We chose Howfield as overnight stop before catching ferry next day from nearby Dover. This location was convenient for ust 30 mins to ferry terminal and near to park & ride for afternoon visit to Canterbury. Hotel and largish room 10 fine but we were disappointed with choices in evening menu for such a well appointed hotel. As another reviewer recently mentioned....needs greater creativity. We found reception staff and waitress polite and helpful.

The grounds are beautiful and the building is beautiful. Our room was on the ground floor looking out onto the grounds however After being there for a few minutes and starting to change for he shower someone walked past the window ! There were no net/lace curtains and nothing to stop anyone looking in our room which was next to a footpath so we had to keep the blackout curtains closed the entire time day and night, it was like living in a tomb as the lighting in the room wasn't very strong or bright. The bathroom was okay, the grouting was getting a bit old and could do with a refresh and the shower would go from freezing to boiling and I burnt myself.

We called ahead to let the hotel know we were vegan as they had a very upmarket restaurant "the old well" and on arrival we received a handwritten list of what could be offered. It went as follows

Fish and chips (not vegan ??)
Blue cheese salad without cheese (so plain salad)

We would have expected more from an upmarket restaurant, what a lack of creativity.

We were assured we would be able to have breakfast and the continental breakfast would be suitable. It wasn't. Pastries, yoghurt and cereal and a tiny plate of melon. We waited in the dining room and when no one came I went to reception and the gentleman was very brisk with me. The waitress had no idea about the request and informed us they were out of soymilk. Good day to be out when you have been told in advance that 2 of your guests will be vegan. In the end we were offered quirk sausages with beans mushroom and tomato which actually sounded quite nice.

However the sausages were quorn which usually contain egg. I stressed to the waitress I am intolerant to egg and she said there was no egg in the saussage.

We were served a tiny portion of beans 2 tomatoes and 2 tiny mushrooms and after eating the sausages my stomach started to cramp up and my suspicions that the waitress didn't care or didn't bother to look were confirmed. I also asked for a fruit plate that didn't contain pineapple as I am allergic which never came.

The grounds are beautiful and the rooms are nice but the little finishing touches that make a stay special were vastly lacking.

In modern society many people don't eat wheat, gluten, dairy, are vegan vegetarian and it is essential to be accommodating. Really disappointing