Stratford Manor Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon

...it than in Shakespeare Countryside, Stratford Upon Avon? Having lived in Coventry which is in the West Midlands I am familiar with Stratford Upon Avon and how beautiful it is. The scenery there is lush and it is definitely Shakespeare Countryside. As well as being a local tourist attraction Stratford Upon Avon is also a quite part of the Country. After purchasing overnight accommodation from Lastminute.com I was set for my journey. There were many ...
.../> On arrival at The Stratford Manor I was amazed by the 21 acres of landscaped, tended grounds. The gardens were beautiful and so well kept. I couldn't believe that this was where we were staying for a few days rest and best of all we didn't have to worry about our daughter. As much as I love her sometimes a rest is well needed. I was awestruck by the beautiful grounds they were simply breathtaking and a perfect destination for some solitude. I'm ... more

Earlier this year we decided that it was time for a much needed break and what better place to spend it than in Shakespeare Countryside, Stratford Upon Avon? Having lived in Coventry which is in the West Midlands I am familiar with Stratford Upon Avon and how beautiful it is. The scenery there is lush and it is definitely Shakespeare Countryside. As well as being a local tourist attraction Stratford Upon Avon is also a quite part of the Country. After purchasing overnight accommodation from Lastminute.com I was set for my journey. There were many short breaks to choose from, but I fancied Stratford Manor the most. Now all I needed to do was ask my parents if they would baby sit. They finally agreed after much persuasion and a few bribes. After all they love their Granddaughter even if she can be a bit of a handful at times.

Setting

On arrival at The Stratford Manor I was amazed by the 21 acres of landscaped, tended grounds. The gardens were beautiful and so well kept. I couldn't believe that this was where we were staying for a few days rest and best of all we didn't have to worry about our daughter. As much as I love her sometimes a rest is well needed. I was awestruck by the beautiful grounds they were simply breathtaking and a perfect destination for some solitude. I'm a person that believes you don't need to go abroad to go on holiday. There is so much of England to explore and I want to take time to explore it all. With so much beautiful English Countryside you just can't go wrong I don't think I will ever run out of places to visit and even if I do then I will start to explore Scotland, Ireland or Wales. Whilst we might not experience the same hot weather that other Countries do we do get some lovely Summer sunshine and best of all we have some lovely Countryside. I get burnt too easily in foreign Countries and I don't really mix well with them. I also hate flying and much prefer shorter journeys than one's that take several hours to arrive. Whilst some people's idea of a perfect holiday might be the other side of the world in Australia I couldn't think of a worse place to get to. The mere thought of travelling for around 18 hours on an aeroplane fills me with dread. I'd much rather get on a coach, bus or train and travel a short distance to the other side of our Country.

What is wonderful about this hotel is that it is far away from the busy crowds. I live in a busy seaside Town so this was wonderfully different and they say a change is as good as a rest. The solitude and quietness is a luxury that can be enjoyed at this hotel. It is hard to believe that only 5 minutes away Stratford can be found and also the M40 that connects people to the Heart of England. Therefore it is a wonderful base if you want to explore the surrounding areas, yet you can also enjoy relaxing in the grounds of the hotel.

Rooms

The bedrooms are just as grand as the hotel grounds. Decorated in sophisticated unusual colours. The hotel is quite unique in its decoration. Designed to a modern taste with advanced amenities in all 104 rooms. The beds were very comfortable with soft bedding and comfortable pillows. The rooms are high quality and kept clean every day by the maid service.

Each room has an elegant lamp shed at the bedside table. An LCD television screen, telephone, tea/coffee making facilities, radio, bathroom, iron/ironing board, internet access, hair-dryer and working desk. The accommodation is to a very high standard with some rooms having the ability to interconnect this is great for families who can be near their children. If you want an interconnecting room then you have to request it in advance. As a guest at The Stratford Manor you have a wide range of dining options to choose from. There is also room service if you don't fancy venturing down to the restaurant.
Each room features a bed with designer headboards and beautiful counterpanes. Colours such as chocolates and vibrancy light up the rooms.

The outside of Stratford Manor has a modern décor with 4 murals that show the seasons.

Despite its tranquil setting, the hotel is just 5 minutes away from the M40, connecting you to a number of interesting cultural attractions, including: Stratford-upon-Avon; Warwick; Kenilworth; Royal Leamington Spa; and the bustling market towns and quaint Cotswold stone villages.

Restaurant

There is a lovely dining room that has won awards for offering dishes of a seasonal and local kind. There is the choice of eating in the dining room or you can feast on an all day menu in the Terrace Bar or eat it on the patio if it is a nice day. The dishes are expensive, but what you would expect from a classy hotel such as this. Although the menu is on the pricey side compared with other hotels of this standard it is quite reasonably priced. Also you get large portion sizes and the food is high quality. Therefore it is good value for money. There is a good seasonal menu selection to choose from and plenty of nice wines to compliment your meal. The bar has quiet corners on one level and lot's of space on the other. If you fancy teas and coffees along with an informal lunch then you will enjoy one of the restaurants.

The food service is slightly slow on busier periods of the hotel. It did get a bit chaotic at times when the hotel was very busy. The food is all made with fresh ingredients. If you just want to relax in the lounge whilst reading a newspaper or magazine then you can feel free to do so without any hassle from anyone. Smoked salmon, Caesar salad, Cajun chicken salad, tuna mayonnaise, roast chicken, rib-eye steak, cheese burger, chicken tikka masala and other dishes are served daily.

Leisure

The best bit that I enjoyed the most was the leisure club offering aerobic workouts, swimming pool, gym and tennis courts. On one day we spent a long time relaxing in the pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. It wasn't decorated very well in the gym or swimming pool when compared to the rest of the hotel it could have done with a lick of paint.

There is a massive 15 m long indoor swimming pool where you can relax all day if you want to. The gym has lot's of modern fitness equipment and is usually quite busy. There is a lot of equipment so there isn't usually a huge wait to use equipment. You need to make sure that you wear the right clothing and foot wear they are very particular about this.
Service
Service was good during the quieter times, but at busier times staff seemed a bit sparse. I must admit that when I did speak with staff they were friendly and kind. They obviously wanted to please their customers, but there were a few who were not as friendly.
General
The hotel is great for business people with its wonderfully equipped conference and meeting rooms. Each room can seat up to 350 guests and the rooms can be hired out for important business events. It is the ideal setting for business meetings and the staff are well equipped to meet your needs. The accommodation is very beautiful and there is a very ambient environment. It is set in a wonderful area for both business and leisure visitors. If you have any problems that need rectifying the manager is very efficient. When we complained about the service in the restaurant being a bit slow he gave us all a complimentary drink.
It is very good that you can use the free wireless internet connection for up to 2 hours, but if you want any extra then you have to pay. There is a car park for more than 220 cars. Other services and facilities include babysitting service, tennis court, room service, lift access, laundry service, disabled facilities, concierge service and medical help.
It is clear to see why the hotel won a prestigious AA Rosette shortly after it was opened. If you happen to be there on a Sunday the traditional Sunday lunch is worth tasting and you get a choice of cooked meats.
Other facilities in the hotel include;
24-Hour Front Desk,
All Public and Private spaces non-smoking,
Bar,
Designated Smoking Area,
Elevator,
Express Check-In/Check-Out,
Free Parking,
Garden,
Heating,
Luggage Storage,
Newspapers,
Non-Smoking Rooms,
Parking,
Pets Allowed,
Restaurant,
Rooms/Facilities for Disabled Guests.
Activities
Children's Playground,
Fitness Centre,
Indoor Swimming Pool,
Jacuzzi,
Sauna,
Solarium,
Tennis Court.
Services
Breakfast in the Room,
Currency Exchange,
Dry Cleaning,
Fax/Photocopying,
Internet Services,
Meeting/Banquet Facilities,
Packed Lunches,
Room Service,
Wi-Fi/Wireless LAN.

You can check in from 14:00 onwards and you have to check out by by 11:00 on the day of your departure.
If you need to cancel for any reason then you need to give up to 1 days notice before the day of arrival otherwise a fee will be charged. If you cancel without any notice then the first night will be charged. There is no deposit charged, but you will be asked to give your card details.

Pets are allowed on request, but an extra charge might be made. Children are welcome and one child under 4 years old stays free of charge when using existing bedding.
You can pay by:

Visa,
Maestro,
Master Card,
American Express,

Overall an excellent hotel prices from 65 to 85 pounds per room per night. If you purchase a room off Lastminute.com stay 2 nights then you receive dinner on the first night on selected dates. The hotel is clean and inviting it is definitely worth a stay.
 

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