I stayed at Bartley Lodge Hotel for four nights over my birthday weekend, and while the location and atmosphere were beautiful, several issues left us disappointed.
Starting with the positives: the architecture of the hotel is absolutely stunning, and the interior design is just as charming. The location is fantastic—perfect for exploring nearby national parks and lovely local pubs, especially if you have children or a dog with you. A particular highlight was the dinner at the hotel restaurant—it was genuinely one of the best meals I’ve ever had.
However, there were quite a few negatives during our stay. Upon check-in, I was informed it would cost £60 for my dog to stay, which felt very steep. We also forgot our toothbrushes and toothpaste and waited at reception for 26 minutes around 10 p.m. to ask for some, but no one ever showed up.
Breakfast was another letdown—it cost nearly £17 per person, and unfortunately, the quality didn’t match the price. The buffet condiments were frequently empty, and we had to keep asking staff to replenish basic items. Speaking of staff, it was often difficult to get through to reception via phone, and on one of the days, there was no water in the room to shower or wash. After calling multiple times with no response, I went down in person, only to find no one there either.
Our room was uncomfortably hot, even with the window open and the fan on. When we sat outside for drinks in the garden, all the tables were dusty and dirty, and it was cle
