My partner booked this hotel for 2 mid-week nights as a surprise treat for my birthday, she chose this location as it was near-by to the very beautiful Arundel and selected the Hilton as we had never stayed at one before but believed their name to be synomonous with "excellence".
On first arriving our impressions were of a lovely old building that had retained all its original features, set in extensive well-maintained grounds (although most of it seemed to be a golf course) with sufficient parking for all.
Check-in was friendly and quick before we were directed in the general direction of our room. As we turned into the corridor the first thing that hit us was the strong smell of chlorine permeating throughout, secondly was our ascension up three flights of stairs to our top floor room, laden down with our luggage this was quite a feat but there is no elevator option.
Our room was a double (with smoking) overlooking the golf course. As soon as we opened the door we noticed a very strong smell of stale cigarette smoke, which even to two smokers isn't pleasant, but fortunately the room was also so hot we could open the window as wide as possible without feeling the cold March air from outside. Due to the high temperature
in the room the window stayed open throughout our stay.
The room was clean and tidy with Tea/Coffee making facilities, plenty of room for clothes, plenty of towels and complimentary toiletries, a spare blanket, bath with integral shower, iron etc. The bed was comfortable and the chair and footstool next to it was extremely comfortable and positioned at just the right angle to watch a decent sized TV. Unfortunately the TV only carried the basic 4 channels and one kids channel, with the option to buy some quite old films. (This was a bit disappointing for me as I was hoping to see the Arsenal vs Chelsea match, still maybe the bar would have Sky?)
Whilst changing for dinner we noticed that the water pressure was very low, the toilet often needed several flushes, the shower was weak and you could relax for a good 15 minutes whilst your bath filled.
In the room was a hotel customer satisfaction survey filled out by the previous occupant which notably for a 4 star hotel rated the cuisine as "Poor", slightly worrying, as we both love good food and wine.
We were dining in the hotel restaurant which you access via the bar so we stopped for a pint of lager and a schnapps (£9:50) and were told that the nearest place to see the football would be in Chichester (several miles away), not a problem for those seeking absolute peace and quiet but with no background music it did make things very quiet!
We waited in a queue for sometime to be seated a nicely decorated restaurant which probably has nice views in the summer, it was quite full but quiet. The dress code ranged between suits to smart jeans and a shirt.
Drinks service was prompt and the menu looked promising with limited but interesting sounding vegetarian options. We both chose a Rocket salad starter which was a nice size but lacking in both taste and imagination. We then ordered a chicken dish and a vegetarian tartlet (for me). The food arrived quickly but there was a reason, they had made up the completely different order for me. When I queried this the young waiter looked at a complete loss as to what to do so rather than wait whilst my partner had her dinner I said I would have the pasta dish, as I am a big fan of Italian cuisine. What a mistake! The pasta was overcooked and the sauce was watery and tasteless and inedible. The chicken dish was best described as average. On the point of complaining we hesitated as the couple on the table opposite received part of their order for a second time as the well done steak he had originally ordered was still bloody. We watched their complaint unfold which was settled with having to reluctantly receive a snack from the bar menu as the kitchen was about to close and it was quite apparent that the chef didn't know the difference between rare and cooked. The desert of cheese and biscuits was very small, ideal at the end of a hearty meal but not if the quality of the main course had left you hungry. Cutting our losses and with a mind to a hopefully good breakfast we retired for the evening.
Breakfast is a self-service buffet with full English and healthier options. Again we waited to be seated whilst waiting staff wandered aimlessly around. The layout of the buffet means a lot of people wandering around in a confined space, no trays are supplied so food and drinks are collected in several trips, you cook your own toast which although ensures it is warm also involves extensive queuing. A wide selection of choice was let down by it being either under-cooked or cold or both. It was again inedible. To top this off the coffee was like treacle.
Having missed two meals now I was hungry and annoyed and complained, asking for the amount of all meals so far be removed from my bill. This was agreed without hesitation and a promise made that the breakfast would be totally improved by the next day.
Mid-morning we decided to use the pool facilities and followed the stench of chlorine to a small leisure area where we waited at the reception overlooking the pool, and waited.... and waited. Finally a member of staff finished their workout in the adjoining gym and made time to see us having spent the less 10 minutes doing his physical jerks right next to us as we deliberated about just going straight in. The facilities we are very small (pool, sauna, gym and steam room) but clean.
We left the hotel in the evening for a proper meal at the Black Rabbit pub in Arundel (thoroughly recommended). On our return we realised what a good choice this had been for us as several different parties of guests wandered the hotel, stomachs rumbling and moaning about that evenings meal.
Breakfast the next day came with the managements promise that it would be vastly improved, in short it wasn't at all, cold undercooked food, treacle coffee, watery juice which we did our best to try and eat just as the fire alarm sounded. A moment of comic confusion then set in as guests looked to the waiting staff for guidance who stood in complete amazement staring back, one waiter when asked if this was the fire alarm simply shrugged and said "Maybe", as people began to make their way out staff arrived from reception to usher us out into a cold morning air and informed us we couldn't go back in until the fire brigade had attended. When a guest asked why the waiter didn't know the sound of a fire alarm or what to do, his manager stated it was his first day, perhaps she hadn't seem him the previous couple of days when he had been working under her, or maybe she thought this would excuse staff clearly not trained in fire regulations? Before the fire brigade did arrive we were told to go back in but wait by reception just in case we needed to go back out!
This was the final straw for us, we returned to our room as soon as the fire brigade had left, packed quickly and checked out early. Our first stop on the way home, was needless to say, for something nice to eat!
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If it helps....I stayed at the Hilton Aberdeen and our fire alarm happened at about 3am. Although there was clearly no fire and we were in a ground floor room with French windows, we were still herded out into the freezing cold. We were let in. like you say, once the Fire Brigade were satisfied that there was, in fact, no fire. Still could have been worse. Could have been burnt alive, I suppose. If there had been a fire.
Regards!
Andrew
PS - I actually think that the Hilton Avisford Park is a decent place. We've been there twice and enjoyed it both times - apart from the time when there was a very noisy and late Christmas party going on which made it difficult, if impossible, for a pair of old farts and a three year old to get some sleep!
Set within 89 acres of Sussex parkland, this elegant and recently refurbished Georgian ... more
manor house boasts a wide range of facilities for both corporate and leisure guestDuring your stay, make the most of the hotel's comprehensive leisure facilities whi...
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Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Advantages: Superb location. Comfortable, relaxing hotel, steeped in history. Superb staff. Disadvantages: Loud Christmas parties tended to conflict with the country hotel ethos!
Advantages: Superb location. Comfortable, relaxing hotel, steeped in history. Superb staff. Disadvantages: Loud Christmas parties tended to conflict with the country hotel ethos!
Mar 26th, 2004
(Apr 8th, 2004)
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