Charingworth Manor

The hotel is exactly as described on their website but better. Staff and food were excellent. Room was lovely

We have been visiting this hotel for 30 years, formerly as the Charingworth Manor, and as the Hyll Hotel on the past 2 visits. With new ownership comes change, and some of these are executed better than others in the case of the Hyll. Gone is the swimming pool, and in its place a superb events hub is being constructed. The new ownership clearly have a great vision and this is evidenced in the works carried out in the restaurant and bar area. The appointment of new chefs also has been a win with the quality of food much improved on our more recent visits. However, these improvements come at a cost….quite significantly in some places, such as desserts. All bedrooms have been refurbished and we chose to stay in Room Number 4 in the main house. This bedroom enjoys views over the front garden and prevailing countryside. It is a light and airy room with a bedroom and lounge split by a bathroom which has a bath and separate shower cubicle. As I say, all rooms have been refurbished, and this is reflected in the significant hike in room rates. However, as the owners say, they want the hotel not to be perfect, but with its imperfections. This they have nailed. Our room had a very tatty wardrobe, plug sockets that did not work and a bathroom that would have been more akin to a Blackpool B&B. The window shelf was lifting, the sealant around the shower glass unfinished, black, mouldy sealant around the tiles and a drain that failed to drain adequately causing water to leak onto the bathroom floor and subsequently the dining room ceiling. Such imperfections can be tolerated if they are put right, but these were too complex to be resolved during our stay. That said we were provided with an extension cable to enable my wife to use her hairdryer. Slightly disappointing for a room that has a £500+ per night rate. Downstairs, the lounges are comfortable and a lovely place to enjoy a pre dinner drink. With games and books there’s plenty to keep you occupied after dinner too. Another imperfection, in mine and other reviewers opinions, is the reception. Given this is a hotel competing with the best in the Cotswolds, the reception is rather lacking in creating a warm welcome. The poor receptionist is perched on a windowsill with her laptop and tablet. Whilst the owners wish to create a home from home informal atmosphere the lack of a reception disappointing. My preference is to be greeted and welcomed in a face to face environment. Being sat behind the front door does not quite deliver this. I am sure that during this period of transition things are being worked through and its feet will be found. I also think the management need to consider how best to deal with things when they go wrong and put the customer first and come up with meaningful solutions. Other hotels in the Cotswolds really do this better, and considering the top team come from some of these hotels, service in the resolution of issues needs to improved

The entire experience was absolutely amazing, the room, the service the location were all absolutely brilliant. However, don’t bother going if you are a vegan or vegetarian. My parter and I visited and told the hotel months in advance there was a vegan in the party, this was never passed into the kitchen. Upon arrival we were told that there was intact no options in the menu for a vegan, and the only option was at the hands of the chef which were shocking and frankly inedible on one occasion. Breakfast isn’t much better either with there only being one heavily substituted breakfast option available. The staff were mostly wonderful but the lack of food offerings for my partner ruined the entire experience and we were made to feel an inconvenience on occasion. Barong in mind the cost of the stay you would fully expect to be catered for, especially with such advanced notice. A real shame, the place is fantastic however. If you eat a conventional diet you will have a great time!