Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

A spa day was given to me as a birthday present by my son. Started ok with good food service at the spa. Massage was fine too. I added in a facial for the end of the day, and the young therapist had fingers like a scouring pad. Twice I asked her to ease up and be gentle - I’m in my 70s - but on she went making my skin sore and red. Left the room and made a polite but clear complaint. For a week my skin was on fire, but calmed down with aloe vera and propolis balm. The spa recognised the day had been ruined and offered another spa day. The catch was that it was a pass to go in the building and pay for everything all over again. That’s not compensation, that’s just a con. No response from the GM Mr Owen as yet. The spa manager has made a weasel response, and I feel unable to trust their therapists. The young woman who messed up my facial had an NVQ, but clearly no experience and a good dose of selective hearing. I was a PR for one of the top hotel groups in the world in my 20s and know for sure that our managers would never have treated an elderly woman in such a disingenuous way. I do not recommend this spa and it’s lack of careful training. One birthday present ruined. One hotel we’ve liked for 55 years on my “do not go to” list.

We had afternoon tea here for a family friend’s hen party. There were 7 of us total, family and friends. We each had different dietary needs, CG were outstanding with us all, faultless with making sure we were catered for and all had the correct food! Our waitress who we think was Isobel or Izzy, was amazing with us, she is a credit to the company! We regularly come to CG for tea or dinner, and we will keep coming back as it’s always a fantastic experience. Thank you CG and to all those who served us today.

We recently enjoyed a lovely three-night stay at the hotel. The grounds are beautiful, with stunning views from many areas of the property. The terrace is particularly picturesque when the weather is good, and the bar provides a lovely atmosphere along with a delicious food offering. The hotel offers an excellent range of activities, including golf and tennis facilities. The spa is well-equipped, featuring a hydrotherapy pool, large swimming pool, jacuzzi, and other wellness facilities. While the spa has plenty to offer, some areas are beginning to show signs of wear and tear and could benefit from some refurbishment. Unfortunately, we found the spa staff to be less engaging than expected, and they often appeared unenthusiastic. That said, the spa café is a pleasant place to relax for lunch or enjoy a cup of tea, although the buffet felt somewhat overpriced. The majority of the staff were welcoming and provided excellent service throughout our stay, particularly those at reception and in the bar. However, we felt the management team could have been more visible and engaging with guests. At a hotel of this standard, a warmer and more proactive presence would have enhanced the overall experience. Our room was lovely, spotlessly clean, and comfortable, although it felt a little dated compared to our usual preference. The limited number of plug sockets was also slightly inconvenient when charging multiple devices alongside everyday items such as hairdryers and straighteners. There is a good selection of dining options available. The bar menu offered a variety of dishes, all of which were excellent. The main restaurant is beautifully positioned with stunning views, and the food was delicious, though on the expensive side. Unfortunately, our experience at The Kitchen was disappointing, and it is not somewhere we would personally recommend. We raised our concerns both online and with hotel staff during our stay but did not receive any follow-up communication, again not what I would expect from a 5* hotel. Overall, we had a very enjoyable stay and appreciated many aspects of the hotel. However, given the pricing and 5-star positioning, we felt the overall experience did not quite offer the value we expected. There are other 5-star hotels available at a lower price point that, in our opinion, provide a comparable and even superior experience.

I am attaching a photograph of a £100 voucher that my husband and I received last Christmas from our family in France. We have been to the Chewton Glen hotel many times o er the last 20 years and I booked the whole of the restaurant for my husband’s 60th birthday a few years ago.. We also booked 10 of the rooms for our family to stay in afterwards We booked a table in the main restaurant and ate from the estate menu which was very nice We were served by a delightful young waitress who was very attentive. After the meal was over we offered up the voucher for payment. The meal cost £85 and we asked if we could we could use the balance to buy something in the hotel shop We were told we could not do that and we asked our lovely waitress to check for us that her understanding of the part payment was correct She came back and told us that was not how the voucher system worked and we could not use the balance in the shop The actual voucher states that the voucher can be used in full or part payment at. Chewton Glen So we left, a bit disappointed that as previous and regular clients we seemed not to have received full value from the voucher. I am not sure if this was Chewton Glen’s policy or we were just unlucky that day in who we spoke to. We left deciding that perhaps it was time to find another luxury hotel to dine at from time to time. We didn’t want to make a fuss or embarrass the waitress

Ever since I was a young adult, a few decades ago, browsing the Relais & Chateaux catalogue Chewton Glen was on my go to places list. I had to wait for my 60th birthday and a trip to the South West to actually stay. What a gorgeous place. Did not disappoint long mongered expectations. Not cheap by any account, but then why would it be… From the moment you pull up to the front, to reception, the lounges and dining room and the grounds, we were in awe. It is beautifully made, a little grand but not overwhelming. Lots of space everywhere, and not saying that because we were upgraded to the Midshipman Easy Suite, on the ground floor, with vast private outer space; beautifully appointed set of rooms. Classic set up with none of the modern oddities where you spend hours working out electric switches banks! This is pure classic. One feels so good in here, that it was tough to leave for the day for sightseeing. And a joy to return to it each day.