Burley Manor

This was our second time of visiting - the last time being just over a year ago. It's a beautiful setting, but our second experience wasn't quite as good. The hotel is looking a little tired. We understand times are hard, but it's a shame. The bathroom ceiling was peeling and the bedroom carpet was very stained. The bath mat was covered in fluff and hair and I watched a member of staff run their hand through the dust on a piece of furniture in the bar. Having said that, the food was good and the staff are nice, but not always especially customer focused. Rather than being greeted in a warm and professional manner, the woman at the Reception desk seemed irritated that we had arrived before the check-in time (we weren't expecting to access our rooms). Perhaps she was just very busy at the time, but even so... We used the bar, the outside terrace and the drawing room. Each time we had to go and ask for service. The hotel definitely lost money as we would have had more drinks/refreshments with a little more proactivity on their part. The swimming pool is great to have, even if the temperature is a little bracing. However, we still enjoyed the opportunity to swim. Overall, still a good experience, and probably fair value for money, but some small improvements would make all the difference.

Really lovely relaxing place for a hot summer day. The outside pool was a bonus! Room was clean although beds for teens were far too small. Restaurant was nice. Some parts of the hotel look tired & need a refresh but we’ll definitely be back!!

The food and staff were genuinely amazing — every meal was delicious and the team were warm, welcoming, and attentive throughout our stay. We also loved the free‑standing bath in our room; such a lovely touch and really added to the experience. Unfortunately, we didn’t sleep well as the room was extremely hot, and the fan provided didn’t help at all. A better cooling option would have made a big difference. The pool itself was beautiful and refreshing, but it did feel a bit awkward during our visit. A bridal party were sitting along the edge with their feet in the water, taking photos — including with a drone — and they were taking up around half the pool space, which made it less relaxing for other guests. Overall, a mix of wonderful service and amenities with a few comfort issues that affected our stay.

Disappointed in our stay - particularly with respect to value for money. Although the building and grounds are attractive, the photos are misleading. In our room and main hotel areas: furniture faded and stained, peeling paint and water stains on the walls, mould in the shower, dirty windows and light fixtures covered in cobwebs. The mattress was very firm. It was too warm for the duvet provided - a flat sheet would have been a thoughtful alternative. The TV connection was so unstable; we had to fiddle with the cable to watch. In anticipation of hot weather we asked whether we should bring our own fan and were told one would be provided; that fan was broken. Staff were unable to provide a replacement. As only three of the four windows opened, and only slighlty, the room was hot and stuffy all night. Outside, the pool area had comfortable chairs but ladders into the pool were not fixed properly, the paint was peeling, and the water in need of cleaning. No towels were provided. The Adirondack chairs by the entrance were a nice place for a drink and to take in the view, but needed to be cleared of the many glasses and ashtrays from previous visitors. Put us off eating in the restaurant. As far as being dog-friendly, for £15 extra, only a few tiny treats and poo-bags were provided, with scale-stained water bowls at the entrance. On check-out staff did not inquire about our stay; merely said good bye. A very poor comparison to other hotels in the same category.

The hotel has a great location and the room was clean and well serviced, but the building itself was in poor condition and our room on the second floor was like an oven. No aircon, a weak noisy fan and a window with limited opening. There was an outdoor pool but this was not open despite it being the hottest ever day in May (according to the website, it is open from June to September). Restaurant was 'fully booked' for the evening of our arrival, despite there being a number of apparently free tables, so we ate out both evenings. Breakfast was expensive at £20 per head, so we had that out too (there are a couple of very nice coffee shops in Burley village serving an excellent breakfast at less than half the price). Bar had a poor selection of drinks. Overall, something of a disappointment.