Chewton Glen Hotel

Chewton Glen Hotel in New Milton, United Kingdom, a distinguished Michelin Key Two-Keys property, consistently garners high praise for its luxurious offerings, stunning location, and extensive facilities. Guests often describe their experience as exceptional and outstanding, cementing its reputation as one of the best luxury country house hotels and spas in the UK.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The overall sentiment for Chewton Glen Hotel is overwhelmingly positive, with many guests rating their stays as "fantastic" and "exceptional." It is recognized as a 5-star Relais & Châteaux hotel, providing a pampered and luxurious experience that combines traditional elegance with modern sophistication. The hotel is considered a "family favorite" by many, offering a family-friendly environment.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud Chewton Glen for several key aspects:

• Location & Grounds: The hotel is ideally situated on the border of Hampshire and Dorset, nestled between the New Forest and the sea. Its 130 acres of picturesque grounds provide a serene escape, offering walking and jogging trails, gardens, orchards, meadows, and streams. The proximity to the New Forest and a short walk to the beach are major draws.
• Unique Treehouse Accommodation: The 14 luxurious treehouse suites are a standout feature, celebrated for their modern, clean design, floor-to-ceiling glass doors, and private wrap-around decks equipped with hot tubs overlooking the forest. They offer a sense of privacy and connection with nature, featuring woodburners and eco-credentials.
• World-Class Spa & Amenities: The spa is a significant highlight, renowned for having one of the UK's largest hydrotherapy spa pools, a 17-meter Roman-themed swimming pool, an outdoor whirlpool, aromatherapy saunas, and crystal steam rooms. The hotel also boasts indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a 9-hole golf course, and a cookery school. Family-friendly amenities include the Beehive Kids Club, treasure hunts, and nature rambles.
• Exceptional Service: Many guests highlight the "super friendly and professional" and "impeccable" service provided by the staff, noting a high staff-to-guest ratio that contributes to a personalized experience.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at Chewton Glen are designed with luxury and comfort in mind, catering to different preferences:

• Main Hotel Rooms: The 58 rooms and suites in the main 18th-century house are individually styled, featuring a blend of antique and modern furniture, vibrant textiles, king-size beds, and generous marble bathrooms. They offer a quintessentially English country house feel with an emphasis on comfort. Some rooms provide beautiful views of the garden parks and include modern conveniences like iPad docks and fast-charging sockets.
• Treehouses: These suites are described as "gorgeous" and "modern," offering spacious living areas with fireplaces, fully-equipped kitchenettes, and private balconies with hot tubs that immerse guests in the surrounding forest. They are equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize the natural views.

4. Dining Experience

Chewton Glen offers a diverse culinary experience with a strong emphasis on fresh, local produce:

• Restaurants: The hotel features "The Dining Room," a more formal setting, and "The Kitchen by James Martin," which opened in 2017 and provides a relaxed dining experience with offerings like wood-fired pizzas and gourmet burgers.
• Local Produce: A significant portion of the ingredients used, including vegetables, fruits, and herbs, are sourced from the hotel's own kitchen garden, ensuring a "garden-to-fork" experience.
• Breakfast: While cooked-to-order items are highly rated, the breakfast buffet has been noted by some as small and catering primarily to a British palate, with suggestions for more fresh fruit. Treehouse guests enjoy the convenience of breakfast hampers delivered to their accommodation.
• Other Offerings: Guests can enjoy a traditional Afternoon Tea and a wide selection of cocktails at the cozy Mahogany bar. Specific dishes that have received acclaim include the tangy twice-baked Emmental soufflé and the grilled Dover Sole.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Chewton Glen is largely celebrated, with staff often described as attentive, friendly, and professional. Guests frequently mention a high staff-to-guest ratio, contributing to a feeling of being well-looked after. Staff are also trained in disability awareness.

However, some guest experiences indicate inconsistencies in service. Issues have included an unserviced outdoor pool, unanswered calls to reception, and a concierge who did not offer to make bike rental calls on behalf of guests. Employee reviews also present a mixed picture, with some noting a "fast-paced" and "highly pressured" environment with a high staff turnover, while others praise the friendly staff, management, and training opportunities.

6. Location & Accessibility

Chewton Glen's location is a significant asset, bordering the New Forest National Park and just a 10-minute drive from the South Coast beaches. It is easily accessible, being a 2-hour drive from central London and an hour and 50 minutes by train to New Milton station, with a short taxi ride to the hotel. Southampton Airport is also a convenient 40-minute drive away.

The hotel offers a range of local activities and nearby attractions, including the New Forest itself, Stonehenge, Winchester, Salisbury, and sailing opportunities from Lymington.

Accessibility: The hotel has made efforts to be disabled-friendly, providing a drop-off point at the front door, designated disabled parking, and level entry to the main hotel, lounges, and bar. Portable ramps are available for access to the restaurant and ground floor rooms. Specific disabled access rooms are equipped with wider doors, lower switches, grab rails, and emergency pull cords. The health club includes a disabled changing room and both indoor and outdoor pools are equipped with hoists. It is important to note, however, that the main hotel building does not have a lift.

7. Value & Pricing

Chewton Glen is positioned as a luxury property, and its pricing reflects this. While generally considered "expensive," many guests feel it offers good value for the comprehensive luxury experience provided.

• Room Rates: Main house rooms typically range from £500 to £1,450 per night.
• Treehouse Suites: These premium accommodations are priced between £1,350 and £3,500 per night, with Treehouse Loft Suites starting from £1,250 a night and able to accommodate up to six guests.
• Offers: The hotel occasionally provides offers that include resort credit and daily breakfast, enhancing the value for guests.

8. Common Complaints

While reviews are largely positive, some recurring criticisms and issues have been noted:

• Inconsistent Service: Despite generally high service standards, some guests have experienced inconsistencies, particularly concerning the outdoor pool area being unserviced or delayed responses to calls from reception.
• Maintenance & Renovation: The outdoor pool has been mentioned as needing renovation, and a recent review noted missing tiles and dampness in the thermo pool.
• Breakfast Buffet Limitations: The breakfast buffet is sometimes perceived as small with a limited selection of fresh fruit, catering more to traditional British tastes.
• Building Quirks: The main house, being an older property, has some quirks, including narrow, carpeted, and somewhat outdated stairways, and the absence of elevators in certain sections, which can mean a lot of walking for guests on higher floors.
• Children in Dining Areas: Some guests have suggested a need for separate dining areas or curfews for children during breakfast and dinner to ensure a more tranquil experience for all guests.
• Golf Course Signage: Issues with finding the first hole and obtaining golf balls at the driving range have been reported.
• Dining Cost: Dinner in the main restaurant was considered expensive by at least one reviewer.

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