Audleys Wood Hotel

It is hard to write an accurate review of this hotel at the moment. It has recently been acquired by the HandPicked Hotel group from another owner who clearly had not spent much on the place for some time. As a result, many of the bedrooms look as if they have seen better days and the hotel itself is still struggling to find its identity. It is certainly a lovely building, with two newer wings coming off an old hunting lodge, set in very beautiful and quite extensive grounds. It is quiet and seems a million miles away from the M3 and Basingstoke, just down the road. Whilst I was staying, a number of the bedrooms were being refitted to HandPicked's normally high standards, with the aim of having them all completed within the next 6 months or so. I staying in an unmodernised room, which was satisfactory but not special - however, during my stay the old fashioned TV was exchanged for a massive flat screen! The restaurant is an impressive venue, set in a vaulted hall. However, the menu was not particualrly adventurous and was rather over-priced. Paricular critisism however must be reserved for the wine list. The prices were extortionate. Not just expensive, but ridiculous - a glass of red or white costing over £8 and the cheapest bottle of average wine costing over £25. This is silly - even the (very good) waiting staff were embarassed by it and had to check that guests knew the cost of the wine when they ordered it - one of them told me that she had had a number of complaints from guests who were shocked when they received the account. There can be no excuse for this and it needs to be reviewed by the management as soon as possible. Audley Wood will almost certainly become a worthy member of the HandPicked group in due course after the modernisation is complete, and needs to work on the restaurant and the wine prices.

This lovely hotel, situated just outside Basingstoke, Hampshire, England is a wonderful experience in a large country home. Although the staff were busy with a wedding when we stayed, nothing was too much trouble, we were treated excellently. We had a beautiful room, dinner and breakfast were very nice. The staff were exceptional. We were greated pleasantly and helpfully both in reception and for our meals.