Such a stunning backdrop and lovely gardens. This place gives the impression of a grand old hotel that was loved by someone once....but not any more.
Black mold on the bathroom ceiling, a leaky shower. Hair dryer didn't work properly - cold air only. Cold white lightbulbs in the rooms give more of an atmosphere of a hospital than a hotel.
Room service was slow, the malva pudding almost completely cooled down after heating, and the ice cream and "bar one sauce" was very low quality ice cream and squeezy bottle chocolate syrup, not bar one sauce. Totally overpriced for the quality.
The staff were cold and most looked away when smiled at, or avoided eye contact entirely. There was one friendly receptionist at checkout (one out of the two standing there) - after such chilly service we were thrilled to see a friendly face, that's how out of place her smile was.
Lots of details make this place seem like it's just not loved or perhaps just not well managed, or else out of money entirely. Black marks on the wall above the guest lounge fireplace. Xbox there for the kids but apparently intermittently not working, judging from the disappointed kids sitting around, and the questions we heard asked at reception. To be honest, we'd have felt a lot more kindly towards the whole place just if the reception staff had been friendlier on arrival. The lack of welcome coloured our view of everything else after that....although it would still have been hard to look past the black mold.