Hillbark Hotel & Spa

We were married at Hillbark in late November 2023 and it was the perfect venue for our wedding. This review is a little late because we've only just returned from honeymoon! The hotel was absolutely stunning and the elegant Christmas decorations were perfect and it felt really special to be married in such a beautiful and historic building set in beautiful grounds. Charlotte and Lauren were amazing in providing lots of good advice and support in the planning and run up to our big day to ensure it ran smoothly. They simply went above and beyond what was expected and exceeded our high expectations and we'll always treasure the special memories we have of the day. The food and service was excellent and we were married in the Great Hall which is simply spectacular, especially by candlelight! We were also able to use other rooms and the Contessa Bar, which are equally beautiful, for other parts of the day. Our guests were wowed by the Hotel and we had the most wonderful day and would highly recommend Hillbark to anyone looking for a special place to be married or for any other important occasion.

Our wedding could not have been better. From the first meeting with Amanda the Events Director. the many meetings emails phone cslls to plan the details with Charlotte the wedding coordinator to the wine tasting afternoon selecting our wedding tea wines with Craig the owner from their vast cellars. Walking the extensive grounds with the team selecting sites for our wedding photographer nothing too muvh trouble. Our bespoke wedding cake made inhouse by Emily the Pastry chef and the wonderful tapas created especially for us by acclaimed head chef Stewart. The service on the day by the whole team was perfect with timing of each stage meticulous yet fun, full of joy and laughter. 5 * in every wsy.

Hillbark is stunning, and it was the trip of a lifetime. My mom spent a lot of time there as a child, so my daughter and I treated her to a visit For her, our visit to Hillbark was like stepping back in time. It is clear that Craig Baker loves the place as much as my mom's grandfather did. Craig has meticulously restored every last detail of this historic building -- down to the ancient carvings and beautiful paneling -- and he knows its history by heart. Craig, his family, and his staff also made everyone in our party feel like we were royalty. It was amazing to see this elegant home restored to its prior glory and to enjoy modern amenities within a centuries-old estate. The food was fantastic (traditional continental food with a light touch), the spa was lovely, and my bath was the size of a swimming pool. I will never forget Hillbark's elegance, warmth, and charm.

We had the most perfect afternoon at Hillbark yesterday. What a stunning venue with warm welcoming staff. Special thanks to Mark for taking care of us and serving us drinks both in the lounge and glorious garden. We sipped champagne and enjoyed the delicious seafood small plates. What a treat and memorable time out from our busy lives. See you again soon Steve and Julie

A real find on the Wirral. An amazing personal experience from a 5 star hotel. The staff had the operations exactly right, from friendly and interested to perfectly professional. Every detail was catered for, from a pot of tea in our room to arranging our transportation to a nearby venue. The whole experience made us feel like we were visiting family. The food was excellent especially the Sunday roast sharing platter. The price reflects the stars but is still excellent value for money. We will definitely be back

All staff were, without exception, excellent. If I name anyone, I’ll leave someone out by mistake, but everyone was much appreciated, including the pianist. As we arrived in the carpark, we were greeted and shown into the hotel and then up to our room which luckily was on a corner so we had views in two directions and plenty of ventilation. It had what appeared to be a new bathroom, and what was certainly a very comfortable large bed. There was plenty of seating, lighting and storage space, and very posh toiletries. We were immediately offered tea and coffee which came with freshly made biscuits. We had our evening meal in the restaurant with more family members. The food and service were excellent. My fish was cooked just as I like it and the others were very pleased with their choices. The menu range was small, which I always think is a good thing in a relatively quiet restaurant. Breakfast the next day was another delight. The continental selection came in large fresh portions. The cooked breakfasts were small but very high quality. I’m sure those who chose it could have asked for seconds if they were still hungry. We were there for a funeral, and hotel staff volunteered to display the photos we’d brought with us and the flowers that arrived. They did a really good job of dressing the rooms. After the funeral itself, we came back for a buffet that was fresh, varied, and replenished so there was always a choice of food right till the end. Any specific dietary needs were all met. One of the vegans was very happy and said she’d discovered some new ideas for her to try at home. The remainder of the stay was all just as good. We were sad to come away. Looking back, I don’t recall seeing any information about where the food and coffee came from, but my overwhelming recollection is of an exceptionally comfortable and warmly hospitable hotel.

What a wonderful time we had at Hillbark Hotel! From the time we arrived until we said our goodbyes we were looked after by such a great , happy team. We were warmly welcomed by reception staff and the manageress, Amanda. After checking into our room, Dan took us on a guided tour of the impressive building which was followed by tea beside a roaring log fire. We had booked a 12 course evening taster menu and what superb culinary delights we sampled, cooked and beautifully presented by Kevin and his team of chefs. Charlotte, our lovely friendly waitress was amazing, waiting on all diners magnificently. My husband had the wine flight which he said paired so well with the food, all chosen by Craig. Throughout the meal, Graham the excellent resident pianist played such lovely music and chatted to all guests. Breakfast was served by two delightful waitresses. We had such a super spread, a wide selection and copious amounts of food served in the gorgeous dining room. I decided after breakfast to try the express facial by Victoria. What an absolute treat, such a relaxing treatment and definitely a must-I felt so refreshed! The 12 course tasting menu, overnight stay and facial was so enjoyable. If you haven't been to Hillbark it definitely should be on your bucket list! Apologies for being unable to remember everyones names but each and everyone of you make a wonderful, friendly, happy team ensuring our stay was a memorable one. Thank you to all at Hillbark.

My sister took me here for Sunday lunch, as a gift. She had tried to book in at its sister hotel in Port Sunlight but they had no availability until after Xmas so suggested Hillbark as it was the same menu etc. We were met at our car and escorted into the utterly beautiful hotel by a lovely lady who showed us into the stunning dining room - we were the only diners, which is not a good sign. All the staff we met were friendly and welcoming and even the pianist came over and introduced himself and had a chat. I want to make it clear that everyone was so lovely and the hotel is a real cut above but the food was atrocious. I think maybe it was either cooked the night before or even sent over from the port sunlight hotel and warmed up. The potatoes were so hard and dry that I couldn't even cut into them, the Yorkshire pudding was so hard that I was scared to try and cut into it, in case it flew off my plate, the beef was so thick and tough that it was impossible to cut with the blunt dinner knife and the gravy was disgusting - I swear I could taste Oxo in it. It actually made me feel sick. I have never, ever had such an unpleasant meal. We didn't complain because it would have been too embarrassing, given the personal service we received, being the only diners. We were just very British about it and said everything was fine! My sister just paid the bill - I dread to imagine how much it was - and because it was a gift I didn't want to say too much to her about how horrible it was but after we left she said that she hadn't enjoyed it either. Such a shame because it should have been a lovely experience.

This is the best (and I think only!) five start boutique hotel in the North West - and boy; does it deliver. We were lucky enough to get married here and we take any opportunity to return. The excitement builds as you proceed along the sweeping drive through Royden Park then through the gates into the Hillbark grounds and the sight as you round the corner to the building itself is always impressive and never fails to warm the heart. There are 18 individually named rooms, ranging from classic rooms, junior suites, suites and the bridal suite. All have their own character and each seems more charming inviting than the next, with even the classic rooms being impressive. Then there is the food. Oh, the food! Chef Kevin Lynn's 12 course tasting menu is simply divine and if you are staying over (or getting an Uber - other taxi services are available; in fact, the hotel has a small array of classic and luxury cars, if you are feeling fancy), then there's a delightful wine flight to accompany this gastronomic triumph. Set this in the clandestine setting of the cellar restaurant, surrounded by the hotel's fine wines and to the atmosphere invoking tones of Graham on the piano - and it simply "wow". And it doesn't stop there - their afternoon tea is the stuff of local legend. Generous and delicious and just when you think you've had your fill of elegant sandwiches and indulgent cakes - the scones come out. And if I said the rest was generous - this applies even more so to the scones - their big and they are good. Very good. Possibly even too good (at least according to my belt buckle!). But wait - there's more! On Sunday's they do sharing roasts. This is a true feast - more food that you can shake a stick at - and you've guessed it - all of it magnificent. Top that off with a recently refurbished spa (which does an excellent massage - which can be coupled with an afternoon tea) and it's easy to see why this is the best hotel in the North West. But above all this is Amanda and the all front of house staff who work tirelessly to ensure you stay is exceptional and really help give you that lord or lady of the manor feel. We dropped by for a visit recently and it inspired me to write this. As I said, we take any excuse to visit this place - in fact, I think I'll book my next stay now.....