I have been to the Ashbury twice this year, once with a friend, our daughters and our mums and this summer with my whole family of teens plus extended family. We loved it. The Ashbury rooms were fine, clean, perfectly adequate facilities. Yes the lounges etc are rather dated, the tapestry wingback armchairs sit in straight lines all over the place but that just provides a giggle.
The sister hotel, the Manor House is a mile or so down the road and you breakfast and dine in the evening at your booked hotel but lunch at whichever you are at during the day with a lunch pass.
The money is definitely ploughed back into the sporting and craft facilities which for people from 2 to 102 cannot be faulted. The staff are generally friendly and helpful and anyone who cant find something to do needs shooting !

We found the value for money brilliant, considering everything is pretty much included apart from drinks (although three nights a week they will offer you a free bottle of wine per room or money towards upgrading to something of your choice) and the drinks are not overpriced at all. You will not come back from this place feeling fleeced. The food is really good, fairly simple cooking but most definitely filling and the desserts are wonderful !
I have booked a weekend trip with a bunch of 'girl' friends in November at the sister hotel, the Manor House and I know we'll have a great laugh. I just hope that the rooms arent as bad as some of the reviews. Certainly no complaints about the Ashbury, but may be its just a bit newer.

I took my mum for a short break in Devon and we booked five nights at this hotel. The room was charged at £150 per night for a twin room and it was appalling. The carpet was dirty and fraying, there was a musty smell in the room and the bed linen felt dirty. The food was worse than a motorway restaurant. We spent one restless night in this hotel and had to leave the next day even though it cost us £400.

We have mixed fellings about The Manor House, the activities were excellent, the food was good, the rooms were awful. I would reccomend this hotel but just be warned it really is only a 2* rated hotel.

The Sports and craft activities were excellent, we had loads to keep us occupied all day long. Thankfully lots of the activities are inside so they are not affected by the weather. They really do have something for every age and the craft centre was very relaxing and enjoyable.

We enjoyed the food and had no problems with the meals, the food was always boiling hot and the choice was very good.

I had a Hot Stone massage, like the previous comment said the thearpy rooms are located on the main corridor leading to the swimming pool, so unfortuntely it is very noisey and not very relaxing. It was not the best massage I have every had but for £20 it was alright.

Now unfortunately our room was a huge dissapointment (room 54). I have to agree with a previous post, our room really wasfilthy dirt and the smell of damp was overpowering. The room was not cleaned for the 5 days we were in it. I spoke to reception but they could not move us, and they just sent up 2 air freshener. It was also really hot in the room which only made the smell even worse. I knew that this was only a 2* rated hotel, and unfortunately due to the standard of the room I think this is a fair rating.

We had a nice break and all enjoyed spending time together as a family, but for me 5 days was long enough.

Returned yesterday from Manor House and we all had a great time, We went with family and our ages range from 10 to 61. We went to Manor House 10 years ago and on returning it is pretty much the same, just alot more to do. There is now alot more new tennis, badminton courts and also a basketball court. They have also made a big games zone which my 10 year old son loved. Lots of pool, snooker tables and also 10 playstation 2 games to play and all free. There is something here to do for everyone, you put your names up on boards for any of the activities that you want to do and it is all free. They also have a much bigger beauty therapy part and prices are £10 for half hr or £20 for hour treatments. They aren't luxurious treatments and the rooms are very basic so you don't feel overly pampered but is great if you just want to have a treatment whilst away. On reading some of the other reviews we found the food to be really good, yes it isn't fine dining but its good food. All you have to watch is you don't eat too much like we did. Also on a week's stay you get wine free for 3 of the nights. The rooms are basic, but kept clean and you have to except that whenever the neighbours walks or talk you can hear them. It has a really releaxed atmosphere and if you go with an open mind of just realaxing and having a good holiday it's a great place to go. We also played golf four times and found them all very good and buggy hire is so cheap. We have been to center parcs for 10 years running and yes it isn't the same, but here all your sport are free and you can always get a court and are able to get in the same day. It is also set in lovely countryside. Wish I was still there. We have already booked for April.