Albright Hussey Manor

The Albright Hussey has all the bones of a magnificent historic property, boasting beautiful original architecture and lovely grounds, but the moment you step inside, it feels completely frozen in time. Having clearly not seen a penny of investment since its last refurbishment back in 1988, the tired 80s decor fails to do the historic building any justice. Our room was a major disappointment. The mattress had a valley in the middle so deep that staying on our respective sides required a small engineering miracle. To top it off, there was no hot water for a shower in the morning. When we brought this up, the staff simply shrugged it off as if cold morning showers were standard protocol. The dining was equally perplexing. Having read "fine dining" on their website, the reality was a massive letdown. Options were scarce, with only about five main courses on the menu. The food that did arrive was bizarre: a risotto swimming in oil, and a "gammon and chips" that somehow materialised as gammon, boiled potatoes alongside a dry, deep-fried egg. Breakfast turned into a full Fawlty Towers performance, the poor young waitress didn't have the slightest clue about alternative diets like plant-based options, and the food quality was poor all round. Atmosphere in the main building was non-existent. The bar lounge looked less like a hotel living space and more like a dumping ground for stray wedding equipment, complete with seating that felt like a doctor's waiting room. The only bright spot was the staff. All of the girls were genuinely lovely, polite, and working their socks off under the obvious strain of a short-staffed operation. It very much feels as though dad did all the hard work back in the 80s, and the property has simply been left to run on fumes over the last decade. It's a real shame because the original building and gardens are stunning, and it is easy to see why couples are drawn to it for weddings. In its current neglected state, however, I certainly wouldn't recommend a stay.

Very unhelpful and not accommodating.

A splendid old pile, with comfortable and clean rooms, and a cracking cooked breakfast on weekend mornings. We stayed over while visiting a nearby event, so the late check in with ease was a big boon, and the peaceful surroundings meant we got a great nights sleep.