Macdonald Alveston Manor

Great hotel. I don't usually leave reviews but some of the previous mixed ones here had made me a bit tentative with booking the Macdonald Alveston. Glad to be proved wrong service 10/10 when I stayed here. Sure, it is a little dated in places but it is an old building after all. My standard bedroom was clean, spacious, had tea and coffee facilities and desk for working. The water fountains (that dispense both still/sparkling water) are an excellent idea I wish more hotels did this! I used the spa and gym facilities a few times they open around 6:30am 10pm and was lucky to have all the pool/sauna to myself in the evening. Gym is good too weights, cross trainers, treadmills, bikes etc. Ideally located, right next to the RSC. Will definitely stay again when next in Stratford. Noteworthy details: The still/sparkling water fountains on every corridor so good!

I'd like to preface my review by acknowledging that my experience might not be representative of what most guests encounter, as I suspect the hotel might have been having an off day. However, overall, I found this stay to be less than the value it should have been for the cost. I'll break down my experience into different sections: Arrival The hotel's location is excellent, just a short walk from the town center. Check-in was relatively swift, with a second staff member stepping in to assist their colleague who was already engaged with another guest. We received information about our booking, directions to our room, details about breakfast, and an overview of the spa and pool facilities. Room Upon entering the room, it left a positive initial impression. The room featured charming period details alongside modern amenities like air conditioning, a fridge, and a generous selection of tea and coffee facilities, including Nespresso. There were a few cobwebs around the light fixtures on the vaulted ceiling. The bathroom, bed, and sheets were clean and well presented. However, I did notice a few old red stains (presumably either blood or wine) on the carpet, which was a bit concerning. Pool Facilities We visited the pool facilities after returning from an evening meal in town. The changing rooms were clean and well-maintained. We essentially had the pool to ourselves around 9 pm. The pool, while 18 meters long, had a constant depth of 1.2 meters, making it suitable for lane swimmers. The sauna and steam room were good. Unfortunately, I didn't get to experience the gym or spa facilities, so I can't provide feedback on those. Sleep The bed, while of a good size, had a mattress that was overly soft, possibly aiming for luxury but causing backaches and neck cramps. Additionally, the room's air conditioning resetting to 24 degrees throughout the night disrupted our sleep. We couldn't open the windows due to the proximity to the main road, which would have subjected us to noise from passing cars and pedestrians. Breakfast Our breakfast experience was marred by a lengthy wait. We arrived around 10 am and joined a queue of 10-15 people who had already been waiting for a considerable time. Waiting for an hour in the queue before being seated, we noticed that the entire restaurant was covered in dirty plates, and hardly any guests were seated. The staff struggled to clean the tables, and only after a guest complained did a manager from a sister hotel across the road intervene to address the chaos. While breakfast was acceptable, it hardly justified the wait, as some items were already unavailable despite the service continuing for another hour or so. A nearby guest had to request a pot of tea from three different staff members multiple times before ultimately giving up and lodging a complaint with the management. Other Notes An evening visit to the hotel bar revealed a bustling scene with only one person serving. After ordering drinks, we were told they would be brought over. However, several patrons walked in and stood at the bar, waiting for service for a good ten minutes before the server was available to make our drinks. When the drinks were brought over, the table was cleared, but the server spilled milk from a previous guest's coffee on the table and never returned to clean it. If any staff from the hotel would like to discuss this stay with me, please reach out. I'm uncertain whether I would choose to stay again, given the cost, as I've had more satisfying experiences in 3-star hotels, despite this one being a 4-star establishment. Nevertheless, the beautiful grounds and the period building are distinctive and noteworthy selling points.

Great location, easy access, plenty of car parking, good wifi. Room was excellent, with a nice coffee machine in the room. I was in the Coach House, where rooms are 'oldy Worldy ' and really nice. Food was great (cheese soufflé to start, rolled chicken breast as main and coffee crème brule for desert) Rooms: 5 Service: 5 Location: 5

Looks good on the website. Could do with a good refurbishment and staff that care for the customer. Need to check parking policy as you don't expect to pay extra to park when paying £150 a night for a room!! Rooms: 3 Service: 1 Location: 4

Edit of review, ues had a few issues first night. Since then carpark lights have been fixed, i am also aware actions have been put into place to correct and prevent reoccurrence of any other issue we faced for us and other customers. Staff have been great. I'm aware there is a new manager in place and is making changes and acting on feedback. Room has been great and room service is great. If were in the area again will stay again. Pool is nice with clean facilities and nice sauna. Food drinks: Very expensive for the quslity provided. I'm happy to pay that much when its value for money but local pubs reheat food better. Edit: Actions have been put in place to improve this, haven't eaten a second night in the hotel due to other plans but will next time we visit as new manager gave me great confidence chsnges are being made.