Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club — Hotel in North Warwickshire

Booked through Wowcher as a birthday treat 4* hotel and 3 course DDB. Not without its charms and will not take a lot to put right but - Oh so disappointed - best go elsewhere for this price range.

Upon checking in, I find the Wowcher has a different check out time, the reason why I decided to come here was for the last check out which would have allowed us to check out the local area and come back, use facilities, freshen up this was wrong. Had to change plans, not a good start.

Also adding to the poor start, spa and swimming pool not open on the first day, this was omitted from booking but I am not sure if this is their or Wowchers fault, either way, should have been clear upon booking.

Then we checked our room, upgrade from standard to a Superior King. Oh dear.

We were put in the furthermost outpoint of the main building, which I like as I like to get my steps in, but was a little neglected area of the building. The room, best described as unloved, or more accurate as 'shabby', needs a bit of tlc, and I am a fan of the old world and am being polite.

The Coffee maker as described in the upgraded room was an old battered kettle that has seen better days. Like for like Superior Rooms in 4* rooms these days you have a coffee pod or some other fancy device. Luckily the biscuits were nice or I would have said a more stern few words.

This hotel is not a 4* by standard means, the room did not have any form of temperature control, radiator on full, window open to cool is not standard 4*.

So during the night, as we were on the top floor, the heat from the building left us sweltering, radiator off, window open. This was on 1st Jan - 2nd Jan at -2oC conditions.

The bed was however very comfortable and pillows the one redeeming feature of this room, not for aesthetics but really comfortable.

The dinner for 2 was a set menu that was not on voucher description or explained upon checking in, as we already seen menu and knew what we were having; the set menu was disappointing. The food my partner was lovely, she had the fish, looked nice, I knew instantly I had food envy. Mine was a disaster and should not be represented in a 4* hotel restaurant, more of a fast food sports bar.

The cheese & bacon burger should be avoided, priced at £18 on the regular menu it would struggle to rival a McDonalds and barely warm, chips cold.

Luckily I ordered blue cheese sauce which was served barely at room temperature and minus the blue cheese - more hollandaise type sauce.

We had to order additional sides orders as the portions were very small, despite being on the 3 course. I am not implying my partner and I are big eaters, but we did save ourselves all day for this 3 course meal and were disappointed.

Luckily the Cauliflower gratin was nuked hot, normally I shun such methods but my food needed heating and this side plate was so hot it provided a much needed blast of radiation to heat up the "blue cheese" sauce.

The prices of the bar were high, luckily poured well. I was worried when they struggled to open a bottle of beer with a bottle opener, thinking a pint of Guinness will be unmitigated disaster but as it is winter and that is a winter drink I ordered it anyway. I was relieved the pint was poured and served well, although with £8.50 for pint price tag, anything less would have been criminal.

The spa is ok, nothing to shout home about, jacuzzi out of order or due a clean when I went. Actually, there was one problem - they had no clean towels to use except for hand towels. First time in a spa donning 2 hand towels to dry after a shower, not without its challenges, reminded me of being a student and I was impressed I could still rock this method of drying.

The staff were out of their depth and require training but they are polite and keen to please.

Exceptions and compliments to the breakfast team, organised, presentable, knowledgeable and very good. The choice was good, quality good and best of all for my partner who likes vegetarian sausages, they were amazing - high...

It's okish, definitely not worth what they're charging and overall was a bit disappointing.

Rooms are outdated, with horrific carpets and all the hallways look like they're from shining. It says on the booking that there's coffee maker and kettle in the room but there was only kettle, which is fine but don't advertise coffee maker as well. The duvet is ridiculously thin, more like a cover for duvet. Carpet looked a bit dirty and bathroom is just meh and wasn't super clean either. Again for the price they're charging you'd expect much more and better looking accommodation, disappointed with that.

We had prepaid dinner and breakfast. Breakfast was great, loads of choices and decent food. The dinner, however, juat disappointing again. The choice from the prepaid menu is very limited and not very appealing choices either. Although it's prepaid for half of the stuff on the menu you have to pay extra, which is just daft. The quality of the food itself is just not good, it was kind of cold and not that good. I've had takeaways better for half the price. We came over at Christmas and expected some sort of Christmas dinner or something of sorts but nothing. The menu choices were poor and food quality very much the same.

The restaurant/bar is ridiculously overpriced. Again, for what they're charging the level of service and quality should be way better. Didn't actually eat there but I assume it's the same kitchen as the prepaid ones, just dissapointing.

The area and the grounds are great. It is remote and quiet and the grounds are huge and take hours to explore. Absolutely loved that. The area and the breakfast are the best things about this whole place.

Sauna/swimming pool are decent size. Didn't look super clean tbh but clean enough to feel comfortable. However, I was in a steam room and this older guy had a proper cough fit and then spit it out on the floor, in the steam room.. I told facilities about this, they said they'll clean it but she looked at me like it's not the first time this happened. Another guy in steam room blew his nose in his hands and then wiped it in his shorts and then went back to the pool, some people are just disgusting. Now I know this is absolutely no fault of the hotel but put me off big time of going back for swim again, that's for sure.

The staff were nice and helpful though. It is not their fault that the food sucks, the hotel is outdated and room quality is poor. They do hover around you when having dinner/breakfast though, we found it a bit funny. I know that they aim to keep the tables clean of empty dishes but some of them were literally coming up to the table, looking in coffee mugs if they're empty and can be taken away lol. Need to chill a bit.

Overall the hotel is absolutely not worth the price, I don't understand how can they justify it. The food was coldish, poor quality, prepaid menu had very limited choices and half of it had to be paid for extra. Rooms and bathroom are super old and not super clean. Halways look like from shining. Bar is ridiculously overpriced. Staff were nice, breakfast was good with a variety of lot of food and the grounds are beautiful.

I will not be coming back nor would I recommend anyone to come for the price...

A Memorable Stay with Outstanding Service and Scenic Surroundings

From the moment we arrived, our experience at the hotel was warm and welcoming. We were greeted by Praise at the main reception desk, whose friendly demeanour and helpful orientation made a great first impression. She clearly pointed out all the key facilities, helping us get our bearings quickly.

Our room, located conveniently on the ground floor, was clean, comfortable, and maintained at a pleasant temperature. The bed was exceptionally comfortable, and while the room lacked USB ports, there were plenty of standard plug sockets available. Amenities included a generous selection of teas and coffees, along with complimentary Biscoff biscuits—a thoughtful touch that added to the sense of hospitality.

The hotel grounds are beautifully maintained, offering guests expansive views of the stunning and well-kept golf course, as well as numerous outdoor seating areas perfect for relaxing. The main building itself is charming, reflecting a blend of elegance and comfort.

The spa and pool facilities were a standout feature of our stay. With a jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, and even a baby pool, the leisure amenities exceeded expectations. Access to these was included in the room price, representing excellent value. The area was staffed at all times by attentive personnel, including into the evening hours. A special mention must go to Marie, whose expertise and professionalism were clearly evident—she managed the spa area with confidence and care.

Dining at the on-site Zest Bar was another highlight. The team there was flexible and accommodating, particularly Elizabeth, who went out of her way to allow us to order an item not listed on the menu. The food was delicious and well presented, and while the prices were on the higher side, they reflected the quality of both the ingredients and the service. A particularly appreciated detail was the use of proper branded condiments like Heinz ketchup—a small but significant mark of quality. Elizabeth and her manager went above and beyond, even allowing patrons to remain after closing to finish watching the Under-21 European Championship final, accommodating us graciously while they tidied around. The only minor critique would be the hot pink staff uniforms, which felt a little off-brand for a place named "Zest"—green or yellow would seem more fitting.

Breakfast was, without question, the crown jewel of our stay. Included in the room rate, the breakfast spread was extensive and delicious. Highlights included Coco Pops, pain au chocolats, pancakes with hazelnut spread, strawberry yogurt with berry compote, and a hot selection of bacon, sausage, hash browns, and toast. The buffet also featured a solid variety of fresh juices and hot beverages. The breakfast team delivered service with genuine warmth and enthusiasm, contributing to a wonderful start to the day.

In summary, this hotel offers tremendous value, exceptional staff, and a stunning location. Whether you’re here for relaxation, recreation, or a bit of both, you’ll find yourself well cared for. A full 10/10 experience—highly recommended, and we will...