Billesley Manor Hotel, Exclusive Hire

A friend and I stayed in the Deluxe room for two nights and had a great time. The only small “issue” was that the hotel is so big and we couldn’t follow the instructions to find our room so we had to ask a member of staff to show us - signs on doors could definitely be clearer as the door we were supposed to go through is clearly labelled as a fire door. Anyway, the room was spacious and furnished to a high standard, I loved the Molton Brown hand wash, shampoo, conditioner and hand balm, lovely touch. Our booking included two glasses of Prosecco upon arrival (below average, very sweet and barely any bubbles), £70 to be split between both of us for the first dinner and two breakfasts so all in all it made it very good value for money. The dinner was impeccable, service was a little bit slow by not a big deal - the majority of staff are very young and probably still learning but they’re nice and friendly. Breakfast was good, it had plenty of options for me, the only thing I didn’t enjoy much was the filter coffee - there are plenty of coffee machines in the hotel that can be used for better options. The pool was great although it could get crowded at times and some families were clearly ignoring the “no jumping” signs. A bit on the short side but not too short. Gardens were lovely and there was always something to do - I’m not the kinda person to just chill in the hotel, I’m all about walks and just sleeping in the hotel but Billesley completely changed my outlook! 100% recommend, just make sure you book the spa in advance - we managed to squeeze in a massage, 25min for £60 seemed a bit pricey but it was a nice treat.

Chose Billesley as we were in the area for an event and wanted to stay somewhere special. We weren't disappointed, it's a beautiful property in lovely quiet surrounds (unless you count the sheep in the background!). We were lucky to stay on a very hot day and could enjoy the grounds in the sun and enjoy sitting out on the terrace in the evening after dinner. Our room was the basic category so not huge but well equipped and with a comfy bed. Good sized bathroom with modern fittings. We had a lovely dinner in the main restaurant, lovely food and nice wines. Breakfast was a buffet with typical choices. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend and would happily go back.

If you want quiet this is the place. Cleanliness of the rooms is a let down. 4 star hotel, not in my mind. Parking is irritating unless you happen to drive a Bentley or Rolls Royce type car. Food was average and breakfast style was only as good as a Premier Inn.