from bottles in front of the counter looked unprofessional.

Eventually, we found another team member who managed to get us properly chilled drinks. The wearable payment bands were a great touch — very convenient.

The investment in the space is clear and it has huge potential, but without attention to the basics of service and guest care, it falls short.

Dining Experience
Dinner was booked for 8:15pm and the team kindly adjusted this in advance. While waiting in the lounge, we ordered drinks that hadn’t arrived by the time our table was called. We were told they’d be brought over, but they still took around 20 minutes to arrive. The food, when it came, was excellent, and our server was helpful and courteous.

Breakfast the next day, however, was chaotic. After waiting a long time for coffee, we helped ourselves to the buffet. On returning to our table, we found it had been cleared — including the drinks which had only just been delivered. We moved to another table but were left feeling like there was no ownership or attentiveness from the team.The Coffee pot was very dirty with marks on the cup.

When I asked about the newspaper I’d requested via the welcome form, reception explained it was a generic form and they don’t actually provide newspapers — a small detail, but reflective of a wider issue: systems not matching service.

Lunch & Departure
Lunch at Hugo’s was the standout service moment of our stay. Special thanks to Molly K, who was professional, knowledgeable, and truly helpful — she represented your brand superbly. Following our massages, we settled the bill and advised reception about the faulty sink and window to ensure it could be resolved for the next guest.

Final Thoughts
We left Hoar Cross Hall with mixed feelings. The setting is still beautiful and full of potential, but our experience highlighted a disconnect between the quality of the facilities and the execution of service.

The building clearly requires ongoing investment, but the most urgent investment, in our opinion, is in staff training, supervision, and guest service processes. Customer service costs little with the right people and systems, but it makes all the difference — especially at a resort positioned as premium.

We truly hope Hoar Cross Hall finds its way back to the high standard it once held in our memories,but as we drove away disappointed we both thought it will be while before we return,if ever.

Kind regards,
Andrew
21/22 June 2025

As a visitor to Hoar Cross for the past 30 years I have tried other spas but I keep coming back to this one .
Staff are so friendly and accommodating, especially on reception but I would like to give a particular mention to Olivia on reception who went above and beyond to assist us with a situation that occurred during our visit. She dealt with it swiftly in such a professional manner and did her utmost to ensure we were happy for the duration of our visit . We work in the events industry ourselves so we really appreciate excellent customer service when we receive it! She really aided our 5 star experience

Had such a perfect experience. Thoroughly enjoyed the terrace and feel it tops off the experience. The staff were very friendly and couldn’t help you enough. Tyrese especially stood out serving with a warming smile and served us with lovely customer service making sure our experience was to a high standard.