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Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa

Traveller (531)
360
Panoramas (15)
Room & Suite (269)
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£300
Fully refundable before Wed, 27 Mar
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About

4.0
#1 of 1 hotels in Cuckfield
4.5 of 5 bubbles
Location
4.4 of 5 bubbles
Cleanliness
4.2 of 5 bubbles
Service
3.8 of 5 bubbles
Value
Travellers' Choice
Ockenden Manor is a charming and tranquil Elizabethan Manor House tucked away in Cuckfield, one of the prettiest Tudor villages in England. With its history and character, elegant sitting room warmed by a roaring log fire and cosy, wood panelled bar, it's a wonderful place to escape to and yet it is just an hour from London and 20 minutes drive from Gatwick. The hotel is set in nine acres of peaceful gardens and parkland with views across the West Sussex countryside to the South Downs and some of the great gardens and stately homes of Sussex and Kent are within easy reach. Please note, well-behaved dogs are welcome at Ockenden (charges may apply so please ask at time of booking). They can stay in the room with you (with the exclusion of our Junior Spa Suites) and are welcome everywhere with the exception of the spa and restaurant.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Free breakfast
Hiking
Board games / puzzles
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Electric vehicle charging station
Parking
Wifi
Hot bath
Indoor pool
Outdoor pool
Heated pool
Yoga classes
Fitness / spa changing rooms
Fitness classes
Sauna
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Breakfast in the room
Outdoor dining area
Special diet menus
Taxi service
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Spa
Couples massage
Facial treatments
Foot massage
Full body massage
Hand massage
Head massage
Manicure
Massage
Neck massage
Pedicure
Salon
Steam room
Baggage storage
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
Umbrella
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Bathrobes
Desk
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Room service
Flatscreen TV
Walk-in shower
Bath / shower
Safe
Seating area
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Bottled water
Clothes rack
Iron
Private bathrooms
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
3.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Charming
Languages Spoken
English, Romanian, Ukrainian

Location

Ockenden Lane, Cuckfield RH17 5LD England
1,395Review11Q+A100Room tips

Reviews
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Detailed Reviews
srw59 wrote a review Aug 2020
Upton, United Kingdom46 contributions13 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We booked a dinner, bed and breakfast two night break to celebrate our anniversary and were extremely happy with our decision to do so.

Everything about our stay was absolutely first rate. Our room was on the ground floor and had easy access to the grounds, so that we could exercise Molly, our Irish Terrier. There was a very large, very clean dog bed waiting for her; she was very happy with this! The room was spacious and well equipped and the bed was extremely comfortable. Our bathroom was large and like our bedroom, spotlessly clean.

Staff were incredibly helpful. There was also a very high staff member to guest ratio. We’ve stayed at many places where this was not the case and really appreciated the presence and attention of the staff. The breakfast and dinner menu was excellent, with plenty of choice. The food itself was, in our opinion, absolutely outstanding. I’m not sure that I’ve ever said that a dining experience was faultless before but we both felt that it was, on both nights. There was also a great atmosphere in the restaurant.

We didn’t visit the spa, so can’t comment on this. It certainly looked impressive from the outside.

The hotel management have clearly given careful consideration to try to mitigate against coronavirus transmission. There are very clear notices asking guests to wear masks in public areas, apart from when seated to dine. When tables are cleared and relaid in the restaurant, the tables and chairs are disinfected. The menus are on paper and are used once. Sanitiser gel is available when you enter the hotel. We felt they have balanced the need to try to ensure guests enjoy their stay with the need to be Covid aware.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kenneval wrote a review Jan 2020
Burgess Hill, United Kingdom110 contributions28 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
I have a very mixed review of this lovely country house hotel in Sussex. We stayed in January on a low season cheaper break. The hotel is very comfortable and service is excellent all round, as it always has been. Our room, Rose, on the second floor was fairly quiet and very well met our needs, however there was a constant hum overnight. The in-room Nespresso machine and homemade biscuits were a lovely touch. Wifi signal is not good, we couldn’t get it in our room or in the restaurant.
The Spa in a separate building is great and worth spending time in, with a 15m uncrowded pool, jacuzzis, sauna and steam room.
The last time we ate here was when the restaurant had a Michelin star. But things have definitely changed, and the fine dining wow factor just isn’t there. Canapés are delicious, accompanied by a variety of good homemade breads. My starter (beef cheek) and main (wild duck breast) were tasty, but both dishes were accompanied by a heavy sauce making them quite filling. Presentation fell short as both arrived as plates of fairly dark coloured food, not at all attractive. My dessert was apple fritter and ice cream and again was not refined. The fritter reminded me of a spring roll. The filling was good. I would have liked to see a lighter dessert choice included in the menu, such as lemon posset. My husband ordered the pistachio sorbet (costing £5 extra) and said it was delicious.
Breakfast is good but again had some shortcomings. The selection is fairly average, with freshly squeezed orange juice, cereals, pastries, fruit and one cold meat. Hot choices are the normal range. My husband ordered the full English which included black pudding. When it arrived, he was told that they had run out of black pudding. I ordered toast to accompany my eggs and smoked salmon, but this arrived too late when I had finished my meal.
Having seen the restaurant’s sous chef Freddie as a semi finalist on the last series on Professional Masterchef, I had expected a fine dining experience. He can’t have been in the kitchen when we dined there. Service in the restaurant is excellent.
Fundamentally, this hotel is good but expensive and could be excellent with some improved attention to details in the restaurant.
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Date of stay: January 2020
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Room Tip: second floor rooms are quieter
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WatcoFamily wrote a review Oct 2020
Bracknell, United Kingdom37 contributions24 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We spent a very relaxing weekend at Ockenden Manor celebrating a friend's birthday. Check in was seamless and we were made very welcome by the helpful staff. The hotel is lovely, quite quirky with lots of special touches such as china tea pots and a Nespresso machine in the room, sumptuously soft crisp bedlinen and in our rooms (Edward, Alex and Charlotte) beautiful new bathrooms with the biggest sink I have ever seen!
The spa is very nice, again really friendly helpful staff who made us feel welcome and went out of their way to bring sun lounger cushions and drinks for us outside (even in October!)
We had dinner and breakfast in the hotel restaurant - beautiful food, top quality and exceptional presentation - understandably the menu was limited but we all thoroughly enjoyed what we had. Desserts were amazing and again really fantastic staff. All in all a brilliant little gem of a hotel.
Ockenden your people are an absolute credit to you. We will definitely return.
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Date of stay: October 2020
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
E3427YFhelenh wrote a review Aug 2020
Tonbridge, United Kingdom5 contributions10 helpful votes
1.0 of 5 bubbles
My partner and I had lunch in the lounge (not restaurant ) of the hotel. We both had fish and chips at £18 per meal. Whilst the food was well cooked, the portion sizes were so mean. We probably had about eight chips each! The plate of food looked very beige as there was no garnish, very little effort on presentation. We were asked if we would like bread and were charged £6 for 4 small slice of sough dough! It is clear that the hotel has raised it prices along with cutting portion sizes, which is very unsatisfactory.
It was also surprising that the lounge had not been refurbished during lockdown as it was well over-due. The same large water mark stains were visible on the ceiling and the room still had the odd mis-matched furniture in it, disappointing. On plus side the flowers in the reception and lounge looked good even though it was evident in terms of quantity and quality of the flowers they had cut their flower budget.
We have been loyal customers of the hotel for many years but yesterday’s experience was not good, we will not be back.
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Date of stay: August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CPH19592013 wrote a review Sept 2020
Wallingford, United Kingdom45 contributions10 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I had found the recent reviews rather strange, as there did not seem to be a consensus but we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
We felt we were guests in someone’s large country house who really wanted us to have a relaxing long weekend and return home with our batteries charged
Our room was Raymond with a kingsize fourposter bed with an indulgent topper. The room was spacious, quiet and just the right temperature. The television had some signal issues and the shower had a low head but neither of the things bothered us.
The staff were excellent. They were friendly, efficient, and helpful and they added to that homely feel.
Food was also very good and the excellent table service at breakfast reminded us of a bygone age.
We felt we had good value for money but the wines are expensive with very few lower priced ones on offer.
The hotel could do with a snack menu that guests could have in the lounge/bar or in their room especially if, like us, they had had a large lunch.
The spa is efficient and well run. The swimming pool was large, warm and clean.
We can recommend this hotel to others and will certainly return if we are visiting the area.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carolsusan2014 wrote a review Jun 2021
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom144 contributions99 helpful votes
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Where does one begin? Upon arrive it was utter chaos our room wasn't ready, no problem we will sit a have a drink and something to eat after a long hot journey, no food available only nuts or olives, so while others enjoyed a lunch in the restaurant we had a bowl of olives , a message to say our room was ready, great only to be told at reception that it wasn't. Finally the room was ready , it looked lovely until we opened the bedside drawer to find an old teabag and a book that had been left behind. Okay let's have a coffee and they had left some homemade biscuits, but no the biscuits where covered in ants. No room service so we did not eat until after 7 at night, if we had known this was the case we could have stopped at motorway services . On a brighter note the Spa was amazing and their staff couldn't do enough for you but it was left up to you to find out where everything was, but it was lovely. Sadly our room was not hoovered once while we stayed and we know this because of tiny paper strips that where on the carpet. We had to clean down the outside table before we could put anything on it an removed the previous occupants rubbish. The housekeeping let's this place down which is such a shame , its not cheap to stay here and what makes it worse was they tried to charge us over fifteen hundred pounds for a three night stay, luckily the cc company was on the ball, but all was denied by reception. I am not saying don't go, we enjoyed the Spa immensely but go prepared and Ockenden train your housekeeping staff and reception staff to give a better service to retain you 3 star rating.
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shaun R wrote a review Jan 2020
Storrington, United Kingdom18 contributions6 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Ockenden manor is a lovely hotel to stay .the room was very comfortable .
We had a delightful dinner with very attentive service.
All the staff were pleasant and helpful.

The spa was one of the best we have been to.
Wonderful facilities and helpful staff.
Also the indoor and outdoor pool are kept at perfect temp with views of countryside.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lisaharrison2001 wrote a review Nov 2021
Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom5 contributions3 helpful votes
1.0 of 5 bubbles
This is the feedback I sent to the Hotel: Excellent Massage. We couldn't use the spa before our treatments which I thought was unfair but I know you have to have rules. However when you are paying £300 a night to stay at a hotel, a good hotel manager would bend the rules for half an hour. The Waitress was really rude to us at dinner and we were told as we were 7 minutes late our table was cancelled. The Spa changing rooms were dirty both days and the spa generally needs a good clean. The showers were also filthy with huge clumps of hair in the drain and the shower gels were empty. The food at dinner was ridiculously expensive and the dinner bill had food added onto it which we hadn't ordered. I had this removed at check out along with the service charge. I really don't understand why you would add service charge when I have made it clear that your waitress as really rude. I feel like your team were trying to take advantage of us and sneak things onto our bill which is unacceptable. Because it was my friends birthday treat I didn't make a big deal about it at check out, but I will be leaving you a bad online review unless you compensate us for some of the bill that we paid upon check out and I certainly wont be recommending your hotel or spa to my friends and family. We are both terribly disappointed with the stay and I hope you take onboard my feedback so this doesn't happen to another customer. I'm still waiting for an apology from them or feedback on my compliant a week later
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Date of stay: November 2021
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
1.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
1.0 of 5 bubblesService
Room Tip: Book Elsewhere
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TEDBUN wrote a review Jan 2020
London281 contributions267 helpful votes
3.0 of 5 bubbles
We keep revisiting Ockenden for its lovely SPA which is consistently good.

The old hotel building is lovely and the rooms are nicely furnished.

My main gripe is with the noise which is very dependent on what room you are allocated. First room was beside the kitchen extractors which hum loudly all night. Shame as it's a nicely refurbished room (WALTER) Requested a move and they allocated us directly above reception and we could hear non-stop chat & noise from the the front entrance and also the neighbouring rooms For over £200 a little sleep would be nice!

Breakfast took over 1 hour to arrive. It wasn't busy, just 3 other tables occupied. By the time they served it they had cleared away the buffet without mentioning to the waiting guests it was going. There are many staff working at breakfast. They are pleasant but seem to be poorly trained. And its SO silent, the atmosphere is almost uncomfortable. Come on Ockenden, a tiny bit of background music would be so nice :)

Lunch menu in the SPA is also very expensive. Limited selection, poor quality.
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Date of stay: January 2020
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
3.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
3.0 of 5 bubblesService
Room Tip: Request rooms to the front of the hotel
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hayley R wrote a review Jul 2021
Beaconsfield, United Kingdom203 contributions95 helpful votes
3.0 of 5 bubbles
I booked this hotel as a treat for my husband. When we arrived we were greeted by a brunette girl who gave us our room key, she wasn’t as welcoming as some of the other staff members and seemed a little ‘off’ we then went straight to our room which was named “Thomas” . The room was extremely quirky and whilst we love the traditional style, it seemed a little old and musty. The bathroom had curtains and extremely poor lighting but if you wanted to actually see anything you would have to open the orange curtains which in turn meant you could be seen by all in the car park. There was also a fried food type smell coming through the window by the bed which overlooked the kitchen. The towels in the spa are tiny, extremely flimsy and thread bare, the robes were similar. The spa is nice but definitely not the best I have visited. I booked a massage which was amazing but £72 for 22 mins!! The therapist did a great job but never asked me about pressure or any questions that would usually be asked. We originally had asked our friends to join us however we are so pleased they were unable to make it as the price was showing at £350 per room and we have stayed in much more luxurious places for this for similar cost. Our room rate was okay however we could not believe the pricing of everything else in the hotel! The cost for one glass of sparkling wine is £15.50 and my husband had to roam around the hotel trying to find someone just to serve him a drink. These are 5 star London prices it’s ridiculous, especially when you have to hunt someone down to get a drink. A glass of house champagne is £12 in the Dorchester, Mayfair! The food in the restaurant was nice but £55 each for two courses and we weren’t even asked how we would like our meat cooked! We payed £35 for a bottle of screw top wine and the ambience was okay but not what you would expect when spending at least £150 on a meal. All in all, one night in this hotel equates to over £500 at the very least! The carpets and wall paper are all extremely tired and it requires a lot of TLC to bring the standard up to the price. It could be amazing if they put the work in however, I do understand that this industry has been hit hard by the pandemic. I travel frequently and feel this property would be best placed as a 3.5 star however they have so much potential to up their game and could easily flip this into 4.5 star!
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Answer from MAX G
Yeovil, United Kingdom30 contributions7 helpful votes
Yes, I am sure that they do.
Show all answers
Answer from ttree22
gloucestershire145 contributions55 helpful votes
ask the hotel
Show all answers
Laura E asked a question Sept 2018
12 contributions2 helpful votes
For dinner, is it only a set three course menu available?
Answer from Charlotte D
27 contributions9 helpful votes
There is a bar menu if you sit in the bar that does more plain food :)
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Answer from jtuxford
Chichester, United Kingdom21 contributions8 helpful votes
I’m sorry, I really don’t know, I only went there once for afternoon tea. I do know, though, that some chefs prefer not to have Michelin stars because they say it puts too much pressure on them, which I can understand.
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Answer from john g
Hastings, United Kingdom129 contributions68 helpful votes
I very much doubt it.
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TJ S wrote a tip Jan 2024
Cambridge, United Kingdom38 contributions31 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Choose one of the Sussex rooms - can recommend the Elizabeth room."
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516jeza wrote a tip Jan 2024
Eastbourne, United Kingdom3 contributions1 helpful vote
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Upgrade to the second level of room. Cheapest room is very small and for a small additional charge the room is 100% 4 star level."
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DaveLGWUK wrote a tip Nov 2023
Brighton uk34 contributions7 helpful votes
1.0 of 5 bubbles
"Avoid this hotel like the plague, a much much better experience at the nearby South Lodge at a very similar price point."
Read full review
Nadsvoyage wrote a tip Nov 2023
28 contributions7 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Book the SPA suite for convenience so you do not get out of the building to get to the SPA."
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Simone Micallef wrote a tip Oct 2023
15 contributions3 helpful votes
2.0 of 5 bubbles
"Avoid this place if you are vegan or want to take your dog."
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There are more places to choose from in the Cuckfield area.
PRICE RANGE
£221 - £302 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
ockenden manor hotel cuckfield, ockenden manor hotel and spa, ockenden manor cuckfield, hotel ockenden manor
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandWest SussexCuckfield
NUMBER OF ROOMS
28
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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OCKENDEN MANOR HOTEL & SPA - Updated 2024 (Cuckfield)

Frequently Asked Questions about Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa
Which popular attractions are close to Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa?
Nearby attractions include Cuckfield Museum (0.2 miles) and Holy Trinity Church (0.2 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an indoor pool, free wifi, and free breakfast.
Which room amenities are available at Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa?
Top room amenities include a flat screen TV, a desk, and a seating area.
What food & drink options are available at Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa?
Conveniently located restaurants include The Talbot, Pampa Kitchen & Grill, and The Rose and Crown.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa?
Yes, guests have access to an indoor pool, a fitness centre, and a sauna during their stay.
Is Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.3 miles away from the centre of Cuckfield.
Are any cleaning services offered at Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Are pets allowed at Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Does Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa offer any business services?
Yes, guests have access to meeting rooms and a banquet room during their stay.