The Mitre Hampton Court

We stayed at The Mitre for two nights mid-week while visiting Hampton Court Palace. The free Hampton Court tickets and the proximity to the Palace were a big draw for us, and we were delighted with our stay. Being able to get back and put our feet up so quickly after a long day exploring the Palace was a huge plus. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, the breakfast was amazing (with lovely river view) and our room was well-appointed. The bed was comfortable, the fridge in our room was really useful, and we could not hear any noise from other guests while in our room. My only reason for scoring the hotel a 4 rather than a 5 is the car park, which is quite cramped and requires cars to be double-parked. The staff kept my car key in case they needed to move my car and I had to sign a waiver to say I accepted liability for any accidents, which left me a little uneasy. I should add though that nothing did happen.

We chose to stay at The Mitre Hotel on our wedding night, booking the King Henry VIII suite. I grew up in the area, and it felt like a meaningful and special place to mark such an important occasion. While the room itself was beautiful and well-presented, the experience was unfortunately overshadowed by what happened next. The morning after our stay, my husband woke up covered in bites all over his body. These were clearly not mosquito bites, the windows in the suite don’t open, and they strongly resembled bed bug bites. We immediately alerted reception, expecting concern and an apology, but were met with a surprisingly indifferent response. The receptionist seemed annoyed and dismissive when we raised the issue. Only after I pointed out how serious a matter this could be did she even acknowledge it might be a concern. She made no apology, offered no remedy, and simply said she would escalate it to management. Over a week passed with no follow-up. My husband then called again and was told someone would get back to us by the end of the day — but once again, we’ve heard nothing. This is despite the fact that a member of staff at Front of House visibly noticed and remarked on the bites when we were making the complaint. We are appalled by the lack of responsibility or basic hospitality shown by a hotel of this calibre. What should have been a memorable and joyful end to our wedding day has instead left us deeply disappointed and frankly disgusted. We expected far better — not only in terms of cleanliness, but especially in how such a serious concern was handled.

Firstly, the setting is beautiful. The food is good but massively overpriced for the size and quality. The biggest issue is the service. The senior member of staff that appeared to hold court on Saturday 6th September on the terrace appears to prioritise large parties spending more. If you are there with one friend for a simple lunch you are made to feel like second class citizens and unwelcome. A very overrated experience.

What a great experience! I had some time to kill in Hampton Court, so decided to have a nice lunch. What I had was brilliant. Firstly, the setting in the circular restaurant, overlooking the Thames is fabulous. The staff, under the excellent Manager were faultless, friendly and helpful. The food, divine. i had the best Gazpacho I have ever eaten out. All beautifully served. Lovely background music too!

Attended a team party last week, fabulous evening, great food and the team was super efficient and friendly! We even managed to go out on a boat trip! Can’t wait to return!