Burleigh Court — Hotel in Stroud

The biggest shock is that anyone can give this place any positive review. £400 a night for a very dirty, run down, grubby, neglected room above a wood shed! The moment I arrived my heart sank as the front entrance was filthy. I needed the bathroom and was directed upstairs. I thought, why is this stairs and hallway carpet covered in dirt, not to mention the numerous, ingrained dirty stains and overall neglect? Our room carpet was even worse. I returned to reception to complain and there was so much pretence at shock that our room could be dirty....quite the performance! I insisted on vacuuming myself, but the vacuum didn't work because it was too full of dirt. There were cobwebs, layered dirt on the skirting boards and aeons of dirt on the window panes. Many layers of grubby fingermarks on the bathroom door, dirty shower screen, scum ringed bathtub, loose floor tile in front of the sink which made a loud cracking sound when we stood on it, which couldn't be avoided. I thought, are they using teenage boys to clean and not inspecting the rooms at all? Yes, is the answer to that. The next morning we saw a teenage boy head in the direction of our room. Staff were very apologetic and as previously stated, acted shocked. I'm sorry....do you not have eyes in your head? Can you not see the dirt and decay and disrepair that is obvious at a glance??? Yes, of course they can! But they think if they act shocked and are obsequious enough, you will be gaslighted into thinking this is an anomaly. This whole hotel is neglected and they have an absolute nerve charging extortionate prices. WHO gave this place 4 stars??? These stars have no meaning, it seems. ||Only breakfast on the first morning was OK, apart from the raw poached eggs. After that it was downhill from the already low bar it started from. We had one evening meal there. The chef does not understand seasoning. Either there was zero seasoning or intensely salted like the red cabbage I had. As I'd done so much complaining already, which had ruined this trip to celebrate my husband's birthday, I said the food was ok. To be fair, the meat was nicely cooked. However, when the bill arrived, we have been charged for 2 coffees and two petit four which we hadn't had. I asked how this had happened in quite a small restaurant that wasn't full and received no explanation. We could not wait to get out of this place! Having done some driving around the area and coming across some other 4 star hotels which looked very clean and lovely, we checked their pricing for similar standard rooms and were even angrier that they were less than half what we'd paid at this shambles of a place. Upon leaving, I went to use the bathroom in the main house where I was not surprised to find the toilet didn't flush, the soap dispenser didn't work and the water wouldn't go down the sink. Don't waste your money nor precious time on this...

"Why was it excellent" is the question I was proffered upon giving 5*. I could only stay for just one day. I searched for the best hotel to make it "my day".

In that short time I was given service above and beyond expectations.

You enter this old building sturdy as time itself and are greeted with that warmth and scent of a log fire. Then greeted by the warmth and affection of the lovely lady greeting you.

It's hard to miss the very well stocked bar on the left as you soak in this warmth. If G&T is your thing you have a multitude of digressions!

The food was...let me explain.

The restaurant opens 6:30pm. Alas I had to leave for an event 6pm. Chef agreed to provide me "steak and chips" in my toom 5pm.

Oh my gosh! An English staple turned into a sublime smile inducing experience the likes I've never had.

The chips were a work of art. Sturdy fingers of victory, each and every one of them. How can such a simple thing as a "chip" put a warm comforting smile upon an Englishman so used to chips. Oh they did.

The perfectly cooked steak warmly blanketing perfectly cooked local mushrooms (not "buttons"...they were flavoursome and with a good honest al-dente bite) alongside a lovely al-dente type of local broccoli I've not have eaten before...I don't have the eloquence of a "foody" and thought to myself "this is [expletive deleted] wonderful!". It was the best "steak and chips" I ever had. And I'm 56. I've eaten a few. 10/10.

The surrounds are peace inspiring. The hills, the trees, the birds, the bees. It's all there.

Breakfast! Everything from a Full English made from local produce to poached eggs + fish (local too). I had the poached eggs because I've tried and failed to make them perfectly at home. It seems you can make perfect poached eggs. Expletive deleted. Another smile on my face. As much toast as you want. And tea or coffee. The lady helping you through your breakfast needs has the brain the size of a planet - she can remember 12 tables requirements and deliver them in order. Very impressed.

The 5th star comes from a personal service. I had a transport issue on the Sunday. They went above and beyond to help me escape this place I didn't want to leave.

You you know you are...

Myself and my partner stayed here for a valentines weekend and were greeted warmly and given a free upgrade which was brilliant our room was lovely with a cosy stately home vibe to it. The room was very clean and really big with lovely views over the grounds.

The hotel grounds are beautiful and has some lovely outdoor space which would be great to sit in the summer months and enjoy the outside.

We used the outdoor spa facilities, the outdoor changing rooms were a little cramped and cold as were essentially a small changing shed that you would get at a beach. However, that was a minor difficultly as they provided us with a warm robe and slippers to wear. The sauna was lovely and had a nice window to look out onto the fields, the hot tub was large and a nice temperature it could just have done with a bit of a clean on the sides.

We stayed 2 nights and had taster menu the first evening which was absolutely lovely and offered flavours I had not had before. The second night we had A la carte and again was equally a high standard. Breakfast was also very tasty and a made to order hot breakfast and buffet sections with pastries and fruit.

The biggest disappointment I have to say was the bar service. The bar was not regularly manned and they would interchange between table service in the restaurant and bar service. This meant that drinks service was slow, for example on our first night we were given our first course before our wine was severed as we were waiting that long.

The drawing room with a lovely open fire is a very nice place to have a drink. However, again as staff were not regularly around the fire would not be attended to and would go out, as would the speaker either time out or play the same 5 songs on repeat.

This was a real shame as the drinks were lovely and when staff did serve you they were very friendly and helpful. The selection of drinks was also to a high standard but was just let down by the speed of service which you would expect for the prices and setting.

Overall, we did have a lovely stay and would certainly return for the summer months as it’s a beautiful setting and staff were very friendly. It just needed a few extra staff members to ensure the bar area...