Malmaison Cheltenham

Malmaison Cheltenham: A Comprehensive Hotel Review

Malmaison Cheltenham, a Michelin Key Selected property, generally receives high praise for its blend of contemporary design within a historic Regency building, offering a sophisticated and charming stay in the heart of Cheltenham. Guests frequently commend the excellent service, comfortable accommodations, and superb location.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The overall sentiment for Malmaison Cheltenham is overwhelmingly positive, with an impressive average rating of 8.5. Verified Michelin Guide guests have given it a strong score of 18.5 out of 20. Review platforms show a "Good" rating of 7.7 out of 10 based on over 1,600 reviews, with particularly high scores for staff (8.6) and comfort (8.4). Many guests express a strong intention to return, highlighting it as an "exceptional hotel experience".

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently love the Malmaison Cheltenham for its excellent service, comfortable rooms, and prime location. The hotel's unique design, mixing modern flair with traditional Regency elegance, creates a stylish and inviting atmosphere. The presence of the Chez Mal Brasserie & Bar is a significant draw, along with spacious nearby parks perfect for a leisurely stroll. The hotel also offers good facilities for business travellers, including meeting rooms and free WiFi throughout.

3. Room Quality

Rooms at Malmaison Cheltenham are often described as well-appointed, comfortable, and meticulously designed to offer a stylish retreat. They feature plush furnishings, tasteful decor, modern amenities, flat-screen TVs, individual safes, minibars, and coffee/tea makers. Many rooms, including standard, superior, and suites, boast beautiful, big beds and some offer lovely views of the English countryside. Modern bathrooms typically include walk-in showers and bathrobes.

However, some guests have noted inconsistencies. A few reviews mention rooms feeling "tired," with uncomfortable sofas and condensation on windows. There are also reports of "very small and quite shabby" rooms with "tiny double beds". Specific complaints include awkwardly shaped bathrooms or baths that are too high for the overhead shower, and one instance of a room with a "poor configuration" where a wall obstructed light and bed access. Air conditioning issues have also been reported in some rooms.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel's Chez Mal Brasserie & Bar is a central and highly praised feature, offering modern British cuisine with a subtle French twist, prepared with seasonal, local ingredients. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and features a charming glass conservatory 'Garden Room' and a beautiful terrace. Both breakfast and evening dining often receive "excellent" and "amazing" feedback, with one guest even describing the chef's creations as "Michelin star level". Continental breakfast is generally rated above average.

Despite the overall positive reception, there have been some criticisms. Service during breakfast can sometimes be slow, and staff have been described as "sullen". The Americano coffee from the machine has been noted as "tasteless". On occasion, the bar or restaurant area has been reported as too cold, and one guest experienced being unable to eat some of their dinner order. The bar has also been noted to be closed on some evenings due to private events.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at Malmaison Cheltenham are consistently highlighted as a major strength. Guests frequently describe the staff as excellent, helpful, efficient, friendly, and attentive, often going "above and beyond" to ensure a pleasant stay. The staff consistently receives high ratings, averaging 8.6 out of 10.

While the vast majority of feedback is positive, one guest found a reception staff member "not too warming". Employee reviews (separate from guest reviews) have sometimes indicated issues with management, staff feeling overworked, and concerns about work-life balance, which could subtly impact guest interactions.

6. Location & Accessibility

Malmaison Cheltenham boasts a "great" and "central location" in the heart of Cheltenham. It is conveniently situated close to numerous interesting bars, restaurants, and shops, making it ideal for exploring the town. The hotel is just a 5-minute stroll from the Promenade and Montpellier Gardens, and within a 10-minute walk to the Montpellier District. Nearby shopping landmarks include the Blue and Beechwood Shopping Centre and The Brewery Quarter. It's also approximately 0.3 miles from Montpellier Gardens, 0.5 miles from the Everyman Theatre, and 2.5 miles from Cheltenham Racecourse. The hotel offers a quiet setting while still being easily accessible to the town centre. Limited self-parking is available for a fee of £10 per night.

7. Value & Pricing

With an average price of around $183 per room, Malmaison Cheltenham is often considered to provide "outstanding value for money" compared to the average hotel price in Cheltenham, which stands at approximately $170. It's marketed as offering "affordable luxury". However, some guests have felt the pricing, particularly for specific rooms, was not justified by the quality, with one mentioning a £250 per night charge for a poorly configured room as "not acceptable".

Optional extras include full breakfast for approximately £23 for adults and £12 for children, a self-parking fee of £10 per night, a pet fee of £25 per pet per night, and a rollaway bed fee of £30 per night.

8. Common Complaints

Recurring issues and criticisms include:

• Some rooms feeling "tired," featuring uncomfortable sofas, or experiencing condensation on windows.
• Occasional reports of rooms being "very small and quite shabby" with "tiny double beds".
• Bathrooms sometimes noted for awkward shapes or high baths unsuitable for overhead showers.
• The bar and restaurant areas sometimes being too cold for guests' comfort.
• Inconsistent breakfast service, with reports of slow or "sullen" staff.
• The hotel bar being closed for private events, leading to disappointment for some guests.
• Isolated incidents of non-functional air conditioning or poorly configured rooms.

Sources

1. agoda.com
2. michelin.com
3. booking.com
4. malmaison.com
5. britainsfinest.co.uk
6. hotel-in-cheltenham.co.uk
7. travelocity.com
8. visitcheltenham.com
9. booking.com
10. malmaison.com
11. booking.com
12. indeed.com
13. indeed.com
14. expedia.co.uk