The Tawny Hotel — Hotel in Staffordshire Moorlands

You know those places that manage to be both a cosy hideaway and a bit of a show-off? That’s The Tawny. Hidden in the Staffordshire countryside, it’s basically what happens when a treehouse and a boutique hotel fall in love — and the result is far more stylish than you’d expect.||Arrival & First Impressions||We checked into Partridge Point, our hut for the night, and it set the tone instantly: robes hanging ready, fizz on ice, and a little box of birthday chocolates (a touch I’ll happily be spoiled by again).||Inside it’s all teal panelling and bright pops of yellow — chic enough to impress, comfy enough to throw yourself on the bed without feeling guilty. Skylight above the bed for stargazing, log burner for later. Tick, tick.||The minibar and snacks = completely free — crisps, chocolate, soft drinks, prosecco, the lot. Always a win when you don’t feel like you’re being charged silly money for a packet of nuts.||And if you don’t fancy the walk to the restaurant, you can order a buggy to come and collect you from your hut. Very handy after a day of fizz, hot tubs and wandering the grounds.||The Outdoor Tub Moment||The star of the show has to be the copper tub out on the deck. Nothing says “treat yourself” quite like sinking into bubbles with a glass of fizz while fairy lights twinkle in the trees. Woodland spa vibes, minus the strangers in borrowed robes. Just you, the fizz, and the joy of knowing you’ll be warm, dry, and in bed within two minutes.||Dinner at The Plumicorn Restaurant||Dinner was very “fine dining but not faffy.” Bread and nibbles to start, mains that looked like art but tasted like comfort, and desserts memorable enough that I’m still thinking about them.||Service struck that sweet spot: polished but relaxed. No hovering, no awkward silences, just easy, friendly hospitality.||The restaurant itself is bright, bold and modern — blue leather booths, floral chairs, statement light fittings, even a living wall of greenery climbing up one side. It’s smart and Instagram-friendly, no question.||But here’s the thing: after wandering through the grounds with their old stone bridges, tumbling waterfalls and secret-garden energy, the inside didn’t quite match. It felt a bit too new against the backdrop of all that history and romance outside. Stylish, yes. In keeping with the magic of the gardens? Not quite.||The Grounds & Outdoor Pool|If the huts and tubs are the cosy side of The Tawny, the grounds are where it really shows off. Think sweeping lawns, stone bridges, hidden pathways and lakes that look like they’ve wandered in from a period drama. Every turn seems to reveal something new — a waterfall here, a tucked-away bench there, or a view that makes you pause whether you planned to or not.||And then there’s the pool. Set against old stone arches with countryside views rolling out behind, it feels almost surreal. One moment you’re stretched out on a lounger with flowers and lawns around you, the next you’re swimming under open skies, glancing up at a building that’s all sharp glass and modern angles. The contrast between the old gardens and the sleek new architecture is striking — a little unexpected, but very photogenic.||The pool is heated (always appreciated in the UK climate), and there’s even a poolside phone so you can order cocktails without having to move too far. Best of all, they actually treat you like adults and let you enjoy a drink in the pool itself — something that’s becoming surprisingly rare in hotels these days. It feels indulgent without being over the top, and it’s a definite highlight.||It’s the kind of place where you can spend an entire afternoon wandering, dipping, lounging, and still feel like you’ve only scratched the surface.||ℹ️ Changing room tip:It’s a unisex setup with booths to change in off to the side — which I completely missed at first. Let’s just say I was glad my husband pointed them out before I made things awkward for everyone. ||Cosy Night In||Back in the hut, fire lit, fizz topped up, chocolates mysteriously vanished. If you can’t feel relaxed here, you’re simply not trying.||⭐ Travel Taylor Rating:|🍴 Plates & Pourings: ★★★★★|Stylish plates, clever flavours, desserts worth dreaming about.||🙋‍♂️ People & Service Smarts: ★★★★★|Friendly, thoughtful, and those birthday touches made it feel special.||🌍 Vibes & Setting: ★★★★☆|The hut, grounds and outdoor tub were unbeatable, but the restaurant décor didn’t quite match the magic of the gardens — so not a full five.||🛁 Perks & Little Luxuries: ★★★★★|Free minibar snacks, robes, fizz, chocolates, bubble baths under the stars, and a buggy service to ferry you around.||🔁 Would I Go Back?|Absolutely — already...

Stunning place, honestly so amazing but you pay for the grounds and experience, rather than the accommodations. We had one of the Valley Treehouses which was very pricey, but the complimentary mini-bar, views, overall aesthetic, free golf cart/jeep escorts to and from the hotel and comfort of the room was amazing and almost made up for everything else. The main thing that really let the room down was the standard of cleaning. It wasn't the best. The sofa had stains, there was hair on our flannels leftover from previous guests, the bathroom floor was dirty, the mirrors/shower glass were smeared and there was a brown stain on the surface under our sink, which could've been a drink spill, but with it being a bathroom, who knows! This was really disappointing when we paid almost £1000 for two nights. I think when you book a dog friendly room you're not bothered if there is a bit of wear and tear as it's expected but one thing that shouldn't be dirty when you go away is the bathroom, it just makes you feel icky and paranoid that the rest of the room hasn't been cleaned to a proper standard. The outdoor decks/terraces aren't swept or very clean either, which you think given you spend a lot of time outside because of how beautiful it is and you have hot tubs, this would be a priority as well. We also had no outdoor lights, whatsoever and our bathroom light had gone as well. These are the type of things you expect to be checked before you check in, especially given the cost of the stay. The robes are also rough and need an upgrade! However, what I will say is, as soon as we raised these issues, the staff couldn't be more helpful. They sent someone to the room, got maintenance out and head of housekeeping and offered us discount which was really appreciated as we came away for my mums 60th and these small niggles put a bit of a downer on the beginning of what was meant to be a nice trip. We couldn't use the outdoor hot tub at night, because we couldn't see and my mum couldn't get dressed properly in the bathroom in the evening before dinner! Another thing I will say is the person you sent out to clean our bathroom first after we raised a complaint, came out with a black plastic bin bag and a dust pan and brush. No spray or mop! So the solution wasn't the best. If someone complains about the cleanliness of a room, actual cleaning products should be used to fix the situation. We could've swept the room ourselves! It wasn't sufficient enough but again, we really appreciated how quick and attentive the staff were at supporting us with these problems. The next day head of housekeeping came out and blitzed our room, she was even on her hands and knees hoovering the welcome mat which we didn't expect! We really appreciated her effort to make the room so clean for us and improve our stay. The food was good also, we had flatbreads (the mushroom and pepperoni) and we really enjoyed them! We also had the Sunday Roasts which was really tasty. I wasn't a fan of the scrambled egg at breakfast but this is just my opinion due to the texture but the Vegetarian and Full English breakfasts were very good and great value! We also had very nice cocktails during our stay, the passion fruit Mojito was lovely! I loved the pool and how warm it was and finding the Follies was a great touch and added such fun and adventure to our stay. It really made you appreciate the beauty of the grounds even more. They even left a complimentary bottle of prosecco in our room for my mums 60th. Overall, everything was amazing and the staff went above and beyond, apologised for all issues and provided prompt solutions, what more could we ask for!? I've already booked to come back with my partner for her birthday! One thing I will say, is don't let this wonderful place be let down by cleanliness! Your cleaners appear quite young when we seen them so this might be why, but maybe a superior should check the rooms. All staff are such a credit to the hotel and it felt such a shame for us to complain to them, we truly felt awful but we work really hard to afford...

Very disappointed. I had high expectations of this place and was looking forward to having a meal with my wife in the Plumicorn restaurant, I couldn’t be more wrong. Low choices, not vegan friendly and overpriced for what it is.

Service was average and so was the food. We had no starters, 2 main courses, 2 side orders, one desert, one espresso (they charged double espresso) one bottle of water and a bottle of rioja red wine (the wine was surprisingly good) – all of this for £110. When my wife checked the bill, it realised that there was a service charge also. We asked what the service charge was for, and the waiter said that the service charge is always added to the bill. I find that appalling and disrespectful, you do not dictate if a customer must leave a tip and for how much – that’s not your right to say. The waiter asked if we wanted the service charge to be removed, we said yes. The bill came down to £98, which means that you add over 10% in service charges into customers’ bills.

My wife had the Gnocchi (vegan option), and I had the Butternut Squash (vegan option), both dishes £20 each. Main courses were very small (I’m horrified to think how starters would be). Gnocchi wasn’t Gnocchi, it was 3 pieces of mashed potato (see picture). Mine, was 2 small slices of Butternut Squash with some Kale and garnish, no sauce or imagination whatsoever (see picture) – a 5-year-old child would be able to pile that up in the same way if not better.

The place is presentable but that doesn’t give you the right to over charge for nothing, specially to add the service charge in the bill without customers permission, a disgrace to be honest. Your chef needs to learn how to make Gnocchi and try to be a bit more vegan friendly.

I will not be visiting you again and do not recommend your restaurant, but everyone have the right to try as we did.

@Reply to The Tawny Hotel

Dear Josh,

I normally do not bother with replying or engaging on here but I find it necessary to clear some points as you obviously didn’t take my feedback on board and try to make it that I have nothing better to do.

Firstly, the feedback I’ve gave you through the form was in regards the stay in the hotel. Since I did enjoy my time in there and the staff were pleasant, specially the ladies when I attended the breakfast. They went above their way to make sure that my food was vegan. That was very impressive and I made it clear in the feedback form – you should have appreciated my honesty.

My complain in here was towards The Plumicorn restaurant - food, cost, price and the service charge being added to the bill without customers permission (I found that appalling).

The reason I’ve given you the feedback as I did and on different platforms is so your customers can be aware of what to expect. You now have the choice to target my issues or not – is up to you.

I also attached the pictures so you and people can judge for themselves. If you think that the main courses served on that night are worth £20 each, good for you. I felt that I was robbed. And if you or your chef says that your Gnocchi is Gnocchi, well…what can I say.

Maybe you should visit some of your competition such as Crewe Hall, The Oak House or the Rookery Hall Hotel in Nantwich. As you can see, there’s no complains about them and I’ve visit them quite...