Marriott Hanbury Manor Hotel & Country Club

Staying at Hanbury Manor is a variable experience. The main building is a delightful pastiche of the Jacobean style, and has been pleasantly renovated. The more modern extensions are also quite nice. Make the effort to look around the gardens, which are much larger, well stocked and interesting than we had expected. The Roman-themed pool is pleasant, and although we didn't try it, the gym looked well equipped and little used. Golf is a big thing here but not for us. Our bedroom in one of the new wings was pleasant and well-equipped if bland. The main problem in the hotel was service. The staff are generally willing, but few are genuinely fluent in English. Ordering afternoon tea was especially trying but the result was good if not the best we've had. The breakfast buffet offered a good range of decent food, but even with the mainly self-service approach the restaurant staff seemed unable to cope with a full hotel on August Bank Holiday. The first morning we never got toast, and the tea - poured ready-brewed from a flask carried from table to table - was one of the weakest and most insipid brews I have ever come across. It took three attempts for our order of tea and toast to be fulfilled on the second day. We didn't try the hotel's restaurants for lunch or dinner because the prices displayed were high even for those of us used to Central London. Overall, I do not think that Hanbury Manor is really worth the fairly steep rates, and the prices asked for anything purchased within the hotel are even worse. On the other hand, although I've not stayed anywhere else nearby, there seem to be few options at this end of the market.

From the moment you drive up, you can't fail but be impressed by the golf course and magnificent grounds. The hotel itself is much as you would expect - old, elegant and a bit creeky - which adds to its charm. The first room we were shown to had a view over the roof of the hotel so we asked to be moved, which the staff accommodated with no fuss. Our room overall was comfortable and cosy. The breakfast was a good buffet with excellent choice, in a very nice room (or outdoors on the terrace if preferred). Dinner in the Oakes Grill was pricey and just ok (at over £20 for a main course you expect something really good). The best food experience was afternoon tea and sandwiches in the main hall - just lovely. On the down side, some things about this place just don't work - literally. The door key failed on 3 separate occassions (we were only there for 2 nights). Also, the safe in our room didn't work. All things that niggle but are not terrible. All in all, this was a relaxing break in an above average hotel of its kind.

Arrived for a four night stay and was warmly welcomed, asked if I had any preferences and swiftly checked-in... Room HUGE in the new wing, with two double beds and spotless bathroom.... But it was very warm, and despite claiming to be 5* NO aircon!! Very few British staff, but all staff made eye-contact and said "hello." Breakfast good, but buffet style.. I still prefer to have breakfast cooked to order.... It's a bit of a trudge to the car park (in the rain!!) but the surroundings are lovely, valet parking was available if thats your thing.... I know that this is a 5* hotel, but prices I felt were very steep... £6.75 for a spirit from the mini bar... £3.00 for 500ml water. I only ate in the hotel once, it was ok but again VERY expensive... £47.00 for three courses..... I would suggest walking to the end of the drive where there is a great pub!!

This is a excellent hotel with a traditional english feel. The hotel is set on a fantastic golf course which gives you lovely views. Hotel has a really good spa and if you have good weather the ladies can realx outside the spa on sun loungers, when the men are playing golf. Food is 5* standard and so is the price. You have several resturants outside, english pub food, curry etc...... Highly recommend this hotel for a weekend away in the countryside.

I held my wedding at Hanbury Manor and stayed there the night before in one of their Manor House rooms. The room was superb, large, beautifully furnished and elegant. It overlooked the entrance to the hotel so on the morning of my wedding day I was able to see all the guests arriving while I was waiting in my room - it really made the start of the day special for me. The management of the wedding was excellent and all guests commented on how impressed they were with the venue and how they were looked after by staff. That night we stayed in a Junior Suite which was equally impressive. The hotel is expensive but worth it. We could not fault it in terms of room, service and as a wedding venue.

This place was truly Dreadful. The floors creak, the lifts stop with a pretty scary thump, there were kids runing around all the spaces all day screaming, the spa was also full of kids, in the pool and the Jacuzzi, the food was so-so and the breakfast room was cheap and tacky. You are better off paying for 3* and getting 3*, unlike this place which claims to be 4* and charges accordingly. When we got there they had nowhere to sit us down and the room was not ready at 2.30pm. We ended walking about for an hour waiting. They told me you get Molton Brown toiletries in the "superior" rooms, I paid up, they weren't there, and management's response was to shrug. The rooms were tiny as well and pretty old. Almost every nice spa hotel I have been to has set hours when kids cannot use the pool, this place lets them in all day. Either go to a 3* and save some money, or pony up the extra £100 or so and go to another hotel, this one was really AWFUL. There are far nicer hotels nearby, like the Grove which only comes in £100 a night mroe than this dump.

My husband & I stayed here following a wedding reception held in the Garden Court. It took a long 20 minutes to check in, we were behind a party of three, and although there were other members of staff pottering around behind the desk, no one else offered to check us in or apologise for the long wait. We were not offered a newspaper or given any assistance with our luggage, despite me being heavily pregnant. It was a bit of a trek to our room, located in the orchard wing. The room itself was of the standard I would expect from a Marriott, although nothing special. We benefitted from a wedding rate, which was still expensive. The usual rate would have been £180.00 p/n B&B. We noticed although faultlessly clean, the room smelt a little musty. We had the window open while getting ready, which helped - although being on the ground floor I was not happy to leave it open. There were 2 (queen size?) beds in the room, with lots of squishy pillows and we both enjoyed a suprisingly comfortable night's sleep. But we could hear one of neighbours using their bathroom in the morning, which was pleasant! A bottle of water from the mini bar was £3.30 The Garden Court was lovely, and food from the buffet was very good. Serving staff were courteous and helpful. Breakfast next morning was excellent, we were immediately shown to a table and our coffee & toast arrived promptly. The buffet was perfect, everything hot and nothing overdone or dry. In all, an enjoyable stay but we agreed it's overpriced.

Just returned from a 2 night stay at Hanbury Manor and the place is fantastic. We stayed in the Garden Court (at the back of a walled garden) and approx 3 minute walk from the main part of the hotel where the restaurants and leisure complex is located. The room was large and by far the best Marriott Room I have ever stayed in (and I have stayed in many in the UK, 100+ nights in last 2 years). The bed was 7' wide and wonderfully comfortable. I had read a couple of reports of here about the proce of food & drinks and yes it is VERY expensive but the quality is VERY high and service from staff (throughout the hotel) is very attentive. We stayed for one evening meal and breakfast, the second evening we ate at a pub (Sow & Pigs) about 100 yds past the entrance to the hotel whioch had a good menu and very tasty (and well priced food) - you should book though. All in all a very good stay - and if it rains ask for a lift in the concierge's golf cart back to your room!!

My wife and I stayed at the hotel 21st to 23rd April. Overall we really enjoyed it but took many tips from this website. We had a late deal and so we were housed in the Garden Court block which is a three minute walk through grounds to get to the main hotel. Let me say that the room quality there is just exactly what you would expect from a Marriott with a great bed and sitting area. A nice but small bathroom and lots of storage space. There are 2 problems with it; Firstly there is no air-con in the block. In a 5 star hotel? Come on Marriott! On Sunday it was 23 degrees and if it got any hotter then these rooms would have been unbearable. Also, as we left it started to rain. If it hadn't been sunny whilst we were there then we would have got soaked every time we went anywhere! There is no cover and this block is NOT CONNECTED to the main property in any way. At other 5 star properties we have stayed, we found an umbrella in the closet; not so here. Our second problem was that on the Saturday afternoon, we had to have the windows open as it was warm. There are adjacent private properties surrounding the Garden Court wing. One of these (actually in the grounds so it led me to suspect that staff were staying there) blasted loud music from their open windows all afternoon. We called reception and they said that they would try to sort it. Soon the volume was turned down but not off. Reception called back to say that it was a private dwelling and they had no control over it......strange that it got turned down in the interim. Many have complained about prices. All complaints are valid. Two bottles of lager, a white wine and a vodka and orange came to over £24. Yes, REALLY! We ate in Ware both nights as there are some nice restaurants there and we didn't want to eat at the hotel (we always find this a mediocre experience at best). When we returned, I ordered two standard glasses of white wine at a cost of £15. The first glass was acidic and had been standing in the fridge for a couple of days! On a positive note, the leisure facilities are first rate and rank among the best we have seen here or in the US. The pool is lovely. Breakfast was a joy on Sunday morning. We sat on the terrace in glorious sunshine overlooking the golf course! Unbeatable. The real plus for this hotel is the staff. They were always polishing brass rails, or keeping busy and there are lots of staff. As I walked the grounds a chef passed me and said good morning....everyone is very friendly and welcoming and not at all surly. We paid £115 a room incl breakfast. A real bargain. That said, this hotel really caters for conventioneers and money people. If you are uncomfortable in those surroundings, then I would not recommend it. Overall, we had a good time with friends but you will need to be sharp to avoid being bankrupted by the end of it.

took my wife for a weekend away. Beautiful property and stunning golf course. However, the quality of the food and drink was awful. Extremley overpriced. Went for lunch in the Oakes Grill. The food was mediocre, and the service was non existent. The breakfast is very good. The room was nice and spacious, and the saving grace is the spa treatments available which are excellent. Reccommended for a romantic weekend away, but I just hope they raise their game in regards to quality of food and service. When will people realise, we do not mind paying the prices but they have to reflect the quality ! Mr Pushi Kourats