New Park Manor Hotel

Over promised and under delivered. I booked the New Year's 2 night package for my wife and two children based on our previous experience of Von Essen hotels and the hotel's website. Initial impressions were disappointing since, instead of approaching the hotel at the imposing front, the poorly made up drive leads you to the back and a modern extension attached to the hotel. The entrance opens into a modern bar and then up some threadbare carpeted steps to the small reception desk. Reception staff were helpful and attentive. Rooms OK,... more

It's a lovely hotel in a great setting and nice to have an upmarket place to stay in the New Forest. A superb base for beautiful walks. When we arrived, the reception staff were really helpful and friendly and showed us to our room. I was expecting something really special when I booked a Forest room at £255 a night. I was very disappointed especially as the first thing I saw was a broken door handle before we even entered our room. The room was clean and beautifully decorated but it was relatively small. I had imagined something... more

I took my daughter for a Spa Retreat package at the New Park Manor Hotel, (not Balmer lawn that keeps coming up when I try to post this) as a birthday treat. We found all of the staff very friendly and attentive, one or two of the waiters who were Polish didn't have very good English, but were still cordial. We ordered tea and cakes on arrival which was devine, the cake and biscuits were to die for! The newly built spa was immaculate and had everything we had hoped for, including wonderful showers with some delicious prodeucts for hair... more

I booked a Bath House Spa Retreat break here for me and my partner as our xmas present to one another. Boy were we horrified when we pulled up to a building site. The spa has not yet been finished - most of it is but there were a number of facilities as yet unavailable that we were not informed of, and a lovely view of the new forest was obscured by metal fences and 'danger, construction' type signs. We did express our disappointment to the lady at reception who kindly arranged a room upgrade for us and suggested we spoke with the spa... more

Having stayed at another Von Essen hotel, Bishopstrow, which we loved, we were keen to try another of their group for our first wedding anniversary. Having looked at the hotel's website we tried to book the midweek special deal they advertised - the person taking the reservation knew nothing of this deal and in fact we paid more than the advertised price. We upgraded to a four poster room. On arrival the approach and entrance wasn't particularly impressive - building works to the front of the hotel etc. There was a promotional... more

The worst thing about this hotel is the approach - a tired sign and long uninspiring driveway with slightly tatty looking stables en route. Look past this and keep an open mind. Once inside, the staff were friendly and helpfull, the rooms charming. We stayed in the old part, with lovely views of the forest with ponies and deer, and a real old country house feel. Dinner was one of the best I've had, although the wine was a little overpriced, and the service was good and knowledgable. Breakfast however was good but not great.... more