Felbridge Hotel, East Grinstead

.../>
The Felbridge Hotel offers several packages which are great for special occasions, presents or just for treating yourself or a loved one. The current packages are 1 Day Induluge at the Charka Spa, Luxury Spa Experience at the Chakra Spa, Romance Night, Family Break, Hever Castle Explorer Package, Golf Break with Lingfield Golf Course, Weekend Breakfast Package, Weekend Dinner Package, Wine, Dine and Stay Free and Luxury Weekend Stay with ...
...

The Felbridge Hotel also has a bar, which is located next to the reception and next to the resturants. It combines contemporary design with comfortable seating. As it is next to recpetion it is great for meeting people in, having a relaxed drink or having a coffee in. When a coffee is ordered here, you get a complimentary large plate of petit fours, which were scrummy! A selection of bar snacks are also available throughout the opening ... more

Situated in East Grinstead, West Sussex this hotel is counted as a Gatwick Airport Hotel. Compared to all the other Gatwick hotels and all other hotels I have stayed in, this has to be one of the best.

The hotel has recently been taken over in the last year and gone through a 5 million pound refurbishment taking the hotel and spa to 4* Deluxe Status from its previous 2* rating. I did not visit the hotel when it was previously owned so cannot compare.

I drive past this hotel every day and it always catches my eye, it looks really nice. I first went into the hotel to take a look at the spa. When I went in the whole hotel was spotless, the staff on reception were very polite and helpful and directed me to spa.

~~~~~~~~~
Reception
~~~~~~~~~

This is the first thing you see when you walk through the revolving doors into the hotel, The whole area is spotless, minamil and clutter free. The reception desk is clear to see and when you go up to it the professional, polite, smartly dressed staff are willing to help. Every time I have visited they have always greeted me with a smile and been very friendly yet staying professional. My dad was even so impressed with the staff he wrote a letter to the manager about the exceptional standards - and believe me, this is not something my dad does often - it takes alot to impress him!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Spa & Health Club
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The staff on the spa reception were equally as helpful, and offered me a tour round without me having to ask, I accepted and was shown around. The spa had 5 very beautifully decorated treatment rooms and had 2 nail bars. The spa was called Chakra which is a term associated with Indian Head Massage and the energy channels in the body. The spa uses Elemis for face and body treatments and Jessica for nail treatments and also has St Tropez - these are some of the worlds top product ranges. The prices in the spa are very expensive, a Jessica Manicure is approx £40-50 while most high street salons charge approx £20-25 for the same. This is to be expected from all hotel spas though. A price list for all treatments can be found on the hotel website - http://felbridgehotel.co.uk/FileLib/Chakra%20Spa%20Brochure% 202007.pdf (you need adobe acrobat to access this).

The Chakra Spa is beautiful, an area of pure indulgence where guests can relax and unwind. The spa has a traquil and relaxing feel throughout the whole place.

The hotel also has a fully equipped gym which has the latest equipment which is kept well maintained and clean. There is also a lovely kidney shaped heated indoor pool or a more relaxed and exclusive large separate spa pool. which fits 10 people.

Any one staying in the hotel will receive full use of the Chakra Health Club and swimming pool free of charge but any treatments booked in the Chakra Spa will have to be paid for.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Membership Fees for Fitness Centre
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Single Peak - £55 per month
Single Off Peak - £40 per month

Couple Peak - £95 per month
Couple Off Peak - £70 per month

Family (2 adults and up to 2 children)
Peak - £125 per month
Off Peak - £100 per month

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Swimming Only Membership Fees for Fitness Centre
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Single - £30 per month

Couple - £55 per month

Off Peak: 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday

Membership joining fee: One month's fee

Day pass: £15 per person

As a member of either fitness centre and or swimming you will also get a 5% discount off Spa treatments and a 30% discount of accommodation rate prices.

Health club and pool opening times
Monday - Friday: 6.30am - 9.00pm
Saturday - Sunday: 8.00am - 9.00pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leisure Breaks Packages
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Felbridge Hotel offers several packages which are great for special occasions, presents or just for treating yourself or a loved one. The current packages are 1 Day Induluge at the Charka Spa, Luxury Spa Experience at the Chakra Spa, Romance Night, Family Break, Hever Castle Explorer Package, Golf Break with Lingfield Golf Course, Weekend Breakfast Package, Weekend Dinner Package, Wine, Dine and Stay Free and Luxury Weekend Stay with Free Night.

These packages include such things as overnight accomodation, dinner allowances and some include chamagne and spa treatments. They all allow free use of the spa facilities and are available until December 2007. Prices start from £115.00 per night. Please look on the website for current offers or for more details

~~~~~~~~
Location
~~~~~~~~

It is about a 20 minute drive from Gatwick Airport. A regular coach is available from outside the hotel to Gatwick and taxis are always available, which you can get for £10.50 to Gatwick if you book with Roadrunners. The Gatwick Express takes just 30 minutes from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport and then the hotel is just a 20 minute drive. There is a train station in East Grinstead which is a 10 minute drive, a train station in South Godstone which is a 20 minute drive and a train station in Lingfield which is also a 20 minute drive. The hotel is situated on the A22 and within easy reach of the M25 and M23 as well as Eastbourne and Brighton, which are both about a 40 minute drive. The hotel is about 30 minutes from Tunbridge Wells, and the same to Hever Castle, it is about 20 minutes from Lingfield Race Course and about 20 minutes to Crawley, the nearest big town. This hotel is in a great location.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Resturants
~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~
Anise
~~~~~

Anise is an award winning AA 2 Rosette Fine Dining Restaurant with selection of traditional and inventive modern dishes, it is perfect for those who appreciate gourmet eating and fine cuisine.

The decor is modern and contemporary in black, cream and grey colours with subtle lighting, setting for a relaxed atmosphere.

Anise has 34 covers but unfortunately these are rarely filled, when we went there were only a few other tables filled. This is such a shame because this is a truly amazing resturant with exceptional service, quality and presentation of food.

Our meal at this resturant is the one of the best we have ever had, if not that best. People say this resturant is expensive but for what it is and for what you get I disagree. You get exceptional quality food, that you probably won't taste anywhere else. I had foie gras and fillet steak, which was a large portion of steak for a resturant and this cost £25.00, not for what I got that is not too expensive. It is what all resturants of the same quality charge. I saw another review on this hotel and they mentioned the resturant and said there was a pub across the road, yes there is but this is a brewers fayre with awful food and service, it is not fine dining so it can hardly be compared. You also get a complimentary amouse booshe (sorry don't know how to spell it), one time we got a beautiful crabcake, it was delicious, and beautifully presented).

You do not have to wait long for your food, the staff were all professional yet friendly and extremely courteous.

The current prices for Anise are as below:
Lunch menu: Two Course £18.95, Three Course £25.00
Dinner menu: Two Course £24.95, Three Course £29.95, Four Course £34.95

Anise opening times:
Lunch
Monday to Sunday 12.00 pm - 2.30 pm
Dinner
Monday to Sunday 6.00 pm - 10.00 pm

Anise is also available for hire for parties, weddings and functions and is able to cater for 40 guests.

Here is the current menu:

STARTERS

Tian of Dorset Crab with Lime and Avocado, Plum Tomato Roasted Pepper and Chervil Jelly
Roasted Corn Fed Chicken and Foie Gras Terrine, White and Redcurrant Relish, Baby Leaf and Butter Brioche
Sage and Roasted Garlic Shallot Tatin with Golden Cross on a Plum Tomato and Basil Salad, Finished with a Duo of Balsamics
Tortellini of Ham Hock Pea Puree and Rarebit Croutes
Roasted Fillets of South Coast Mackerel on Cucumber, Fennel and Orange Salad. Yoghurt, Chervil and Cumin Dressing
Oxtail and Field Mushroom Tart
Ratatouille stuffed Courgette, Horseradish and Parsley Cream

MAINS

Lightly Grilled Fillets of Lemon Sole, Egg Linguine, Baby Spinach and Langoustine Bisque
Fillet of Scotch Beef, Wild Mushroom Parfait with Potato Rosti, Watercress Puree and Reduced Pan Juices
'Presentation of Duck' - Roast Breast, Vanilla and Lime Mash, Confit Duck Spring Roll, Seared Foie Gras with Red Chard, Tart Apple Jus
Pan Roasted Fillet of Line Caught Bass, Potato Fondant, Braised Fennel, Broccoli and Sauce Vierge
Roasted Seasonal Squash and Borlotti Bean Charlotte, Sweet Potato Puree, Tomato and Red Pepper Jus
Loin of Romney Marsh Lamb Rolled in Summer Herbs, Rosemary Dauphinoise, Baby Spinach, Sweetbread Fritters and Sloe Gin Jus

DESSERTS

Warm Treacle Tart with Rich Clotted Cream Ice Cream
A Fine selection of British Cheeses, Homemade Wafers Biscuits and Fruit Chutney
Warm Vanilla Roasted Peach, Rice Pudding Ice Cream, Raspberries and Crisp Orange Tuille
A Plate of Pears poached in Red Wine
Fritter with Butterscotch Sauce
Perry Jelly with Seasonal Berries
Victoria Plum Meringue Pie, Spiced Plum Ice Cream
Our Variety of Homemade Sorbets and Ice Creams
Crisp Tuille Biscuits
Coffee and Petit Fours 3.50

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Bay Tree Brasserie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Bay Tree Brasserie caters for those who prefer to dine in a more relaxed and informal atmosphere.

It has 80 covers but again, like Anise these are rarely filled.

The Brasserie is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner whereas Anise is only open for lunch and dinner. If you have a full english breakfast included with your room, this is the resturant you will be dining in.

Pastries and scones are also available in the afternoon in The Bay Tree Brasserie.

Bay Tree Brasserie opening times
Breakfast
Monday to Friday 6.00 am - 10.00 am
Saturday and Sunday 7.00 am - 11.00 am

Lunch
Monday to Sunday 12.00 pm - 2.30 pm

Dinner
Monday to Sunday 6.00 pm - 10.00 pm

For a menu for the bay tree brasserie go on the website - http://felbridgehotel.co.uk/FileLib/BayTreeBreakfast.pdf (you need adobe acrobrat to access this).

We have dined in both resturants and I would recommend The Bay Tree Brasserie for a more traditional meal, I had a gorgeous Sunday Roast Dinner there, and Anise for more modern fine dining cusine.

The QUBE Bar

The Felbridge Hotel also has a bar, which is located next to the reception and next to the resturants. It combines contemporary design with comfortable seating. As it is next to recpetion it is great for meeting people in, having a relaxed drink or having a coffee in. When a coffee is ordered here, you get a complimentary large plate of petit fours, which were scrummy! A selection of bar snacks are also available throughout the opening hours of the resturants.

The bar continues the brown and cream theme, it has large comfy brown leather seats that you just sink into and there is a stunning fish tank submerged in a wall, filled with beautiful tropical colourful fish.

~~~~~~~
Toilets
~~~~~~~

The toilets are located in the reception area, they are just round the corner from the bar and both resturants. They continue the brown and cream theme. There are 5 cubicles and each one is spotless, and fully stocked with toilet paper. The toilet has a handdryer and a selection of Elemis products such as handwash, hand cream etc.

~~~~~~~~~
The Rooms
~~~~~~~~~

Standard Double Room

All standard double rooms have air conditioning, high speed internet access, luxury Hypnos mattresses, 16'' Flat Screen television, twenty four free view channels and three radio stations, combined, Bath/Shower, Selection of luxury Elemis products, tea and coffee refreshment tray, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, room safe.

The room is decorated brown and cream to match in with the rest of the hotel, this gives a calming, relaxing feel to it and the colours go really well together. The bed is centred with a bed side table on either side. The linen is white with brown and beige pillows and a throw on. The bed was so comfortable, really bouncy and soft. On one side of the room was a large patio window and door letting lots of natural light in, this took you onto a spacious balcony with the stunning views on the courtyard and gardens. On the other side of the room was a mirror on the wall and a table with the tea and coffee on and in the corner was the bathroom. The rooms were minamilistic which was lovely. The room was pure luxury and if this is what the standard room is, the other rooms must be exceptional!

I have only seen the standard double room, so cannot give more personal opinions on the below rooms.

Executive Doube

All executive double rooms have a size of approx 11.8' x 20', have air conditioning, high speed internet access, luxury Hypnos mattresses, 20'' Flat Screen television, desk and bedside telephones, twenty four free view channels and three radio stations, japanese Showers, Selection of luxury Elemis products, Tea and coffee refreshment tray, Hair dryer, iron and ironing board, room safe.

Luxury Double/Twin

All luxury double/twin rooms are approx 11.2' x 21', air conditioning, high speed internet access, luxury Hypnos mattresses ,20'' Flat Screen television, Desk and bedside telephones, Twenty four free view channels and three radio stations, Combined Bath/Shower, Selection of luxury Elemis products, Tea and coffee refreshment tray, Hair dryer, iron and ironing board, Room safe.

Luxury Studio

All luxury Studios are approx 11' x 21', have a generous seating area, Air conditioning, High speed internet access, Luxury Hypnos mattresses, 20'' Flat Screen television, Desk and bedside and bathroom telephones, Twenty four free view channels and three radio stations, Combined Bath/Shower, Selection of luxury Elemis products, Bath robe, Slippers, Tea and coffee refreshment tray, Fully stocked mini bar, Hair dryer, Iron and ironing board, Room safe.

Junior Suite

All junior suites are approx 13' x 25.6' and have a generous seating area, Air conditioning, High speed internet access, Luxury Hypnos mattresses and Super King size bed, 20'' Flat Screen television, Desk and bedside and bathroom telephones, Twenty four free view channels and three radio stations, Combined Bath/Shower with double sinks, Selection of luxury Elemis products, Bath robe, Slippers, Tea and coffee refreshment tray, Fully stocked mini bar, Hair dryer, iron and ironing board, Room safe.

Luxury Junior Suite

All luxury Junior Suites are 13' x 33.2' , have complimentary fresh fruit upon request, Complimentary Bottle of red or white wine per day upon request, generous seating area, air conditionin, high speed internet access, luxury Hypnos mattresses and Super King size bed, 20'' Flat Screen television, desk, bedside and bathroom telephones, 24 free view channels and three radio stations, double wash basins, seperate shower and roll top bath, selection of luxury Elemis products, bath robe, slippers, tea and coffee refreshment tray, fully stocked mini bar, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, room safe

Honeymoon Suite

The honeymoon suite has everything the luxury junior suite has with some extras - an elegant fireplace, rose petals on the bed, chocolates on the pillow and room service whenever you would like it. This room also has a 44'' plasma tv, luxury Elemis products and a roll top bath.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Business & Events
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Felbridge Hotel has 10 Conference and Meeting rooms with all the latest communication technology and facilities installed available for hire for meetings, conferences or functions. All the rooms are fully air conditoned are a large range of equipment is available for hire.

The selection of room's offer the ability to accommodate from as little as 2 guests for a discreet lunch or private meeting, through to 500 delegates for a comprehensive grand seminar.

The Grand Ballroom

The Grand Ballroom can cater for up to 300 seated guests and 500 guests for a conference. The Ballroom has a large built in stage and extra wide doors allowing access for cars and other large pieces of equipment. The Grand Ballroom opens up to the beautiful courtyard and gardens, so it is great for weddings and functions and is a perfect setting for wedding photographs. The hotel also holds events such as tribute acts or New Year's Eve parties, which are held in here.

The Willow Suite

The Willow Suite is a more intimate room with a conservatory that leads to the stunning courtyard and gardens. This suite can accommodate up to 60 guests for dinner or a function or 100 guests for a conference.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rates for Business & Events
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Delegate Rates
From £60 per person
All day delegate rates are inclusive of the following;

Use of Meeting facilities
3 servings of tea and coffee, morning with pastries, mid morning with biscuits and afternoon tea
2 course lunch
OHP, Flipchart and screen
Stationery
Mineral water, cordials and sweets

From £160 per person
All 24 Hour rates are inclusive of the following;

Use of Meeting facilities
3 servings of tea and coffee, morning with pastries, mid morning with biscuits and afternoon tea
2 course lunch
OHP, Flipchart and screen
Stationery
Mineral water, cordials and sweets
3 course dinner
Overnight accommodation
Full English Breakfast

~~~~~~~~
Weddings
~~~~~~~~

Either of the above rooms are suitable for weddings, depending on the size, the hotel also holds a license to hold civil ceremonies. The gardens are a beautiful setting and the food is delicious.

~~~~~~~
Prices
~~~~~~~

Standard Double Room - £150 per night (£90 per night)
Executive Double Room - £165 per night (£105 per night)
Luxury Double - £180 per night (£120 per night)
Luxury Studio - £195 per night (£135 per night)
Junior Suite - £235 per night (£175 per night)
Luxury Junior Suite - £270 per night (£210 per night)

The hotel has a current promotional offer on room rates, these are shown in brackets.

When booking your stay you can book extras which you get cheaper when booked with the room rather than seperately, these include breakfast, dinner, spa experiences, champagne and flowers.

This is a beautiful, stunning hotel, it is a real luxury stay for not ridiculous prices. This is a 4* hotel, but I see no reason why it is not a 5*, it is the same quality. I would recommend this hotel to anyone wanting a relaxing break. If you are interested in staying at this hotel, want to hold a wedding or an event or just visit the spa, this is the perfect hotel, please call 01342 337700 or visit www.felbridgehotel.co.uk for more details and up to date prices.

All details and prices are correct at time of review. 

...less