Mr & MRS Smith Eckington Manor

Tracey & Pat made our stay. Lovely staff. Clean hotel, good sized rooms if cluttered with badly placed faux vintage furniture. Food good - not brilliant (Try The Fleece - better there). Downsides.... the beautiful tudor building is rented out so there is no lounge to sit in. Only if there are big functions do they open up anywhere else. We had a dog and had to stay in a bar that travel lodge would be happy with. It really isn't a hotel, it is a motel. Rooms with dogs face into bamboo hedge to hide the car park and other dog owners have to walk right past your window to reach their room. Website pretty misleading. When we asked about the areas to relax in we were just told it was rented out, no apology, and the family living there don't look as though they were only there for the weekend! There are better places to stay. Sorry I rarely give bad reviews but this place needs some fact checking before you book. Chef has changed and I think the pictures are pre the new chef. Food is good - but not vegetable orientated. Menu didn't change in the three days we were there, and it is small. I couldn't face the soggy tiny bowl of greens (to share between two) again on night two.

We have visited a number of times, most times attending one of the fantastic cookery courses and then staying overnight. We have never been disappointed the courses, restaurant food and rooms are great and the hotel is in a lovely location. Looking forward to the next time already.

The food was delicious and the service was excellent. We were given gift vouchers as a present and being someone who has food intolerance, one always wonders how well a place can cater for me. However, the waiting staff went out of their way to explain what I could eat off the menu and what the chefs would do, to go above and beyond to cater for me in addition to the menu. It was a special yet relaxed night with family. The staff added to our lovely experience and compliments to the chefs.

From check in to check out everybody in a customer facing role was courteous, professional and most importantly friendly. A special mention to the three front of house staff who were working the Dinner service on August 1st, knowledgeable and enthusiastic for sure, but they managed to take it up a level and create a wonderful atmosphere Exceptional food from the chef and his brigade, I love a menu that is basically a page as opposed to a book, knowing that each dish is going to receive full attention. A Three course or a Taster menu are offered, on this occasion we didn’t order wine but the wines on offer are a perfect selection to complement the dishes The room was perfect, very comfortable and welcoming after a long drive, toiletries are from a local provider and are perfect whether you jump in the shower or soak in the Slipper Bath Breakfast was another winner, and again the front of house staff were wonderful. I’ve tried to think of any downsides to our stay and that’s proving difficult, initially I noticed the lack of a small room fridge but in all honesty on this occasion I doubt we would’ve used it anyway, I guess one would be handy for those who prefer milk with their tea/coffee instead of the provided UHT portions which look wrong in most hotel rooms to be fair Checkout again was really smooth after breakfast and a last walk around the gardens. A return visit is most certainly on the cards, primarily based on the staff involved in our first visit Highly recommended Gary Mac & Sharon room 12

3rd time we’ve been on a one night stay. As a couple with a small dog we struggle to find good accommodation like this in a nice area. Lovely room in the dairy. Ideal with doggy as can access the outside easy as it’s on the ground floor and has access to car park straight out of the door, and walks for doggy through the village down to the river. The room is very clean and served all our needs. Beautiful white crisp bedding, comfy bed and a refreshments area with kettle. The rain shower was lovely with complementary shampoos and soaps, which you can purchase. Quality white fluffy towels provided. We opted for BB and evening meal in a deal that gave us a 2 course dinner. We have stayed before and were again not disappointed. The food is really good, home made bread and a small menu but adequate. Everything cooked to perfection. You can opt for a tasting menu but for us it was a one night stay after a 2 hr journey so 2 courses were adequate. The ambience in the restaurant is not fancy but quite intimate and pleasing. The restaurant looked full on our visit and people travel to come here. Breakfast offered a reasonable simple selection of hot and cold food. We had poached eggs on toast which was presented a little plain but beautifully cooked, the option of avocado would have been nice. I would have liked an option of preserves with the additional toast but they were not on the menu. They were kind to give us a sausage to take back for our doggy. We really like this place and will certainly come again when we need to be in the area. The staff are lovely and it’s a family friendly type of place. There is a cooking school attached which I am thinking of trying one of their day courses that are offered throughout the year. Overall a really nice place to stay and as we need to visit the area at least once a year we will definitely return.

The staff were very welcoming, the service was great, food was amazing and our room was very nice, warm, the bed was very comfy.we stayed with the midweek getaway, which coincidentally was our 25th wedding Anniversary we were shown to our room which was lovely then over to the bar where we were given a glass of prosecco on arrival, we had a couple of drinks in the bar before being show to the restaurant when we had a delicious Two course meal, very simple breakfast of poached eggs in the morning but again very tasty, they make their own bread too, first time visit, will definitely go again.