The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa

Just back from 4 nights at the Devonshire Arms Hotel. I would rate most of our experience to have been ok-good rather than good-great. Reception staff were warm and efficient and our first room was very nice, but our 2nd room was tired and poorly maintained. The guy working the bar was overworked but did well in looking after us when we chose to eat in the Garden Room one evening. That we booked dinner and the room was closed with no staff about shows disorganised procedures. We ate there as we’d eaten in the Brasserie twice. The food there was ok, but whilst some table staff worked hard and engaged customers well, others couldn’t have been less interested in guests. It was similar for breakfast, with one or two of the staff trying hard and being pleasant, but others didn’t seem motivated. The food was often ok, but really seemed to lack seasoning; too often it was bland. We had great massages in the Spa, and that was great overall. The big let down for me was the lounge and bars, with flies and scruffy seating; I would suggest rethinking “dog friendly” if you want luxury and high quality. This has all the makings of a beautiful and great hotel, but needs to raise standards in a number of areas, including training.

From the moment we walked through the door we were made to feel like an imposition rather than guests at this hotel. Everything was just a bit hard and instead of having a luxury break we came away underwhelmed by the whole experience. The deluxe room that we booked was small and dated, the old built in furniture had been painted to give it a bit of life but the paint was all scratched and just looked uncared for. The room has since been rebranded as comfort which is a more fitting description. We had two meals, the tasting menu on the Saturday night in the garden room and a Sunday night meal in the brasserie. The tasting menu was lovely the pairing wine was a nice addition and overall we had a lovely evening. The conservatory is a nice setting and I would have been disappointed if we had been given a table in the middle area as it’s dark and lacks atmosphere. The experience in the brasserie was poor on the Sunday night. The kitchen closed at 7.30 so we were left having rushed our meal. Overall, it’s just too pretentious and therefore makes the experience just a bit too hard. There are lots of hotels that balance this well and guest leave feeling like they have had an individual experience. This just wasn’t the case at the Devonshire! On a positive note, yes the spa is small but the staff in this area were lovely.

As a regular visitor to the Yorkshire Dales staying at this hotel for many years we went on a guided tour of the Dales. Our tour guide, Jane Clarke was excellent, she organised an off road vehicle to enable my daughter with mobility problems to enjoy areas where she would be unable to walk. We had a wonderful experience finding out about lots of local history around the Bolton Abbey Estate. We enjoyed the experience so much that we hope to repeat it again on a future trip.

We booked a stay at The Devonshire Arms Hotel for the weekend of our wedding, and from the moment we arrived the staff were welcoming and went above and beyond to make our stay special. The hotel is set in a beautiful location and breakfast is delicious. We really appreciate everything the staff did for us, thank you! We hope to return for special anniversaries in the future!

★☆☆☆☆ I feel incredibly saddened to be writing this review, especially given how much the Devonshire Arms once meant to me. Back in August 2022, I enjoyed a truly special solo trip with my beloved Norfolk Terrier, Gordon. We stayed for four days, soaking up the sunshine and the peaceful surroundings. It was a beautiful experience—just me and my little dog—and it became a cherished memory, especially as it turned out to be our last trip together before welcoming another dog into our lives. That stay left such a mark on me that I have thought about it often in the time since. Tragically, Gordon passed away around this time last year, under traumatic circumstances. The memory of our time at the Devonshire Arms has been a source of comfort ever since. It meant so much to me, in fact, that I recently booked a stay there for two close friends as a thank you for helping me through the grief—£500 for a night’s stay, dinner and breakfast—hoping they might create a similarly special memory with their dog. So, when I received an email offering 25% off a future stay, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to return, this time with my new dog, George, and some of Gordon’s ashes. I imagined taking George on the same walks Gordon loved, maybe even finding a peaceful spot to say goodbye. It felt like a meaningful way to honour the anniversary of his passing. Unfortunately, what followed has been nothing short of disheartening. I tried to book online using the voucher code—several times, with different rooms and variations—but the website didn’t respond. No error message, no explanation. Just nothing. I called the reservations line around 2pm on Friday—no answer. I tried again online multiple times. Then called again at 5pm Friday and left a voicemail. No one called me back. On Saturday, I followed up with an email explaining everything, trying to book a high-category room for three nights—a booking worth well over £1,200 (not that this should matter). Still, no response. By Sunday (today) —still no call, no reply to the email. I tried again to reach someone, but the reservations line remained silent. At this point, it was too late to plan the trip. A potentially healing return had become a frustrating and emotional ordeal. I understand things go wrong. I understand places get busy. But to have no response at all across three days—Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—feels simply unacceptable, especially from a hotel that once set such a high standard. What’s most painful is that this experience has tarnished what was once a very special memory. I had genuinely hoped to build something beautiful again at the Devonshire Arms, to close a small but meaningful chapter in my life. Instead, I’ve been left hurt, disappointed, and unable to return. This review isn’t written in anger—just with real sadness that a place I once loved has become impossible to even book a room at. I truly hope the team takes note, as what once made this hotel so memorable wasn’t just the setting, but the warmth and care it extended to its guests. That, sadly, seems to be missing now.