Widbrook Grange

Widbrook Grange is a lovely farmhouse hotel in a beautiful setting, we had a nice stay overall but it was let down by the tired rooms, poor fitness centre and lack of attention to detail. Hotel Great location, just a short drive from Bradford-on-Avon and around 25 minutes from Bath, with excellent walking routes nearby. The historic farmhouse and gardens are beautiful, and the staff were friendly and helpful throughout our stay. Food & Drink The food was nice but overpriced. Bread and olives, 1 starter, 2 mains, 1 soft drink and 2 ciders came to £109. Despite asking, we weren't given an itemised bill - we were simply told the charge had been added to our room. At checkout there was still no breakdown, so we had to pay without being able to check it was correct or what service fee had been added. We ate on the terrace, which was lovely, as The Kitchen Restaurant was just a dated dining room. The bar was nice but had a limited drinks selection if you don't drink gin. There was no draught beer, and expensive bottled drinks. The nearby brewery offered much better value. Room We booked a Classic Double, described as "bright and quirky with garden views." Instead, Room 14 was dark and overlooked a wall. Attached to the fitness centre it constantly smelled of chlorine. We couldn't leave the windows open to clear the smell because of the hot weather, so avoided spending time in the room where possible. The door lock was unreliable and took several attempts to lock and unlock every time. The bathroom was tired, with visible water damage, peeling paint and in need of refurbishment. The unfrosted bathroom window overlooked the overflow car park, offering little privacy. We paid £20 per night for our small dog, although the website advertises £20 per dog per stay. This included a bed, bowls, treats and a tennis ball. He was also meant to receive a breakfast sausage each morning, but this was forgotten on our second day. For a dog-friendly hotel, it was disappointing that the room had no fridge, meaning we had to ask staff to store and retrieve our dog's food. As we booked through Secret Escapes and the hotel was fully booked, we couldn't help wondering if we'd been allocating the worst room. Fitness Centre The pool area was particularly disappointing. Paint and plaster were coming away from the walls in chunks, the rolled pool cover was damaged and unsightly, the windows were so dirty they obscured the view outside, numerous mosaic tiles were missing from the pool, and algae was visible around the edges. It was clearly in need of significant maintenance. With investment in the rooms and leisure facilities, it could be a fantastic hotel, but unfortunately it didn't meet our expectations as a luxury stay.

a month ago · via Google

This is a picturesque and tranquil hotel, just what we needed. Our pup was warmly welcomed as were we. There is a goody bag for your dog and a dog bed supplied in the room. This was a lovely touch. Dogs are welcome throughout the property with the exception of the main dining room. If a peaceful get away where your dog is welcome is what you’re looking for, this is the place for you. Sadly there were too many areas lacking for us to confidently recommend this hotel to friends and family . The room is relatively well appointed however there isn’t a fridge (surely a given at this price point?), the bathroom products were not at all premium, one of the plug sockets were broken and it was really quite dirty in parts. The grounds were well maintained by a friendly gardener but needs an eye cast over it for detail by a Manager. There was one area where a deep rooted tree had been removed and the huge hole was simply covered with a picnic table. The staff were very friendly however there seemed to be an issue with us wishing to pay as we went along, for drinks at the bar for example. We asked a couple to times to pay there and then and after some confusion we were told No. The final and most disappointing element of the stay was the fitness centre. The gym was poorly appointed and despite us staying during a heatwave, the water machine was empty both days of our stay, which suggests the facilities are very rarely checked. The pool itself was borderline dangerous. As you enter the pool, the area around the steps had a layer of algae, the handrail was loose as was the top step. With a number of guests seemingly of an older age, this could end in disaster. There was also a pile of broken tiles in the corner, a torn pool cover and what seemed to be a gap at the top of the windows where some of the ceiling had fallen away. We found the food offering to be mixed, but other guests found it to be poor (opting for a nearby pub instead). The vegetarian options were very bland but the burger was very tasty, as were the desserts. Breakfast was great on the first morning but chaos on the second day. Service wasn’t as good as the first day and parts of the breakfast were missing. By this point we gave up! That all sounds like a bit of a battering, there really were good elements (especially the variety of gin!) but the details were missing. Could be an idea for the General Manager to spend the night as a guest and use all facilities in order to see what needs to be improved.

a month ago · via Google

We visited Widbrook today for an Easter afternoon tea and boy are we glad we did. We had booked a tea for 2 persons and took out 5 year old along. The place was a quiet tucked away gem in the heart of BOA! As we arrived the hospitality was warm and friendly offering us an early seating due to arriving earlier than planned. The treatment from the staff was exceptional and extremely welcoming making my son feel right at home to even offering him the chance to feed the ducks and ducklings that appeared mid feast. A complimentary hot chocolate and Cadbury creme egg made his day. As afternoon teas go the plate was what was expected with a Easter twist. But for us it was the family friendly hospitality and attentive staff that sealed the deal! We'll definitely be planning another visit .. mainly for the shared roast platter of which we had food envy of those around us! Both before and after the teas we explored the ground for a walk and game of hide and seek...the spring sun was lovely and although the gardens was needing a bit of tlc here and there you could see the promise! Thank you for a fantastic day.

4 months ago · via Google

Wow! The staff were so helpful and made us feel special. A lovely little hotel, close to the canal. One of the best breakfasts we've had in a hotel, and the evening meals were very good as well. Comfy bed, nice shower, large spacious rooms. There's even an indoor pool (which we didn't realise).

8 months ago · via Google