FOREST OF ARDEN MARRIOTT HOTEL

20 of us went for a golf weekend, wish we had looked elsewhere. With regards to the Hotel, it is clean and tidy but outdated and tired. The service is very slow. On the Saturday afternoon, the main bar lost its beer pumps and was only serving bottles (at expensive prices). The food in the buffet restaurant was very good The 2 golf courses have so much traffic on them, the upkeep is poor. No bunker had been raked and you were lucky not to be in footprints. No divot was repaired on the fairways and if you fixed 1 pitch mark on the green, you fixed 10. The first day golfing was the hottest day of the weekend. We were told that the half way hut (Aylesford Course) wasn’t manned but there was a vending machine. On arrival, the vending machine was broken and clearly had been for a while. Not impressed and we actually had 2 men down that day because of heat stroke Second day golfing was on the Arbon course. Halfway hut closes at 430pm. Got there at 405pm and the shutters were down with the staff still in the hut having a personal conversation. There was a hose pipe stating it was “drinking water” but trust me, it wasn’t. Third day golfing was back on the Aylesford course. Good news was that the halfway hut was open but at £3 for a bottle of Coke, I do not know why it isn’t open 24 hours a day !! The play was so slow, the Pro Shop had to be called to chivvy up the groups in front as they had lost 3 holes. I had very high hopes of the Forest of Arden before arriving hearing good things but clearly things have changes. The 20 of us wont be going back there and will give our business to another Hotel next year.

Great value for money, hotel is beautiful when you drive in across the 2 golf courses. The setting is lovely. Restaurant and bar food is nice, the staff across all the hotel are exceptional. It was my daughter’s birthday & they made her a birthday plate for breakfast. Pool and Spa area is clean. Nice gardens to sit in for after breakfast or evening meal. Husband played golf, which was really reasonable in price. Overall a great place to stay!

I booked a 'spa day' through Groupon for £69, which allegedly would normally cost £140. I have been to spa days at Hoar Cross Hall and Champneys for a fraction more cost wise and was delighted. I expected something similar. Do not be misled. This is not a 'spa day' . Firstly, everything is run down and a bit tacky. I can accept a bit of chipped melamine, we are working class dont you know, but this was dirty. The lockers had not been cleaned, I wiped mine out and it was shockingly grubby, walls were chipped and peeling, sealant was mouldy, the swimming area was more of a shallow pool for children, parents were lifting their kids over their heads to throw them in, no one stopped them, I could not swim, I got out after 15 minutes. I was told I could get lunch at the Zest bar and I could wear my dressing gown and slippers. Take my advice this is not a place to go in your dressing gown and slippers. It was full of 'blokes' drinking cider and lager, giving it large, f...ing and blinding. I am not a delicate English rose but it felt very uncomfortable and I was glad I had made the decision to get dressed. The only highlight to this 'not to be repeated' experience was the Drift Away Massage. Rather late in the day I found out there was also a relaxing area, not great but ok. This is not a spa, it is a hotel with some facilities, all a bit dated. Dear God ... they really need to do so much better.