Alexander House & Utopia Spa, Shelley Suite

We have stayed here before and chose to come back. We stayed overnight to primarily use the pool/spa. We really enjoyed this. Would give this 5 stars. I think I’d give the room 4 stars, just looks like some of the room needs updating and some things feel a bit ‘worn’ like the carpet, shower, toilet, extractor fan in the bathroom which was very noisy and echoed into the bedroom but it wouldn’t stop me staying again. The breakfast was amazing. However what I did find extremely disappointing was the dinner we had at the restaurant. Both the service and food were extremely underwhelming and the seats were too close together. All I could hear was other people’s conversations. In fact we have decided if we do come back again we will get a taxi to the pub we went to for lunch as it was much nicer. That is why I have given an overall 3 stars, otherwise it would have been an overall 4.

We booked for the Mother’s Day afternoon tea and there was confusion about the cost and when payment would be due. This was resolved. On the day there was confusion over the dietary requirements of a no seafood or egg sandwiches request. They seemed to think no seafood meant fish was acceptable and that no egg included no egg in everything else too (despite ‘sandwiches’ being in the requirement description). The person with those requests had rubbish sandwiches. Generally, the sandwiches were mean and were accompanied by the world smallest sausage roll. The cakes and scones were okay. In my opinion it was not worth the amount paid and a disappointment. Go elsewhere for an afternoon tea!