This hotel is a hidden gem! The level of service is excellent and the food, which has an Austrian influence, is simply superb. The hotel is a Victorian mansion run by the owners Peter and Nita Hauser. Nita is front of house and Peter with Lorna, Nita's sister, the chefs.
Our choice is always small, high quality hotels with excellent food. We normally like to try different hotels, but this is the only one we go back to year after year. It is ideal for anniversaries, birthdays and other special occasions.
Treat yourselves and try it, you'll love it.

For the past 20 years this has been our favourite watering hole. Its a shame that it's nearly 200 miles to get to it, but that makes the anticipation of our next visit all the more enjoyable.

This tranquil oasis in the beautiful county of Dorset is a heaven to escape to from the rat race. Hospitality is excellent, always made to feel genuinely welcome, be it your first or umpteenth visit. Enjoy the company of other guests, or keep your own company if total peace is what you require.

And then there's the food. First class breakfasts to suit all tastes and delicious dinners created from top class ingredients by Chef du Patron, Peter Hauser. Lunch is superfluous during your stay, unless you have an enormous appretite. If you can't decide on a wine from the extensive list Nita Hauser will always offer some helpful suggestions, which shouldn't disappoint.

If you have an opportunity to visit Stock Hill don't pass it up. It represents very good value for money for a Relais & Chateau hotel.

In the words of Janice Nicholls from the 60's TV programme, "Thank Your Lucky Stars", "Io'll give it foive".

Ian & Georgina from Nottingham

Paying almost GBP 300 (plus drinks) for dinner, bed and breakfast, our expectations were very high. Unfortunately, the hotel was disappointing in some areas and the exceedingly warm welcome could not eradicate the shortcomings.

Our room was very comfortable but the lack of blinds on the bathroom window and the almost blocked drains in the washbasins were irritating. We also did not like our room being maided at breakfast time when we had deliberately left a Do Not Disturb sign on the door, and then found that personal items had been put away in drawers.

Dinner was relaxed and the menu choices adequate. Some of our choices were not what we expected in terms of taste. Table service was almost too attentive, glasses being refilled after almost every sip.

The same relaxed approach did not work well at breakfast, though, where we had read a complete weekend newspaper before getting any coffee. And croissants have to be ordered the day before.

Overall, not up to scratch for a Relais and Chateaux property.

The only review I'd seen of this rather unusual country hotel, run by Austrians but with essentially French cuisine, was on Trip Advisor and it was extremely positive. It was enough to persuade me to book a night there, which includes dinner and breakfast. They don't do B&B, if you stay there it's both to enjoy the glorious setting and the restaurant. It is a very attractive house with a beautiful and large garden. The rooms have a slightly odd mixture of grandeur and cuteness, bordering on kitsch at times, which actually adds to the uniqueness and attraction of the place. The bedrooms are all different, I believe, and ours had a superb and very old bed. The staff are very welcoming and friendly and insist on doing things for you that you really should do for yourself! There is a real professionalism and thoroughness about everything they do, and this attention to detail includes the reliably excellent dishes served in the restaurant. The owners have been there over 20 years now and have clearly developed a highly succesful formula. My only criticism would be the en-suite bathroom in room 4 could do with refurbishment, as its looking rather like it probably did when the first arrived.