Lovely country hotel but it needs refinement to be proper 5 ⭐️.
This was our second visit to Chewton Glen, so my comments are based on both past and recent experiences. We previously stayed in the summer peak season, and this time we visited in autumn (October).
Firstly, a note for anyone booking …while Hotels.com or Booking.com may state “pay at hotel,” Chewton Glen’s policy is to take at least a one-night deposit in advance, which was also the case when we booked directly for our two-night stay last year. Understandable, but worth being aware of.
So we returned because the hotel has such a homely feel, more like a welcoming country house than a grand hotel with soft carpets in the hallways and both times, we were using CG as a base (in essence a luxury New Forest B&B), as we had family and friends to see locally.
We arrived around 4:30 p.m. with luggage, and while it was a little surprising that no one was there to greet or assist at the doors across the cobbled courtyard, check-in was smooth. On arrival to our room, we found a lovely birthday card and half bottle of champagne on ice, such a thoughtful touch that was genuinely appreciated. The porter also kindly declined a tip, explaining that service is already included and covered by the hotel’s discretionary 5% service charge shared among staff.
Our Garden Room was just as we remembered from last year, although now a touch tired, stained bedding, carpets and curtains but we were persuaded Front of House Manager on departure, but I must commend Jane for great customer service on the front desk.
We did find the Garden Room rather cold, with only one small radiator hidden behind the curtains impossible to adjust temperature. Understandably, it’s autumn, and at home we already have heating on mornings and evenings, so it felt chilly. The water pressure in the shower was also weaker than we’d expect from a five-star property.
For dinner, we chose to eat off-site at Barton-on-Sea, mainly because the Chewton Glen menus lacked variety for vegetarians. While the Dining Room offers a vegetarian tasting menu, it felt uninspiring, and “The Kitchen” mostly offers pizza and one other vegetarian option. For anyone staying, I’d recommend checking menus in advance.
Breakfast the next morning was, unfortunately, where the biggest changes were noticeable. We were told breakfast ran until 10:30 a.m. at weekends and arrived at 9:45, only to find guests queuing with no host on the door (as we then quickly remembered from last year!). We seated ourselves in the Atrium and requested a table be laid.
Previously, breakfast was a highlight an excellent hot and cold buffet with the best scrambled eggs I’d told many friends and clients about over the past year. However, since the Dining Room refurbishment, it’s now cold buffet only, and it felt sparse, with no replenishment of items such as butter, margarine, or juice. The few glasses available were unclean, and staff seemed to ignore the area, usually in a 5 star you see presence of a kitchen chef / staff checking everything is just so.
We ordered à la carte, but the food arrived cold, and the toast was overcooked and brittle. Tables were slow to be cleared, and overall the breakfast experience simply didn’t reflect the high standards we’ve come to associate with CG. On our second morning, we skipped breakfast altogether and checked out instead!
It’s clear some cost-cutting measures have been introduced, but they may have gone a step too far and I hope management reconsiders this, as breakfast used to be exceptional.
Last year there were issues with egg shell on my poached eggs served via À la carte menu, & tables not being cleared & lack of offer of more tea & coffee, so some repetitive issues are not being addressed.
On checkout, we were kindly asked if we’d like the car brought over (a thoughtful touch, and a first for us). Jane, who checked us out, was wonderful she offered us fudge and water for the journey and warmly encouraged us to share our feedback.
Overall, Chewton Glen remains a beautiful property with caring, professional front-of-house staff and a special charm that keeps guests coming back. However, the breakfast experience and housekeeping standards need some renewed attention to maintain the five-star reputation this hotel so rightly deserves.
10. oktober 2025
Anmeldelse skrevet uten oppfordring