Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa

The winter menu looked very good and the reviews were good so we booked a stay and dinner to celebrate a big wedding anniversary. We were very disappointed indeed. I don't like public criticism so I wrote a personal letter to Mr Smith, the General Manager, telling him how we got on so that he could quietly look into it and deal with things. I had a nice response from Reception saying that they would forward the message to him. Since then I have not even had the courtesy of an acknowledgement from the manager and so feel that potential guests should be warned. Our room was alright but management/designer have obviously never actually used the room. There was nowhere to hang a wet raincoat and a guests' path put them at head height beside an uncurtained window directly into our room. Worst of all was that the lighting level was so dingy that you cannot read after dark. We had booked an anniversary dinner and were very disappointed. The goats cheese croquettes were excellent and the smoked salmon very good although it looked forlorn served to accomodate my wife's dietary needs. The porchetta was tender and fairly tasty but everything except for the pommes anna was either only luke warm or actually cold and was served on only just warm plates. My wife's creamed potato was barely warm but served with chilled sour cream topping making it so cold as to be uneatable. The vegetables were tough. My brownie was a reasonably nice piece of cake but was not a brownie and the tarte tatin looked horrid and was unappetising. I know that the guests at an adjacent table were also disatisfied. The hotel kindly provided a decorated anniversary plate with some petit fours but it was pretty unimaginitive to put three petit fours on a plate for two people.

Booked a 1 night spa break as birthday treat for my mum and we both had a amazing stay from start to end. We had a lovely room overlooking the stunning gardens. As as an added birthday treat we were given complimentary sparkling wine which was a nice surprise. The spa was first class, excellent facilities and we felt totally relaxed. Dinner was delicious and nice menu choices. The waiting staff were very attentive and made us feel very comfortable no aloof pretentious attitude you can find in some other country spa hotels. Again we were very spoilt with some petite fours as a birthday treat which was a nice end to the meal. Mums had a lovely pedi and commented on how friendly and knowledgeable the therapist was. We will definitely be returning and is top of my list of favourite spas

Unfortunately since our last visit in September the hotel seems to have lost some of its polish. The pool area was not very clean on Sunday afternoon, lots of cups around & hair etc on the floor. The walk from the spa to the main hotel is quite unattractive with rusty wheelbarrows, building materials and hoses on display. The wooden fencing and handrails around the car park and spa were loose and broken in places, a safety issue on the steps from the spa rooms! Our room, Clara, was generally clean but there were finger marks and white spots of something on the glass doors and dust on the floor in the WC obviously completed in a rush. We were also disappointed that we were given a room with broken glass drawers in the bathroom when most of the other rooms in the spa were available- was this the best one? The staff were all fantastic though we cannot fault the service we received and the fabulous food (apart from the disappointing poached eggs at breakfast) but the broken trim around the shutters and dead flies on the window sills in the dining room just reinforced our opinion that the hotel needs some TLC for the price being charged. I don't think we'll be back.

We stayed for two nights in a cosy room the bed was like a cloud we slept so well. All staff were extremely friendly and nothing was too much trouble. It was a short walk to the modern Spa from the Manor House and had fantastic facilities, offered trea**ents free tea/coffee/refreshments. We spent the day floating about...inside/outside/mainly horizontal in the sun. Fine dinning was served in the Manor House Restaurant, overlooking the stunning garden with a beautiful view across the grounds/skyline. This Hotel is a secret gem cannot recommend it highly enough- We will be back to enjoy their hospitality again soon.

This is a lovely hotel with a good restaurant and an engaging Spa. The only issue is that they want to add 12.5% service charge on anything that moves: Drinks in the garden pretty expensive but plus 12.5% Service charge Peanuts £4 + 12.5% Service Charge Dinner which was part of the weekend package + 12.5% on the nominal value of the dinner. Breakfast which was part of the weekend package +12.5% on a nominal £25 per person nominal value. Daily Paper + 12.5% Service Charge. What a shame that such a lovely hotel should seek to get 12.5% on anything that MOVES!!

Okandean Manor Hotel presents a delightful setting, nestled amidst breathtaking landscapes, with a spa that promises tranquility and beauty. However, my recent experience highlighted some discrepancies in service that fell short of the hotel's own high standards. The spa, while visually appealing, was staffed by a notably young and seemingly untrained team. The massage therapist, though earnest, lacked the experience needed to deliver an effective massage, which detracted from the overall relaxation promised. This theme of inexperience extended to the hotel's restaurant. Despite an impressive selection of wines, the youthful staff struggled to advise on choices, specifically regarding wines with lower sulfates—a disappoin**ent for those with sensitivities. Service lapses were evident: we found ourselves self-seating at the restaurant, retrieving our own wine from the bar, and, in a particularly notable lapse, we had to approach the hotel reception to request that our order be taken. This level of self-service did not align with the premium positioning of Okandean Manor. On a positive note, the food itself was fantastic, a testament to the kitchen's prowess. It's clear that Okandean Manor has potential, underscored by its setting and facilities. However, the service component urgently requires attention. Employing young staff is commendable for fostering growth and opportunity, but without adequate oversight from experienced personnel, the service fails to meet the high standards the hotel prides itself on. It is essential for the management to balance youthful enthusiasm with skilled guidance to ensure the luxury experience guests expect.

Me and my partner stayed here one night for a short spa break as we found a good deal with *******. It is a lovely heritage hotel with very authentic Tudor style features. The staff were very friendly and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. I had a very lovely facial at the spa and we both enjoyed the facilities. There are plenty of places to relax and get free water, tea and coffee in the spa. The staff were also cleaning regularly which was good to see. The pool was on the cold side; would be nice if this was heated but there are lovely outdoor and indoor hot tubs which are great to relax in. The spa is also a bit of walk from the actual hotel which isn’t great if it’s raining but there are free umbrellas provided at the hotel entrance. We had breakfast included in our stay which was really tasty and great views from the restaurant overlooking the rolling hills. We stayed in a cosy room which was lovely and had nice touches such as handmade biscuits. The only mistake we made was not requesting a shower room at the time of booking which is what let this stay down slightly so this is something to be mindful of if you prefer this.

Visited yesterday for a ‘spafternoon tea’. The afternoon started with a lovely massage, then use of the spa all afternoon. It was very clean, quiet, with lots of quiet space to relax and enjoy complimentary drinks. We then finished the day with an afternoon tea at the hotel which was delicious and they were able to meet our dietary requirements (veggie/vegan) the room was very a**ospheric: old and dark and warm. The staff both in the spa and in the restaurant were absolutely fantastic, so helpful and made us feel very well looked after. The young gentleman in the restaurant was particularly welcoming. Overall we felt it was good value although we were charged nearly £9 for some nachos (!!) and there did appear to be people working on laptops in the reception of the spa which was off putting.

This was our second visit to the Ockenden for a couple of years. It is without doubt a beautiful place to relax, in a stunning setting and the rooms have great character. The service provided by all the staff was exceptional and on par with any 5 star hotel we have visited around the world. Especially the care, friendly approachable nature of the managers (Sarah and Flavi) who made our stay truly wonderful - the owners should be proud to have such a great team maintaining the quality and reputation of the hotel. We cannot wait for our next visit!