Gravetye Manor

It is impossible for me to be totally satisfied with any hotel – with a background in the trade, a love of fine foods, knowledge of wines, utter contempt for poor service and my terrible nit picking on the accommodation front.

Gravetye has me stumped.

All the ingredients are already in place, oak panels, open fireplaces, huge rooms, wonderful; garden walks etc as promised in the brochure. However, it is the service and food that make this hotel a very rare gem in the catering world, and any minor issues I had with the room/bathrooms do not deserve to be included in any review of this excellent establishment.

Andre w (GM and part owner) and his team have found a way of always being there, yet being unobtrusive. Everything is catered for and has been well thought out beforehand. Nothing appears to be too much trouble, for any member of staff, and speed is always of the essence - even the hot chocolate for the kids was heated to a different temperature to mine – now that is attention to detail..

Breakfast stumps Cliveden’s (even if you are lucky enough to be in Lady Astor) and the restaurant is equal to any French Michelin two star I have eaten dinner at – with over 50% of the ingredients being grown/reared in the grounds the freshness is fantastic.

Stay here and you will not be disappointed – 75% occupancy and something like 80% repeat customer base tells you something.

Prices are cheap compared to what other hotels charge in the UK – they could add £100+ on the room rate for each room and still be in the right price bracket. Don’t expect modern hotel extras like flat screen TVs etc – this is a manor house not a Hilton.

One thing, avoid the top floor rooms Pear and Pine – they are very good, but others are better and have had some tlc recently.

If they dug up the crocket lawn and dropped a pool in, I’d risk the English weather and stay there for my summer hols.

Stunning old world hotel with off-the-clock gardens, which unfortunately is somewhat dated. Although some people may find it attactive, rooms and especially the bathrooms feel like they were straight out of 1950's. Well appointed for Gatwick Airport, which again could be viewed as a plus or a minus.
Dining room very crowded, and staff seemed to be somewhat lacking, which was a shame given our expectation. Wine list also listed many sold out bins, which weren't marked as sold out.

Truly a five star experience. Gravetye is very old fashioned and wonderful. The manor is comforting and welcoming and the service could not be better. Stay there and enjoy the wonderful garden, the good food, and appreciate the opportunity to stay in an amazing Elizabethan manor house.

I stayed here just before Christmas and had a fabulous time. The rooms were lovely and the food was excellent. It was dark and freezing outside and it felt wonderful to be in a lovely old English manor with it's comfy big chairs and roaring fire. It is expensive but worth it for a touch of grandeur.